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Table of Contents
National Affairs ......................................... 1 Decline in Budgetary Allocation for Minority Affairs.. 242
India Assumes G20 Presidency ........................................ 1 RBI Hikes Repo Rate .................................................... 243
International Year of Millets 2023 .................................... 9 Primary Agriculture Credit Societies ............................ 243
Delimitation in Assam .................................................... 10 NAMASTE Scheme ..................................................... 243
SMART Program for Ayurveda...................................... 10 Global Climate Resilience Fund ................................... 244
Road Accidents in India .................................................. 11 49th GST Council Meeting ............................................ 244
Asia Pacific Postal Union ............................................... 11 Vostro Accounts ............................................................ 245
BIND Scheme ................................................................. 12 UPI-PayNow Integration ............................................... 246
The Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022 15% Global Growth in India: IMF ................................ 247
........................................................................................ 12 Amazon to Join ONDC ................................................. 247
National Geospatial Policy 2022 .................................... 13 Social Stock Exchange .................................................. 248
National Green Hydrogen Mission ................................. 13 8th Raisina Dialogue 2023 ............................................ 249
Parasnath Hills ................................................................ 14 India’s Economic Growth: World Bank........................ 250
Asia’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum .................. 15 Retail Inflation .............................................................. 250
New Integrated Food Security Scheme........................... 15 Dabba Trading............................................................... 251
108th Indian Science Conference ................................... 15 Regulating Virtual Digital Asset ................................... 251
Country’s Largest Liquid Waste Treatment Plant .......... 16 RBI’s Gold Reserves ..................................................... 252
Joshimath Land Subsidence ............................................ 16 India Strengthens PMLA............................................... 252
Aspiration Blocks Programme ........................................ 17 Greenwashing TechSprint ............................................. 254
Air Quality Data Analysis............................................... 17 RBI Withdrew Circulation of 2000 Notes..................... 254
Ladakh Demand of Sixth Schedule................................. 18 Annual Forex Spends upto ₹7 Lakh Exempted ............. 255
Ganga Vilas Cruise ......................................................... 18 RBI Surplus Transfer .................................................... 255
FSSAI Standards for Basmati Rice ................................. 19 RBI Becomes Net Seller of USD .................................. 256
Air Pollution in India & NCAP ...................................... 19 Exemption on Angel Tax .............................................. 256
Survival of the Richest Report ........................................ 20 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) ..................... 257
PARAKH ........................................................................ 21 New Tax Rules for online gaming Platforms ................ 258
Remote Voting Machine ................................................. 21 Declining FDI in India .................................................. 258
Sugar Export ................................................................... 22 Fiscal Deficit Target Narrows to 6.4%.......................... 259
Revival of Village Defence Committees ........................ 23 GDP Expanded 6.1% in 2022-23 .................................. 259
Etalin Hydroelectric Project ............................................ 23 Surplus Liquidity........................................................... 259
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17 ASER 2022 .............................................................. 23 World Bank’s Forecast on India’s Economy ................ 260
Womaniya Initiative ....................................................... 24 Tax Devolution.............................................................. 260
India’s First School of Logistic, Waterways and Decrease in India’s Remittance ..................................... 261
Communication............................................................... 24 Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2023-24 ........................ 261
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.................... 24
Science & Technology ........................... 263
UNSC 1267 Committee .................................................. 25
Blockchain to be used to push farm Export .................. 263
IT Amendment Rules 2022 ............................................. 25
Lumpi-Pro Vacind......................................................... 263
AK-203 Rifles ................................................................. 26
Omicron XBB 1.5 ......................................................... 263
Allegations Against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ............ 27
Prithvi-ll Missile............................................................ 264
Ken-Betwa River Link Project........................................ 29
Skyglow ........................................................................ 265
Forest and Tree Cover in India ....................................... 29
Challenges faced by Chin-Kuki-Mizo Group ................. 30 iVOFm Technique......................................................... 265
PM-KUSUM ................................................................... 32 Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease ................................ 265
Mughal gardens Renamed............................................... 32 DAC Approves VSHORAD Missile System ................ 265
All India Survey on Higher Education 2020-21 ............. 32 First Aspirational District Deploying 5G Technology .. 266
National IPR Policy ........................................................ 33 Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming ....................... 266
GACs to Address Complaints Against Social Media Doppler Weather Radar System .................................... 266
Platform .......................................................................... 34 Exo Planet & James Web Telescope ............................. 267
Andhra Pradesh’s New Capital ....................................... 34 Shukrayaan I.................................................................. 268
PM – VIKAS .................................................................. 35 CHAT GPT ................................................................... 269
Deep Ocean Mission ....................................................... 35 Aditya L1 Mission......................................................... 270
Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue ............... 36 Solitary Wave around Mars .......................................... 272
Lithium Reserves in J&K ............................................... 36 Measles and Rubella ..................................................... 272
India, France, UAE Trilateral Initiative .......................... 37 BharOS .......................................................................... 273
INS Vagir ........................................................................ 38 Cervical Cancer Vaccine ............................................... 274
Southern India’s First Industrial Corridor Project .......... 39 Sickle Cell Disease........................................................ 275
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme .................................... 39 Lab Grown Diamonds ................................................... 275
National Commission for Schedule Tribe (ST) .............. 40 ISRO’s SSLV-D2 .......................................................... 275
Visva-Bharati: World’s First Living Heritage University NISAR Mission ............................................................. 276
........................................................................................ 41
Jupiter’s New Moons .................................................... 278
Increasing Cases of Suicides in Educational Hubs ......... 41
Google’s Bard ............................................................... 278
India’s Nuclear Power Capacity ..................................... 43
ChatGPT Powered BHASHINI ..................................... 278
International Biofuel Alliance......................................... 43
India’s First Hybrid Rocket ........................................... 279
Largest Chopper Manufacturing unit in India ................ 43
JWT spots 6 Monster Galaxies ..................................... 279
PM-ABHIM .................................................................... 43
Human Immunodeficiency Virus .................................. 280
National Organ Transplantation Guidelines ................... 45
First Vaccine for Dengue .............................................. 281
Vibrant Villages Programme .......................................... 45
H5N1- Avian Influenza ................................................. 282
Aero India 2023 .............................................................. 46
Megha-Tropiques-1 Satellite ......................................... 282
BBC Documentary on PM MODI .................................. 46
NASA’s Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA)
HAL Ties Up HENSOLDT For Tech Transfer .............. 46 Missions ........................................................................ 283
Higher Pension under EPS .............................................. 47 World’s Fastest Single-shot Laser Camera ................... 283
Special Category Status .................................................. 48 LVM-3 OneWeb Launch .............................................. 284
National Curriculum Framework .................................... 49 Bharat 6G Project .......................................................... 284
Adi Ganga Revival Plan ................................................. 49 International Liquid Mirror Telescope .......................... 285
Singareni Thermal Power Plant ...................................... 50 Geomagnetic Storm ....................................................... 285
Delhi Exercise Policy Case ............................................. 51 India’s First Cloned Female Calf .................................. 286
Caste Based Discrimination ............................................ 52 Reusable Launch Vehicle .............................................. 286
World Bank’s $1 billion for India’s Health Sector ......... 53 El Nino .......................................................................... 287
Punchhi Commission Report .......................................... 53 Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy ............................ 288
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act ............................. 54 Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
Captain Shaliza Dhami ................................................... 55 (LIGO) Project .............................................................. 289
First Women to Lead Army Unit .................................... 55 Italy Bans Chat GPT ..................................................... 290
H3N2 Outbreak ............................................................... 56 Large Hadron Collider .................................................. 290
State Elections 2023........................................................ 56 NASA’s TEMPO Mission............................................. 291
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Reservation for Women in Politics ................................. 57 European Space Agency’s Juice Mission...................... 291
India’s Arms Imports: SIPRI .......................................... 57 National Quantum Mission ........................................... 292
Manipur Withdraws from SoO Agreement ..................... 58 PSLV C55 & TeLEOS-2 Satellite................................. 292
Ban on Blood Donation by Gay and Transgenders......... 59 Digital Highways .......................................................... 293
Women and Men in India report ..................................... 59 EU new Crypto Regulation ........................................... 293
India’s Sugar Exports...................................................... 59 India DefSpace Symposium .......................................... 294
Indian Flag Down in London .......................................... 60 Starship Mission Failed ................................................. 295
India Aims to Become Top Global Aviation Markey by StarBerrySense .............................................................. 295
2030 ................................................................................ 60 peraFLOP Supercomputers ........................................... 296
Medical Tourism Index ................................................... 61 XPoSat .......................................................................... 297
New Drug Controller General of India ........................... 61 ISRO’s NavIC Satellite NVS-01 ................................... 297
State of India’s Environment Report 2023 ..................... 61 Foucault Pendulum........................................................ 299
Evergreening of Patent.................................................... 62 Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan.............................. 299
First Cable-Stayed Railway Bridge ................................ 63 India’s First Dimethyl Ether Fuelled Tractor ................ 300
Global Hub for Green Ship Building .............................. 63 Transgenic Crops .......................................................... 300
National Rabies Control Programme .............................. 64 Chashma-V Nuclear Plant ............................................. 301
New India Literacy Programme ...................................... 64 Genome India Project .................................................... 301
60% of Voters Linked Aadhaar to Voter ID ................... 65 Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope............................. 302
National Mission on Natural Farming ............................ 65 Eco-Friendly Diamonds ................................................ 303
Marine Protected Areas .................................................. 65 GEMCOVAC-OM ........................................................ 303
Foreign Trade Policy 2023.............................................. 67 Radio Telescope ............................................................ 303
India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline ............................ 68 UTPRERAK.................................................................. 304
Indian Space Policy 2023................................................ 69 Indian Startup Ecosystem .............................................. 304
Great Nicobar Island Project ........................................... 70 Deepfakes Technology .................................................. 305
National Party ................................................................. 71
Legal Affairs .......................................... 307
United National Democracy Fund ................................ 156
SC Verdict on Demonetisation...................................... 307
State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) ............................ 72
Supreme Court Expands Article 19 Ambit ................... 307
Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure ............. 72
SC upholds laws Allowing Jallikattu ............................ 308
Bandipur Tiger Reserves................................................. 72
Right to Strike ............................................................... 309
Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 ............................ 73
Triple Test Survey ......................................................... 309
Aravali Green Wall Project ............................................. 74
Bhopal Gas Tragedy...................................................... 309
Assam & Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute ................. 75
Assisted Reproductive Technology............................... 311
Guidelines for Assessment of Child Suspects ................ 75
Doctrine of Separation of Power ................................... 311
Regulating Online Money Gaming ................................. 77
Freedom of Speech of Ministers ................................... 312
India’s Export Capabilities ............................................. 78
CENTRE vs UNION debate ......................................... 312
Sangathan se Samriddhi .................................................. 78
Plea on Google-CCI Issue ............................................. 313
WTO Panel Rules Against India ..................................... 79
Caste Census in Bihar ................................................... 313
Logistic Performance Index 2023 ................................... 80
Chargesheet: Not a Public Document ........................... 313
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010 ................ 80
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act,
Inter-State Water Dispute ............................................... 82 2021 ............................................................................... 314
Chhattisgarh Moist Attack .............................................. 83 Indianisation of the Judiciary ........................................ 315
Dima Hasao Peace Pact .................................................. 83 SC Eases Norms for Passive Euthanasia ....................... 316
India Latest Farm Export Data ........................................ 85 No Bar on Contesting Two Seats in One Poll ............... 316
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NGT Bans Mining in Son River ..................................... 85 e- Courts Integrated Mission Mode Project .................. 317
Ludhiana Gas Leak Tragedy ........................................... 86 Armed Forces and Adultery .......................................... 317
Protest in Manipur .......................................................... 87 Expunging in Parliament ............................................... 318
National Medical Device Policy 2023 ............................ 90 Sealed Cover Jurisprudence .......................................... 319
Millets Experience Centre............................................... 91 Foreigners Cannot be Legal Guardians: Delhi HC ....... 319
Central CounterParties .................................................... 91 Speaker’s Role in Defection.......................................... 320
India to join International Climate Action in Civil Genetic Information and Privacy .................................. 320
Aviation .......................................................................... 92 Corrupt Practice under RPA Act ................................... 321
Canada Open Work Permit for H1B Holders .......... Error! 22nd Law Commission of India .................................... 321
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SC Verdict in ECI Appointment ................................... 323
RVNL Gets Navratna Status ........................................... 93
Menstrual Leave ............................................................ 324
India-Israel Relations ...................................................... 94
One Rank-One Pension ................................................. 325
The Kerala Story Controversy ........................................ 95
Right Against Self Incrimination and Constitutional
India’s Power Sector in 2030 .......................................... 96 Remedies ....................................................................... 325
National Electricity Plan ................................................. 97 Article 142..................................................................... 325
Multimodal Logistics Park.............................................. 97 Centre Opposes Same-Sex Marriage............................. 326
Polygamy in India ........................................................... 98 SCO Chief Justices Meet .............................................. 327
Northeast Top Tourist Destination.................................. 99 Committee to Oversee import/export of wild Animals . 328
6 Digit Alphanumeric HUID .......................................... 99 Governor’s Power to Call for Floor Test ...................... 329
Delhi Government Ordinance ....................................... 100 BCI Allows Foreign Lawyers ....................................... 329
New PLI Scheme for IT Hardware ............................... 100 Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case .................................... 330
Operation Dhvast .......................................................... 101 Right to Health .............................................................. 331
Pokhran-ll & National Technology Day ....................... 101 Derecognition & Deregistration of Parties .................... 332
New CBI Director ......................................................... 102 India Justice Report 2022 .............................................. 333
Sapre Committee........................................................... 102 Ranganath Report and Dalit Quota ............................... 333
Cyclone Mocha ............................................................. 102 Agnipath Scheme & Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel . 334
Competition Commission of India ................................ 103 Public Interest Immunity Proceeding ............................ 335
Rohingya Refugees in India .......................................... 104 Parliamentary Committees ............................................ 336
INS Sindhuratna............................................................ 106 Trademark ..................................................................... 336
World Food India 2023 ................................................. 106 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act ......... 337
Stricter Regulations for Exported Cough Syrup ........... 106 Extra Judicial Killing .................................................... 338
Tribes Demand Total Separation of Manipur’s Hill Areas Ninth Schedule of Constitution ..................................... 338
...................................................................................... 108
Civil Union and Marriage ............................................. 339
Assam & Meghalaya Border Dispute ........................... 108
Mandal Commission ..................................................... 340
Narco Analysis Test ...................................................... 108
Doctrine of Basic Structure Turns 50 ............................ 340
UDAN 5.1 ..................................................................... 109
Governor’s Power over State Bills ................................ 341
PM Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) ..... 110
National Securities Act 1980 ........................................ 342
Census 2021: National Population Register ................. 111
Sports Governance ........................................................ 343
IRDAI Vision 2047 ....................................................... 113
FIR Provisions............................................................... 344
PM KUSUM ................................................................. 113
SC Modifies Order on ESZ ........................................... 345
8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog............ 114
SC Allows Divorce on Irretrievable Breakdown .......... 346
Annual Health Index 2020-21....................................... 115
Freedom of Religion ..................................................... 347
CAG Chief Re-elected as WHO External Auditor ....... 115
Sedition Law ................................................................. 348
Delimitation .................................................................. 115
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Digital India Act 2023 .................................................. 116 Power Distribution Between Delhi Government and
World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector Centre ............................................................................ 348
...................................................................................... 117 SC on Maharashtra Governor’s Call for Floor Test ...... 351
Portal for GOBARdhan Launched ................................ 119 Carbon Dating & Gyanvapi Dispute ............................. 352
PM SVANidhi Scheme ................................................. 120 Appointment of Judges to the SC.................................. 353
PM MITRA Scheme & Textile Sector.......................... 120 Forum Shopping ............................................................ 355
Interpol’s Notice ........................................................... 121 Ordinances..................................................................... 356
Morgan Stanley’s Report .............................................. 121 Article 299: Government Contracts .............................. 357
Special Protection Group (SPG) ................................... 122 Coal India and CCI........................................................ 358
100 Episodes of Mann ki Baat ...................................... 123 Right to Change Name .................................................. 359
Mekedatu Project .......................................................... 124 Merit Over Caste in Temple Priest Appointment.......... 359
India’s First International Cruise Vessel MV Empress 125 Sporting Affairs..................................... 361
New Appointment in Financial Services Institution ..... 125 Ranji Trophy ................................................................. 361
NIRF Ranking 2023 ...................................................... 125 Hockey World Cup ....................................................... 361
Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System.......... 126 India Football’s Vision 2047 ......................................... 362
Sagar Samriddhi ............................................................ 127 Australia Open 2023 ..................................................... 362
First Ever National Training Conclave ......................... 127 Sania Mirza ................................................................... 363
National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 Report ..... 128 Portugal’s New Manager............................................... 363
Inter-Service Organisation Bill 2023 ............................ 129 Football Retirement....................................................... 363
VAIBHAV Scheme ...................................................... 129 1st Indian Women to Win Olympic Medal ................... 363
MQ-9B Armed Drones ................................................. 130 5th Khelo India youth Games......................................... 364
India talks with Taliban ................................................ 130 Indian Won U19 Women’s T20 World Cup ................. 364
Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 .............. 131 World Athletics Bans Transgender Womens ................ 364
Exploration of Coal and Lignite ................................... 131 Women’s World Boxing Championship ....................... 365
Cyclone’s Effect on Monsoon Onset ............................ 132 Laureus World Sports Awards 2023 ............................. 365
CoWIN Portal Data Breach .......................................... 134 Men’s World Boxing Championships ........................... 366
Exercise Air Defender 23.............................................. 135 Target Olympic Podium Scheme .................................. 366
India’s Jet Engine Deal with US ................................... 136 ISSF World Cup ............................................................ 366
US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology 2023 SAFF Championship ............................................ 366
...................................................................................... 137
Khelo India University Games 2023 ............................. 367
DAKSHTA ................................................................... 138
Golden Globe Race ....................................................... 367
NATO Plus five ............................................................ 139
Roland – Garros (French Open) .................................... 367
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana..................... 139
Squash World Cup 2023 ............................................... 368
First Waterbodies Census ............................................. 140
New Secretary of RAW ................................................ 140 Important Days ..................................... 370
Common Uniform for Indian Army .............................. 141 DRDO Foundation Day................................................. 370
Model Prison Act 2023 ................................................. 141 World Braille Day ......................................................... 370
Manipur Invokes RBI’s Riot Provisions ....................... 142 World War Orphans Day .............................................. 370
India-US Strategic Partnership ..................................... 142 Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas ............................................... 370
PM Visit to Egypt ......................................................... 144 Vishwa Hindi Diwas ..................................................... 371
India-US Semiconductor Unit Deal .............................. 145 National Youth Day ...................................................... 371
Tiger Census 2022 ........................................................ 146 NCRCR Foundation Day .............................................. 372
Shorter Medical Course to Address Rural Doctor Shortage Indian Army Day 2023.................................................. 372
...................................................................................... 148 Veterans Day ................................................................. 372
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Uniform Civil Code ...................................................... 148 National Startup Day ..................................................... 372
Ceiling on Stocks of Wheat and Pulses ........................ 149 NDRF Raising Day ....................................................... 372
H-1B Visa ..................................................................... 150 Parakram Diwas 2023 ................................................... 373
National Research Foundation ...................................... 151 National Girl Child Day ................................................ 374
Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulations (ART), National Voters’ Day .................................................... 374
2023 .............................................................................. 151 International Holocaust Remembrance Day ................. 374
General Consent of CBI ................................................ 152 National Tourism Day ................................................... 374
Meira Paibis .................................................................. 153 World Leprosy Day ....................................................... 375
Global Liveability Index ............................................... 153 World Wetland Day ...................................................... 375
India Removed from report on Children & Armed Shaheed Diwas .............................................................. 377
Conflict ......................................................................... 154
47th Raising day of ICG................................................. 378
Paris Global Climate Finance ....................................... 155
World Pulses Day.......................................................... 378
International Affairs ............................. 157 International Day for Women and Girls in Science ...... 378
Protest in China............................................................. 157 National Women’s Day ................................................. 378
China-Qatar Energy Deal.............................................. 157 World Radio Day .......................................................... 379
Global South Summit.................................................... 158 International Mother Language Day ............................. 379
Wassenaar Arrangement ............................................... 158 World Day of Social Justice .......................................... 379
Brazil Anti- Democratic Riots ...................................... 158 National Science Day 2023 ........................................... 380
Kilauea Volcano ........................................................... 159 World NGO Day ........................................................... 380
Uganda Ebola Outbreak ................................................ 159 World Wildlife Day....................................................... 380
Young Professional Scheme ......................................... 159 World Hearing Day ....................................................... 380
India-US Trade Policy Forum ....................................... 159 International Women’s Day .......................................... 380
Global Risks Report ...................................................... 160 54th CISF Raising Day .................................................. 381
Indian- Maldives ........................................................... 161 World Consumer Rights Day 2023 ............................... 381
UN World Social Report 2023...................................... 161 International Day of Action for Rivers ......................... 381
Antimicrobial-Resistant Gonorrhea .............................. 162 World Sparrow Day ...................................................... 382
Rare Earth Minerals ...................................................... 163 World Water Day .......................................................... 382
Fast Movers Coalitions Leadership Meeting ................ 163 International Day of Forests .......................................... 382
Indus Water Treaty ....................................................... 164 World Down Syndrome Day ......................................... 382
China Constructs New Dam.......................................... 164 Shaheed Diwas .............................................................. 383
India – Sri Lanka Relation ............................................ 165 World Meteorological Day ........................................... 383
India-Egypt Relation ..................................................... 166 World Tuberculosis Day 2023 ...................................... 383
Japan to Flush Fukushima Wastewater ......................... 167 International Day of Zero Waste ................................... 384
DRACO: NASA ........................................................... 167 Autism Awareness Day ................................................. 384
FAO: India elected as Vice Chair ................................. 168 National Maritime Day ................................................. 384
Cyclone Gebrielle ......................................................... 182 World Health Day 2023 ................................................ 385
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor .............................. 168 World Homeopathy Day ............................................... 385
World Economic Situation and Prospect 2023 ............. 169 World Chagas Disease Day ........................................... 385
Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases ............ 169 World Heritage Day ...................................................... 385
Ukraine’s Odesa in UNESCO’s World Heritage List ... 170 Civil Services Day......................................................... 387
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict........................................ 171 Earth Day ...................................................................... 387
Myanmar Extends Emergency Rule ............................. 172 National Panchayati Raj Day ........................................ 387
India-Kenya Ties........................................................... 172 World Malaria Day ....................................................... 387
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Boeing 747 .................................................................... 172 Zero Shadow Day.......................................................... 388
China Surveillance Balloon .......................................... 173 International Leopard Day 2023 ................................... 389
Paris Club...................................................................... 173 World Pulmonary Hypertension day ............................. 389
QS World University Ranking by Subject 2023 ........... 174 BRO Raising Day.......................................................... 389
Multilateral Security Dialogue on Afghanistan ............ 175 National Technology Day 2023 .................................... 390
ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting ............................... 176 World Migratory Birds Day .......................................... 390
MonkeyPox ................................................................... 177 World Hypertension day ............................................... 390
REAIM 2023................................................................. 177 World Telecom Day 2023 ............................................. 390
26th India-China Meeting ............................................. 177 International Day for Biological Diversity.................... 392
New START Treaty ...................................................... 178 World Bee Day.............................................................. 392
Mad Cow Disease ......................................................... 179 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers....... 393
International Intellectual Property Index 2023 ............. 179 World Multiple Sclerosis Day ....................................... 394
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) ......................... 180 World Milk Day ............................................................ 394
UN Treaty on the High Seas ......................................... 181 World No Tobacco Day ................................................ 395
Nuclear Submarines & AUKUS ................................... 182 World Environment Day ............................................... 395
Doha Political Declaration on LCDs ............................ 182 75th International Archives Day ................................... 396
Bhutan rectified BIMSTEC Charter ............................. 183 Global Wind Day .......................................................... 396
World Air Quality Report ............................................. 183 World Desertification Day 2023 ................................... 396
Nuclear Submarines & AUKUS ................................... 184 World Yoga Day 2023 .................................................. 397
World Happiness Report 2023 ...................................... 184 World Sickle Cell Day 2023 ......................................... 398
Arrest Warrant Against Vladimir Putin ........................ 184 World Blood Donor Day ............................................... 399
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) ......................... 186 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Global Terrorism Index ................................................ 189 Trafficking..................................................................... 399
IMF Bailout to Sri Lanka .............................................. 189 Helen Keller Day........................................................... 400
Finland Joins NATO ..................................................... 189 Udyami Bharat MSME Day 2023 ................................. 400
OPEC+ Cuts Oil Production ......................................... 190 National Statistics Day .................................................. 401
UK Signed CPTPP ........................................................ 191 Awards & Recognition ......................... 402

China Taiwan Conflict .................................................. 191 Golden Globe ................................................................ 402
Ghana Approves Oxford’s Malaria Vaccine R21 ......... 192 Critics Choice Award .................................................... 402
G7’s Carbon Free Electricity Production ...................... 193 Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2023
Wagner Mutiny in Russia ............................................. 194 ....................................................................................... 402
Titan Tragedy................................................................ 194 Padma Awards .............................................................. 402
State of World Population Report ................................. 196 Grammy Awards 2023 .................................................. 403
ICJ on Myanmar Issue .................................................. 197 Marconi Prize ................................................................ 403
Yemen Crisis................................................................. 198 Porter Prize 2023 ........................................................... 404
Global Buddhist Summit 2023 ..................................... 199 Abel Prize ...................................................................... 404
Global Unicorn Index ................................................... 199 Kalanidhi Awards 2023................................................. 404
Sudan Crisis & Operation Kaveri ................................. 200 International Prize in Statistics...................................... 404
China’s Outreach in Central Asia ................................. 201 World Press Freedom Prize ........................................... 405
PRET & The Big Catch-Up Initiatives ......................... 202 International Booker Prize 2023 ................................... 405
The Black Sea Grain Deal............................................. 203 Gandhi Peace Prize ....................................................... 405
World Development Report 2023 ................................. 203 National Florence Nightingale Award .......................... 406
Ekatha Harbour ............................................................. 204 Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023 ... 406
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World Press Freedom Index.......................................... 204 Miscellaneous Affairs ........................... 407
World Press Freedom Index.......................................... 205 UN Peace Keeping Mission .......................................... 407
Uganda Passes Anti-LGBTQ Law ................................ 206 Kerala to Provide pension to MGNREGS Workers ...... 407
EU Regulating AI ......................................................... 206 VARUNA...................................................................... 407
China’s Anti-Espionage Law ........................................ 207 Deputy National Security Advisor ................................ 408
International Religion Freedom Report ........................ 207 India’s First Constitution Literate District .................... 408
Arab League.................................................................. 208 TROPEX 2023 .............................................................. 408
CPEC Extension to Afghanistan ................................... 208 Changes in Global Gender Gap Report Criteria............ 408
Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023 ............................... 209 Ops Alert Exercise ........................................................ 409
Mpox no Longer a Global Health Emergency .............. 209 Hepatorenal Infection .................................................... 409
Phase out Methane Emission By 2030.......................... 210 PAN to be used as common Identifier .......................... 409
Meta’s EU Privacy Case ............................................... 211 Exercise Trishakti Prahar .............................................. 409
Indian Ocean Conference.............................................. 211 Operation SADBHAVANA .......................................... 409
India-EU Trade and Technology Council ..................... 212 VIHANGAM Drome Technology ................................ 410
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism ....................... 213 Exercise TARKASH ..................................................... 410
Rasht-Astara Railway and INSTC ................................ 214 Dharma Guardian .......................................................... 410
3rd FIPIC Summit ......................................................... 214 Anubhuti Inclusive Park ................................................ 410
Reforming UNSC & Bretton Woods ............................ 216 INS Trikand................................................................... 410
US Debt Ceiling Crisis ................................................. 216 FRINJEX-23 ................................................................. 411
Iran Test Long-range Ballistic Missile ......................... 217 Exercise Bold Kurukshetra ........................................... 411
Global Report on Internal Displacement ...................... 218 Cope India Exercise ...................................................... 411
German Economy Enters Recession ............................. 218 SLINEX-23 ................................................................... 411
China Sends First Civilian Into Space .......................... 219 GI Tags .......................................................................... 411
IPEF Ministerial Meeting ............................................. 219 Indelible Ink .................................................................. 412
Global Slavery Index 2023 ........................................... 219 SATHI Portal ................................................................ 412
Kosova – Serbia Conflict .............................................. 221 Exercise INIOCHOS-23................................................ 413
Armenian Genocide ...................................................... 222 India’s First Water Metro .............................................. 413
Atlantic Declaration ...................................................... 223 India’s First Undersea Tunnels ..................................... 413
Hiroshima AI Process for Global Governance ............. 224 India’s First Underwater Metro ..................................... 413
SIPRI Yearbook 2023 ................................................... 224 Government to Ease Life for Gay Couples ................... 413
US to rejoin UNESCO .................................................. 225 ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise ................................. 414
Global Gender Gap Report 2023 .................................. 225 Advanced Light Helicopter DHRUV ............................ 414
Airlines Greenwashing and Carbon Pollution .............. 227 Bhopal 1st city to track progress on SDGs .................... 414
First Arab Women Into Space....................................... 227 SAMUDRA SHAKTI – 23 ........................................... 414
Nord Stream Pipeline .................................................... 229 Night Traps of Mig-29k onboard Vikrant ..................... 415
Bonn Climate Meet ....................................................... 229 Covid-19 Variant & WHO’s IPSN System ................... 415
Estonia Legalizes Same-Sex Meriage ........................... 231 The Changathi Project ................................................... 415
St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 231 International Museum Expo 2023 ................................. 415
China Blocks Proposal to Blacklist Terrorist................ 231 MSHTI Initiative ........................................................... 416
UN’s High Seas Treaty ................................................. 232 Cyclone Biporjoy .......................................................... 417
Chashma-V Nuclear Plant............................................. 233 India-France-UAE Exercise .......................................... 417
State of the Global Climate 2022 .................................. 233 Agni Prime Ballistic Missile ......................................... 417
United Nations .............................................................. 234 Soul of Steel Challenge ................................................. 418
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Economy & Finance .............................. 236 Akhand Bharat .............................................................. 418
Central Bank Digital Currency ..................................... 236 India’s First International Cruise Vessel ....................... 418
Depreciation of Indian Rupee ....................................... 237 Ex Ekuverin................................................................... 418
Corporate Tax Collection.............................................. 238 Ex Khan Quest .............................................................. 419
Wildlife Conservation Bond ......................................... 238 Integrated Simulator Comples ‘Dhruv’ ......................... 419
Investor risk Reduction Platform .................................. 238 Kalasa Banduri Project .................................................. 419
First Advance Estimate of GDP .................................... 239 National Exit Test (NExT) ............................................ 419
Forex Reserves.............................................................. 239 President Honors Armed Forces ................................... 420
Top Investment Destination in India............................. 239 Meri LiFE Initiative ...................................................... 420
Davos Summit 2023...................................................... 240

World Economic Outlook ............................................. 240
Tech Layoffs ................................................................. 241
Angel Tax ..................................................................... 242
8
National Affairs
India Assumes G20 Presidency
th
❖ 17 annual summit of G-20 was hosted by the Indonesian G20 president Joko Widodo in Bali under the
theme ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’.
❖ Member countries adopted a declaration deploring Russia's aggression in Ukraine "in the strongest terms"
and demanding its unconditional withdrawal.
❖ The G20 economies agreed in their declaration to pace interest rate rises carefully to avoid spill overs and
warned of "increased volatility" in currency moves, a sea change from last year's focus on mending the
scars of the Covid-19 pandemic.
❖ G20 leaders agreed to pursue efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius
❖ They welcomed the establishment of a new Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention (FIFPP),
preparedness and response (the ‘Pandemic Fund’) hosted by the World Bank.
❖ UK and India decided to launch a Young Professionals Exchange in 2023.
❖ UK will offer 3000 degree-holding Indians in the 18-30 year age group places to work for up to two years.
❖ Now, India has assumed the charge of the G20 presidency and the 18th summit will be held in India in 2023.
❖ Originally India was scheduled to host the G20 summit in 2021 and Italy in 2022. At the 2018 G20 Summit
in Argentina, PM Modi said he had requested Italy to host the summit in 2021 and allow India to host it in
2022, on the occasion of the 75th year of India’s independence. Italy agreed to let India host the G20
summit in 2022 in its place owing to the momentum in bilateral ties.
❖ But after request made by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, India exchanged its presidency of
the G-20 with Indonesia because Indonesia would also chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) in 2023.
❖ Theme- “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One Future” - is drawn from the ancient
Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad.
❖ G20 Sherpa- Amitabh Kant
❖ Sous Sherpa- Abhay Thakur
❖ G20 National Coordinator and Former Secretary- Harsh Shringla
❖ G20 India has put forth six agenda priorities for the G20 dialogue in 2023:
❖ Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE
❖ Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth
❖ Accelerating progress on SDGs
❖ Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure
❖ Multilateral Institutions for the 21st century
❖ Women-led development
Global South Summit
1
❖ India hosted a special virtual summit, the Voice of Global South summit, on January 12 and 13 in New
Delhi.
❖ Prime Minister said that the world is facing unprecedented crisis of 3 F’s “Food, Fuel and Fertilizer”.
❖ The summit under the theme ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’ envisages bringing together countries of
the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. More than 120 countries
are being invited to participate in this Summit.
❖ Global South refers to the developing and the less-developed countries of the world. India’s ongoing
Presidency of the G20 provides a special and strong opportunity for those countries that are not part of the
G20 process to share their ideas and expectations from the G20.
Tourism Working Group Meeting
❖ As part of India’s G20 presidency, Gujarat will host the first Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in the
state’s Rann of Kutch from 7 to 9 February 2023.
❖ Rural and Archaeological tourism will be the focus area of Tourism. Also, Dholavira, which is a UNESCO
World heritage site, will be the second spot for foreign delegates.
❖ In the G20 Presidency of India, there are 5 interrelated priority areas for tourism. Accordingly, thrust will be
on these five priority areas: 1. Greening of the Tourism sector 2. Harnessing the power of digitisation 3.
Empowering youth with skills 4. Nurturing tourism MSMEs/ startups 5. Rethinking the strategic
management of destinations.
❖ As a part of this, there will be emphasis on sustainable tourism which is important not only for the
environment but also to create opportunities for local enterprise.
❖ The different places chosen for the G20 events will encompass different flavors like rural tourism (Ladpura
Khas village, MP), archaeological tourism (Dholavira), and ecotourism(Khonoma Village,Nagaland) etc.
❖ Along with this, 3 mega tourism related events are being organized to take advantage of the G20
Presidency. These include Global Investors’ Summit in April 2023, MICE Convention and Meeting of World
Tourism CEOs Forum.
❖ In 2021, India was ranked 6th by the World Travel and Tourism Council in terms of the total contribution of
Travel & Tourism to the country's GDP.
❖ The sector contributed 5.8% to India's GDP in 2021 and created 32.1 million jobs, which is equivalent to
6.9% of total employment in the country.
❖ The meeting first Sustainable Finance Working Group of G20 was recently held in Guwahati, Assam. A
hundred delegates from 95 different foreign countries attended the meeting. The G20 meeting was
inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. A traditional musical performance was presented by
the Assamese at the Guwahati airport to welcome the foreign delegates.
G20 Cyber Security Exercise
❖ With the world becoming digital, ransomware, malware, phishing, and other cyber threats are increasing.
There is a need for world governments to take quick actions to control the threats and strengthen the cyber
security system. To bring the world governments together and to provide a platform to work collectively,
the CERT–In conducted the G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill. The event was held physically and
virtually. More than 12 countries participated in the event.
❖ Minister of MeitY Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma inaugurated the event
❖ A Strategic Tabletop exercise was conducted using the CERT-In Exercise platform
❖ The theme of the first exercise: Countering the Global Cyber crisis
❖ The theme of the second exercise: To build cyber resilience together
❖ Events were also conducted on Data breaches, cyber extortion, disruptions, supply chain attacks
❖ First Meeting of Culture Working Group
❖ Under the presidency of India in G20, the first meeting of the Culture Working Group has begun at
Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh recently. The meeting was chaired by the Union Minister for Culture and
Tourism (Narendra Singh Tomar)
❖ On the first day of the meeting Padam Shri Mr. Nek Ram known as the Millet man has been invited to
celebrate the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023.
❖ The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its between 950 and
1050 AD. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different
religions – Hinduism and Jainism. The UNESCO site of 'Khajuraho Group of Monuments' is famous for its
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Nagara-Style architecture and graceful sculptures of nayikas (Hindu Mythological female protagonists)
and deities.
G20 Health Working Group
nd
❖ The 2 Health Working Group meeting under the G20 India Presidency saw an important discussion on
citizen-centric health delivery ecosystems for universal health coverage, leveraging digital health and
innovation.
❖ The Ministry of Ayush in India has emphasized the importance of integrating traditional medicine with
technology to establish an efficient, affordable, and quality healthcare model. To achieve this goal, they
have introduced a comprehensive IT backbone called "Ayush Grid", which will create a secure and
interoperable digital ecosystem to transform the Ayush sector. The Ayush Grid operates at four levels,
ensuring seamless digital connectedness between all stakeholders and highlighted the importance of
using digital tools to maintain medical records, exchange information, and evaluate the effectiveness of
various modalities of healthcare.
❖ Ministry of Ayush noted that the upcoming WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine Jamnagar, Gujarat
in India has a mandate to work on data analytics and technology in Traditional Medicine.
Y20 Summit
❖ The inaugural session of the Y20 Pre-Summit was held in Leh and was inaugurated by the Lieutenant
Governor of Leh-Ladakh (B.D. Mishra).
❖ The session discussed various topics such as health and wellbeing, climate change and disaster risk
reduction, and youth in democracy and governance. The theme of the session was ‘Youth-led Resilient
Recovery’ and the event had participants from G20 countries. The session emphasized the role of youth in
bringing about sustainable development and in tackling global issues such as climate change. The event
also showcased the rich culture, traditions, and scenic beauty of Ladakh. Handicrafts and handlooms by
SHGs comprised of Ladakhi women highlighted pashmina wool, wood carving, and apricots as a part of
the horticulture heritage of Ladakh.
❖ The Youth 20 (Y20) group’s Y20 Consultation was held at University of Kashmir, to consult the youth of
the nation on ideas for a better tomorrow and draft an agenda for action on ‘Climate Change and Disaster
Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life’.
❖ India assumed the Presidency of G20 on 1st December, 2022 for a period of 1 year i.e., up to 30th
November 2023. India’s theme for its presidency is enshrined in its civilizational value system of
‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’ (which is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad). Hence
our theme - 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'.
❖ Under the framework of G20 Presidency, the Department of Youth Affairs has been entrusted with the
responsibility to organise Youth 20 Summit-2023.
❖ Y20 is the official youth engagement group for the G20, which brings together young leaders worldwide to
discuss and recommend policy solutions to global challenges. India is hosting the Y20 summit for the first
time, with a focus on global youth leadership and partnership. In the lead-up to the final summit, there will
be pre-summits and discussions at universities across the country.
❖ Five Themes: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life
❖ Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation, & 21st Century Skills
❖ Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ushering in an Era of No War
❖ Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance
❖ Health, Well-being & Sports: Agenda for Youth
G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group
❖ The First G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRR WG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency took
place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. where India highlighted the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
❖ The G20 Disaster Risk Resilience Working Group has called upon governments to build a social protection
system with an effective and preferred instrument for disaster risk financing.
❖ It emphasised the need for new-age Social Protection Systems that invest in local risk resilience to
mitigate, prepare and recover from disasters.
❖ The five priorities outlined:
o Global coverage of Early Warning Systems
o Increased commitment towards making infrastructure systems disaster resilient o
Stronger national financial frameworks for DRR o Strengthened national and global
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disaster response system o Increased application of ecosystems-based approaches to
DRR
❖ The G20 DRR WG intended to include considerations for the Sendai Framework’s mid-term review, renew
multilateral cooperation at all levels, and inform future global policies and initiatives related to DRR.
❖ Need for Creating DRR: The G20 nations, with a population of 4.7 billion, have large exposure, risk from
asset concentration, and vulnerability to natural disasters.
❖ In the current World Risk Index, four out of the top 10 vulnerable countries are G20 nations.
❖ The combined estimated annual average loss in the G20 countries alone is USD 218 billion, equivalent to
9% of the average annual investment in infrastructure made by them.
❖ Disaster risk reduction measures can play an important role in preventing such losses
G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting
❖ In the G20 anti-corruption working group meeting held in Rishikesh, India shed light on its experiences
where anti-corruption efforts have positively impacted the empowerment of women. The meeting cover a
range of topics, including the impact of graft on women, the role of audit institutions, and the
establishment of a common definition of economic offenders.
❖ India's initiative to explore the intersection of gender sensitivity and anti-corruption strategies was
highlighted in a separate event on the sidelines of the meeting.
❖ India aims to deepen the commitment of G20 nations in countering corruption globally and preventing
economic offenders from seeking refuge in countries with lenient laws. Indian Prime Minister's Nine Point
Agenda for Action Against Fugitive Economic Offences and Asset Recovery, presented during Argentina's
G20 Presidency in 2018, resonates with the concerns of all G20 countries.
Third Employment Working Group Meeting
❖ The Indian G20 Presidency is organising the third Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting at the
International Labour Organization (ILO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
❖ This meeting, which aligns with the ILO's annual International Labour Conference, brings together
delegates from G20 member countries, guest countries, and international organizations including
International Labour Organization (ILO), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
International Social Security Association (ISSA), World Bank (WB).
❖ Highlights of the Meet: The Indian Presidency has identified three priority areas for the EWG in 2023:
❖ Addressing Global Skill Gaps: This area focuses on developing strategies to bridge the skill gaps prevalent
in the global workforce and enhance employability.
❖ Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection: Discussions centre around ensuring social protection for
workers in the gig and platform economy, considering the evolving nature of work.
❖ The gig and platform economy refers to a modern work arrangement where individuals perform short-term,
freelance, or on-demand tasks or services through digital platforms or apps.
❖ Sustainable Financing of Social Protection: This area emphasises the importance of sustainable financing
models to support social protection initiatives and provide safety nets for workers.
❖ Phases of the Meet: The EWG meeting is organised in four different phases in different cities in India.
o The first phase was held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in February 2023. o The second
phase was held in Guwahati, Assam, in April 2023. o The third phase is being held
in Geneva from 31st May to 2nd June 2023.
o The fourth and final phase will be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in July 2023.
❖ Employment Working Group: EWG is a forum established within the G20 framework to address issues
related to employment, labour markets, and social policies.
❖ The main purpose of the EWG is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth by fostering job
creation, improving labour market outcomes, and ensuring social protection for workers
G20 Health Working Group Meet
rd
❖ The recent 3 Health Working Group meeting at Hyderabad, Telangana under the G20 India
Presidency highlighted the ongoing threat of pandemics and the urgent need for global collaboration in
the health sector.
❖ Several key proposals were put forth by India, emphasising the importance of integrated surveillance
systems, medical countermeasures, digital health initiatives, and vaccine research and development at
global level.
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❖ India proposed a Global initiative on Digital Health, a WHO-managed network to converge ongoing
initiatives in use of technology in the global health arena.
❖ This initiative can enable bridging the digital divide amongst nations and ensure that the fruits of
technology are made available to every citizen of the world.
❖ Building consensus for an end-to-end Global Medical Countermeasure (MCM) ecosystem.
❖ Creation of an interim platform guided by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) process for the
Global Medical Countermeasure (MCM) ecosystem.
❖ Accelerating vaccine research and development (R&D) for emerging pathogens and strengthening
pandemic preparedness efforts.
❖ Establishing a Global Vaccine Research Collaborative to address gaps in vaccine development, enhance
coordination, and foster an enabling environment for vaccine R&D.
❖ Emphasising equity in access to diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines during health emergencies.
❖ Mapping and integrating global initiatives for quick decision making and planning during crises. Addressing
the challenges of zoonotic spillover of diseases transferring from animals to humans.
❖ India’s Priorities for G20 Presidency on Health: India is recognized as the "Pharmacy of the World,"
contributing a significant portion of the global vaccine production.
❖ Genome Valley in Hyderabad alone contributes close to 33% of the world's vaccine production.
Also, India’s Ayurveda and Yoga are significant practices that develop a holistic well-being.
❖ Priorities: Digital Public Infrastructure: India aims to leverage its experience in developing digital platforms
such as Aadhaar, CoWIN, and Aarogya Setu to enhance access, affordability, and quality of health services
for all.
❖ Health Security: India plans to work with other G20 countries to strengthen the global health security
architecture and ensure preparedness for future pandemics.
❖ Universal Health Coverage: India will promote the goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by
2030, as envisaged by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG)
❖ The third meeting of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) commenced in Pune, Maharashtra
with the inauguration of the Global DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) Summit and Exhibition.
❖ India has also introduced the idea to form an alliance of countries, called One Future Alliance, which would
allow like-minded nations to use technology to improve people’s lives.
❖ NOTE: The DEWG, originally called DETF, was formed in 2017 as part of the German G20 presidency with
the aim of promoting the implementation of a secure, interconnected, and inclusive digital economy.
❖ With the global digital economy estimated to be worth USD 11 trillion and expected to reach USD 23 trillion
by 2025, the DEWG plays a critical role in shaping global policy discourse in the digital space.
❖ Highlights of the Summit: Setting the Stage for DPI Advancements: India's role as a test case for
successful DPI implementation and digital transformation was underscored.
❖ India signed MoUs with Armenia, Sierra Leone, and Suriname to share its successful digital solutions
implemented at scale through the India Stack.
❖ Digital Identities for Empowering People: The session focused on the role of digital identity as the
foundation for national priorities and social cohesion. India's Aadhaar and the Philippine's PhilSys were
highlighted as notable examples.
❖ Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion: The session explored the role of DPI in facilitating fast and
inclusive digital payments.
❖ DPI for Judicial Systems and Regulations: The session discussed the implementation of DPI in judicial
systems.
❖ Draft PKI Mutual Recognition Framework: Draft Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Mutual Recognition
Framework has been released by Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India with an aim to take the
lead on the subject of implementation and adoption of India's DPI beyond the country's borders.
❖ One Future Alliance: It is an alliance of countries to be formed to leverage technology for the betterment of
people's lives. It aims to enable like-minded nations to collaborate and use technology to drive Social,
Economic, and Sustainable Development.
❖ The alliance acknowledges the evolving nature of technology, including the power of artificial intelligence
and multilingual capabilities, and aims to implement and advance Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) while
fostering cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity and digital skilling.
❖ The three priority areas selected for the Digital Economy Working Group are: Digital Public Infrastructure
(DPI), Cybersecurity and Digital Skilling.
5
❖ Digital Public Infrastructure: DPI refers to blocks or platforms such as digital identification, payment
infrastructure and data exchange solutions that help countries deliver essential services to their people,
empowering citizens and improving lives by enabling digital inclusion.
❖ DPIs mediate the flow of people, money and information. First, the flow of people through a digital ID
System. Second, the flow of money through a real-time fast payment system. And third, the flow of
personal information through a consent-based data sharing system to actualize the benefits of DPIs and to
empower the citizen with a real ability to control data.
❖ India, through India Stack, became the first country to develop all three foundational DPIs, Digital identity
(Aadhar), Real-time fast payment (UPI) and Account Aggregator built on the Data Empowerment
Protection Architecture (DEPA).
❖ DEPA creates a digital framework that allows users to share their data on their own terms through a third
party entity, who are known as Consent Mangers.
SAI20 Summit
❖ The SAI20 Summit under India’s G20 Presidency began in Goa, led by the Comptroller and Auditor General
(Girish Chandra Murmu) of India.
❖ The SAI20 Engagement Group of G20 was established during Indonesia’s Presidency of the G20
❖ The summit focused on setting priorities on Blue Economy and Responsible AI, encouraging collaboration
and knowledge sharing among Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) (India’s SAI is CAG).
❖ Priority Areas: The SAI20 priority areas include “Blue Economy” and “Responsible Artificial Intelligence”
which represent new-age opportunities and concerns.
❖ Center of Excellence in the Blue Economy: A Center of Excellence in the Blue Economy has been
established at SAI India’s International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development
(iCED).
❖ Compendiums on Blue Economy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence: Two Compendiums on Blue
Economy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence were brought out as a result of support and contributions
from various Supreme Audit Institutions.
❖ Role of Supreme Audit Institutions: The audit of Blue Economy and Responsible AI is challenging due to
their all-pervasive, cross-cutting nature compounded with evolving technology and usage.
❖ SAIs has a crucial role to play in the audit of Blue Economy and Responsible AI to ensure good governance,
transparency, and accountability.
❖ G20 Delhi Declaration on Cyber Security
❖ The National Cyber Security Coordinator of India proposed a draft "Delhi Declaration on cybersecurity" for
G20 nations.
❖ It consists of a series of commitments to “responsible state behaviour in cyberspace” for G20 member
countries, drawn from existing non-binding norms that they have already signed onto under United Nations
auspices.
❖ If adopted, G20 countries would commit to - not damage critical infrastructure or other essential systems;
o cooperate, mitigate and investigate cyber-crime in particular ransomware; o Protect and not disrupt
software supply chains; o Respect international law and rule of law in cyberspace;
❖ Training people on cyber hygiene, which involves having standard operating procedures for various actions,
cyber crisis management plans, audits etc.
❖ National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) under National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)
coordinates with different agencies at the national level for cyber security matters.
❖ The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising European Union (EU) and 19 countries (Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States).
❖ Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts a victim's files. The attacker then demands a ransom from
the victim to restore access to the data upon payment.
Women 20 Summit
❖ As a part of India’s G20 Presidency, the Women 20 (W20) Summit with the theme 'Women-Led
Development- Transform, Thrive and Transcend' held in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
❖ The summit aimed to celebrate the power of women empowerment and address key issues related to
economic empowerment, trade and investment, and care economy.
❖ Key Highlights: Discussions on breaking the invisible barriers and biases that prevent women from
reaching higher positions and leadership roles in various fields were held.
6
❖ Government initiatives such as Self Help Groups(SHGs), PM Mudra Scheme and GeM portal which allow
women access to market and finance are highlighted.
❖ Gender disparities in economic participation are highlighted as women often face inequalities in accessing
economic opportunities, including financial resources, markets, and trade networks.
❖ Participants have discussed systemic barriers, such as lack of access to credit, limited property rights, and
discriminatory practices, which hinder women's economic empowerment
❖ Women 20: W20 is an official engagement group under the G20.
❖ It was established in 2015 with the aim of focusing on gender equity and women's empowerment.
❖ First W20 Summit was held during Turkey’s G20 Presidency in 2015.
❖ The group seeks to mainstream gender considerations into G20 discussions and translate them into
policies and commitments.
❖ It influences the G20 agenda and promotes gender-sensitive approaches to various global challenges.
❖ Priorities: Women's Entrepreneurship, Grassroot Women Leadership, Bridging the Gender Digital Divide,
Education & Skill Development and Climate Change
❖ Composition: W20 comprises a transnational network of delegates.
❖ Delegates represent non-government women's organizations, civil society, female entrepreneurs,
businesses, and think tanks.
❖ The network spans across G20 member states.
❖ W20 India Presidency: W20 India assumed the presidency from W20 Indonesia on December 12, 2022.
Labour20 Summit
❖ The L20 Summit is being held in Patna. Bihar. The topics of ‘Universal Social Security’ and ‘Women and
future of work’ will be discussed
❖ L-20 President and All India President of the Indian Labour Union Shri Hiranmay Pandya hosted the
Meeting.
❖ The inception meeting of Labour20 held in Amritsar on 18, 19 and 20 March 2023 had formed 5 task
forces related to burning issues in the world of work namely – 1- Universal Social Security, 2- Women And
Future Of Work, 3- International Migration of labour - International Portability of social security funds, 4-
Changing World of Work: New Employment opportunities and Challenges in G20 Countries, and 5- Skill
Development: Role and responsibilities of stakeholders.
❖ Engagement Groups under G20: Engagement Groups, comprising non-government participants from each
G20 member, provide recommendations to the G20 Leaders and contribute towards the policy-making
process.
❖ Business20: B20â€¯is the official G20 dialogue forum representing the global business community.
Established in 2010. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been designated as the Business 20 (B20)
Secretariat for India's G20 Presidency.
❖ Civil20 (C20): was launched in 2013 to engage with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
❖ Labour20: L20 Summit first took place formally during the French Presidency in 2011. L20 convenes trade
union leaders from G20 countries
❖ Parliament20: P20 Engagement Group, started during Canada’s Presidency in 2010, is led by Speakers
from Parliaments of G20 countries.
❖ Science20: S20 Engagement Group, comprising the national science academies of the G20 countries, was
initiated during Germany’s Presidency in 2017.
❖ Supreme Audit Institutions 20: SAI20 is an Engagement Group introduced by the Indonesian Presidency in
2022. It is a forum to discuss the important role played by SAIs globally in ensuring transparency.
❖ Startup20: Startup 20 Engagement Group has been initiated under G20 India presidency of 2023 which
aspires to create a global narrative for supporting startups
❖ Think20: T20 as an official G20 Engagement Group, was initiated during the Mexican Presidency in 2012. It
serves as an “idea bank” for the G20 by bringing together think tanks and high-level experts to discuss
relevant international socio-economic issues.
❖ Urban20: Urban 20 or U20 is a city diplomacy initiative, comprising cities from G20 countries. o The U20
was instituted in 2017 under the leadership of Mayors of Buenos Aires(Argentina) and Paris o C40(Cities
Climate Leadership Group is a group of 96 cities) and UCLG(United Cities and Local Governments) are the
conveners of U20 since its inception.
o Ahmedabad is the Chair for the 6th edition of U20.
o The National Institute of Urban Affairs will work with the city of Ahmedabad as the Technical
Secretariat for U20.
7
❖ Women20: Women20 (W20) was launched in 2015 during the Turkish Presidency.
o Its aim is to implement the “25x25” commitment adopted at Brisbane Summit in 2014, aimed at
reducing the gender gap in labour force participation by 25% by the year 2025.
o W20 focuses on ‘gender inclusive economic growth’, and the following five are the priority areas for
W20: Grassroots leadership, Entrepreneurship, Bridging the Gender Digital Divide, Education & Skill
Development and Climate Change.
❖ Youth20: Y20 with its first Y20 conference held in 2010, provides a platform that allows youth to express
their vision on the G20 priorities.
Group of 20 (G20)
❖ It is a group of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), founded in 1999, with representatives of the
International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
❖ The G20 was founded after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank
Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. Was later upgraded to the level of Heads of
State/Government and was designated the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”. Since
2011, the G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating Presidency
❖ Together, the G20 members represent more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of international trade and 60% of
the world population.
❖ The G-20 has no fixed headquarters, and the secretariat moves by rotation between the countries hosting
or assuming Presidency of the grouping each year.
❖ The members are divided into five groups (India is in Group 2, along with Russia, South Africa and Turkey).
❖ The G-20 agenda that still depends heavily on the guidance of Finance Ministers and central Governors is
finalised by a unique system of ‘Sherpas’, who are special envoys of G-20 leaders.
❖ Another feature of the G-20 is ‘Troika’ meetings, comprising the countries presiding over the G-20 in the
past year, present year, and next year. At present, the Troika is made up of Indonesia, India and Brazil.
❖ The First G20 Summit was held in 2008 in Washington DC (USA). Republic of Korea was the first Asian and
non G8 country to host G20 in 2010.
❖ 1997-1999 ASIAN Financial Crisis: This was a ministerial-level forum which emerged after G7 invited both
developed and developing economies. The finance ministers and central bank governors began meeting in
1999
❖ The Global Financial Crisis (2007-08) cemented G20’s reputation as the premier crisis management and
coordination body.
❖ G20 Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United
States, and the European Union.
❖ Nigeria was meant to be the “20th” member and was dropped at the last minute due to political troubles at
the time.
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International Year of Millets 2023
❖ A series of pre-launch events and initiatives have been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare (Narendra Singh Tomar) as a run-up to the International Year of Millets 2023.
❖ Many events were launched such as ‘India's Wealth, Millets for Health’, Millet Startup Innovation
Challenge, Mighty Millets Quiz, Logo and slogan contest etc.
❖ India's proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023 was approved by the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2018 and the United Nations General Assembly has declared the year
2023 as the International Year of Millets.
❖ Objectives: Awareness of the contribution of millet to Food Security and nutrition, Inspire stakeholders to
improve sustainable production and quality of millets, Focus on enhanced investment in research and
development and extension services to achieve the other two aims.
❖ Millet is a collective term referring to a number of small-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated as grain
crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions.
❖ Some of the common millets available in India are Ragi (Finger millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little
millet), Bajra (Pearl millet), and Variga (Proso millet).
❖ The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in Indus civilization and was one of the first plants
domesticated for food.
❖ India is the largest producer of millet in the world. It accounts for 20% of global production and 80% of
Asia’s production.
❖ Millets are Photo-insensitive (do not require a specific photoperiod for flowering) & resilient to climate
change. Millets can grow on poor soils with little or no external inputs.
❖ Millets are less water consuming and are capable of growing under drought conditions, under non-irrigated
conditions even in very low rainfall regimes.
❖ Ragi is known to have the highest calcium content among all the food grains
❖ ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’ Scheme aims to demonstrate the
improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with visible impact to catalyse
increased production of millets in the country.
❖ Millets Man of India: Dr. Khadar Vali also is known as Millets Man of India. He was awarded Padma Shri
the fourth highest civilian award by the president of india on 5 April 2023
❖ Periyapatna Venkatasubbaiah Satheesh: P.V. Satheesh (77), (referred as the original Millets Man of India),
breathed his last on March 19 2023. PV Satheesh was a founder of the Deccan Development Society and
its executive director. The committed and sustained work that P.V. Satheesh led, along with thousands of
Dalit and tribal women farmers.
Millets Experience Centre
❖ The Indian government has launched a first of its kind Millets Experience Centre (MEC) in collaboration
with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
❖ This initiative comes in light of the UNGA's declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM
2023).
❖ Millet has been referred to as ‘Shree Anna’ in Union Budget 2023-24.
❖ The MEC is a unique concept that will promote millets as a versatile, healthy grain by showcasing its
dietary benefits and offering customers a unique dining experience.
❖ Visitors to the center can purchase a variety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products from local millet
start-ups.
❖ The MEC will help widen the horizon for consumers who are actively looking for healthier alternatives.
❖ The establishment of the MEC is a step in the direction of India's goal to become a "Global Hub" for millet.
❖ The MEC will not only promote the dietary benefits of the ancient grain but also popularize millet as a
nutritional powerhouse fit for cooking a variety of dishes such as millet dosa and millet pasta.
❖ Other Government-led Initiatives for Mainstreaming Millets: Initiative for Nutritional Security through
Intensive Millet Promotion (INSIMP), Price Support Scheme (PSS), Promoting Millets in PDS, Hiked MSP of
Millets, Promotion of Organic Farming of millets, Development of Value-Added Millet-based Products
❖ National Millets Mission (NMM): On September 10, 2021 the Chhattisgarh state government formally
launched the 'Millet Mission' with the aim of making the state a millet hub. Under this mission, the Indian
Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad signed MoUs with 14 districts of the state.
❖ Coarse cereals are traditionally grown in resource poor agro-climatic regions of the country.
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❖ Sorghum, pearl millet, maize, barley, finger millet and several small millets such as kodo millet, little millet,
foxtail millet, proso millet and barnyard millet together called coarse cereals.
❖ Sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, maize and small millets (barnyard millet, proso millet, kodo millet and
foxtail millet) are also called nutri-cereals.
Delimitation in Assam
❖ The Assam state Cabinet recently approved the merger of four districts with their constituent districts.
❖ On 27th December, the EC announced the process of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary
constituencies in Assam, saying it would be based on Census data from 2001. Assam currently has 14 Lok
Sabha constituencies and 126 Assembly constituencies.
❖ Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a
country to represent changes in population. The Delimitation Commission is to work without any executive
influence.
❖ Article 82 of the Constitution requires the Indian Parliament to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census.
Once this Act is in force, the Central Government must set up a Delimitation Commission.
❖ The Delimitation Commission is required to determine the number and boundaries of constituencies in
such a way that the population of all seats are same, as far as it is possible. It is also tasked with the
identification of seats reserved for SCs and STs.
❖ A total of 4 Delimitation Commissions have been set up in the past (1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002). The
delimitation exercises did not happen after the 2001 census. The last delimitation exercise that changed
the state-wise composition of the Lok Sabha happened in 1976. It was conducted based on the 1971
census.
❖ The Constitution mandates that the Commission’s orders are final and cannot be questioned before any
court as it would hold up an election indefinitely.
❖ When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative
Assembly, they cannot effect any modification in the orders.
❖ To follow the principle of “One Vote One Value”.
❖ The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the
Election Commission of India.
❖ Consist of Retired Supreme Court judge, Chief Election Commissioner and Respective State Election
Commissioners
❖ Recently, a commission set up by the Centre Government submitted its final report for the delimitation of
Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
❖ The erstwhile J&K state now has 90 seats — 47 in Kashmir, 43 in Jammu.
❖ It was headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
SMART Program for Ayurveda

❖ The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in
Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush (Sarbananda
Sonowal), have launched ‘SMART’ program.
❖ The SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program aims to
boost scientific research through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
❖ It was observed that the research potential of the large community of Ayurveda teachers remains
underutilized mostly. Therefore, the ‘SMART’ program will have a deep long term rejuvenating impact on
research in the field of Ayurveda and it will be a great service to the nation.
❖ Ayush is Traditional & Non-Conventional Systems of Health Care and Healing which includes Ayurveda,
Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
❖ The positive features of the Indian systems of medicine namely their diversity and flexibility; accessibility;
affordability, a broad acceptance by a large section of the general public; comparatively lesser cost and
growing economic value, have great potential to make them providers of healthcare that the large sections
of our people need.
Initiative taken for Development of Ayurveda
❖ National Ayush Mission: Launched in September 2014 by the Department of AYUSH under Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare (Mansukh L. Mandaviya). Now being implemented by Ministry of AYUSH.
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❖ Aahaar Kranti Mission: The initiative ‘Aahaar Kranti’ will focus on addressing the problem of hunger and
diseases in abundance across India and the world. The motto of the Mission is “Uttam Aahaar- Uttam
Vichaar or Good Diet-Good Cognition”.
❖ New Portals on Ayush Sector: Five new portals on Ayush Sector have been launched - CTRI (Clinical Trial
Registry of India), RMIS (Research Management Information System), SAHI (Showcase of Ayurveda
Historical Imprints), AMAR (Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository), and e-Medha (electronic Medical
Heritage Accession).
❖ ACCR Portal and Ayush Sanjivani App: the Ministry of Ayush launched its Ayush Clinical Case Repository
(ACCR) portal and the third version of Ayush Sanjivani App in a virtual event. Its AIM is to portray the
strengths of Ayush systems for treatment of various disease conditions.
Road Accidents in India

❖ As per the Minister of Road Transport and Highways the Indian road accident scenario, with 415 deaths
and many injured every day, is more severe than Covid-19.
❖ Over 1.5 lakh people died from road accidents in 2021, and this has been the trend for several years. ➢
According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data major cause of road accidents were: Speeding
(55.9%), Dangerous/reckless driving/overtaking (27.5%), Other causes (9.9%), Poor Weather conditions
(3.5%), Driving under influence of alcohol/drug (1.9%) and Mechanical defects in motor vehicles (1.3%).
❖ In 2014, crash tests carried out by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) revealed that some
of India’s top-selling car models have failed the UN (United Nations)’s frontal impact crash test.
❖ As per the World Bank, road crashes cost the Indian economy 3 to 5 percent of GDP each year.
❖ According to World Bank’s report “Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society,
2021, About 50% of women were severely affected by the decline in their household income after a crash.
❖ About 40% of women reported a change in their working patterns post-accident, while around 11% reported
taking up extra work to deal with the financial crisis.
Initiatives Related to Road Safety:-
❖ Global: Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015): The declaration was signed at the second Global High-
Level Conference on Road Safety held in Brazil. India is a signatory to the Declaration.
❖ Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030: The UN General Assembly adopted resolution "Improving
global road safety" with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by
2030. The countries plan to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 i.e., to halve the number of global
deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.
❖ The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) : It is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives
through safer roads.
❖ Indian: Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 : The Carriage by Road Act, 2007 : The Control of National
Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2000 : National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998:
❖ Minister of Road Transport and Highways– Nitin Gadkari State- Mansukh L. Mandaviya
Asia Pacific Postal Union

❖ India assumed the leadership of Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU).
❖ Vinaya Prakash Singh was elected as the Secretary General of the APPU for a tenure of 4 years (from Jan
2023). This is the first time an Indian is leading an international organization in the postal sector.
❖ APPU, headquartered in Bangkok (Thailand), is an intergovernmental organization of 32-member countries
of the Asian-Pacific region. It is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) (a UN
specialised agency) in this region. APPU aims to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between
member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.
Related Static GK
❖ Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting- Anurag Thakur State- L. Murugan
❖ Universal Postal Union: established by the treaty of Bern of 1874. It is a specialized agency of the United
Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal
system.
❖ UPU’s headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.
❖ India joined the UPU in 1876
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❖ In August 2022, The Union Cabinet approved the ratification of amendments to the Constitution of the
Universal Postal Union (UPU) as contained in the Eleventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution signed
during the 27th Congress of the Universal Postal Union held at Abidjan 2021.
❖ It would enable the Department of Posts, Government of India to have the “Instrument of Ratification”
signed by the Hon’ble President of India and have the same deposited with the Director General of the
International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
❖ It would resolve many long-standing discrepancies in the text and accommodate provisions for ‘acceptance
or approval of the Acts in consistency with the Vienna Conventions on Law of Treaties signed in 1969 and
entered into force in 1980.
BIND Scheme
❖ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting (Anurag Thakur) regarding the Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and
Network Development” (BIND) Scheme with an outlay of Rs.2,539.61 crore up to 2025-26.
❖ It is a scheme for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion and
upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the
organization.
❖ It will increase coverage of AIR FM (frequency modulation) transmitters in the country to 66% by
geographical area and 80% by population, up from 59% and 68% respectively. The Scheme also envisages
free distribution of over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs (Set Top Box) to people living in remote, tribal, LWE and
border areas.
❖ Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of the country, is the most important vehicle of information,
education, entertainment and engagement for the people especially in the remote areas of the country
through Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR).
❖ Prasar Bharati played a stellar role in communicating public health messages and awareness to the public
during the covid pandemic.
The Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022

❖ The Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications (Ashwini Vaishnaw) has
formulated the Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022.
❖ The Central government has envisioned fulfilling the communication needs of the citizens and enterprises
through establishment of a resilient, secure, accessible and affordable Digital Communications
Infrastructure and Services.
❖ Under the Rules, any person who wishes to exercise a legal right to dig or excavate any property which is
likely to cause damage to a telegraph infrastructure must give notice to the licensee.
❖ The person digging or excavating shall take appropriate action on precautionary measures provided by the
licensee.
❖ Any person, who has dug or excavated any property causing damage to a telegraph infrastructure, will be
liable to pay the damage charges to the telegraph authority.
❖ Once the asset owner agencies map their underlying assets with GIS coordinates on PM GatiShakti
National Master Plan platform, it will also be possible to know the presence of underlying utility assets, at
the point of interest, before start of excavation.
Related Static GK
❖ The Government of India has launched the ambitious Gati Shakti scheme for multi-modal connectivity
plan, with the aim of coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects to bring down logistics
costs.
❖ The Gati Shakti scheme will subsume the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline that was
launched in 2019.
❖ Besides cutting logistics costs, the scheme is also aimed at increasing cargo handling capacity and
reducing the turnaround time at ports to boost trade. It also aims to have 11 industrial corridors and two
new defence corridors - one in Tamil Nadu and other in Uttar Pradesh. Extending 4G connectivity to all
villages is another aim. Adding 17,000 kms to the gas pipeline network is being planned.
❖ It will help in fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the government for 2024-25, including expanding the
length of the national highway network to 2 lakh kms, creation of more than 200 new airports, heliports
and water aerodromes.
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National Geospatial Policy 2022
❖ The Ministry of Science and Technology (Jitendra Singh) has notified a National Geospatial Policy (NGP)
2022, with the goal of making India a world leader in the Global Geospatial Sector.
❖ India's geospatial economy is expected to cross Rs 63,000 crore by 2025 at a growth rate of 12.8% and to
provide employment to more than 10 lakh people.
❖ The new Geospatial Policy will replace the National Map Policy, 2005. It aims to strengthen the location-
centric industry to support the information economy. It uses guidelines for acquiring and producing
geospatial data and related services including maps, issued by the Department of Science and Technology
(DST) in February 2021, as its foundation.
❖ The DST guidelines deregulated the geospatial sector and liberalised the acquisition, production, and
access of data in the field. Building on it, the 2022 policy lays down a framework for the development of a
geospatial ecosystem, including goals and strategies to achieve it.
❖ A Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC) at the national level shall be the apex
body for formulating and implementing strategies related to promotion of the Geospatial sector.
❖ GDPDC would replace and subsume the functions and powers of the National Spatial Data Committee
(NSDC) constituted in 2006 and GDPDC constituted in 2021.
❖ The National Geospatial Policy lists the following targets to be achieved before 2035.
2025 2030 2035
Enable policy, legal framework High resolution topographical High resolution geospatial
supporting geospatial sector survey & mapping (5-10 cm for survey of inland waters and sea
and democratisation of data for urban & rural areas and 50 cm- surface topography of
enhanced 100 cm for forests & shallow/deep seas to support
commercialisation wastelands) Blue Economy
High accuracy Digital Survey and mapping of

Redefine National Geodetic
Elevation Model (DEM) for subsurface infrastructure in
Framework using modern major
entire country (25 cm for plain,
positioning technologies and
1-3 metre for hilly and cities and towns
online access
mountainous areas)
Establish and strengthen an National Digital Twin of major
integrative interface for all Geospatial Knowledge cities and towns
digital data having location Infrastructure (GKI)
dimension collected or underpinned by Integrated
developed utilising public Data and Information
funds, for easy access, Framework
sharing, use and reuse
Enhance capabilities, skills and
High Accuracy Geoid for the
awareness to meet future
Country
needs
❖ Geospatial data are descriptions of events or occurrences with a location on or near the surface of the
earth. This location can be static – relating to earthquakes, vegetation, etc., or dynamic – a person walking
on the road, a package being tracked, etc.
❖ The location data obtained is usually combined with other characteristic attributes or recorded parameters
to provide meaningful insights in the form of geospatial data.
❖ Government Initiative related to Geospatial Technology: Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised
Technology in Village Areas (SWAMITVA) scheme uses drones to map properties in villages. In
collaboration of Ministry of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (Giriraj Singh)
❖ Digital Ocean Platform: It is using geo-spatial technology for the management of our oceans. This is crucial
for our environment and marine ecosystem.
National Green Hydrogen Mission
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❖ The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Raj Kumar Singh) has approved a Rs 19,744 crore
National Green Hydrogen mission that aims to make India a ‘global hub’ for using, producing and exporting
green hydrogen.
❖ It is a program to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen and make India a net exporter
of the fuel. The Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green
Hydrogen.
❖ Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): It will fund the domestic
manufacturing of electrolysers and produce green hydrogen.
❖ States and regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilization of hydrogen will be
identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
❖ Objectives: Developing green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per
annum, 60-100 GW electrolyser Capacity, alongside adding renewable energy capacity of about 125 GW
(gigawatt) in India by 2030.
❖ It aims to entail over Rs 8 lakh crore of total investments and is expected to generate six lakh jobs. It will
also lead to a cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports by over Rs 1 lakh crore and an abatement of
nearly 50 MT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
❖ Hydrogen is a key industrial fuel that has a variety of applications including the production of ammonia (a
key fertilizer), steel, refineries and electricity.
❖ Hydrogen, the most common element in nature, exists only in combination with other elements, and has to
be extracted from naturally occurring compounds like water (which is a combination of two hydrogen
atoms and one oxygen atom). Hydrogen is a clean molecule, but the process of extracting it is energy
intensive.
❖ The sources and processes by which hydrogen is derived are categorised by colour tabs. Hydrogen
produced from fossil fuels is called grey hydrogen, which constitutes the bulk of the hydrogen generated
today. Hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage options is called blue
hydrogen, while hydrogen generated using electrolysers powered by renewable power sources is called
green hydrogen.
❖ The ultimate aim is to fuel key sectors of the economy using hydrogen that is made by splitting water
through an electrical process called electrolysis, using a device called electrolyser that is powered entirely
by renewable energy.
❖ The Toyota Mirai and the Honda Clarity cars are powered by fuel cells.
Parasnath Hills
❖ After the Central government assured members of the Jain community that the sanctity of their holy
place, Sammed Shikharji on Parasnath hills in Jharkhand would conserve, the members of the Santhal
tribe in the State have staked claim to the hill as their Marang Buru (hill deity).
❖ Background: The Jharkhand governmenthas decided to cover the Parasnath hills under Tourist spots of
the state.
❖ After this decision, the Jain community across the country has shown discontent as the site belongs as a
holy place to them.
❖ At last, the government took back its decision.
❖ About Sammed Shikharji: Shikharji also known as Sammed Shikharji is a pilgrimage site in Giridih district,
Jharkhand, India.
❖ It is located on Parasnath hill, the highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand.
❖ It is the most important Jain Tirtha (pilgrimage site) by both Digambara and Shewtambara, for it is the
place where twenty of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras along with many other monks attained Moksha.
❖ It is located on Parasnath hill, the highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand.
o Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand. The highest peak is
1350 metres. It is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Jains.
❖ They call it Sammed Sikhar. The hill is named after Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Twenty Jain
Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill.
❖ For each of them, there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill.
❖ Some of the temples on the hill are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. However, although the place
is habited from ancient times, the temples may be of more recent origin.
14
❖ Santhal’s stakes: Santhal tribe is the largest tribal community in Jharkhand and has a sizeable population
in other States like Bihar, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal.
❖ The Santhals call Parasnath Hills asMarang Buru, the hill of the deity. They celebrate a hunting festival on
the full moon day in Baisakh (mid-April).
❖ The Parasnath hills are actually called Marang Buruand have clearly been mentioned in the Gazetteer
of undivided Bihar’s Hazaribaghdistrict in 1932, much before it became part of separate Giridih district.
Parasnath Hills
❖ Parasnath is a mountain peak in the Parasnath Range.
❖ It is located towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Giridih district of the Indian state
of Jharkhand.
❖ It has been named Parasnath after the 23rd Jain Tirthankara.
❖ It is a holy and revered sites for the Jain community, called it as “Sammed Sikhar”.
❖ Out of 24 Tirthankaras of Jains, 20 got NIRVANA on Parasnath Hills.
❖ On the mountain, A Jain temple is believed to be constructed by Magadha King Bimbisara (543-491 BCE.)
Asia’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum

❖ Asia's first Palm leaf Manuscript Museum was inaugurated in Kerala.
❖ The Museum is a repository of the administrative, socio-cultural and economic facets of the Travancore
kingdom spanning a period of 650 years (till the end of 19th century). It has 187 manuscripts one of which
accounts for the famous Battle of Colachel (1741) wherein the Travancore king defeated the Dutch East
India Company at Colachel (TN).
❖ The museum has eight galleries representing many segments: 'History of Writing', 'Land and people',
'Administration', 'War and peace', 'Education and Health', 'Economy', 'Art and culture' and 'Mathilakam
Records'.
New Integrated Food Security Scheme

❖ The Central Government of India recently announced the launch of a new integrated food security scheme,
which will provide free food grains to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act
(NFSA) for the year 2023. The Cabinet has decided to implement this central sector scheme in order to
fulfill the vision of “One Nation-One Price-One Ration” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This
commitment of the government is intended to benefit the most vulnerable 67% of the population, which is
81.35 crore persons covered under the NFSA.
❖ According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs (Piyush Goyal), the government has a social and legal
commitment to ensuring that the people of India have access to food and nutritional security, through the
availability of quality food grains.
❖ The new integrated scheme will subsume two current food subsidy schemes of the Department of Food
and Public Distribution (DFPD): the food subsidy to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the NFSA, and
sops for decentralized procurement states, which deal with the procurement, allocation, and delivery of free
food grains under the NFSA.
Related Information
❖ The National Food Security Act 2013, also known as Right to Food Act, is an Indian Act of Parliament
which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of the country's 1.2 billion people.
It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.
❖ The Public Distribution System (PDS) is an Indian food security system that was established by the
Government of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Piyush Goyal)
to distribute food and non-food items to India's poor at subsidised rates. Major commodities distributed
include staple food grains, such as wheat, rice, sugar and essential fuels like kerosene, through a network
of fair price shops (also known as ration shops) established in several states across the country. Food
Corporation of India, a government-owned corporation, procures and maintains the PDS.
108th Indian Science Conference

th
❖ The 108 session of the India Science Congress (ISC) was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Nagpur,
Maharashtra
15
❖ The event’s theme is ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women’s Empowerment’.
❖ PM highlighted the increasing participation of women is a reflection of the progress of society and science.
Today, the country’s thinking is not only that women should be empowered through science, but science
should also be empowered with the participation of women.
❖ India is now one of the top three countries in the world when it comes to the number of PhD research works
and startup ecosystems.
❖ The country is now ranked 40th on the Global Innovation Index 2022, up from the 81st rank in 2015.
❖ The chief guest at the event was Nobel Laureate Dr. Ada Yonath and President of Indian Science Congress
Dr Arvind Saxena
Related Static GK
❖ Ada E. Yonath is an Israeli crystallographer best known for her pioneering work on the structure of
ribosomes. She is the current director of the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular
Structure and Assembly of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
❖ In 2009, Yonath received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas
A. Steitz for her studies on the structure and function of the ribosome, becoming the first Israeli woman to
win the Nobel Prize.
❖ Recently, Senior electrochemical scientist Nallathamby Kalaiselvi has become the first woman director
general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for a Term of 6 years.
❖ Kalaiselvi’s research work of more than 25 years is primarily focused on electrochemical power systems
and in particular, development of electrode materials, and electrochemical evaluation of in-house prepared
electrode materials for their suitability in energy storage device assembly.
❖ CSIR was formed in 1942 and Headquartered in New Delhi.
❖ Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar was the Founder Director (and later first Director-General) of CSIR who is
credited with establishing twelve national laboratories. He was also the first Chairman of the University
Grants Commission (UGC).
Country’s Largest Liquid Waste Treatment Plant

❖ The Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT), Andhra Pradesh is set to take a significant step in water
treatment by putting in place what is claimed to be the country’s largest liquid waste treatment plant to use
phytorid technology.
❖ The phytorid technology is developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s (CSIR) National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). It is being used increasingly for various types of
biodegradable wastewater across India.
❖ The technology involves a constructed wetland exclusively designed for the treatment of municipal, urban,
agricultural and industrial wastewater. This technology works without electricity, minimum maintenance,
less manpower and importantly self-sustainable.
Joshimath Land Subsidence

❖ Joshimath is a hilly town located on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway (NH-7) in Chamoli district
of Uttarakhand.
❖ The city serves as a tourist town as it acts as an overnight rest stop for people visiting Badrinath, Auli,
Valley of Flowers, and Hemkund Sahib. It also of great strategic importance to the Indian armed forces
and is home to one of the Army's most important cantonments.
❖ The town (fall in high-risk seismic Zone-V) is traversed by running streams with a high gradient from
Vishnuprayag, a confluence of the Dhauliganga and the Alaknanda rivers.
❖ It is home to one of the four cardinal maths or monasteries established by Adi Shankara - Sringeri in
Karnataka, Dwarka in Gujarat, Puri in Odisha and Joshimath near Badrinath in Uttarakhand.
❖ As per reports, the Uttarakhand government's expert panel in 2022 found that several pockets of Joshimath
are "sinking" owing to man-made and natural factors. It was found that a gradual settling or sudden sinking
of the earth's surface due to the removal or displacement of subsurface materials — has induced structural
defects and damage in almost all wards of the city.
❖ According to the 1976 Mishra Committee report, Joshimath lies on a deposit of sand and stone, it's not on
the main rock. It lies on an ancient landslide. The report added that undercutting by river currents of
Alaknanda and Dhauliganga are also playing their part in bringing landslides
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Vishnugad PipalKoti Hydro Electric Power Project
❖ The 444-MW VPHEP is being built by the Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation, a partially Centre-
owned enterprise.
❖ The project is primarily funded by the World Bank and was sanctioned in 2011
❖ The hydropower project has been targeted to be completed by 30th June, 2023 at the cost of USD 922
million.
❖ The project will build a 65-meter diversion dam near Helang village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand to
create a small reservoir in the Alaknanda River.
❖ The project would destroy the ancient Laxmi Narayan Temple in Haat village Build by Adi Shankaracharya.
❖ Tehri Stage 2: 1000 MW on Bhagirathi River, Largest Dam of Uttrakhand.
Alaknanda River
❖ It is one of the headstreams of the Ganga. Originates from the Satopanth and Bhagirath glaciers in
Uttarakhand.
❖ At Its origin, Lake Satopanth is a triangular lake located at a height of 4402 m and named after the Hindu
trinity Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva.
❖ It meets the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag after which it is called the Ganga.
❖ Its main tributaries are the Mandakini, Nandakini, and Pindar rivers.
❖ Panch Prayag: Five sites in Uttarakhand where five rivers merge into River Alaknanda to ultimately form
the holy River Ganga is called Panch Prayag.
Aspiration Blocks Programme

❖ Recently, Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) has been launched during the 2nd National Conference of
Chief Secretaries held from 5th January to 7th January, 2022.
❖ It is a development initiative aimed at improving the performance of areas that are lagging on various
development parameters. It was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
❖ It will initially cover 500 districts across 31 states and Union Territories, with over half of these blocks
located in six states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.
❖ The ABP is based on the Aspirational District Programme (ADP).
❖ ADP was launched in 2018 which aims to transform districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in
key social areas.
❖ At Government of India level, programme is anchored by NITI Aayog. In addition, individual Ministries have
assumed responsibility to drive progress of districts.
Related Static GK
❖ The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation
and entrepreneurship based on a detailed study and deliberations on innovation and entrepreneurial needs
of the country.
Air Quality Data Analysis

❖ As per a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality data analysis by the National Clean Air
Programme, in 2022, Delhi was the top polluted city with an annual avg. PM 2.5 concentration of 99.7
ug/m3. This is much above the CPCB standard of 40 ug/m3 of air.
❖ The analysis has found that most cities in the top 10 most polluted list of 2022 are from the Indo-Gangetic
Plain; for PM 2.5 (Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Patna, Muzzafarpur, Noida, Meerut, Gobindgarh, Gaya and
Jodhpur) and for PM 10 (Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Delhi, Noida, Patna, Meerut, Muzzafarpur, Durgapur,
Jodhpur and Aurangabad).
❖ The position of the cleanest city in India in 2022 was jointly held by Srinagar and Kohima.
❖ India’s current annual average safe limits for PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 40 ug/m3 and 60 ug/m3. The NCAP
initially set a target of reducing key air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 by 20-30% by 2024 and by 40% by 2026
(base year - 2017).
Related Information
❖ CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
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❖ It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981.
❖ It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and
Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Ladakh Demand of Sixth Schedule

❖ The Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) constituted a high-powered committee chaired by Minister of
State for Home Nityanand Rai for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
❖ The committee will discuss measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into
consideration its geographical location and strategic importance; ensure protection of land and
employment for the people of Ladakh; strategise inclusive development and discuss issues related to the
empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Councils of Leh and Kargil.
❖ Civil society groups in Ladakh have been demanding protection of land, resources and employment for the
past three years after the special status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of
the Constitution was read down by Parliament on August 5, 2019.
❖ The sixth schedule under Article 244 of the Constitution protects the autonomy of tribal populations
through creation of autonomous development councils which can frame laws on land, public health and
agriculture.
❖ As of now ten autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. As per the 2011
Census, the total population of Ladakh was 2,74,289, and nearly 80% of them are tribals.
❖ Background: In 2020, the Peoples Movement for Constitutional safeguard under the sixth schedule or the
Apex Body, Leh was formed. They announced that they would boycott the upcoming district autonomous
council elections if their demands were not met. The representatives which included former BJP MP
Thupstan Chhewang and Skyabje Thiksey Khampo Rinpochey were called to Delhi for a meeting with
Home Minister following which they called off the boycott call.
❖ They were assured that discussions would commence after 15 days of the culmination of elections. In the
same year, the Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) from the two districts of Leh and Kargil
in Ladakh came together to jointly fight for constitutional safeguards for the region
❖ Government Stand: Not keen to give any special status to Ladakh, the MHA informed a parliamentary
standing committee recently that the objective for inclusion of tribal population under the sixth schedule is
to ensure their overall socio-economic development, which, the UT administration has already been taking
care of and that sufficient funds are being provided to Ladakh to meet its overall developmental
requirements.
❖ A report tabled in Rajya Sabha quoted MHA officials, that the Ladakh administration recently increased the
reservation for the Scheduled Tribes in direct recruitment from 10% to 45% which will significantly help the
tribal population in their development.
❖ Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir
region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947.
❖ Capital: Leh First Lieutenant Governor: Radha Krishna Mathur Current: B.D. Mishra
Ganga Vilas Cruise

❖ The Prime Minister of India flagged off the world’s longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas in Varanasi.
❖ The cruise will be managed by private operators, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the
Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways (Sarbananda Sonowal) has supported the project.
❖ It will explore forty historic sites on the banks of the river Ganga including, Mahabodhi temple, Hazarduari
Palace, Katra Masjid, Bodh Gaya, Chandanagar church, Char Bangla Temple and more.
❖ Besides connecting National Waterway 1 (NW-1) which includes Ganga and National Waterway 2 (NW-2)
on Brahmaputra, the cruise will cross 27 river systems.
❖ The Ganga - Bhagirathi-Hooghly River system between Haldia (Sagar) and Allahabad (1620 km) was
declared as NW-1 in 1986.
❖ The 51 days cruise is planned with visits to 50 tourist spots including World Heritage Sites, National
Parks, River Ghats, and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal,
Dhaka in Bangladesh and Guwahati in Assam.
River Ganga
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❖ Ganga is the longest river of India flowing over 2,510 km of mountains, valleys and plains and is revered by
Hindus as the most sacred river on earth. The Ganga basin outspreads in India, Tibet (China), Nepal and
Bangladesh over an area of 10,86,000 Sq.km.
❖ In India, it covers states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand,
Jharkhand, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Delhi draining an area of
8,61,452 Sq.km which is nearly 26% of the total geographical area of the country.
❖ It originates in the snowfields of the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas. At its source, the river is called as
the Bhagirathi. It descends down the valley upto Devprayag where after joining another hill stream
Alaknanda, it is called Ganga.
❖ The principal tributaries joining the river from right are the Yamuna and the Son. The Ramganga, the
Ghaghra, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda join the river from left. The Chambal and the Betwa are
the two other important sub- tributaries.
❖ The Ganges River Dolphin is an endangered animal that specifically habitats this river. o IUCN Status:
Endangered o CITES: Appendix l
o It is classified under Schedule 1, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 providing absolute protection as
offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.
❖ The Ganga joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh and continues its run under the name Padma
❖ The Ganga widens out into the Ganges Delta in the Sundarbans swamp of Bangladesh, before it ends its
journey by emptying into the Bay of Bengal
FSSAI Standards for Basmati Rice

❖ For the first time in India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified the
identity standards for Basmati Rice which will be enforced with effect from 01 August 2023.
❖ Basmati has its origin from India (and some parts of Pakistan); it is a premium variety of rice cultivated in
the Himalayan foothills of the Indian subcontinent.
❖ It is cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, UT of Jammu
and Kashmir and western Uttar Pradesh.
❖ Basmati is widely consumed both domestically and globally and India accounts for 2/3rd of its global
supply.
❖ The standards have been notified under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food
Additives) First Amendment Regulations, 2023.
❖ Standards: Basmati rice shall possess the natural fragrance characteristic of basmati rice. o Basmati rice
has a unique fragrance and flavour due to the presence of a chemical called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline.
❖ It should be free from artificial colouring, polishing agents and artificial fragrances.
❖ Further, these standards also specify the average size of Basmati grains and their elongation ratio after
cooking; maximum limits of moisture, amylose content, uric acid, defective/damaged grains and incidental
presence of other non-basmati rice etc.
Related Information
❖ APEDA got GI tag for the region located in IGP below the foothills of the Himalayas, spread across seven
states (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Western Uttar Pradesh (26
districts) and Delhi) in May 2010.
❖ Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare (Mansukh L. Mandaviya). It has been established under Food Safety and Standards
Act, 2006.
❖ The Food Standards and Safety Act, 2006 replaced several Acts and Orders like the Prevention of Food
Adulteration Act, 1954; Fruit Products Order, 1955.
Air Pollution in India & NCAP

❖ Under the National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP), analysts found that progress has been slow, and pollution
has only incrementally reduced in most cities.
❖ It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav) in
January 2019.
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❖ It seeks to cut the concentration of coarse (particulate matter (PM) of diameter 10 micrometer or less, or
PM10) and fine particles (particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less, or PM2.5) by at least 20%
in the next five years, with 2017 as the base year for comparison.
❖ It covers 132 non-attainment cities which were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) for over five years.
❖ Current Scenario: The country’s current, annual average prescribed limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40
micrograms/per cubic metre (ug/m3) and 60 micrograms/per cubic metre.
❖ New Targets: The NCAP initially set a target of reducing key air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 by 2030% in
2024, taking the pollution levels in 2017 as the base year to improve upon.
o In September 2022, however, the Centre moved the goalposts and set a new target of a 40%
reduction in particulate matter concentration, by 2026.
❖ The NCAP Tracker, a joint project by two organisations active in air pollution policy has been monitoring
progress in achieving the 2024 clean air targets.
❖ Among the non-attainment cities, the national capital of Delhi ranked the most polluted in 2022. But Delhi’s
PM2.5 levels have improved by over 7% compared to 2019.
❖ Nine of the 10 cities, which were the most polluted in 2019, have reduced their PM2.5 and PM10
concentrations in 2022.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQs)
❖ The NAAQS set by the CPCB are applicable to the whole country. The CPCB draws this power from the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
❖ The first ambient air quality standards were developed in 1982 pursuant to the Air (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act,1981. Later, in 1994 and 1998, these standards were revised. The latest revision to the
NAAQS was done in 2009 and this is the latest version being followed.
❖ The compliance of the NAAQS is monitored under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
NAMP is implemented by the CPCB.
❖ The current standards (2009) comprise 12 pollutants as follows: Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), Particulate
Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3),
Ammonia (NH3), Lead (Pb), Benzene, Benzopyrene, Arsenic, Nickel
❖ Carbon Dioxide is not considered an air pollutant in both AQI and NAAQS.
Related Information
❖ International day for Clean Air for Blue Sky -7 September
❖ Theme- The Air we Share
❖ Recently, the Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System - AI-AQMS v1.0 was launched by MeitY.
❖ The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata has developed an outdoor air
quality monitoring station to monitor environmental pollutants. It includes parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5,
PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity, etc, for continuous air quality analysis
of the environment.
Survival of the Richest Report
❖ According to the Oxfam’s Report “Survival of the Richest: The India story”, the richest 1% in India now own
more than 40% of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together share just 3%
of wealth between 2012 and 2021.
❖ The report states that taxing India's ten-richest individuals at 5% could generate enough money to bring
children back to school.
❖ Gender Inequality: The report also highlighted gender inequality in India, stating that female workers earned
only 63 paise for every 1 rupee earned by male workers.
❖ Social Inequality: Oxfam India stated that the country's marginalized communities such as Dalits, Adivasis,
Muslims, Women, and informal sector workers are continuing to suffer in a system that prioritizes the
survival of the richest.
❖ Suggested Measures to Combat Inequality: To implement inheritance, property and land taxes, as well as
net wealth taxes, in order to reduce inequality and generate revenue for social programs.
❖ To enhance the budgetary allocation of the health sector to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, as envisaged in the
National Health Policy.
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❖ To enhance the budgetary allocation for education to the global benchmark of 6% of GDP.
❖ To combat these problems, Oxfam urged higher taxes on the rich, through a combination of measures
including one-time “solidarity” taxes and raising minimum rates for the wealthiest.
❖ Oxfam International has called for food companies that are making large profits as inflation has surged to
face windfall taxes.
Related Static GK
❖ Oxfam International is a confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations working together with
partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. Its mission is to end the injustices that cause
poverty.
❖ Windfall taxes are taxes imposed on unexpected or extraordinary profits, such as those made during times
of economic crisis, war, or natural disasters.
❖ Governments typically levy a one-off tax retrospectively over and above the normal rates of tax on such
profits, called windfall tax.
❖ One area where such taxes have routinely been discussed is oil markets, where price fluctuation leads to
volatile or erratic profits for the industry.
PARAKH
❖ The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) has notified India’s first national
assessment regulator, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for
Holistic Development), which aims to set up assessment guidelines for all boards. ❖ PARAKH has been
launched as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)2020 that envisaged a
standard-setting body to advise school boards regarding new assessment patterns and latest research, and
promote collaborations between them.
❖ It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT. It will also be tasked with holding periodic learning outcome
tests like the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Surveys. It will work on three
major assessment areas: large-scale assessments, school-based assessment, and examination reforms.
❖ Objectives: Uniform Norms & Guidelines: Setting norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment
and evaluation for all recognized school boards of India.
❖ Enhance Assessment Pattern: It will encourage and help school boards to shift their assessment patterns
towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century.
❖ Reduce Disparity in Evaluation: It will bring uniformity across the state and central boards which currently
follow different standards of evaluation, leading to wide disparities in scores.
❖ Benchmark Assessment: The benchmark assessment framework will seek to put an end to the emphasis
on rote learning, as envisaged by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Remote Voting Machine

❖ The Election Commission of India (ECI) has proposed a new Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM),
which will allow domestic migrants to vote in national and regional elections.
❖ The EC proposed using this in a State Assembly election as a pilot so internal migrants within a state can
cast their ballots.
❖ In 2019 general election, over 91% of its eligible citizens were registered with 67% of them coming out to
vote, which is the highest voter turnout in the nation’s history. It is, however, worrying that a third of the eligible
voters, a whopping 30 crore people, do not vote.
❖ One of the reasons for less voter turnout remained the internal migration that took electors away from their
home constituencies.
❖ Hearing a petition on the alleged denial of voting opportunities to migrants, the Supreme Court (SC) had in
2015 directed the EC to explore options for remote voting.
❖ RVM is a modified version of the existing Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). The special remote polling
booths would be set up in different states when elections are on in the home state of migrants.
❖ The RVM can handle multiple constituencies from a single remote polling booth.
❖ For this, instead of a fixed ballot paper sheet, the machine has been modified to have an electronic dynamic
ballot display which will present different candidate lists corresponding to the constituency number of the
voter read by a constituency card reader.
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)
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❖ EVMs have been used on a large scale in India since 1992 and have been used in all Lok Sabha and State
Assembly elections since 2000.
❖ The latest iteration of the machine is the M3 model, which has been manufactured since 2013. In 2010,
multiple political parties approached the ECI to develop a mechanism to verify that the EVM had recorded
the vote correctly. As a result, the ECI developed the Voter Verified Paper Trail Audit (VVPAT) machine,
which has become universal in elections since mid-2017.
❖ The current EVM setup includes a Balloting Unit (BU), which is connected to the VVPAT printer and is
located inside the voting compartment.
❖ The VVPAT prints a slip with the poll symbol and candidate name once the voter presses the key on the BU,
which is visible to the voter for seven seconds before being dropped off in a box inside the VVPAT.
❖ The industrial designers of the EVM's were faculty members at the Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay.
❖ EVMs were commissioned in 1989 by the Election Commission of India in collaboration with Bharat
Electronics and Electronics Corporation of India Limited.
❖ They were First introduced in Indian elections between 1998 and 2001, in a phased manner
❖ The EVMs were first used in 1982 in the by-election to North Paravur Assembly Constituency in Kerala.
❖ The EVM's were used first time in the general election to the assembly of Goa in 1999.
❖ The Electronic Voting Machines used in the Indian elections can record a maximum of 2000 votes.
Sugar Export
❖ According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), sugar mills in India have entered into contracts to
export 55 lakh tonnes of sweetener.
❖ The government has allowed sugar mills to export 60 lakh tonnes of sugar till May in the 202223 marketing
year (October-September).
❖ Sugar industry is an important agro-based industry that impacts the rural livelihood of about 50 million
sugarcane farmers and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills.
❖ In (Oct-Sep) 2021-22 India emerges as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and world’s 2nd
largest exporter of sugar.
❖ Geographical Conditions for the Growth of Sugar o Temperature: Between 21-27°C with hot and humid
climate. o Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm. o Soil Type: Deep rich loamy soil.
o Top Sugarcane Producing States: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka.
❖ Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) is a premier sugar organisation in India. It is the interface between
the Government and sugar industry (both private and public sugar mills) in the country.
❖ The prime objective is to ensure that the functioning and interest of both the private and public sugar mills
in the country are safeguarded through conducive and growth-oriented policies of the Government.
Honey Mission and Sweet Revolution
❖ Under the Honey Mission, 1 lakh and 75 thousand bee boxes have been distributed so far by the Khadi and
Village Industries Commission (KVIC) after providing beekeeping training to 17 thousand 500 beneficiaries
across the country.
❖ As per the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar and Rajasthan were
the top five honey-producing states in 2021-22.
❖ Honey Mission was launched in 2017 in line with the ‘Sweet Revolution’.
❖ Under the mission, the KVIC under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Narayan Tatu Rane)
provides the farmers or beekeepers –Practical training about the examination of honeybee colonies, --
Identification and management of bee enemies and diseases along with the management of bee colonies in
all seasons. --Acquaintance with apicultural equipment’s and Honey extraction and wax purification.
❖ Sweet Revolution is an ambitious initiative of the Government of India for promoting apiculture, popularly
known as 'beekeeping'.
❖ To provide a booster shot to Sweet Revolution, the government launched the National Beekeeping and Honey
Mission in 2020 (a central sector scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) as part of
the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme.
❖ It aims to accelerate the production of quality honey and other related products. The demand for good quality
honey has grown over the years as it is considered a naturally nutritious product.
❖ the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has launched “Madhu Kranti Portal & Honey Corners.
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❖ It is an initiative of National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Narendra Singh
Tomar) under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM).
❖ This portal is being developed for online registration to achieve a traceability source of Honey and other
beehive products on a digital platform.
❖ The platform will help in checking the quality and source of adulteration of honey.
❖ Honey Corners are special spaces for the marketing and sale of honey.
❖ It is operated by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)
Revival of Village Defence Committees

❖ Lieutenant Governor of the Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha declared to revive Village Defence
Committees (VDC) amid recent militant attacks.
❖ The VDC were set up in the mid - 1990s as a force multiplier against militant attacks. Its aim was to provide
residents of remote hilly villages with weapons and give them arms training to defend themselves.
❖ The Home Ministry in 1995 decided to set up the VDCs. Later, the scheme was expanded to other areas of
the Jammu division as militants extended their activities to Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua and
Samba districts.
❖ The VDCs have now been renamed as Village Defence Guards (VDG). The new scheme to set up VDGs in
vulnerable areas of J&K was approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2022.
❖ The VDGs will function under the direction of the Senior superintendent of police (SSP)/superintendent of
police (SP) of the district concerned.
❖ Under the new scheme, the persons leading the VDGs will be paid Rs 4,500 per month by the government,
while others will get Rs 4,000 each.
❖ In the VDCs, only the Special Police Officers (SPOs) leading them were provided a remuneration of Rs
1,500 monthly
Etalin Hydroelectric Project

❖ The Etalin hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh has been scrapped in its present form.
❖ The project is a joint venture of Jindal Power Limited and the Hudropower Development Corporation of
Arunachal Pradesh
❖ The plan combined two run-of-the-river schemes with limited storage requiring concrete gravity dams on
rivers Tangon and Dri.
❖ It ran into several controversies since its inception in 2008 over concerns of ecological damage, forest
invasion and tribal displacement.
❖ The Dir and Tangon river, both tributaries of the Dibang River (tributary of Brahmaputra) in Arunachal
Pradesh, India, have the Hydrological, Ecological, Tourist Attraction Significance .
❖ Environmental Impact: The project would involve the construction of a large dam on the Dibang River, which
would submerge a large area of forest and wildlife habitat.
❖ The project would displace thousands of people from their homes and livelihoods, many of whom are from
indigenous communities who rely on the Dibang River for their livelihoods and would change the natural flow
of the river and affect the fish migration and breeding.
❖ The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) highlighted the geological and seismic risks
and threats to biodiversity in 2015, when environmental clearance (EC) to the project was underway.
❖ Recent Development of Issue: The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has asked the Arunachal Pradesh
government to go back to the drawing board and submit the plan of project again.
❖ FAC is a statutory body which was constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.
❖ It comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav).
❖ It considers questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses such as mining, industrial
projects, townships and advises the government on the issue of granting forest clearances. However, its
role is advisory.
17th ASER 2022

❖ The 17th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 was released by NGO Pratham, which highlights
the impact of the pandemic on education.
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❖ The report unveils high enrolment of children in schools which is a good performance indicator for
government programmes like Nipun Bharat Mission.
❖ The ASER, is an annual, citizen-led household survey that aims to understand whether children in rural
India are enrolled in school and whether they are learning.
❖ ASER has been conducted every year since 2005 in all rural districts of India. It is the largest citizen-led
survey in India.
❖ ASER surveys provided representative estimates of the enrolment status of children aged 316 and the
basic reading and arithmetic levels of children aged 5-16 at the national, state and district level.
❖ According to the ASER, 2022 the country has seen an increase in the enrollment of children in government
schools.
❖ There has been a decline in the basic reading and arithmetic skills of young children in Class 3 and Class 5
in India.
❖ The decrease in the proportion of girls not enrolled in schools for the age group 11-14 from 4.1% in 2018 to
2% in 2022 is a significant improvement and a positive development.
Parameters 2018 2022 Trend
Overall Enrollment (Age Group 6-14) 97.2% 98.4% Positive
Enrolled in Government School (Age Group 6-14) 65.6% 72.9% Positive
Girls not Enrolled in School (Age Group 11-14) 4.1% 2% Positive
Children in Std I-VIII Taking Paid Private Tuition Classes 26.4% 30.5% Positive
Children in Std III (Government or Private Schools) Able to 27.3% 20.5% Negative
read at Std II level
Children in Std III who are able to at least do subtraction 28.2% 25.9% Negative
Children in Std V across India who can do division 27.9% 25.6% Negative
Government Schools with Less than 60 Students Enrolled 29.4% 29.9% Negative
Average Teacher Attendance 85.4% 87.1% Positive
Fraction of Schools with Useable Girls’ Toilets 66.4% 68.4% Positive
Schools with Drinking Water Availability 74.8% 76% Positive
4df
Womaniya Initiative
❖ The Government e Marketplace (GeM) has launched a new initiative called “Womaniya on GeM” to
empower women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups (WSHGs) to sell their products directly to
various government ministries, departments, and institutions.
❖ The initiative aims to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-
inclusive economic growth. It will spur hyper-local economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and
address the goals and objectives of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5.
❖ The CEO of GeM, S Radha Chauhan, has released a video to highlight the essence and benefits of the
Womaniya initiative. The Womaniya initiative is particularly important because nearly 80% of women-owned
establishments are self-financed and more than 60% of 8 million units are owned and or led by women
entrepreneurs from socially-challenged sections of the society.
India’s First School of Logistic, Waterways and Communication
❖ India’s first School of Logistics, Waterways, and Communication was launched in Agartala. The Union
Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Dr. Manik Saha, Chief
Minister of Tripura, jointly inaugurated the school.
❖ The school aims to enable the rich pool of talent in the region to become world-class experts in the
transportation and logistics sector.
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

❖ Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad, Telangana for establishing its Center
for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).
❖ The C4IR Telangana will be an autonomous, non-profit organisation with a thematic focus on healthcare
and life sciences.
24
❖ It is characterised by the use of technology to blur the boundaries between the digital, physical, and
biological worlds, and is driven by data.
❖ Key technologies include cloud computing, big data, autonomous robots, cybersecurity, simulation, additive
manufacturing, and the internet of things (IoT).
❖ The term 4IR was coined by Klaus Schwab, executive chairperson of the WEF, in 2016.
❖ Examples of its Application: The pacemaker is a near-perfect example of the ongoing fourth industrial
revolution (4IR).
❖ The four wireless sensors of the pacemaker monitor vitals such as temperature, oxygen levels and the
heart’s electrical activity. The device then analyses the vitals and decides when to pace the heart and at what
rate. Doctors can wirelessly access the information on a tablet or smartphone.
❖ Xenobots: Xenobots, which are less than a millimetre long, are known to be the first living robot, were created
in 2020 from the stem cells of the African clawed frog and can be programmed using artificial intelligence.
❖ It has a reproductive ability demonstrated in October 2021 by a team of US scientists. When the researchers
put the xenobots into a petri dish, they were able to gather hundreds of tiny stem cells inside their mouths
and create new xenobots a few days later.
❖ Once perfected, xenobots could be useful for tasks like cleaning up microplastics and regrowing or
replacing dead cells and tissues inside human bodies
❖ First Industrial Revolution (1800s): It used water and steam power to mechanise production. Example:
Steam engine.
❖ Second Industrial Revolution (early 1900s): It used electric power to create mass production. Example:
Electricity.
❖ Third Industrial Revolution (late 1900s): It used electronics and information technology to automate
production. Example: Computer and Internet.
Related static GK
❖ The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva,
Switzerland. Recognized by the Swiss authorities as the international institution for publicprivate
cooperation.
❖ Mission: Committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other
leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
❖ Founder and Executive Chairman: Klaus Schwab.
❖ Some major reports published by WEF are: Energy Transition Index, Global Competitiveness Report, Global
IT Report (WEF along with INSEAD, and Cornell University publishes this report), Global Gender Gap Report,
Global Travel and Tourism Report.
UNSC 1267 Committee

❖ The ISIL and Al Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UNSC (1267 Committee) has placed Abdul Rehman
Makki - the key planner of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), on its sanctions list.
❖ The move was made possible after China withdrew the “technical hold” that it had imposed in June 2022
when the US and India tried to get Makki on the global terror blacklist.
UNSC 1267 Committee
❖ It was first set up in 1999 (updated in 2011 and 2015), and strengthened after the September, 2001
attacks.
❖ It is now known as the Da’esh and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
❖ It comprises all permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC
❖ It is one of the most important and active UN subsidiary bodies working on efforts to combat terrorism,
particularly in relation to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
❖ It discusses UN efforts to limit the movement of terrorists, especially those related to travel bans, the
freezing of assets and arms embargoes for terrorism.
IT Amendment Rules 2022

❖ Under the notified amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, MeitY proposed a draft rule [Rule 3(1)(b)(v)] under
which social media platforms will have to take down content that has been “fact-checked” as false by the
PIB’s (Press Information Bureau) fact check unit.
❖ The notified amendments to IT Rules 2021 aim to impose a legal obligation on intermediaries to make
reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading certain categories of harmful/unlawful content. The
new provision will ensure that the intermediary’s obligation is not a mere formality.
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Background Information
❖ Government notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital
Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
❖ These are aimed at making internet-open, safe & trusted and accountable, for the digital nagriks of the
country.
❖ Currently, intermediaries are only required to inform users about not uploading certain categories of
harmful/unlawful content. These amendments impose a legal obligation on intermediaries to take
reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading such content. The new provision will ensure that the
intermediary’s obligation is not a mere formality.
❖ Communication is done in regional Indian languages as well.
❖ Amendments to the Rule 3: The grounds in subclause 1 of rule 3 [rule 3(1)(b)(ii)] have been rationalized by
removing the words ‘defamatory’ and ‘libellous’.
❖ Some of the content categories in subclause 1 of rule 3 (rule 3(1)(b)) have been rephrased to deal
particularly with misinformation, and content that could incite violence between different religious/caste
groups.
❖ Establishment of Grievance Appellate Committee(s): To allow users to appeal against the inaction of, or
decisions taken by intermediaries on user complaints. However, users will always have the right to
approach courts for any remedy.
❖ They are required to establish a grievance redressal mechanism and remove unlawful and unfitting content
within stipulated time frames of 24 hours
❖ The grievance officer of the platform’s redressal mechanism is responsible for receiving and resolving
complaints of the users.
❖ Intermediaries shall remove or disable access withing 24 hours of receipt of complaints of contents that
exposes the private areas of individuals, show such individuals in full or partial nudity or in sexual act or is
in the nature of impersonation including morphed images etc. and, dispose of the same in an appropriate
manner within 15 days
❖ The privacy policies of the social media platforms must ensure that users are educated about not
circulating copyrighted material and anything that can be construed as defamatory, racially or ethnically
objectionable, paedophilic, threatening the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India or
friendly relations with foreign states, or violative of any contemporary law.
❖ According to section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), the Union Government by
notification should appoint an agency named Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERTIn) to
serve as the national agency for incident response.
Safe Harbour Clause
❖ The government is reconsidering a key aspect of cyberspace ‘safe harbour’, which is the principle
that ‘intermediaries’ on the internet are not responsible for what third parties post on their website.
❖ This is the principle that allows social media platforms to avoid liability for posts made by users.
❖ Safe harbour has been reined in recent years by regulations like the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which require platforms to take down posts when
ordered to do so by the government, or when required by law.
❖ Changes in the new Act: Platforms for which safe harbour was applied as a concept “have now morphed
into multiple types of participants and platforms on the internet, functionally very different from each other,
and requiring different types of guardrails and regulatory requirements.”
❖ Social media platforms’ own moderation policies may now take a backseat to constitutional
protections for freedom of expression.
AK-203 Rifles
❖ India and Russia have begun the joint production of AK 203 rifles at a factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
❖ India and Russia had inked an ₹5,124 agreement in December 2021 for procurement of 6,01,427 AK 203
assault rifles through Korwa Ordnance Factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district.
❖ More than six lakh rifles are to be manufactured in India as part of a joint venture — Indo-Russia Rifles
Private Limited — established between the Indian Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kalashnikov Concern, and
Rosoboronexport, (both subsidiaries of the Rostec State Corporation).
❖ The idea is to have rifles made of 100 % indigenous components over a period of 128 months.
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❖ AK-203 assault rifle is considered to be the latest and most advanced version of the AK-47 rifle. It is a
7.62×39mm variant from the AK-100 rifle family (one that offers the AK-74M system, in multiple cartridges
and lengths).
❖ It is expected to replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56×45 mm assault rifle, which are
presently being used by Army, Navy and the Air Force besides other security forces.
❖ Indo-Russia Defence and Security Relations
❖ India-Russia military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint
research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems.
❖ Both countries regularly conduct the Tri-Services exercise ‘INDRA‘.
❖ The joint programmes between India and Russia include: BrahMos cruise missile programme, 5th generation
fighter jet programme, Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme, Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft & KA-226T
twin-engine utility helicopters
❖ The military hardware purchased/leased by India from Russia includes: S-400 Triumf, Kamov Ka-226 200,
T-90S Bhishma & INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier programme
❖ Indian Navy’s first submarine, ‘Foxtrot Class’ came from Russia.
❖ India is dependent on Russia for its nuclear submarine programme
Allegations Against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

❖ India’s most-decorated women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused BJP MP and Wrestling
Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
❖ Others supporting the wrestlers and also protesting against what they called the “dictatorial ways” of the
federation were Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia, Olympian Anshu and world junior silver medallist Sonam
Malik. Bajrang’s wife and national-ranked wrestler Sangeeta Phogat was also present.
❖ Reacting to the events, Swati Maliwal, chairperson oAsf Delhi Commission for Women, issued a notice
against Singh, asking the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Sports Secretary to probe and provide details
of the matter.
❖ Sports Ministry has formed a oversight committee to probe into the allegation on WFA headed by legendary
boxer MC Mary Kom, and includes former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former shuttler Trupti Murgunde,
Radhica Sreeman, former wrestler Babita Phogat and Rajesh Rajagopalan, ex-CEO, Target Olympic Podium
Scheme.
Related Static GK
❖ The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is the governing body of wrestling in India. It is headquartered in
New Delhi.
❖ Got United World Wrestling affiliation in 1961 general secretary: V.N. Prasood
❖ Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both Commonwealth amd Asian
Games. She is the only Indian woman wrestler to win multiple medals at the World Wrestling
Championships. Phogat became the first Indian athlete to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards
in 2019.
❖ Phogat has also won silver medal in Asian Championship 2015, 2017, 2018 and Bronze medal in 2013,
2016, 2019, 2020.
❖ She Won Major Dyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020 and Arjuna Award in 2016
Vinesh Phogat Achievements
Competition Venue Category Medal Opponent
World Championship 2019 Nur-Sultan, 53 kg Bronze 🥉 Maria Prevolaraki, Greece
Kazakhstan
World Championship 2022 Belgrade, 53 kg Bronze🥉 Emma Malmgran, Sweden
Serbia
Asian Games 2014 Incheon, 48 kg Bronze🥉 Eri Tosakal (Japan),
South Erdenesukhin Narangerel
Korea
Asian Games 2018 Jakarta, 50 kg Gold🥇 Yuki Irie, Japan
Indonesia
Commonwealth 2014 Glasgow 48 kg Gold🥇 Yana Rattigan, Canada
Commonwealth 2018 Gold Coast, 50 kg Gold🥇 Jessica MacDonald,
Australia Canada
27
Commonwealth 2022 Birmingham 53 kg Gold🥇 Samantha Stewart, Canada
Asian Championships Almaty, 53 kg Gold🥇 Meng Hsuan, China
Kazakhstan
❖ Bajrang Punia was born in Khudan, Jhajjar, Haryana, India. He began wrestling at the age of seven and was
encouraged to pursue the sport by his father. He was awarded Arjuna Award in 2015, Padma Shri in 2019
and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2019.
Bajrang Punia Achievements
Olympic 2020 Tokyo, Japan 65 kg Bronze Daulet Niyazbekov,
Kazaksthan
Asian Games 2014 Incheon, South Korea 61 kg Silver Masoud Esmaeilpour, Iran
Asian Games 2018 Jakarta, Indonesia 65 kg Gold Daichi Takatani, Japan
Commonwealth 2014 Glasgow 61 kg Silver David Tremblay, Canada
Commonwealth 2018 Gold Coast, Australia 65 kg Gold Kane Charig, Wales
Commonwealth 2022 Birmingham 65 kg Gold Lachlan McNeil, Canada
Asian Championships New Delhi 65 kg Gold Seunghui Lee, Korea
2017
Asian Championship Xi’an, China 65 kg Gold Sayatbek Okassov.
2019 Kazakhstan
Commonwealth Brakpan, South 65 kg Gold n.a
Championship 2017 Africa
Commonwealth Singapore 65 kg Gold n.a
Championship
2016
Asian Indoor & Martial Ashgabat, 70 kg Gold n.a
arts games 2017 Turkmenistan
❖ Sushil Kumar Solanki is a former Indian wrestler. He carried the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of
2012 London Olympics. His 2008 Olympic medal was second for India in wrestling, and the first since
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav's bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. In July 2009, he received the
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
❖ Ongoing Case: The Delhi Police arrested Sushil Kumar in connection with the murder of former junior
national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankhar during a brawl in the Chhatrasal Stadium on 4 May 2021.
After arresting Kumar, Delhi Police presented him in Rohini court and the court ordered a six-day remand of
Kumar to Delhi police
Sushil Kumar Solanki Achievements
Olympic 2008 Beijing 66 kg Bronze🥉 Andriy Stadnik, Ukraine
Olympic 2012 London 66 kg Silver🥈 Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, Japan
World Championship 2010 Moscow 66 kg Gold Alan Gogaev, Russia
Commonwealth 2010 New Delhi 66 kg Gold Heinrich Bernes, South Africa
Commonwealth 2014 Glasgow 74 kg Gold Qamar Abbas, Pakistan
Commonwealth 2018 Gold Coast, 74 kg Gold Johannes Botha, Australia
Australia
Asian Championship 2003 New Delhi 66 kg Gold Kim Dai-Sung. South Korea
Commonwealth London 60 kg Gold n.a
Championship 2003
Commonwealth Cape Town 66 Kg Gold n.a
Championship 2005
Commonwealth London 66 kg Gold n.a
Championship 2007
Commonwealth Jalandhar 66 kg Gold n.a
Championship 2009
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Commonwealth Johannesburg 74 kg Gold n.a
Championship 2017
Ken-Betwa River Link Project
❖ The Ministry of Jal Shakti (Gajendra Singh Shekhawat) has chaired a meeting on Ken-Betwa Link Project
(KBLP), stating that it is the “flagship” project of the national government and it “is crucial for the water
security and socio-economic development of Bundelkhand region”.
❖ In December 2021, the Union Cabinet approved KBLP at a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore. In this project.
❖ The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the river interlinking project that aims to transfer surplus water from
the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Betwa in Uttar Pradesh (UP) to irrigate the drought-prone
Bundelkhand region.
❖ The region spread across the districts of two states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of
UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.
❖ The project involves building a 77-metre tall and a 2-km wide Dhaudhan dam (to be built within Panna
Tiger Reserve) and a 230-km canal.
❖ It will not only accelerate the water conservation by construction of a multipurpose dam but will also
produce 103 MW of hydropower and will supply drinking water to 62 lakh people.
❖ There are environment Concerns Related to the Project like passing of the project though critical tiger
habitat of panna tiger reserve, the project is stuck in for the approval from National Green Tribunal (NGT),
and other higher authorities.
❖ The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the
transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is
drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.
❖ Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), has
identified 30 links (16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component) for the
preparation of feasibility reports (FRs).
❖ The NPP for transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins was prepared in August
1980.
Related Static GK
❖ Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.
❖ Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.
❖ Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
❖ Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.
❖ Panna National Park was established in 1981. It has a geographical extension in the districts of Panna and
Chhatarpur. It is spread over an area of about 543 square kilometers.
❖ This national park was declared a Project Tiger Reserve in the year 1994 by the Central Government.
❖ UNESCO designated the Panna Tiger Reserve as a Biosphere Reserve on August 25, 2011.
❖ Madhya Pradesh is considered not only that of the country, but the world's Tiger Capital. The management
of Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves has been recognized as the best in the country.
❖ On July 30, 2021, Panna Tiger Reserve was awarded the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CAITS)
certificate by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for meeting the established international
standards for tiger conservation and management.
Forest and Tree Cover in India

❖ India is lagging behind in the targets to increase the number and quality of tree- and forest-
cover plantations set in the National Mission for a Green India (GIM).
❖ States with significant shortfall in tree cover include Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and
Kerela.
❖ Tree cover refers to the total area of land that is covered by trees, regardless of whether or not the
trees are part of a forest ecosystem.
❖ Forest cover, on the other hand, refers specifically to the area of land that is covered by a forest
ecosystem, which is defined as an area with a tree canopy density of more than 10% and an area of more
than 1 hectares.
❖ So, all forest cover is tree cover, but not all tree cover is forest cover.
❖ National Mission for a Green India: Is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate
Change.
❖ It aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s forest cover and responding to climate change.
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❖ The target under the Mission is 10 million hectares (Mha) on forest and non-forest lands for increasing the
forest/tree cover and to improve the quality of existing forest.
❖ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav) supports the States/Union
Territories for carrying out afforestation activities through this Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
❖ As per the India State of Forest Report-2021, forest and tree cover in the country increased by 2,261
square kilometres since the last assessment in 2019.
❖ India’s total forest and tree cover was 80.9 million hectares, which accounted for 24.62% of the
geographical area of the country.
❖ The report said 17 States and Union Territories had more than 33% of their area under forest cover.
❖ Madhya Pradesh had the largest forest cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and
Maharashtra.
❖ The top five States in terms of forest cover as a percentage of their total geographical area were Mizoram
(84.53%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), Meghalaya (76%), Manipur (74.34%) and Nagaland (73.90%).
❖ Shrinking Forest Cover: According to the National Forest Policy of India, the ideal percentage of total
geographical area under forest should be at least 33% to maintain ecological stability.
❖ However, it currently covers just 24.62% of the country’s land and is shrinking rapidly.
❖ Resource Access Conflict: There is often conflict between the interests of local communities and those of
commercial interests, such as pharmaceutical industries or timber industries.
❖ This can lead to social tensions and even violence, as different groups struggle to access and use the
resources of the forests.
❖ Climate Change: Forest disturbances caused by climate change, including insect outbreaks, invasive
species due to climate led migration, wildfires, and storms, reduce forest productivity and change species
distribution.
❖ By 2030, 45-64% of forests in India will experience the effects of climate change and rising temperatures.
Challenges faced by Chin-Kuki-Mizo Group

❖ Recently, the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), representing the Chin-Kuki-Mizo communities, has
sought the help from India in ending the “policy of extermination” of Ethnic Minorities inhabiting
the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh.
❖ More than 300 people belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group have taken shelter in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai
district since November 2022, following an alleged offensive by the Bangladesh army in collusion with the
Arakan Army, a Rohingya Muslim extremist group.
❖ The constitutional and human rights of the indigenous Kuki-Chin tribes, are being violated in the CHT with
impunity under a policy of the Bangladesh army to exterminate them.
❖ CHT is a 13,000 sq. km hilly and forested area in south-eastern Bangladesh, bordering India's Mizoram and
Tripura and Myanmar's Chin and Rohingya-inhabited Rakhine States.
❖ The pre-British CHT had self-governing chiefdoms and chieftaincies. The population of these groups was
categorised either as the Khyoungtha, tribes who live along the river banks, or the Toungtha, tribes who
live in the thick jungles of the hills.
❖ The tribes remained beyond the realms of Hindu kings and Muslim nawabs, but the annexation of the CHT
by the British in 1860 made them vulnerable to external pressures.
❖ The British gave special constitutional status to the CHT to protect the identity, customs, culture, tradition
and ancestral land of the tribes. The restrictive laws were, however, repealed by 1903 to let the dwellers of
the plains infiltrate the areas of the highlanders.
❖ Contrary to the expectations of the indigenous people, the CHT was merged with Pakistan in 1947, all the
indigenous tribes began to face discrimination in all aspects of life.
❖ The Kuki-Chin tribes of the CHT have been demanding a separate State due to the large-scale influx of non-
tribal people into the hills. But the Bangladesh government chose to step up its oppressive measures.
❖ The ZORO asked India to advise his Bangladeshi counterpart to declare a ceasefire with the Kuki-Chin
National Army (KNA) and stop abusing the rights of the Kuki-Chin people in the CHT.
❖ The organisation also appealed India to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Border Security
Force not to drive away the Kuki-Chin people who are fleeing Bangladesh and taking refuge among their
“blood-related tribes” in Mizoram.
❖ Since its independence, India has accepted various groups of refugees from neighbouring countries,
including: Partition refugees from Pakistan in 1947, Tibetan refugees that arrived in 1959, Chakma and
Hajong from present day Bangladesh in early 1960s, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from the 1980s and
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
30
❖ Current Legislative Framework to Handle Refugees: Foreigners Act of 1946, Passport (Entry into India) Act,
1920, Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939, Citizenship Act, 1955 Further, Citizenship Amendment Act,
2019 (CAA) seeks to provide citizenship only to Hindu, Christian, Jain, Parsi, Sikh, and Buddhist immigrants
persecuted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
❖ At least 274 Bangladeshi tribal nationals entered Lawngtlai district in Mizoram, trying to flee fighting
between Bangladeshi security forces and the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA), an armed insurgent group
that is active in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
❖ A meeting of the Mizoram Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga expressed sympathy for the
refugees, who belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo communities, and resolved to give “temporary shelter, food and
other relief as per convenience of the state government”, a PTI report from Aizawl said, quoting Home
Minister Lalchamliana.
❖ The CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts) is an impoverished hilly, forested area that sprawls over more than 13,000
sq km of the Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban districts of southeastern Bangladesh, bordering
Mizoram to the east, Tripura to the north, and Myanmar to the south and southeast.
❖ Mizoram shares a 318-km-long border with Bangladesh
❖ Mizoram is already playing host to about 30,000 refugees who have been fleeing fighting in Myanmar’s
Chin state since around July-August 2021.
❖ A pro-democracy civilian resistance group called the Chin Defence Force — which is backed and trained by
the Chin National Army (CNA), an ethnic armed organisation active in Myanmar — has been fighting the
forces of the junta ever since the military coup of February 2021.
❖ India is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention or its 1962 Protocol, and does not
have a domestic policy on refugees.
❖ The Kuki Chin National Army (KNA), which is fighting soldiers of the Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion
(RAB) in the CHT, is the armed wing of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an ethnic separatist
organisation that claims to represent the interests of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities living in the area.
❖ The KNF emerged around 2008, with the demand of a separate state in the CHT. The KNF claims all
members of the Bawm, Pungkhua, Lushai, Khumi, Mro, and Khyang ethnic groups belong to a greater Kuki-
Chin race.
❖ KNF Chief- Nathan Bom
❖ Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), a Mizoram-based association fighting for the re-unification of Chin-
Kuki-Mizo tribes of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, had last week told a press conference that the
Bangladesh Army has “entered into a secret pact with Myanmar-based Arakan Army to launch joint
operations against KNA”, which had long been seeking a separate state for the community.
❖ The Supreme Court in the National Human Rights Commission vs. State of Arunachal Pradesh (1996) held
that “while all rights are available to citizens, persons including foreign citizens are entitled to the right to
equality and the right to life, among others.”
Rohingya Crisis
❖ Rohingya’s have been denied citizenship since 1982 (by a Myanmar law), making them the world's largest
stateless population
❖ Exodus by Myanmar Army Tatmadaw against the Rohingya Muslims in August 2017
❖ Similar expel attempts in 1978 when they launched Operation Dragon King to expel Rohingya (foreigners)
❖ Following this, Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (insurgent group) evolved and the govt launched
Operation Clean and Beautiful Nation (Pyi Thaya) in 1991-92 for ethinc cleansing
❖ Rwandan Genocide of 1994 by France was also similar in nature.
❖ ARSA- Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army
❖ Refugees went to Cox Bazar in Bangladesh, which is now the world's largest refugee camp
❖ Gambia took Myanmar to ICJ for genocide in 2019
❖ ICJ ordered Myanmar to take action for stopping the persecution of Rohingyas
❖ Myanmar previously did not sign the Rome Statute as that would give ICC the jurisdiction to investigate
into the Rohingya genocide and ethnic cleansing which would incriminate the Suu Kyi administration.
❖ They are still investigating partially as Bangladesh is a member and many Rohingya are in Cox Bazar and
Bhashan Char Island
❖ 4 states: Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share border with myanmar
❖ 5 states: Assam, West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura Share border with Bangladesh
❖ Border Length-4,096 km
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❖ India-Myanmar- 1643
❖ India-Myanmar military exercise is IMBEX
❖ India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway is 1360 km in length
❖ Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor is 2800 km long, to Connect Kunming in china to Kolkata
through Mandalay in Myanmar and Dhaka
❖ China-Myanmar Corridor in 1700km long
❖ Aung san suu kyi won Nobel Peace Price in 1991
PM-KUSUM
❖ The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Raj Kumar Singh) has extended the deadline to install 30,000
MW solar power capacity in rural India to March 2026 under PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja
Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan).
❖ The PM-KUSUM was launched by the MNRE in 2019, in order to endow installation of off-grid solar pumps
in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid, in grid-connected areas.
❖ Components: 10,000 MW of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants.
❖ Installation 20 lakh solar-powered agriculture pumps
❖ Converting 15 lakh agriculture pumps, already connected to the grid, into solar.
❖ Objective: It aims to enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their arid lands and to
sell it to the grid.
❖ It also seeks to increase the income of farmers by allowing them to sell surplus solar power to the grid.
❖ Recently, the first farm-based solar power plant under the PM-KUSUM scheme has come up in Jaipur
(Rajasthan) district’s Kotputli tehsil with a provision for production of 17 lakh units of electricity every year.
Mughal gardens Renamed

❖ In keeping with the theme of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Government of India recently renamed
the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan as ‘Amrit Udyan’.
❖ Mughal Gardens or now, Amrit Udyan, draw inspiration from the Mughal Gardens of Jammu & Kashmir, the
gardens around the Taj Mahal and miniature paintings of India and Persia.
❖ The design of Mughal Gardens was finalised by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1917 in collaboration with William
Mustoe, Director of Horticulture.
❖ These gardens were never officially named Mughal Gardens; rather, came to be known so owing to the
style of architecture - influenced by the Persian gardens, particularly the Charbagh structure. Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have a number of Mughal gardens.
❖ Mughals were known to appreciate gardens; Babur Nama mentions Babur’s favourite kind of garden -
Persian Charbagh style which was intended to create a representation of an earthly utopia – jannat.
All India Survey on Higher Education 2020-21

❖ The Union Ministry of Education released data from the All India Survey on Higher Education
(AISHE), 2020-2021, which showed a 7.5% increase in student enrolments across the country compared
to 2019-20.
❖ The survey also revealed that in 2020-21, the year when the Covid-19 pandemic began, there was a 7% rise
in enrolments in distance education programmes.
❖ To portray the status of higher education in the country, the Ministry of Education (Dharmendra
Pradhan) has endeavored to conduct an annual web-based AISHE since 2010-11.
❖ Indicators of educational development such as Institution Density, Gross Enrolment Ratio, Pupil-teacher
ratio, Gender Parity Index, Per Student Expenditure will also be calculated from the data collected through
AISHE.
❖ Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for all enrolments (as per 2011 Census) increased by over 2 points to 27.3.
❖ The highest enrolment was seen at the undergraduate level, which accounted for 78.9% of all enrolments.
❖ The female enrolment in higher education programmes had increased to 49% of total enrolments in 2020-
21 compared to 45% in 2019-20.
❖ But, the overall figures for Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics(STEM) enrolments (at all
levels of higher education) showed that women lagged behind men, who accounted for over 56% of
enrolments in these fields.
❖ Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER to male GER, has increased from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in
2020-21.
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❖ The number of students in the Persons with Disabilities category dropped in 2020-21 to 79,035 from
92,831 in 2019-20.
❖ The proportion of Muslim students enrolling for higher education dropped to 4.6% in 2020-21 from 5.5% in
2019-20. Uttar Pradesh; Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu; Madhya Pradesh; Karnataka and Rajasthan are the top
6 States in terms of number of students enrolled.
❖ During 2020-21, the number of universities has increased by 70, and the number of colleges has increased
by 1,453.
❖ Uttar Pradesh; Maharashtra; Karnataka; Rajasthan; Tamil Nadu; Madhya Pradesh; Andhra Pradesh and
Gujarat are the top 8 States in terms of number of colleges.
Related Static GK
❖ PM SHRI Schools: On the occasion of Teacher’s Day 2022, the Prime Minister of India announced a new
initiative - PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India).
❖ It is a centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across
the country.
❖ It aims at strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central
Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
❖ NIPUN Mission: National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy
❖ To cover children aged 3-9 years
❖ To ensure that every child has the required reading speed, foundational literacy etc by Grade 3
❖ Target year of scheme: 2026-2027
❖ Launched under Samagra Shiksha scheme
❖ Right to Education: Article 21A introduced by the 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2002
❖ State shall endeavor to provide early childhood care and education for children until they attain 6 years of
age- DPSP Article 45 inserted by 86th Amendment
❖ Promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs and STs is article 46
❖ Tapas Majumdar Committee of 1999 recommended insertion of Article 21A
❖ SC in Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh, 1993 said that RTE necessarily
❖ Ramamurti committee- 1990 (First official document on RTE)
National IPR Policy

❖ The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of
Commerce adopted the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy in 2016.
❖ The main goal of the policy is "Creative India; Innovative India".
❖ The policy covers all forms of IP, seeks to create synergies between them and other agencies, and sets up
an institutional mechanism for implementation and review.
❖ DPIIT is the nodal department for IPR development in India and the Cell for IPR Promotion & Management
(CIPAM) under DPIIT is the single point of reference for implementing the policy.
❖ India's IPR regime complies with World Trade Organisation's (WTO) agreement on Trade Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property (TRIPS).
❖ Objectives of National IPR Policy:-
➢ IPR Awareness: Outreach and promotion are important to create public awareness about the
economic, social and cultural benefits of IPRs among all sections of society.
➢ Generation of IPRs: To stimulate the generation of IPRs.
➢ Legal and Legislative Framework: To have strong and effective IPR laws, which balance the interests
of rights owners with larger public interest.
➢ Administration and Management: To modernise and strengthen service-oriented IPR administration
➢ Commercialisation of IPRs: Get value for IPRs through commercialisation.
➢ Enforcement and Adjudication: To strengthen the enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for
combating IPR infringements.
➢ Human Capital Development: To strengthen and expand human resources, institutions and capacities
for teaching, training, research and skill building in IPRs.
❖ IPR are the rights given to persons over the creation of their minds. They usually give the creator
an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.
❖ These rights are outlined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides for the
right to benefit from the protection of moral and material interests resulting from authorship of scientific,
literary or artistic productions.
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❖ The importance of intellectual property was first recognized in the Paris Convention for the Protection of
Industrial Property (1883) and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
(1886).
❖ Both treaties are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
❖ Types of IPR:
➢ Copyrights: The rights of authors of literary and artistic works (such as books and other writings,
musical compositions, paintings, sculpture, computer programs and films) are protected by copyright,
for a minimum period of 50 years after the death of the author.
➢ Industrial Property
➢ Protection of distinctive signs, in particular trademarks and geographical indications:
➢ Trademarks
➢ Geographical Indications (GIs)
➢ Industrial Designs and Trade Secrets: Other types of industrial property are protected primarily to
stimulate innovation, design and the creation of technology.
Related Static GK
❖ International Intellectual Property Rights Day: 26 April
❖ Theme : Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity
❖ World Human Rights Day: 10th December
❖ Theme: Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
❖ WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation.
❖ It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states.
❖ Its aim is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables
innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.
❖ Its mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO
in 1967
GACs to Address Complaints Against Social Media Platform

❖ The Union government notified the formation of three Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) that will
address user complaints against social media and other internet-based platforms.
❖ These panels will also be empowered to oversee and revoke content moderation-related decisions taken
by these platforms.
❖ Each of the three GACs will have a chairperson, two whole-time members from different government
entities and retired senior executives from the industry for a term of three years from the date of
assumption of office.
❖ The First Panel: It will be chaired by the chief executive officer of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination
Centre (I4C) Rajesh Kumar under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
❖ The Second Panel: It will be chaired by the joint secretary in charge of the Policy and Administration
Division Vikram Sahay in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
❖ The Third Panel: It will be chaired by a senior scientist Kavita Bhatia at the Ministry of Electronics and IT
(MeitY).
❖ The GACs will deal with two categories of disputes: Violation of law and rights of users including the right
to free speech and privacy & Contractual dispute between a platform’s community guidelines and a user
❖ The GACs will act also act as a layer of a tech-sector regulator that the MeitY is expected to prescribe
under the upcoming Digital India Bill, which is the successor to the Information Technology Act, 2000.
❖ The GACs will adopt an online dispute resolution mechanism where the entire appeal process, from its
filing to the final decision, will be done online.
❖ Any person aggrieved by a decision of the grievance officer of a social media intermediary will be allowed
to file an appeal to the GAC within a period of 30 days.
❖ The GAC will have to deal with the appeal and resolve it within a month of receipt of the appeal.
Andhra Pradesh’s New Capital

❖ The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh announced that Visakhapatnam would be the state’s new
capital. The state needs a new capital since Hyderabad, the capital of undivided Andhra Pradesh, is now
with Telangana, and the two states have been sharing the capital temporarily.
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❖ In 2020, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and
Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill. The Bill intends to give shape to the state government's plan of
having three capitals — the executive capital in Visakhapatnam, the legislative in Amaravati and
the judicial in Kurnool.
❖ In 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the State government to construct and develop
Amaravati, the capital city of the State.
❖ However, the issue awaits a final decision from the Supreme Court due to the petitions filed by the farmers
who had given land to develop Amaravati.
PM – VIKAS
❖ The Artisans and Craftsmen in India have been disappearing since British times. The Government of India
is trying to boost its economic status and keep the age-old arts and traditional crafts alive by different
means. The Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman is one such initiative. The scheme was
announced by Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman during the Budget presentation.
❖ The main objective of the scheme is to improve the status of the craftsmen in the country.
❖ The scheme will achieve its objective:
➢ by increasing the caliber of the artisans
➢ by increasing the reach of their goods
❖ The scheme is to be put into the MSME Value chain
❖ Skills and training programs for traditional and age-old crafts will be conducted. People will be encouraged
to learn the art
❖ The latest technology skills will be imparted during the training programs. Artisans will be taught to use the
latest technologies in their workmanship to increase productivity and profit. This is to be done without
disturbing the traditional practices involved in the craft making
❖ Artisans and craftsmen will be introduced to paperless payments
❖ The entire program is to be integrated with the MSME sector
❖ GoI will work hard to take the arts and crafts to international markets
Deep Ocean Mission

❖ The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated Rs 600 crore to the Deep Ocean Mission to explore marine
biodiversity for the sustainable use of resources.
❖ In 2016, India was awarded a 15-year contract to explore an area of 75,000 km2 for mining polymetallic
nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin at depths of 5,000-6,000 metres.
❖ DOM is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
❖ Under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (Jitendra Singh)
❖ Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and
jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.
❖ A manned submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with
a suite of scientific sensors and tools.
❖ National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) & ISRO is jointly developing a Manned Submersible Vehicle.
❖ Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining: An Integrated Mining System will be also developed
for mining polymetallic nodules at those depths in the central Indian Ocean.
❖ Polymetallic nodules are rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt.
❖ It entails developing a suite of observations and models to understand and provide future projections of
important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales.
❖ Bio-prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes and studies on sustainable utilisation of
deep-sea bio-resources will be the main focus.
❖ It will explore and identify potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralization along the
Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
❖ Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean: Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plants are envisaged in this proof of concept
proposal.
❖ Leveraging Ocean Resources: Oceans, which cover 70% of the globe, remain a key part of our life. About
95% of the Deep Ocean remains unexplored.
❖ India has a unique maritime position. Its 7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal states and 1382
islands.
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❖ The Government of India's Vision of New India by 2030 announced in February 2019 highlighted the Blue
Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.
❖ Technology Expertise: The technology and expertise needed in such missions are now available in only five
countries - the US, Russia, France, Japan and China. India will now be the sixth country to have it.
Related Static GK
❖ India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development: It was inaugurated jointly by
both the countries in 2020 to develop and follow up joint initiatives between the two countries.
❖ Sagarmala Project: The Sagarmala project is the strategic initiative for port-led development through the
extensive use of IT-enabled services for the modernization of ports.
❖ O-SMART: India has an umbrella scheme by the name of Ocean Services, Technology, Observations.
Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART) which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources
for sustainable development.
❖ Integrated Coastal Zone Management: It focuses on the conservation of coastal and marine resources,
improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.
❖ National Fisheries Policy: India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting the 'Blue Growth
Initiative' which focuses on sustainable utilisation of fisheries wealth from marine and other aquatic
resources.
Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue

❖ India’s National Security Advisor hold talks with the US counterpart on the first dialogue on Initiative for
Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) in the US.
❖ The iCET initiative was launched by India and the US in May 2022, and is being run by the National Security
Councils of both countries.
❖ Under iCET, the both countries have identified six areas of cooperation which would include co-
development and co-production, that would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by
Europe and the rest of the world.
❖ Under iCET, India is ready to share its core technologies with the US and expects Washington to do the
same.
❖ The six areas for cooperation are scientific research and development; quantum and artificial intelligence,
defense innovation, space, advanced telecom which would include things like 6G and semiconductors.
❖ iCET would forge closer linkages between government, academia and industry of the two countries.
❖ The objective is to provide cutting edge technologies to the rest of the world which are affordable.
❖ The launch of the ambitious iCET dialogue is seen as “an alignment of strategic, commercial and scientific
approaches” in the field of technology.
❖ This is eventually likely to be mirrored in the progress made in Quad – the informal grouping of four
countries, Australia, Japan, India and the United States.
National Security Advisor (NSA) in India
❖ The NSA is the primary advisor to the Prime Minister of India. He also presides over the National Security
Council (NSC).
❖ The current NSA is Ajit Doval.
❖ The NSC of India is a three-tiered organisation that oversees political, economic, energy and security
issues of strategic concern.
❖ It was formed in 1998, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon.
❖ NSC operates within the executive office of the PM, liaising between the government’s executive branch
and the intelligence services
❖ Brajesh Mishra was the first person to be appointed as the National Security Advisor of India in 1998.
Lithium Reserves in J&K

❖ The Geological Survey of India has for the first-time established Lithium ‘inferred’ resources(G3) of 5.9
million tonnes in Salal-Haimana area of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
❖ The “inferred” mineral resource is a resource for which quantity, grade and mineral content are estimated
only with a low level of confidence.
❖ It is based on information gathered from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes
that may be of limited or uncertain quality, and also of lower reliability from geological evidence.
❖ It is based on the classification from United Nations International Framework Classification for
Reserves/Resources – Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities of 1997 (UNFC-1997).
36
❖ Lithium (Li), sometimes also referred as ‘White gold’ due to its high demand for rechargeable batteries, is a
soft and silvery-white metal.
❖ Extraction: Lithium can be extracted in different ways, depending on the type of the deposit — generally
either through solar evaporation of large brine pools, or from hard-rock extraction of the ore.
❖ Lithium is an important component of electrochemical cells used in batteries of EVs, Laptops, Mobiles etc.
❖ It is also used in thermonuclear reactions.
❖ It is used to make alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them
lighter.
❖ Magnesium-lithium alloy - for armour plating.
❖ Aluminum-lithium alloys - in aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.
❖ Major Global Lithium Reserves: Chile > Australia > Argentina are top countries with Li reserves.
❖ Lithium Triangle: Chile, Argentina, Bolivia.
❖ Lithium Reserves in India: Preliminary survey showed estimated lithium reserves of 14,100 tonnes in a
small patch of land surveyed in Southern Karnataka’s Mandya district.
❖ Other potential sites: Mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh. Pegmatite belts
in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Rann of Kutch in Gujrat.
❖ India is currently dependent on imports for lithium cells and batteries. Over 165 crore lithium batteries are
estimated to have been imported into India between FY17 and FY20 at an estimated import bill of upwards
of $3.3 billion.
❖ The country's efforts to secure lithium sourcing agreements are seen as a move against imports from
China, which is the major source of both raw materials and cells.
❖ India is perceived as a late entrant into the lithium value chain, entering at a time when the EV sector is
expected to undergo significant disruption.
❖ 2023 is considered a turning point for battery technology, with the potential for several improvements to
the Li-ion technology.
Geological Survey of India
❖ Presently, GSI is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines (Pralhad Joshi) . It was set up in
1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.
❖ Over the years, it has grown into a repository of geo-science information and also has attained the status
of a geo-scientific organization of international repute.
❖ It is headquartered in Kolkata and has six regional offices located at Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad,
Shillong and Kolkata. Every state has a state unit.
❖ Director General: Dr. S Raju
❖ Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) is an important platform of the Geological Survey of India
(GSI) to facilitate discussion for synergy and to avoid duplication of work.
UNFC-1997
❖ UNFC-1997 is a system for the classification and reporting of reserves and resources of solid fuels and
mineral commodities and provides a standardized, internationally recognized system for the reporting of
reserves and resources
❖ It has been developed by the UN Economic Commission for Europe.
❖ It promotes transparency and consistency in the reporting of mineral and energy assets and ensures that
geological, engineering, and economic information is used consistently.
❖ It provides a basis for comparing reserves and resources data between countries and regions which is
widely used by governments, industry, and financial institutions around the world.
❖ According to UNFC-1997, there are four stages of exploration for any mineral deposit: Reconnaissance
(G4), Preliminary exploration (G3), General Exploration (G2), Detailed Exploration (G1).
India, France, UAE Trilateral Initiative

❖ India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to form a partnership to work together in
the fields of nuclear and solar energy, as well as in tackling climate change and preserving biodiversity.
❖ The idea of this partnership was first discussed at a meeting in New York during the United Nations
General Assembly in September 2022.
❖ This trilateral initiative will serve as a forum to promote the design and execution of cooperation projects
in the fields of energy, with a focus on solar and nuclear energy, as well as in the fight against climate
change and the protection of biodiversity, particularly in the Indian Ocean region.
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❖ The three countries have also agreed to work together in defence, countering infectious diseases, and
promoting cooperation in global health organisations such as the World Health Organization, Gavi-the
Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund, and Unitaid.
❖ Further, the three countries will attempt to identify tangible cooperation on implementing the “One Health”
approach, and support the development of local capacities in biomedical innovation and production within
developing countries.
❖ The three countries also agreed to expand their cooperation through initiatives such as the Mangrove
Alliance for Climate led by the UAE and the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership led by India and France.
❖ India-France: India entered into a contract with a French firm to build six Scorpene submarines in India’s
Malegaon dockyards through a technology-transfer arrangement in 2005.
❖ India and France are in joint efforts to limit climate change and develop the International Solar Alliance.
❖ France has agreed to be part of India's Venus mission, scheduled for 2025. Also, ISRO’s Venus
instrument, VIRAL (Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gases Linker) has been co-developed by French and
Russian agencies.
I2U2 Initiative
❖ As part of I2U2 initiatives, India, Israel, UAE, and the US will hold its first virtual summit in July 2022.
❖ I2U2 was initially formed in October, 2021 following the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE, to
deal with issues concerning maritime security, infrastructure and transport in the region.
❖ At that time, it was called the ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’. That was referred as
the ‘West Asian Quad’.
❖ I2U2 initiative is a new grouping of India, Israel, USA and UAE.
❖ In the grouping’s name, ‘I2’ stands for India and Israel, whereas ‘U2’ stands for USA and the UAE.
❖ This is a great achievement which tells the geopolitical changes that happen in the region.
❖ This will not only revitalize and re-energize the system of alliances and partnerships around the world, but
also stitch together partnerships that did not exist previously or were not utilized to their full extent.
Abraham Accord
th
❖ The Abraham Accord signed in 20 Sept 2020 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is
mediated by the USA. It is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.
❖ Previous Agreements: There were the only two peace deals between Israel and the Arab States in more
than a quarter of a century.
❖ Egypt was the first Arab State to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979, Jordan signed a peace pact in 1994.
❖ As per the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain will establish Embassies and exchange ambassadors.
❖ The Abraham Accords also open the door for Muslims around the world to visit the historic sites in Israel
and to peacefully pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam. After Mecca and
Medina in Saudi Arabia.
INS Vagir
❖ Recently, the Indian Navy commissioned the fifth diesel-electric Kalvari-class submarine Vagir.
❖ About: Also known as Sand Shark, the submarine was delivered to the Indian Navy in December 2022.
❖ Vagir is a Kalvari-class submarine, which includes six submarines developed under Project 75.
❖ Four of these submarines have already been commissioned into the Navy viz. NS Kalvari, INS Khanderi,
INS Karanj and INS Vela.
❖ The sixth, INS Vagsheer, will be commissioned next year.
❖ Origin of Name: From Vagir, a submarine which served the Navy between 1973 and 2001.
❖ Built By: The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in collaboration with the French M/s Naval Group
❖ Capabilities and Technical Details: This class of submarines have Diesel Electric transmission systems.
❖ These are primarily attack submarines or ‘hunter-killer’ types which means they are designed to target and
sink adversary naval vessels.
Project 75 (I)
❖ This project envisages indigenous construction of submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art Air
Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs. 43,000 crore.
❖ Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine
construction.
❖ It will be the first under the strategic partnership model which was promulgated in 2017 to boost
indigenous defence manufacturing.
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❖ The strategic partnership model allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with leading foreign
defence majors to produce high-end military platforms to reduce import dependence.
❖ Acquisitions under the Strategic Partnership model refer to participation of private Indian firms along with
foreign OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) in ‘Make in India’ in defence.
Southern India’s First Industrial Corridor Project

❖ The Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone of southern India’s 1st Industrial Corridor Project to
be implemented at Tumakuru, spread over 8500 Acre of land, under the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial
Corridor.
❖ The Tumakuru Industrial Township has been planned in line with the principles of PM-GatiShakti to ensure
last mile multimodal connectivity to the economic zone.
❖ The Govt of India (via NICD and Implementation Trust) and the Govt of Karnataka are developing the
Industrial Township at Vasanthanarasapura in 3 phases in Tumakuru district through the project Special
Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
❖ Under the National Industrial Corridor Development (NICD) Programme, 32 greenfield industrial smart
cities under 11 industrial corridors are being developed with world class Plug-n-Play infrastructure.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

❖ The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Ashwini Vaishnaw) has approved Rs. 477.25 crore under
the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), which is a flagship Scheme under Startup India Initiative.
❖ Seed Funding is an early stage of investment in a start-up or a new business idea. The goal of seed
funding is to help the company reach a point where it can secure additional rounds of funding or generate
revenue to become self-sustaining.
❖ The Startup India initiative envisages building a robust Start-up ecosystem in the country for nurturing
innovation and providing opportunities to budding entrepreneurs.
❖ Under the Initiative, an Action Plan of 19 Action Points was unveiled by the Prime Minister in January, 2016.
This Action Plan laid down a roadmap for the creation of a conducive ecosystem for Startups in India.
❖ The ﬂagship schemes under Startup India initiative namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), SISFS
and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) extend support to startups at various stages of their
business cycle.
❖ SISFS scheme was announced at Startup India International Summit on 16th January 2021.
❖ Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) approved an outlay of Rs. 945 Crore for
the period of 4 years starting from 2021-22 to provide financial assistance to startups for Proof of
Concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
❖ An Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) has been constituted by DPIIT, which will be responsible for the
overall execution and monitoring of the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
❖ The EAC will evaluate and select incubators for allotment of Seed Funds, monitor progress, and take all
necessary measures for efficient utilization of funds towards fulfilment of objectives of Startup India Seed
Fund Scheme.
❖ Eligibility: A startup, recognized by DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), incorporated not more
than 2 years ago at the time of application.
❖ Startups should not have received more than Rs. 10 lakhs of monetary support under any other Central
or State Government scheme.
❖ Preference would be given to startups creating innovative solutions in sectors such as social impact,
waste management, water management, financial inclusion, education, agriculture, food processing,
biotechnology, healthcare, energy, mobility, defence, space, railways, oil and gas, textiles, etc.
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❖ Grants and Support: It will support an estimated 3,600 entrepreneurs through 300 incubators in the next
4 years.
❖ Grants of upto Rs. 5 crores will be provided to the eligible incubators selected by the committee.
❖ The selected incubators will provide grants of up to Rs. 20 lakhs for validation of proof of concept, or
prototype development, or product trials to startups.
❖ Investments of up to Rs. 50 lakhs will be provided to the startups for market entry, commercialization, or
scaling up through convertible debentures or debt-linked instruments
❖ Venture capital is a form of fund for a new or growing business. It usually comes from venture capital firms
that specialize in building high risk financial portfolios.
Other Initiatives Pertaining to Startups

❖ Startup Innovation Challenges: It is a fantastic opportunity for any startup to leverage their networking
and fund-raising efforts.
❖ National Startup Awards: It seeks to recognize and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers
that are contributing to economic dynamism by spurring innovation and injecting competition.
❖ Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems: It is an evolved evaluation tool aimed to strengthen
the support of States and UTs to holistically build their startup ecosystems.
❖ SCO Startup Forum: The first-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum was
launched in October 2020 to develop and improve startup ecosystems collectively.
❖ Prarambh: The ‘Prarambh’ Summit aims to provide a platform to the startups and young minds from
around the world to come with new ideas, innovation and invention.
National Commission for Schedule Tribe (ST)

❖ The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has recently issued a notice to Zomato, regarding
an advertisement that was deemed "inhuman" and casteist.
❖ About: The NCSC is a constitutional body established with a view to provide safeguards against the
exploitation of Scheduled Castes and to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and
cultural interests.
❖ History: Special Officer: Initially, the constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer under
Article 338. The special officer was designated as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes.
❖ 65th Amendment Act, 1990: It amended Article 338 of the Constitution and replaced the one-member
system with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes(ST).
❖ 89th Amendment Act, 2003: Article 338 was amended, and the erstwhile National Commission for SC and
ST was replaced by two separate Commissions from the year 2004 which were: National Commission for
Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
❖ Composition: The NCSC comprises a Chairperson (Vijay Sampla), a Vice-Chairperson (Arun Haldar), and
three additional Members.
❖ These positions are filled through the President's appointment, indicated by a warrant under his hand and
seal.
❖ Their conditions of service and tenure of office are also determined by the President.
❖ Functions: 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 socioeconomic 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
❖ Till 2018, the commission was also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the other
backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved from this responsibility by the 102nd Amendment Act, 2018.
Related Constitutional Provisions
❖ Article 15: This article specifically addresses the issue of discrimination based on caste, emphasizing
the protection and upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SCs)
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❖ Article 17: This article abolishes untouchability and prohibits its practice in any form. It seeks to
eliminate social discrimination and promote the equality and dignity of all individuals.
❖ Article 46: Promotion of Educational and Economic Interests: This article directs the State to promote the
educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes and other weaker sections of society and protect
them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
❖ Article 243D(4): This provision mandates the reservation of seats for SCs in Panchayats (local self-
government institutions) in proportion to their population in the area.
❖ Article 243T(4): This provision ensures the reservation of seats for SCs in Municipalities (urban local
bodies) in proportion to their population in the area.
❖ Article 330 and Article 332 provide for reservation of seats in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and in the legislative assemblies of the States (respectively).
Visva-Bharati: World’s First Living Heritage University

❖ Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, is set to become the world's first "living
heritage university". The university is expected to receive the heritage tag from UNESCO in April or May
2023.
❖ Normally heritage tag is given to a dead monument. For the first time in the world, a living university which
is functioning is going to get the heritage tag from UNESCO.
❖ It is located in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India. When founded in 1921, it was named after Nobel
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel 1930) until Visva-Bharati Society was registered as an organization
in May 1922.
❖ Rabindranath believed in open-air education and introduced that system at the university, which prevails to
date.
❖ According to UNESCO, in 1922, Visva-Bharati was inaugurated as a Centre for Culture with exploration
into the arts, language, humanities, music and these are reflected in diverse institutes that continue in their
educational programmes like including Hindi studies, Sino-Asian studies, humanities, fine arts, and music.
❖ They are based on the founding principles of excellence in culture and culture studies.
❖ Until Independence, it was a college and the institution was given the status of Central University in 1951
through a Central Act.
❖ The structures within the institutes of Visva-Bharati University are diverse in architectural expression.
❖ Examples include the Kalo Bari (a mud structure with coal tar finish and sculpture panels), Mastermoshai
studio (a single-story structure built for the first principal of Kala Bhavan, Nandalal Bose), Murals and
paintings on Cheena and Hindi Bhavan
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
❖ Founded on 16th Nov. 1945
❖ HQ: Paris, France
❖ Director General: Audrey Azulay
❖ Successor of League of Nations Committee on Intellectual Co-operation(1927)
❖ India recently elected to UNESCO executive board for 2021-25 term with 164 votes
❖ Vishal V Sharma is India's Permanent Representative to UNESCO
❖ USA and Israel left in 2018
❖ UNESCO MAGAZINE – Courier
Related Static GK
❖ Total 40 sites in India, in 19 states and UT (highest in Maharashtra-5). These include 32 cultural sites, 7
natural sites, and 1 mixed-criteria site.
❖ Dholavira(Gujarat) and Kakatiya Rudreshwara Ramappa Temple (Telangana) was recently added to the list
in the 44th meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, China
❖ India's first World Heritage Site- Ajanta, Ellora caves, Taj Mahal, Agra fort (1983)
❖ International Day for Monuments and Sites- 18th April
❖ World Heritage Day: 18th April
❖ Theme is Heritage and Climate
❖ India's first mixed WHS- Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim In 2016
❖ China and Italy have the highest number of World Heritage Sites, both with 55 entries
Increasing Cases of Suicides in Educational Hubs
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❖ The National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB’s) Accidental Deaths and Suicide in India (ADSI) report
2021 shows student suicides had gone up drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and
have been steadily rising in the last five years.
❖ Over 13,000 students died by in 2021 in India at the rate of more than 35 every day, a rise of 4.5% from the
12,526 deaths in 2020 with 864 out of 10,732 suicides being due to "failure in examination" according to
the latest data as per NCRB’s ADSI report 2021.
❖ Since 1995, the country lost the highest number of students to suicides in 2021, while nearly 2 lakh of
them have died by suicide in the past 25 years.
❖ The death by suicide of students has increased by 32.15% since 2017, when 9,905 students died by
suicide.
❖ Maharashtra had the highest number of student suicides in 2021 with 1,834, followed by Madhya Pradesh
and Tamil Nadu.
❖ The report also showed the percentage of women student suicide was at a five-year low of 43.49%,
while men student suicides made up 56.51% of the total student suicides.
❖ As per Ministry of Education, 122 students from IITs, NITs, central universities and other central
institutions died by suicide over 2014-21.
❖ 68 of 122 belonged to the scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) or other backward classes (OBC).
❖ Suicides are a growing concern in Kota, India, a hub for engineering and medical entrance exams
preparation.
❖ As of January 2023, 22 students have died in Kota since 2022 and around 121 have died since 2011.
Related Static GK
❖ World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD): Observed on 10th of September every year, WSPD was established
in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in conjunction with the WHO. It
focuses attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organizations, government,
and the public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented.
❖ “Creating hope through action” is the triennial theme for the WSPD from 2021 - 2023. This theme is a
reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us.
❖ World Mental Health Day: 10th October is celebrated as World Mental Health Day, every year. The overall
objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and
to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
❖ The theme of World Mental Health Day 2022 is “Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global
Priority”.
❖ Indian Initiatives: Mental Healthcare Act (MHA), 2017 aims to provide mental healthcare services for
persons with mental illness.
❖ The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Dr. Virendra Kumar) has launched a 24/7 toll-free
helpline “KIRAN” to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and
other mental health concerns.
❖ Manodarpan is an initiative of the Ministry of Education under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Accidental Deaths & Suicide in India Report

❖ Daily wage earners(25.6%) remained the largest profession-wise group among suicide victims in
2021, accounting for 42,004 suicides.
❖ At the national level, the number of suicides increased by 7.17% from the years 2020 to 2021.
❖ Farming Sector: The overall share of “Persons engaged in farming sector” among the total recorded
suicides stood at 6.6% during 2021.
❖ The highest increase of 16.73% was recorded by “self-employed persons”.
❖ The “unemployed persons” group was the only one that saw a decline in suicides, with the number dipping
by 12.38% from 15,652 in 2020 to 13,714 suicides in 2021.
❖ Reasons for Suicide: 33.2%: Family Problems (other than marriage related problems), 4.8%: Marriage
Related Problems, 18.6%: Illness
❖ Maharashtra (13.5%) topped the country in terms of the number of suicides reported in 2021 followed
by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh
❖ Union Territories: Delhi recorded the highest number of 2,840 suicides
❖ Rape Cases: (increased by 13%) Rajasthan had the highest rate of rape cases.
❖ Uttar Pradesh had the highest no. of murders
❖ According to WHO, more than 7 lakh people die from suicide every year globally.
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❖ Suicides in males increased from 88,997 in 2016 to 1,18,979 in 2021, marking an increase of nearly 33%.
Similarly, suicides in females rose from 41,997 in 2016 to 45,026 in 2021, registering an increase of 7%.
❖ Common reasons attributed to increase in number of male suicide are the lack of willingness of males to
seek help for mental health, usage of addictive substances as a form of ‘self-medication’, economic
reasons, and similar others.
India’s Nuclear Power Capacity

❖ India’s nuclear power capacity experienced a significant increase. By 2021-22, it had risen to 47,112
Million Units.
❖ In 2017, the government gave simultaneous approval for 11 indigenous pressurised heavy water
reactors with a total capacity of 7,000 MegaWatts.
❖ Nuclear energy is the fifth-largest source of electricity for India which contributes about 3% of the total
electricity generation in the country.
❖ India has over 22 nuclear reactors in 7 power plants across the country which produces 6780 MW of
nuclear power. In addition, one reactor, Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3) has also been connected
to the grid in January- 2021.
❖ 18 reactors are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and 4 are Light Water Reactors (LWRs).
❖ KAPP-3 is the India’s first 700 MWe unit, and the biggest indigenously developed variant of the PHWR.
❖ Joint Ventures with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs): Government has also allowed Joint Ventures with
PSUs to enhance India's nuclear program.
❖ As a result, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is now in two joint ventures with
the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
❖ In the past, India's nuclear installations were mostly located in South India or in Maharashtra and Gujarat
in the west.
❖ However, the government is now promoting its expansion to other parts of the country. As an example, the
upcoming nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur town of Haryana, which will become operational in the near
future.
❖ India’s Indigenous Move: The world's first thorium-based nuclear plant, "Bhavni," using Uranium-233, is
being set up at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.
❖ This plant will be entirely indigenous and will be the first of its kind. The experimental thorium
plant "Kamini" already exists in Kalpakkam.
International Biofuel Alliance

❖ During the G20 meeting, India is to launch the International Biofuel Alliance just like the International Solar
Alliance. To this, the USA and Brazil have agreed to back India. India has been taking lead in several such
emission reduction initiatives. The country allocated 4.3 billion USD during the 2023-24 Budget to
accomplish its net-zero targets.
❖ The two countries are the largest biofuel markets in the world. The US ranks number one and Brazil is in
second position in Biofuels. They lead in biodiesel and ethanol production. Together they accounted for
84% of the world’s ethanol production and 26% of the world’s biodiesel production.
❖ India has set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blend in gasoline by 2025. In 2018, India launched the
National Biofuel Policy. Since then India has been increasing its ethanol blend. In 2013, ethanol blending
was 0.67% in the country. In 2022, it increased to 10%. Brazil has achieved 100% ethanol fuels. Apart from
biofuels, India is also focusing on bringing the Hydrogen hubs. The State of Kerala has allocated a major
share in the 2023-24 budget to establish a hydrogen hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The state is to lead the
country in establishing such hubs
Largest Chopper Manufacturing unit in India

❖ PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the largest helicopter manufacturing unit in Tumakuru, Karnataka in
2016. The unit is now ready to start its operation. The unit will produce more than a thousand helicopters
and make India self-reliant on helicopters. Recently 15 LCH (Light combat Helicopters) were provided to
the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. But the requirement is 160.
❖ The unit will be administrated by HAL. It is spread across 615 acres. The unit built in Tumakuru of
Karnataka will manufacture a thousand helicopters in 20 years. The helicopters will weigh around three to
fifteen tonnes.
❖ The main objective is to make the facility a one-stop solution for all the helicopter requirements of India.
PM-ABHIM
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❖ The Indian government has signed loan agreements to borrow up to Rs 13,879 crore to strengthen health
infrastructure from international agencies.
❖ The loan agreements have been signed to augment PM-ABHIM (Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health
Infrastructure Mission) which was launched in October 2021 (till FY 2025-26).
❖ Loan agreements have been signed with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for USD 300 million and with
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for 50 billion Japanese Yen.
❖ The World Bank has approved USD 1 billion IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
for PM-ABHIM.
❖ IBRD is the lending arm of the World Bank
❖ PM-ABHIM is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the
country.
❖ It is in addition to the National Health Mission (NHM).
❖ It aims to provide support to 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 ‘high focus’ states and
establish 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres across the country.
❖ Objectives: To ensure a robust public health infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.
❖ Establishing an IT-enabled disease surveillance system.
❖ All the public health labs will be connected through the Integrated Health Information Portal, which will be
expanded to all states and UTs.
❖ Major Initiatives: It will help establish 602 critical care hospital blocks, critical care hospital blocks in 12
central hospitals to strengthen National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), five new regional NCDCs,
10 Biosafety Levels (BSL) - III and one BSL-IV and 20 Metropolitan Surveillance Units (MSUs)
National Nutrition Mission
❖ National Nutrition Mission (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition [POSHAN
Abhiyaan]) is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (Smriti Irani), was
launched in 2018 (although the programme was being implemented in 2017) by the Government of India
with the aim of tackling the malnutrition problem prevalent in India.
❖ The chief objective of the mission is to reduce the level of under-nutrition and also enhance the nutritional
status of children in the country.
❖ The mission is a multi-ministerial initiative and aims at removing malnutrition from the country by 2022.
❖ According to ‘Mission 25 by 2020’, the National Nutrition Mission aims to achieve a reduction in stunting
from 38.4% to 25% by 2022
❖ These other schemes include the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Janani Suraksha
Yojana, Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG), Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, PDS, National Health Mission, etc
Asian Development Bank
❖ Established in 1966 is owned by 68 members-49 from the region.
❖ It is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while
sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
❖ Further, it assists members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity
investments to promote social and economic development.
❖ As of 31st December 2019, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each
with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
❖ It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines
❖ President: Masatsugu Asakawa
World Bank
❖ The Bretton Woods Conference, officially known as the United Nations Monetary and Financial
Conference, was a gathering of delegates from 44 nations that met from July 1 to 22, 1944 in Bretton
Woods, New Hampshire (USA), to agree upon a series of new rules for international financial and
monetary order after the conclusion of World War II.
❖ The two major accomplishments of the conference were the creation of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
❖ Founded in 1944, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) — soon called the
World Bank — has expanded to a closely associated group of 5 development institutions.
o International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
o International Development Association (IDA)
o International Finance Corporation (IFC)
o Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
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o International Centre for Settlement of Investmen Disputes (ICSID).
❖ Founders: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White
❖ HQ: Washington DC
❖ President: David Malpass
❖ MD & CFO: Anshula Kant
❖ Chief Economist: Indermit Gill
National Organ Transplantation Guidelines

❖ The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Mansukh L. Mandaviya) has modified National Organ
Transplantation Guidelines, allowing those above 65 years of age to receive an organ for transplantation
from deceased donors.
❖ In India, Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994 provides various regulations for the removal of
human organs and its storage. It also regulates the transplantation of human organs for therapeutic
purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs.
❖ Removed Age Cap: The upper age limit has been removed as people are now living longer. Earlier,
according to the NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization) guidelines, an end-stage
organ failure patient above 65 years of age was prohibited from registering to receive the organ.
❖ No Domicile Requirement: The ministry has removed the domicile requirement to register as an
organ recipient in a particular state under a ‘One Nation, One Policy’ move.
❖ Now a needy patient can register to receive an organ in any state of his or her choice and will also be able
to get the surgery done there.
❖ No Fees for Registration: There will be no registration fee that states used to charge for this purpose, the
Centre has asked states that used to charge for such registration to not do so.
❖ The Centre is planning to make changes in the rules of Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment)
Act 2011 towards creating a national policy for transplantation.
❖ Currently, different states have different rules; the Union government is considering changes to the rules so
that there is a standard criterion followed in all states across the country.
❖ However, Health being a state subject, the rules formed by the central government will not be binding on
the states.
❖ The steps are aimed at better and more equitable access to organs and also to promote cadaver
donations, which currently form a minuscule fraction of all organ transplants carried out in India.
❖ India conducts the third highest number of transplants in the world.
❖ Organs from deceased donors accounted for nearly 17.8% of all transplants in 2022.
❖ The total number of deceased organ transplants climbed from 837 in 2013 to 2,765 in 2022.
❖ The total number of organ transplants – with organs from both deceased and living donors – increased
from 4,990 in 2013 to 15,561 in 2022.
❖ Every year, an estimated 1.5-2 lakh people need a kidney transplant.
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization
❖ NOTTO is set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
located in New Delhi.
❖ National Network division of NOTTO functions as apex centre for all India activities for procurement,
distribution and registry of organs and tissues donation and transplantation in the country.
Vibrant Villages Programme

❖ The Union Cabinet has approved raising of seven new ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) battalions and
allocated Rs 4,800 crore under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) to bolster the social and security
framework along the China border.
❖ The Cabinet has also cleared a 4.1-km Shinku-La tunnel on the Manali-Darcha-Padum-Nimmu axis to
allow all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.
❖ It is a Centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 (to 2025-26) for development
of villages on the northern border, thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border
villages.
❖ It will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
❖ It will cover 2,963 villages with 663 of them to be covered in the first phase.
❖ Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district adminstration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
❖ There will not be overlap with Border Area Development Programme.
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❖ 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;
❖ Development of growth centres on ‘hub and spoke model’ through promotion of social entrepreneurship,
empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship;
❖ Shinku-La tunnel: It is a 4.1-km tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha Road link to provide all-weather
connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.
❖ The tunnel will be completed by December 2025.
❖ It is very important as far as the security and safety of the country is concerned.
❖ It will also help in the movement of security forces in that region.
Aero India 2023

❖ Aero India 2023 was Organised at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru from 13th Feb-17th Feb,
2023. The event was the biggest-ever till date and witnessed the participation of 98 countries, according to
the Ministry of Defence.
❖ This year's theme is 'The runway to a billion opportunities' and the focus is on showcasing India's growth
in aerospace and defense capabilities.
❖ Events included Defence Ministers’ Conclave, a CEOs Round Table, Manthan start-up event, and Bandhan
ceremony (for forging and renewing partnerships between business entities), Air show (open to the
public) with aerial displays being the highlight.
❖ MoUs included the ones between Gopalan Aerospace India Private Limited and Omnipol of Czech Republic
for manufacturing and assembling 1st passenger aircraft by a private company in India.
BBC Documentary on PM MODI

❖ A Two Part British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Documentary on PM Modi has recently been banned by
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
❖ The External Affairs Ministry issued an official statement, calling BBC Documentary On PM Modi a
”Propaganda” and ”One Sided Story” which Is Full of ”Misinformation” & ”Colonial Mindset.”
❖ Later Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) issued directions to disable access to the first episode
of BBC Documentary on websites using emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021 and Section 69A of
the IT Act, 2000.
Income Tax Department Raid in BBC
❖ The Income Tax (I-T) Department conducted surveys at the premises of the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) in Delhi and Mumbai.
❖ The Income Tax Department is conducting surveys at BBC offices using Section 133A of the Income Tax
Act, 1961, which allows authorised officers to enter any business, profession, or charitable activity within
their jurisdiction to collect hidden information.
❖ This provision was added to the Act through an amendment in 1964.
❖ During the survey, the officers can verify the books of account or other documents, cash, stock, or other
valuable articles or things. The officers may impound and retain any books of account or other documents
after recording reasons for doing so.
❖ The provisions for impounding or seizing goods were introduced in the Finance Act, 2002.
❖ Search and survey are often used interchangeably, but they denote different things and have different
consequences.
❖ Search, defined under Section 132, can take place anywhere within the jurisdiction of the authorised
officer, and it's a more serious proceeding than a survey.
❖ A survey under Section 133A (1) can only be conducted within the limits of the area assigned to the
officer or at any place occupied by a person under the officer's jurisdiction where a business or profession
is carried out.
❖ Surveys are conducted only during working hours on business days, whereas a search can happen on any
day after sunrise and continue until the procedures are completed.
❖ The scope of a survey is limited to the inspection of books and verification of cash and inventory, while in a
search, the entire premises can be inspected to discover undisclosed assets, with the help of police.
❖ The consequences of a search are more severe, and the penalties are steeper than in a survey.
HAL Ties Up HENSOLDT For Tech Transfer
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❖ Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will provide Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for
engines of US’s MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System as India is in discussions to buy 30 MQ-9B
drones to enhance its surveillance capabilities along the China border and the Indian Ocean region.
❖ In another announcement, Germany based HENSOLDT and HAL announced a collaboration agreement
covering design/IPR Transfer for design and manufacturing of Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for
Indian helicopters.
❖ The MQ-9B Sea Guardian has changed the game in maritime domain awareness. It’s the first unmanned
aerial system of its kind that can search the ocean surface and the depths in support of naval
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
❖ It is designed to fly over the horizon via SATCOM for up to 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all
types of weather.
❖ General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) of US is the manufacturer of the MQ-9Bs.
❖ Indian Navy operates two MQ-9B Sea Guardians taken on lease in 2020.
❖ HAL and HENSOLDT will collaborate on the design and manufacturing of Obstacle Avoidance Systems
(OAS) for Indian helicopters, primarily the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), with potential future exports.
❖ The OAS system will provide smart visual cues to pilots to reduce their workload, increasing flight safety,
and mission effectiveness, particularly in crucial mission phases under adverse visual conditions.
❖ The system is a LiDAR-based sensor with synthetic vision and 3D conformal symbology to detect objects
and terrain, providing assistance to the pilot through safety lines, enhancing situational awareness to
increase flight safety.
❖ LiDAR, or light detection and ranging, is a popular remote sensing method used for measuring the exact
distance of an object on the earth’s surface.
❖ LiDAR uses a pulsed laser to calculate an object’s variable distances from the earth surface.
❖ These light pulses — put together with the information collected by the airborne system — generate
accurate 3D information about the earth surface and the target object.
Higher Pension under EPS

❖ The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued guidelines to allow a section of its older
members to opt for Higher Pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) as per 4th November
2022 judgment EPFO vs Sunil Kumar B Case of the Supreme Court (SC).
❖ In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has upheld the Employees’ Pension (Amendment) Scheme,
2014 but quashed the threshold limit of Rs 15,000 monthly salary for joining the pension fund.
❖ There are about 1,300 companies in the list of the EPFO’s exempted establishments.
❖ EPF Pension, which is technically known as Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), is a social security scheme
provided by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The scheme was first launched in 1995.
❖ The scheme, provided by EPFO, makes provisions for pensions for the employees in the organized sector
after the retirement at the age of 58 years.
❖ Employees who are members of EPF automatically become members of EPS.
❖ Both employer and employee contribute 12% of employee’s monthly salary to the Employees’ Provident
Fund (EPF) scheme.
❖ EPF scheme is mandatory for employees who draw a basic wage of Rs. 15,000 per month.
❖ Of the employer's share of 12 %, 8.33 % is diverted towards the EPS.
❖ Central Govt. also contributes 1.16% of employees’ monthly salary.
❖ EPS (Amendment) Scheme, 2014: The EPS amendment of 2014, had raised the pensionable salary cap to
Rs 15,000 a month from Rs 6,500 a month, and allowed only existing members (as on September 1, 2014)
along with their employers exercise the option to contribute 8.33% on their actual salaries (if it exceeded
the cap) towards the pension fund. This was extendable by another six months at the discretion of the
Regional Provident Fund Commissioner.
❖ It, however, excluded new members who earned above 15,000 and joined after September 2014 from the
scheme completely.
❖ The amendment, required such members to contribute an additional 1.16% of their salary exceeding ₹
15,000 a month towards the pension fund.
❖ SC’s Judgement: Under Article 142, the Supreme Court ruling gives EPFO members, who have availed of
the EPS, another opportunity over the next 4 months to opt and contribute up to 8.33% of their actual
salaries as against 8.33% of the pensionable salary capped at Rs 15,000 a month towards pension.
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❖ The court held the amendment requiring members to contribute an additional 1.16 % of their salary
exceeding Rs 15,000 a month as ultra vires the provisions of the Employees’ Provident Funds and
Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
❖ People who have subscribed to EPF will be able to get pension on their full salary instead of Rs. 15000 cap.
❖ Employees and Employers, who have contributed to the EPF without any approval from Assistant Provident
Commissioner, may not get the benefit of judgment.
❖ Amendment done in 2014 may remain applicable to the companies which manage their EPF corpus
through trusts.
❖ How will the pension be calculated?: The pensionable salary, which represents the average of the last 60
months of salary,will have to be multiplied by the number of contributory years, the sum of which is to be
divided by 70, which indicates the average longevity for an Indian. For the purpose of pension, an employee,
on attaining the age of 58 years, is deemed to have retired from service and consequently, exited the
Pension Scheme, regardless of the retirement policy of the employer.
National Pension System (NPS)
❖ The Central Government has introduced the NPS with effect from January 2004 (except for armed forces).
❖ In 2018 to streamline the NPS and make it more attractive, the Union Cabinet approved changes in the
scheme to benefit central government employees covered under NPS.
❖ NPS is being implemented and regulated by PFRDA in the country.
❖ National Pension System Trust (NPST) established by PFRDA is the registered owner of all assets under
NPS.
❖ Structure: NPS is structured into two tiers
❖ Tier-I account: This is the non-withdrawable permanent retirement account into which the accumulations
are deposited and invested as per the option of the subscriber.
❖ Tier-II account: This is a voluntary withdrawable account which is allowed only when there is an active Tier
I account in the name of the subscriber.
❖ NPS was made available to all Citizens of India from May 2009.
❖ However, Overseas Citizens of India and Person of Indian Origin card holders and Hindu Undivided Family
(HUFs) are not eligible for opening of NPS accounts.
Atal Pension Yojana
❖ The scheme was launched in May, 2015, with the objective of creating a universal social security system
for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector.
❖ The scheme has been implemented comprehensively across the country covering all states and Union
Territories with male to female subscription ratio of 57:43.
❖ However, only 5% of the eligible population has been covered under APY till date.
❖ Administered By: PFRDA through NPS
❖ Eligibility: Any citizen of India can join the APY scheme. The age of the subscriber should be between 18-
40 years
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
❖ It is the statutory Authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure
orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS).
❖ It works under the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance.
Special Category Status

❖ Recently, Union Finance Minister made it clear that the Centre will not consider demands for “special
category status” for any state as the 14th Finance commission has clearly said no special status can be
given.
❖ This comes as a blow to states like Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh which have been pushing for it for some
years now.
❖ SCS is a classification given by the Centre to assist development of states that face geographical and
socio-economic disadvantages.
❖ Constitution does not make a provision for SCS and this classification was later done on
the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission in 1969.
❖ Status was first accorded to Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland in 1969.
❖ SCS for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council of the erstwhile
Planning Commission.
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❖ Eleven States including Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura,
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Telangana have been accorded the special category state
status.
❖ Telangana, the newest State of India, was accorded the status as it was carved out of another state Andhra
Pradesh.
❖ The 14th Finance Commission has done away with the 'special category status' for states, except for the
North-eastern and three hill states.
❖ It suggested to fill the resource gap of such states through tax devolution by increasing it to 42% from
32%.
❖ SCS is different from Special status which imparts enhanced legislative and political rights, while SCS
deals with only economic and financial aspects.
❖ Parameters (Based on Gadgil Formula): Hilly Terrain; Low Population Density and/or Sizeable Share of
Tribal Population; Strategic Location along Borders with Neighbouring Countries; Economic and
Infrastructure Backwardness; and Nonviable Nature of State finances.
❖ Benefits of Special Category Status: The Centre pays 90% of the funds required in a centrally-sponsored
scheme to special category status states as against 60% or 75% in case of other states, while the
remaining funds are provided by the state governments.
❖ Unspent money in a financial year does not lapse and is carried forward.
❖ Significant concessions are provided to these states in excise and customs duties, income tax and
corporate tax.
❖ 30% of the Centre’s Gross Budget goes to Special Category states.
National Curriculum Framework

❖ The Ministry of Education (Dharmendra Pradhan) has launched Learning - Teaching Material for the
Foundational Stage under National Education Policy 2020 and Jadui Pitara was launched at the Occasion.
❖ In October 2022, the Ministry of Education launched the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational
Stage (NCF-FS) education of children in the three to eight years age group.
❖ Jadui Pitara is a play-based learning-teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3-8
years.
❖ It comprises playbooks, toys, puzzles, posters, flash cards, story books, worksheets as well as reflecting the
local culture, social context and languages is designed to pique curiosity and accommodate the diverse
needs of learners in the foundational stage.
❖ Jadui Pitara has been developed under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and is available in 13
Indian languages.
❖ NCF is one of the key components of NEP 2020, that enables and energizes this transformation, informed
by the aims, principles, and approach of NEP 2020.
❖ Four Sections of NCF:
o NCF for School Education
o NCF for Early Childhood Care and Education (Foundational Stage)
o NCF for Teacher Education
o NCF for Adult Education
❖ NCFFS: The NCF for the Foundational Stage (NCFFS) is developed based on the vision of the NEP 2020.
❖ The Foundational Stage refers to children in the age group of 3 to 8 years, across the entire range of
diverse institutions in India.
❖ This is the first Stage in the 5+3+3+4 Curricular and Pedagogical restructuring of School Education as
envisioned in NEP 2020.
❖ The NCFFS has been developed by NCERT through an extensive consultative process with States &
UTs upto grass root level and various institutions and organisations.
Adi Ganga Revival Plan

❖ Plans to revive Adi Ganga (the original channel of River Ganga passing through the city of Kolkata) have
been announced.
❖ The Adi Ganga, also known as the Gobindapur creek, Surman’s Canal and (presently) Tolly’s Canal, was
the main flow of the Hooghly River between the 15th and 17th century that virtually dried up due to natural
reasons.
❖ Around 1750, a canal was dug to connect the main course of the river with the lower part of River Saraswati
adjacent to Howrah.
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❖ The resultant Hooghly became the main river stretch and Adi Ganga turned into a secondary tributary.
❖ The National Mission for Clean Ganga has allocated around Rs 650 crore to revive the ancient river and it
has been included in a multi-country South Asian River project on combating pollution.
❖ The river, which was once the main channel of the Ganga till the 17th century, has been neglected for
decades and is now polluted and encroached upon. The choking of Adi Ganga severely impacted the
natural drainage of the area.
❖ However, Adi Ganga continued to thrive till the 1970s. Since then, its water quality gradually
deteriorated until it turned into a sewer and got rapidly encroached.
❖ In 1998, the Calcutta High Court directed the removal of all encroachments on the river within a month.
❖ The river is now practically dead and has turned into a sewer with a load of faecal bacteria crossing 17
million in 100 millilitres of river water, according to the state pollution control board data and dissolved
oxygen is zero.
❖ The West Bengal government has been directed by the National Green Tribunal to complete its
rejuvenation “positively by September 30, 2025”.
❖ The river was selected for the pollution study during an international water conference organised by the
non-profit Action Aid in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
❖ Apart from Adi Ganga, Buriganga in Bangladesh, Puyang in China, Bagmati in Nepal and Klang in
Malaysia were also chosen for pollution study during the conference
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
❖ On August 12, 2011, the NMCG was listed as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
❖ The NMCG is implemented by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River
Ganga also known as the National Ganga Council.
❖ Mascot: Chacha Chaudhary
❖ The Act envisages five tier structure at national, state and district level:
❖ National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
❖ Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal
Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation).
❖ National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
❖ State Ganga Committees
❖ District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states.
Namami Gange Programme
❖ Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’
by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of
pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
❖ It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources,River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti (Gajendra Singh Shekhawat).
❖ The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state
counterpart organizations i.e., State Program ManagementGroups (SPMGs).
❖ NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council (set in 2016; which replaced the National
Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).
❖ It has a Rs. 20,000-crore, centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects.
❖ The main pillars of the programme are:
o Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring,
o River-Front Development & River-Surface Cleaning,
o Bio-Diversity & Afforestation,
o Public Awareness
Singareni Thermal Power Plant

❖ Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in Telangana is set to become the first public sector coal-based
power generating station in the South and first among the State PSUs in the country to have a flu gas
desulphurization (FGD) plant.
❖ With 100% utilisation of the fly ash generated, the STPP has won the best fly ash utilisation award twice
already
❖ The FGD plant would process the sulphur and other gases (nitrogen oxides) generated in firing the coal for
power generation.
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❖ The FGD plant removes Sulphur Dioxide from the flue gas before it is released into the atmosphere and
hence reduces its impact on the environment.
❖ FGD systems are characterized as either “wet” or “dry” corresponding to the phase in which the flue gas
reactions take place. Four types of FGD systems:
❖ Wet FGD systems use a liquid absorbent.
❖ Spray Dry Absorbers (SDA) are semi-dry systems in which a small amount of water is mixed with the
sorbent.
❖ Circulating Dry Scrubbers (CDS) are either dry or semi-dry systems.
❖ Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) injects dry sorbent directly into the furnace or into the ductwork following the
furnace.
❖ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav) has set the deadline for
installation of FGD plants for coal-based power plants as December-end of 2026 for non-retiring plants and
as December-end of 2027 for retiring plants.
❖ However, it is not made compulsory for the plants that are going to retire by December-end of 2027,
provided they seek exemption from the Central Pollution Control Board and Central Electricity Authority.
❖ The gypsum generated by the FGD plant would be used in fertiliser, cement, paper, textile and
construction industries, and its sales are likely to contribute to the maintenance of the FGD plant.
❖ The thermal power sector has been a major source of electricity generation in India, accounting for
around 75% of the country's total installed power capacity.
❖ As of May 2022, India has a total Thermal installed capacity of 236.1 GW of which 58.6% of the thermal
power is obtained from coal and the rest from Lignite, Diesel, and Gas.
National Disaster Management Authority
❖ NDMA celebrated its 18th Formation Day on 28th September, 2022
❖ Theme 2022: Volunteerism in Disaster Management.
❖ India’s apex statutory body for disaster management.
❖ The NDMA was formally constituted on 27th September 2006, by the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The
Prime Minister is its chairperson and it has 9 other members. One of the nine members is designated as
Vice-Chairperson.
❖ The primary responsibility for the management of disaster rests with the State Government
concerned. However, the National Policy on Disaster Management puts in place an enabling environment
for all i.e., the Centre, state and district.
❖ In recognition of the importance of Disaster Management as a national priority, the Government of India
set up a High-Powered Committee (HPC) in August 1999 and a National Committee after the Gujarat
earthquake (2001), for making recommendations on the preparation of Disaster Management plans and
suggesting effective mitigation mechanisms.
❖ The 10th Five-Year Plan document also had, for the first time, a detailed chapter on Disaster Management.
The Twelfth Finance Commission was also mandated to review the financial arrangements for Disaster
Management.
❖ Establishment of National Disaster Reaction Force (NDRF):India has increasingly mitigated and responded
to all types of disasters, including with the establishment of NDRF, the world’s largest rapid reaction force
dedicated to disaster response.
❖ India has adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals
(2015-2030), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, all of which make clear the connections among
DRR, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), and sustainable development.
Delhi Exercise Policy Case

❖ Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested on Sunday by the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) in connection with the alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped
liquor policy for 2021-22. He was arrested after he was questioned by the probe agency for over eight
hours.
❖ Before its implementation, the policy had to first be examined by the Chief Secretary (CS) of Delhi, Naresh
Kumar, who was appointed in April this year. After receiving the proposal from the excise department, the
CS had found “procedural lapses” and irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. On July 8, he sent a
report to Sisodia, who heads the excise department and asked for a reply. The report was also sent to
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and LG Vinai Kumar Saxena on the same day
❖ On the basis of the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered a CBI
probe into the controversial Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
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❖ CBI probe alleged rule violations and procedural flaws in the implementation of the excise policy.
❖ MANISH SISODIA’S INVOLVEMENT: The Delhi Chief Secretary’s report alleged that “Minister In-charge of
the Excise Department, Manish Sisodia, took and got executed, major decisions/actions”, which were “in
violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications.”
❖ He also allegedly extended undue financial favours to the liquor licensees much after the tenders had been
awarded and thus caused huge losses to the ex-chequer, the report claimed.
Delhi’s Liquor Policy
❖ Proposed in 2020, it came into effect in November 2021. Delhi was divided into 32 zones with each zone
having 27 liquor vends. It also marked the exit of the government from selling liquor — only private liquor
shops now run in the city and each municipal ward has 2-3 vends. It aimed to end the liquor mafia and
black marketing, increase revenue and improve consumer experience, and ensure equitable distribution of
liquor vends. The government also made rules flexible for licensees such as allowing them to offer
discounts and set their own prices instead of selling on MRP fixed by the government. Following this,
discounts were offered by vendors, which attracted crowds. After protests by the opposition, the excise
department withdrew discounts for some time. After the implementation of Excise policy 2021-22, the
government’s revenue increased by 27%, generating around Rs 8900 crore.
Central Bureau of Investigation
❖ The CBI was established as the Special Police Establishment in 1941, to investigate cases of corruption in
the procurement during the Second World War.
❖ Later, the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption established CBI in 1967.
❖ Not a statutory body but it derives its powers from Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
❖ Operates under Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and pensions (PM Modi)
❖ Works under the Supervision of Central Vigilance Commission
❖ Director General: Subodh Kumar Jaiswal
❖ First Director General: D.P. Kohli
❖ First Women as Additional Director: Archana Ramasundaram
❖ HQ: Delhi
❖ States give consent to CBI for carrying out investigations under Section 6
❖ 8 states have withdrawn consent, with Mizoram being the first one
❖ CBI is nodal agency which investigates on behalf of India for INTERPOL
Caste Based Discrimination

❖ Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban caste-based discrimination. It included caste as a class to be
protected against discrimination, alongside race, gender, and religion.
❖ Caste, through its rigid social control and networks facilitates economic mobility for some and erects
barriers for others by mounting disadvantages on them.
❖ It also shapes the ownership pattern of land and capital and simultaneously regulates access to political,
social, and economic capital too.
❖ According to the Census (2011), there are an estimated 20 crore Dalits in India.
❖ National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Data: In 2021, 50,900 cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes
(SCs) were registered, an increase of 1.2% over 2020 (50,291 cases).
❖ The rate of crime was particularly high in Madhya Pradesh (63.6 per lakh in a SC population of 113.4 lakh)
and Rajasthan (61.6 per lakh in a SC population of 112.2 lakh).
❖ India Discrimination Report by Oxfam India: Decline in discrimination in Urban Areas & The average
earning of self-employed workers in 2019-20 was Rs 15,878 for people from non-SCs/ST categories, while
it is Rs 10,533 for those from SC or ST backgrounds.
❖ Self-employed non-SC/ST workers earn a third more than their counterparts from SC or ST backgrounds.
❖ Rise in Discrimination in Rural areas: The SC and ST communities in rural India are facing an increase in
discrimination in casual employment.
❖ Article 14 says that no person shall be denied treatment of equality before the law or the equal protection
of the laws within the territory of India.
❖ Article 15 of the Constitution of India states that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on
grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
❖ Article 16 of the Constitution of India states that there shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in
matters of employment under the State. No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex,
descent, place of birth or any of them, be ineligible for any office under the State.
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❖ Article 17 of the constitution abolishes Untouchability.
❖ Article 46 requires the State ‘to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the
weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and to
protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
❖ Article 335 provides that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the
making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State
❖ Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution respectively provide for reservation of seats in favour of the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the legislative assemblies of
the States.
❖ Under Part IX relating to the Panchayats and Part IXA of the Constitution relating to the Municipalities,
reservation for SC and ST in local bodies has been envisaged and provided.
❖ Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order of 1950: It recognized Hindu Dalits, Dalits who had converted to
Sikhism and Buddhism. as Scheduled Castes.
❖ SANKALP Scheme: Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP) is an outcome-
oriented programme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with a special focus
on decentralised planning and quality improvement.
❖ Stand Up India Scheme: It was launched in April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level
focusing on economic empowerment and job creation.
World Bank’s $1 billion for India’s Health Sector

❖ The World Bank has approved a loan of USD 1 billion to India to help the country prepare for future
pandemics and strengthen its healthcare infrastructure.
❖ The loan will be split into two loans of USD 500 million each.
❖ The loan will be used to support India's flagship Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure
Mission (PM-ABHIM), which was launched in October 2021, and will improve the public healthcare
infrastructure across the country.
❖ Both loans utilize the Program-for-Results financing instrument, which focuses on achieving results rather
than inputs. The loans have a final maturity of 18.5 years, including a grace period of five years.
❖ The Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness Program (PHSPP) will provide USD 500 million to
support the government's efforts to prepare India's surveillance system to detect and report potential
international epidemics.
❖ The Enhanced Health Service Delivery Program (EHSDP) will provide another USD 500 million to support
the government's efforts to strengthen service delivery through a redesigned primary healthcare model.
❖ One of the loans will also prioritize health service delivery in seven states: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Punchhi Commission Report

❖ The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) has decided to start the process of seeking the states’
comments on the Punchhi Commission’s report on Centre-state relations.
❖ The Punchhi Commission was constituted by the Union Government in April 2007 under the chairmanship
of former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Madan Mohan Punchhi.
❖ The Commission examined and reviewed how the existing arrangements between the Union and States
were functioning, as well as various court rulings regarding the powers, duties, and responsibilities in all
areas, including legislative relations, administrative relations, the role of governors, emergency provisions
and others.
❖ The Commission presented its seven-volume report to the government in March 2010.
❖ National Integration Council: It recommended the creation of a superseding structure for matters relating
to internal security (like the Homeland Security Department in the United States). This structure could be
known as the ‘National Integration Council’.
❖ It also advised amendment to Article 355 and Article 356: Article 355 talks about the duty of the Centre
to protect the state against any external aggression and Article 356 talks about the implementation of
President’s rule in case of failure of the machinery of the state.
❖ Subjects in the Concurrent List: The Commission recommended that the States should be consulted
through the inter-state council before bills are introduced on matters that fall in the concurrent list.
❖ Appointment and Removal of Governors: The Governor should stay away from active politics (even at a
local level) for at least two years prior to his appointment.
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❖ There should be a say of the state’s Chief minister while making the Governor’s appointment
❖ A committee should be formed that is entrusted with the task of appointment of governors. This
committee may comprise the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Lok Sabha’s speaker and the
concerned Chief Minister of the State.
❖ The term of appointment should be five years and Governor could only be removed via a resolution by the
State Legislature.
❖ Union’s Power of Making Treaties: The treaty-making power of the union should be regulated with respect
to treaties formulated in concern with the matters present in the State list.
❖ Appointment of Chief Ministers: Clear guidelines should be made with regard to the appointment of chief
ministers so that the governor’s discretionary powers are limited in this aspect.
Inter-State Council (IST)
❖ Article 163 of the Indian constitution gives provision for the establishment of an Inter-State Council.
❖ The Government constituted a commission in 1983 under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria.
❖ One of the important recommendations of Sarkaria Commission was for establishing a permanent Inter-
State Council as an independent national forum for consultation with a mandate well defined in
accordance with Article 263 of the Constitution of India.
❖ The inter-state council is a recommendatory body that has been empowered to investigate and discuss
subjects of common interest between the Union and state(s), or among states.
❖ The Council may meet at least 3 times in a year
❖ Prime Minister Chairman
❖ Chief Ministers of all States Members
❖ Chief Ministers of Union Territories having a Legislative Assembly and Administrators of UTs not having a
Legislative Assembly and Governors of States under President’s Rule (Governor’s Rule in the case of J&K)
Members.
❖ 6 Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister
Members.
❖ 10 union ministers will be the permanent invitees to the Inter-State Council.
❖ First Inter-State Council was Setup in 1990
Standing Committee of ISC & Zonal Councils
❖ It was set up in 1996 for continuous consultation and processing of matters for the consideration of the
Council.
❖ It consists of the following members: (i) Union Home Minister as the Chairman (ii) 5 Union Cabinet
Ministers (iii) 9 Chief Ministers the Council is assisted by a secretariat called the Inter-State Council
Secretariat.
❖ This secretariat was set-up in 1991 and is headed by a secretary to the Government of India. Since 2011, it
is also functioning as the secretariat of the Zonal Councils.
❖ The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies. They are established by an Act of
the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
❖ The act divided the country into 5 zones- Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern and provided a
zonal council for each zone.
❖ North Eastern Council: The North Eastern States i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur (iv)
Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya and (vii) Nagaland are not included in the Zonal Councils and their
special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act,
1972.
❖ Inter-State Trade and Commerce: Articles 301 to 307 in Part 8 of the Constitution deal with the trade,
commerce and intercourse within the territory of India.
❖ Inter-State Water Disputes: Article 262 of the Constitution provides for the adjudication of interstate water
disputes.
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

❖ The Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act
(FCRA) licence of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).
❖ CPR (not-for-profit society), along with Oxfam India and the Independent and Public-Spirited Media
Foundation (IPSMF), was surveyed by the Income Tax department earlier.
❖ FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehensions that foreign powers
were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping money into the country through independent organisations.
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❖ The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned in a
manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.
❖ Amendments: An amended FCRA was enacted in 2010 to “consolidate the law” on utilisation of foreign
funds, and “to prohibit” their use for “any activities detrimental to national interest”.
❖ The law was amended again in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt
and utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs.
❖ The FCRA requires every person or NGO seeking to receive foreign donations to be: (i) registered under the
Act (ii) to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi (iii) to utilize
those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act.
❖ Exceptions: Under the FCRA, the applicant should not be fictitious and should not have been prosecuted or
convicted for indulging in activities aimed at conversion through inducement or force, either directly or
indirectly, from one religious faith to another.
❖ The applicant should also not have been prosecuted for or convicted of creating communal tension or
disharmony. Also, should not be engaged or likely to be engaged in the propagation of sedition.
❖ The Act prohibits the receipt of foreign funds by candidates for elections, journalists or newspaper and
media broadcast companies, judges and government servants, members of legislature and political parties
or their office-bearers, and organisations of a political nature.
❖ Validity: FCRA registration is valid for 5 years, and NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six
months of the date of expiry of registration.
❖ The government can also cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds that the NGO is in violation of
the Act, if it has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of society
for two consecutive years, or if it has become defunct.
❖ Once the registration of an NGO is cancelled, it is not eligible for re-registration for three years.
❖ In July 2022, the MHA effected changes to FCRA rules which increased the number of compoundable
offences under the Act from 7 to 12.
❖ The other key changes were exemption from intimation to the government for contributions less than Rs 10
lakh – the earlier limit was Rs 1 lakh — received from relatives abroad, and increase in time limit for
intimation of opening of bank accounts.
Captain Shaliza Dhami

❖ On the occasion of International Women's Day, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami has been selected to take
over the command of a frontline combat unit in the Western sector (facing Pakistan).
❖ She will be the first woman officer in the IAF to command a missile squadron in the Western sector.
❖ The Indian Air Force started inducting women fighter pilots in 2016. The first batch had three women
fighter pilots who currently fly the MiG-21, Su-30MKI and Rafale.
❖ Women officers have started taking command of various Army units in arms and services
including Engineers, Signals, Army Air Defence, Intelligence Corps, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance
Corps and Electronics and Mechanical Engineers.
❖ There are 10,493 women officers serving in the armed forces, the majority in the medical services.
❖ The Indian Army, being the largest of the three services, has the largest number of women officers at
1,705, followed by 1,640 women officers in the Indian Air Force, and 559 in the Indian Navy.
❖ In January 2023, the army deployed a woman officer, Captain Shiva Chouhan, on the Siachen glacier for
the first time.
❖ In February 2023, the army began assigning women officers to command roles outside of the medical
stream for the first time. Around 50 of them are set to head units in operational areas under the Northern
and Eastern Commands responsible for guarding India's borders with China.
❖ The Navy has also started inducting women officers on frontline ships, earlier a no-go zone for women
officers.
❖ Many of them have been posted in the sensitive northern and eastern commands of the Army.
First Women to Lead Army Unit

❖ Recently, a woman officer, Colonel Geeta Rana has for the first time, taken over the command of an
independent unit in the sensitive Ladakh sector where India and China have been locked in a lingering
border row.
❖ In January 2023, the army for the first time deployed a woman officer, Captain Shiva Chouhan, at Siachen,
the world’s highest and coldest battleground. It also deployed its largest contingent of 27 women
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peacekeepers in Sudan’s disputed region of Abyei, where they are performing security-related tasks in a
challenging mission as part of the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA).
❖ One of the turning points for women in the military came in 2015 when the Indian Air Force (IAF) decided
to induct them into the fighter stream for the first time.
H3N2 Outbreak
❖ Across India, an outbreak of a respiratory illness with symptoms of cold, sore throat and fever accompanied
by fatigue has been observed since December 2022 and January 2023.
❖ In 2018, it wreaked havoc in the United States. This year, it is India’s turn.
❖ The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that Influenza Sub-type H3N2 has been causing
this illness. It further warned that the virus appeared to lead to more hospitalisations than other Influenza
subtypes.
❖ Haryana, Karnataka and Gujarat have, so far, recorded associated deaths.
❖ There are four types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses circulate
and cause seasonal epidemics of disease. Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause
flu pandemics (i.e., global epidemics of flu disease).
❖ In June 2009, the WHO declared the H1N1 pandemic. This is also popularly referred to as the swine flu
pandemic. Before the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, the influenza A (H1N1) virus had never been identified as a
cause of infections in people. Genetic analyses of this virus have shown that it originated from
animal influenza viruses and is unrelated to the human seasonal H1N1 viruses that have been in general
circulation among people since 1977. In 2013, India saw a massive outbreak of swine flu.
State Elections 2023

Tripura
❖ Elections to the Tripura Legislative Assembly were held in Tripura on 16 February 2023 to elect all 60
members of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared on 2
March 2023.
❖ The Bharatiya Janata Party won a simple majority, defeating its rivals Secular Democratic Forces and the
Tipra Motha Party. Tipra Motha Party won 13 seats at its debut and became the largest opposition party in
Tripura
❖ Seat Distribution: National Democratic Alliance (33): BJP (32), Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (1)
❖ Secular Democratic Focus (14): Communist Party of India (Marxist)(11), Indian National Congress (3),
Tipra Motha Party (13) – Others (13)
❖ National Democratic Alliance with BJP and IPFT made collagen government and appointed Manik Saha as
the 11th Chief Minister of Tripura
❖ He represents the Town Bordowali constituency in the Tripura Legislative Assembly Since 2022.He was
also the member of Rajya Sabha from 2022 until he became Chief Minister in 2022.
❖ Related Static GK: There are 2 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tripura. Tripura East and Tripura West
❖ Tripura was union territory in 1 November 1956 and gained status of a state on 21 January 1972 along
with Manipur and Meghalaya
❖ Capital: Agartala
❖ Sachindra Lal Singh was the first CM of Tripura
Meghalaya
❖ Legislative Assembly elections were scheduled to be held in Meghalaya on 27 February 2023 to elect all 60
members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared
on 2 March 2023.
❖ After the election, a coalition led by the National People's Party formed the state government, with Conrad
Sangma (south tura constituency) becoming 12th Chief Minister
❖ Coalition: National People’s Party (26), United Democratic Party (11), People’s Democratic Front (2),
Bharatiya Janta Party (2) and Hill State People’s Party (2)
❖ Related Static GK: There are 2 Lok Sabha constituencies in Meghalaya. Shillong and Tura. And 1 Rajya
Sabha seat
❖ Capital: Shillong
❖ First Chief Minister: Williamson A. Sangma
Nagaland
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❖ The Nagaland Legislative Assembly election was held in Nagaland on 27 February 2023 to elect all 60
members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared on
2 March 2023.
❖ After the election, coalition of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (25) and Bharatiya Janata Party
(12) formed the state government, with Neiphiu Rio (becoming the 9th Chief Minister of Meghalaya
❖ The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)’s Hekani Jakhalu became the first ever woman to be
elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
❖ Related Static GK: Nagaland as 1 Lok Sabha and 1 Rajya Sabha Seat
❖ Nagaland was a part of until Becoming a state on 1 December 1963
❖ Capital: Kohima
❖ First Chief Minister: P. Shilu Ao
Reservation for Women in Politics

❖ Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha launched a six-hour hunger strike seeking early passage
of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill.
❖ The Rajya Sabha passed the Women's Reservation Bill on 9 March 2010. However, the Lok Sabha never
voted on the bill. The bill lapsed since it was still pending in Lok Sabha.
❖ The issue of reservation for women in politics can be traced back to the Indian national movement. In
1931, in their letter to the British Prime Minister, submitting the official memorandum jointly issued on the
status of women in the new Constitution by three women’s bodies, leaders Begum Shah Nawaz
and Sarojini Naidu.
❖ The National Perspective Plan for Women recommended in 1988 that reservation be provided to women
right from the level of the panchayat to that of Parliament
❖ These recommendations paved the way for the historic enactment of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the
Constitution which mandate all State governments to reserve one-third of the seats for women in
Panchayati Raj Institutions and one-third of the offices of the chairperson at all levels of the Panchayati
Raj Institutions, and in urban local bodies, respectively. Within these seats, one-third are
reserved for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe women.
❖ Many States such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Kerala have made
legal provisions to ensure 50% reservation for women in local bodies.
❖ About the Bill: The Women’s Reservation Bill proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State
Legislative Assemblies for women. Reservation of seats for women shall cease to exist 15 years after the
commencement of this Amendment Act.
❖ According to Global Gender Gap Report 2022, India ranks 48th out of 146 in Political
Empowerment (Percentage of Women in Parliament and in Ministerial Positions) dimension.
❖ The various surveys do indicate that women representatives from Panchayati Raj have worked
commendably in the development and overall well-being of society in villages and many of them would
definitely want to work on the larger scale, however, they face various challenges in the political structure
prevalent in India.
❖ Status of Women Representation in Politics in India: Patriarchal social norms and mindsets have
historically allowed women to be marginalized and exploited in India.
❖ Beginning of social reforms and involvement in the struggle for freedom: The Indian freedom movement,
which began with the swadeshi in Bengal (1905-08), also saw the impressive participation of women, who
organized political protests, mobilized resources, and held leadership positions in those movements.
❖ At present, only about 14.4% of the members of the Indian Parliament are women, the highest so far.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, India has a fewer percentage of women in the lower House than
its neighbors such as Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
❖ As per the latest Election Commission of India (ECI) data as of October 2021, Women represent 10.5% of
the total members of the Parliament.
❖ The scenario for women Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) across all state assemblies in India is
even worse, with the national average being a pitiable 9%. In the last 75 years of independence, women’s
representation in Lok Sabha has not even increased by 10%.
❖ Women as Candidates: Generally, the proportion of female candidates in parliamentary elections has
increased over time but has remained low when compared to male candidates. Less than 9% of the 8,049
candidates running in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were female.
India’s Arms Imports: SIPRI
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❖ According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Trends in International Arms
Transfers 2022 report, India remained the world’s largest arms importer from 2018 to 2022 followed by
Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.
❖ While the global level of international arms transfers decreased by 5.1%, imports of major arms
by European states increased by 47% between 2013–17 and 2018–22 in the backdrop of the war in
Ukraine.
❖ The U.S. share of global arms exports increased from 33% to 40% while Russia’s fell from 22% to 16%.
❖ Arms imports by Pakistan increased by 14% between 2013–17 and 2018–22 and accounted for 3.7% of the
global total with China supplying 77% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2018–22.
❖ India’s Arms Import Outlook: With an 11% share of total global arms imports, India was the world’s biggest
importer of major arms in 2018–22, a position it has held for the period 1993–2022.
❖ India remained the top importer despite an 11% drop in its arms import between 2013-17 and 2018-22.
❖ Russia was India’s largest arms supplier in the periods between 2013-17 and 2018-22, but its share of
arms imports to India fell from 64% to 45% while France emerged as the second-largest arms supplier to
India between 2018-22 at 29%, followed by the US at 11%.
❖ Reason for Drop in Arm Imports: The drop in arms imports can be attributed to several factors including
India’s slow and complex arms procurement process, and efforts to diversify its arms suppliers, among
others.
❖ Arm Supply from India: India was the third-largest arms supplier to Myanmar during this period after
Russia and China and comprised 14% of its imports.
❖ 77% of Pakistan’s arms supply in 2018-22 came from China.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
❖ It is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control
and disarmament.
❖ It was established in 1966 in Stockholm (Sweden).
❖ It provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers,
media and the interested public.
Manipur Withdraws from SoO Agreement

❖ On March 10,2023 the Manipur government decided to withdraw from the Suspension of Operations (SoO)
agreement with two militant groups, Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army
(ZRA), alleging their involvement in inciting agitation among forest encroachers.
❖ The Kuki insurgency began after ethnic clashes with the Nagas of Manipur in the early 1990s, with
the Kukis arming themselves against Naga aggression.
❖ The major reason for clashes is the land claimed by the Kukis as their "homeland" in the Manipur hills
overlaps with the imagined Naga homeland of Greater Nagaland or Nagalim.
❖ Nearly 30 Kuki insurgent groups operate in Manipur, of which 25 are under tripartite SoO with
the Government of India and the state.
❖ As many as 17 are under the umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and 8 are under the United
People's Front (UPF).
❖ The Kuki outfits initially demanded a separate Kuki state but now seek a 'Kukiland territorial council.'
❖ Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) is a militant group operating in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
❖ The group was formed in 1996 with the aim of securing greater autonomy for the Zomi people, an
indigenous community living in the region.
❖ The ZRA is believed to be a splinter group of the larger Zomi Nationalist Movement (ZNM), which was
active in the 1980s and 1990s.
❖ The SoO agreement with Kuki was signed in 2008 as a ceasefire agreement between the Indian
government and various Kuki militant groups operating in the northeastern states of Manipur and
Nagaland.
❖ Under the agreement, the Kuki militant groups agreed to stop carrying out violent activities and come to
designated camps to be monitored by security forces.
❖ In return, the Indian government agreed to suspend its operations against the Kuki groups.
❖ The Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) oversees the effective implementation of the pact.
❖ Security forces, including state and central forces, cannot launch operations, nor can the underground
groups.
❖ Signatories of UPF and KNO abide by the Constitution of India, laws of the land, and territorial integrity of
Manipur.
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❖ They are prohibited from committing atrocities and extortion.
❖ The militant cadres are confined to designated camps, with arms deposited in a safe room under a double-
locking system.
❖ The groups are given arms only to guard their camps and protect their leaders.
Ban on Blood Donation by Gay and Transgenders

❖ After Thangjam Singh, a member of the transgender community, moved the Supreme Court seeking to
strike down the prohibition on gay and transgender people donating blood in the country, the Centre
justified their exclusion by asserting that their inclusion in the “at-risk” category for HIV, Hepatitis B, or C
infections is premised on scientific evidence.
❖ The ban on blood donations by gay people was introduced in the 1980s. The ban applied to all sexually
active gay men, as well as sexually active bisexual men and transgender women who had sex with men.
❖ In India, clause 12 of the ‘Guidelines for Blood Donor Selection & Blood Donor Referral, 2017’ mandates
the donor to be free from diseases that are transmissible by blood transfusion, and not “at risk for HIV,
Hepatitis B or C infections,” such as transgender, gay people, and female sex workers among others. The
fitness of the individual for blood donation is determined by the medical officer.
❖ Issued by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the National Aids Control Organisation in
October 2017, these guidelines were approved in an attempt to bring in a Blood Transfusion Service which
offers a “safe, sufficient and timely supply of blood and blood components to those in need”.
Women and Men in India report

❖ The Ministry of Statistics and Programme (Rao Inderjit Singh) Implementation has released Women and
Men in India 2022 report.
❖ The sex ratio at birth went up by three points to 907 in 2018-20 from 904 in 2017-19.
❖ India’s Labour Force Participation Rate for those above 15 years of age has been on the rise since 2017-
2018. However, women are severely lagging behind men. The rate was 77.2 for males and 32.8 for
females in 2021-22, with no improvement in this disparity over the years.
❖ The population growth, already on a downward trend from 2.2% in 1971 to 1.1% in 2021, is projected to fall
further to 0.58% in 2036.
❖ In absolute figures, this translates into 1.2 billion people with 48.5% female population as per Census 2011
to an expected 1.5 billion in 2036 with a marginal improvement in the female population share (48.8%).
❖ India’s age and sex structure, as per which the population under 15 years of age is expected to decline and
the population above 60 years is expected to increase by 2036.
❖ Accordingly, the population pyramid will undergo a shift as the base of the pyramid in 2036 would narrow
down, while the middle would be broadened.
❖ The age and sex structure of a country’s population can affect gender issues in a variety of ways. Age
structure impacting various aspects of societies is determined primarily by trends in fertility and mortality.
❖ Access to Health Information and Services: Lack of access to resources and decision-making power,
restrictions on mobility, etc make access to health information and services more difficult for women and
girls than men and boys.
❖ Fertility Rate: The age-specific fertility rate for the 20-24 year and 25-29 years age group between 2016
and 2020 reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively.
❖ The same indicator for the 35-39 years age group increased from 32.7 in 2016 to 35.6 in 2020.
❖ The mean age for marriage has improved marginally up from 22.1 years in 2017 to 22.7 years in 2020.
India’s Sugar Exports

❖ India has gone from being a marginal sugar exporter five years ago to No. 2 in the world, behind only
Brazil. Between 2017-18 and 2021-22, exports have soared from USD 810.9 million to USD 4.6 billion
❖ Sugar exports may cross USD5.5 billion in the current fiscal year.
❖ Sugar industry is an important agro-based industry that impacts the rural livelihood of about 50 million
sugarcane farmers and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills.
❖ In (Oct-Sep) 2021-22 India emerges as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and
world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar.
❖ Sugar industry is broadly distributed over two major areas of production- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and
Punjab in the north and Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the south.
❖ South India has a tropical climate which is suitable for higher sucrose content giving a higher yield per unit
area as compared to north India.
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❖ Out of India’s total 110 lakh tonnes(lt) sugar exports in 2021-22, raws alone accounted for 56.29 lt.
❖ The biggest importers of Indian raw sugar were Indonesia (16.73 lt), Bangladesh (12.10 lt), Saudi
Arabia (6.83 lt), Iraq (4.78 lt) and Malaysia (4.15 lt).
❖ Rangarajan Committee (2012) was set up to give recommendations on regulation of the sugar industry
❖ Geographical Conditions for the Growth of Sugar:
o Temperature: Between 21-27°C with hot and humid climate.
o Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm.
o Soil Type: Deep rich loamy soil.
❖ Background: Till 2017-18, India hardly exported any raw sugar (produced after the first crystallisation of
cane juice).
❖ It mainly shipped plantation white sugar (produced by refining of raw sugar) with 100-150 ICUMSA
value (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis). This was referred to as low-
quality whites or LQW in international markets. ICUMSA is a measure of purity. The lower the value, the
more the whiteness.
❖ Top Sugar Producing States: Maharashtra
❖ Top Sugarcane Producer: Uttar Pradesh
❖ Largest Wheat Producer- Uttar Pradesh
❖ Rice- West Bengal
❖ Sunflower- Karnataka
❖ Maize- Karnataka
❖ Groundnut- Gujarat
❖ Mustard- Rajasthan
❖ Cotton- Gujarat
❖ Tea- Assam
Indian Flag Down in London

❖ After pro-Khalistan people took down the Indian flag at the High Commission in London, the Indian
government summoned the “senior-most” UK diplomat, Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott
❖ and reminded her of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.
❖ The Convention was adopted on 14th April 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic
Intercourse and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria. India has ratified the convention.
❖ It entered into force on April 24, 1964, and is nearly universally ratified, with Palau and South Sudan being
the exceptions.
❖ It sets out the special rules – privileges and immunities – which enable diplomatic missions to act without
fear of coercion or harassment through enforcement of local laws and to communicate securely with their
sending Governments.
❖ It makes provision for withdrawal of a mission – which may take place on grounds of economic or physical
security – and for breach of diplomatic relations which may occur in response to abuse of immunity or
severe deterioration in relations between sending and receiving States.
❖ In either of these cases – or where permanent missions have not been established – a framework is
provided for the interests of each sending State to be protected in the receiving State by a third State.
❖ It affirms the concept of “inviolability” of a diplomatic mission, which has been one of the enduring
cornerstones of international diplomacy.
❖ Basically, the security of any High Commission or Embassy is the responsibility of the host nation. While
diplomatic missions can also employ their own security, ultimately, the host nation is accountable for
security.
❖ The difference between high commission and embassy is basically where they are situated. Commission
applies to Commonwealth member states whereas Embassy applies to the rest of the world.
India Aims to Become Top Global Aviation Markey by 2030

❖ India is poised to become the world's leading aviation market, surpassing the United States and China by
the end of the decade.
❖ The Civil Aviation Secretary in India made an announcement of the country's plans for expanding air
connectivity to increase accessibility for the population during the CAPA India Aviation Summit.
❖ India's Civil Aviation is among the fastest-growing aviation markets globally and will be a major growth
engine to make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024.
❖ India is currently the world's 3rd-largest civil aviation market.
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❖ Over the past 6 years, India's domestic passenger traffic has grown at a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of around 14.5% and international passenger traffic at around 6.5%.
❖ India's domestic passenger traffic is projected to rise to 16 crores in the 2023-24 fiscal year and to 35
crores by 2029-30.
❖ National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016: To create an ecosystem to make flying affordable for the
masses and to enable 30 crore domestic ticketing by 2022 and 50 crore by 2027, and international ticketing
to increase to 20 crore by 2027. Similarly, cargo volumes should increase to 10 million tonnes by 2027.
Medical Tourism Index

th
❖ India has been ranked 10 in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) for 2020-2021 out of 46 destinations of the
world by the Medical Tourism Association.
❖ With an aim to improve medical tourism in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National
Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism in 2022.
❖ The National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism has identified the following key
pillars for the development of medical-value travel in the country.
❖ Key Pillars:
➢ Developing a brand for India as a wellness destination.
➢ Strengthening the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism
➢ Enabling digitalization by setting up Online Medical Value Travel (MVT) Portal
➢ Enhancing accessibility for Medical Value Travel
➢ Promoting Wellness Tourism
➢ Governance and Institutional Framework
❖ Foreign Tourists Arrival on medical purpose increases from 1.83 lakh in 2020 to 3.04 lakh in 2021.
❖ Medical and wellness tourism refer to the practice of travelling to another location to receive medical
treatment or to improve one's health and wellbeing.
❖ These types of tourism are growing in popularity as people become more interested in alternative
healthcare options and seek out high-quality medical care at a lower cost.
❖ 'Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purposes to foreign travellers coming to
India for medical treatment.
❖ ‘E- Medical Visa’ and ‘E-Medical Attendant Visa’ have also been introduced for 156 countries.
❖ The Ministry of Tourism (G. Kishan Reddy) provides financial Assistance under Market Development
Assistance Scheme to Medical Tourism Service Providers accredited by National Accreditation Board for
Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) for participation in Medical/ Tourism activities.
New Drug Controller General of India

❖ The Appointments Committee of the cabinet has approved the proposal of appointing Rajeev Singh
Raghuvanshi as the new Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
❖ Dr. Raghuvanshi who is the secretary and scientific Director of the Indian Pharmacopeia Commission
(IPC), has been given the charge of the DCGI for a 3 year term till February 2025.
❖ The DCGI is an important post as it has a final say on the regulatory approvals for drugs and vaccines in
India. The apex body is also responsible for ensuring standards for drugs which are used in domestic and
export consumption
State of India’s Environment Report 2023

❖ State of India’s Environment report 2023 was launched by Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE) and DTE (Down to Earth) magazine, covering an extensive gamut of subject assessments, ranging
from climate change, agriculture and industry to water, plastics, forests and biodiversity.
❖ The report is the annual publication, focusing on climate change, migration, health and food systems. It
also covers biodiversity, forest and wildlife, energy, industry, habitat, pollution, waste, agriculture and rural
development.
❖ CSE is a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi.
❖ Encroachment: Over 30,000 water bodies have been encroached on in the country and India is
generating 150,000 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) every day — more than half of which is
either dumped in landfills or remains unattended.
❖ Air Pollution: Four years and 11 months is the average duration of life lost to air pollution in India.
❖ Rural India is losing more years due to air pollution-related health issues than the urban belt. Rural India
needs 35 % more community health centers.
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❖ Environmental Crimes: Environmental crimes continue unabated — courts need to decide on 245 cases
every day to clear the backlog.
❖ Extreme Weather Events: Between January and October 2022, India witnessed extreme weather events on
271 days. These extreme weather events claimed over 2,900 lives.
❖ SDGs: Over the past five years, India’s overall global rank in meeting the United Nations-
mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has slipped by nine places — ranking 121 in 2022. India
ranks below four south Asian countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
❖ Plastic Waste: While the magnitude of the problem related to Plastic Waste remains gargantuan, a plethora
of policies and urgency are on the right path.
❖ Agriculture: In agriculture, strong evidence is emerging of the efficacy of traditional and regenerative
farming methods. On the issue of forests and biodiversity, losses of forests are a dark truth, but at the
same time more and more communities are demanding rights over forests – what is more, these rights are
being granted.
Evergreening of Patent
❖ The Indian Patent Office rejected U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) attempt
for Evergreening of Patent on manufacturing of the anti-tuberculosis drug Bedaquiline in India beyond July
2023.
❖ Bedaquiline is a crucial drug in the treatment of multidrug resistant TB patients for whom the first-line drug
treatment — using Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol — has stopped working.
❖ J&J’s patent application was for a fumarate salt of a compound to produce bedaquiline tablets.
❖ It was argued that J&J’s method to produce a “solid pharmaceutical composition” of bedaquiline doesn’t
require an “inventive step”.
❖ According to the Indian Patent Act 1970 Section 2(1) (ja), an ‘inventive step’ is an invention that is “not
obvious to a person skilled in the art”.
❖ The current application drew significantly from a previous patent, which discussed a similar compound on
which bedaquiline is based.
❖ The Patents Act, 1970 has imposed certain ‘restrictions’ on patentability.
❖ A patent cannot be granted on ‘mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus unless such known
process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant’.
❖ Section 3(d) of the Act does not allow ‘evergreening’ of patents to prevent innovator pharma
companies from extending the patent beyond the stipulated period of 20 years, to ensure that the
monopoly does not extend forever.
❖ The rejection is expected to lower the cost of bedaquiline by up to 80%. India has the largest population of
people living with drug-resistant TB. J&J’s patent on bedaquiline meant the drug cost USD 400 (revised to
USD 340 in 2020) per person, plus the cost of other drugs.
❖ The evergreening of patents is a practice of tweaking drugs in order to extend their patent term and thus
their profitability.
❖ The Indian Patents Act 1970 introduced many provisions to prevent the mischievous practice of
“evergreening” of patents.
❖ This is to aid millions of people who can't afford the expensive modified drugs, as well as the development
of the domestic generic drug market.
❖ A popular precedent in this regard is Novartis vs Union of India case in which the Supreme Court (SC)
rejected an appeal filed by Novartis rejecting the patent and upheld that the beta crystalline form of
Imatinib Mesylate was a new form of the known substance i.e., Imatinib Mesylate, wherein the efficacy was
well known and rejected the patent.
Related Static GK
❖ Pretomanid is the third new drug developed for the treatment of people with Extensively Drug-Resistant
TB (XDR-TB) or Multi Drug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB) affecting the lungs.
❖ It is a part of three-drug, six-month, all-oral regimen treatment along with the other two drugs namely,
Bedaquiline, & Linezolid.
❖ World Tuberculosis Day: 24th March
❖ TB was declared a global emergency by WHO in 1993
❖ National TB Program launched in 1962 and National TB Elimination Program launched in 1997 (Was earlier
known as Revised National TB Control Program)
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❖ The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) was constituted in 2003 by the Government of India to
hear and resolve the appeals against the decisions of the registrar under the Indian Trademarks Act, 1999
and the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
❖ Plant variety protection provides legal protection of a plant variety to a breeder in the form of Plant
Breeder’s Rights (PBRs). In India, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001,
is a sui generis system that aims to provide for the establishment of an effective system for the protection
of plant varieties and the rights of plant breeders and farmers. A sui generis system is an alternative to the
patent system. There is no laws in India that allows for Patenting plants
India TB report 2021
❖ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the India Tuberculosis (TB) report 2021.
❖ In 2021, tuberculosis cases in India increased by 19% compared to the previous year
❖ the mortality rate due to all kinds of tuberculosis increased by 11% between 2019 and 2020.
❖ The total number of estimated TB-related deaths, for the year 2020 was 4.93 lakh, which is 13% than the
estimates of 2019.
❖ In 2020, the TB-related cases dipped by 38% after two months of the pandemic as compared to the months
of January and February.
❖ In 2020, 83 percent of the notified patients were treated successfully while 4 percent passed away while
receiving treatment.
❖ For the year 2021, the prevalence of all forms of TB was 312 per one lakh population. The highest
prevalence was in Delhi with 747 per one lakh while the lowest was in Gujarat with 137 per lakh one
population.
First Cable-Stayed Railway Bridge

❖ The first cable-stayed railway bridge of India on the Anji river (a tributary of the Chenab River) in Jammu
and Kashmir is expected to be ready by May 2023.
❖ Anji bridge between Katra and Reasi stations falls in the Reasi district of the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir. The upcoming structure is part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla-Rail Link
(USBRL) project. The project was declared a National Importance Project in March 2002. It is also
the biggest mountain railway project since independence.
❖ The bridge will also have an integrated monitoring system with numerous sensors installed at various
locations.
Global Hub for Green Ship Building

❖ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, has announced India's plan to become a global hub
for green ship building by 2030 with the launch of the Green Tug Transition Programme.
❖ This initiative aims to reduce emissions and move towards sustainable development.
❖ National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NoCEGPS): India’s first NoCEGPS is a
collaboration between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (Sarbananda Sonowal) and the Energy
and Resources Institute. It is in Gurugram, Haryana.
❖ The centre is aimed at playing a crucial role in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (14) to
sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, conservation, and
sustainable use of ocean-based resources.
❖ NCoEGPS will act as a technological arm of MoPSW for providing the needed support on Policy, Research
and Cooperation on Green Shipping areas for Ports, DG Shipping, CSL and other institutions under the
umbrella of MoPSW.
❖ Green Tug Transition Programme: The Green Tug Transition Programme will start with 'Green Hybrid
Tugs' powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems and subsequently adopting non-fossil fuel solutions
like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen.
❖ The target is to have the initial Green Tugs working in all major ports by 2025, and 50% of all Tugs
converted into Green Tugs by 2030.
❖ PM Gati Shakti: The development of green logistics supply chains in the country has already accelerated
through the PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity along with the Green Ports
initiative. The ports aim to reduce carbon emissions per ton of cargo handled by 30% by 2030.
❖ The Green Voyage 2050 Project: It is a partnership project between the Government of Norway
and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) launched in May 2019 aiming to transform the shipping
industry towards a lower carbon future.
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National Rabies Control Programme
❖ The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the National Rabies Control Programme
(NRCP) for prevention and control of Rabies.
❖ Objectives of NRCP: Provision of rabies vaccine & rabies immunoglobulin through national free drug
initiatives;
➢ Training on appropriate animal bite management, prevention and control of rabies, surveillance and
intersectoral coordination;
➢ Strengthening surveillance of animal bites and rabies deaths reporting;
➢ Creating awareness about rabies prevention.
❖ Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease.
❖ It is caused by a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat,
monkey, etc).
❖ It is invariably transmitted following a bite of an infected animal that leads to deposition of the saliva and
the virus in the wound. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. The death invariably
occurs in four days to two weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure.
❖ The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to flu and may last for a few days, which includes: Fever,
Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Anxiety, Confusion, Hyperactivity, Difficulty swallowing, Excessive salivation,
Hallucinations, Insomnia.
❖ India is endemic for rabies, and accounts for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths. It causes 18 000-20 000
deaths every year. About 30-60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the
age of 15 years as bites that occur in children often go unrecognized and unreported.
❖ In India, dogs are responsible for about 97% of human rabies, followed by cats (2%), jackals, mongooses
and others (1%). The disease is endemic throughout the country
❖ The Central Government has framed the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 which is to be
implemented by the local authority to control the population of stray dogs. The main focus of the rules is on
anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs and neutering of stray dogs as means of population stabilization.
❖ The Government has launched ‘National Action Plan For Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) from
India by 2030’. The stray dog population control and management of stray dogs is the mandate of the local
bodies.
New India Literacy Programme

❖ The Minister of State for Education (Annpurna Devi, Rajkumar Ranjan, Subhas Sarkar) provided information
about the New India Literacy Programme (NILP) in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
❖ The Government has launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “New India Literacy Programme”
(NILP) for implementation during five years from the FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27 with financial outlay of
Rs.1037.90 crore.
❖ The scheme aims to cover a target of 5.00 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above.
❖ The scheme has five components:
o Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
o Critical Life Skills
o Vocational Skills Development
o Basic Education
o Continuing Education
❖ The scheme is mainly based on volunteerism for teaching and learning, and volunteers can register through
the mobile app.
❖ The scheme is implemented predominantly through the online mode and is based on technology.
❖ The teaching and learning material and resources are available on the DIKSHA platform of NCERT and can
be accessed through mobile apps.
❖ Modes like TV, Radio, Samajik Chetna Kendra, etc. are also used for dissemination of Foundational Literacy
and Numeracy.
❖ All non-literates above 15 years of age are eligible to avail of the benefits of the scheme.
❖ As per Census 2011, the absolute number of non-literates of the country in 15 years and above age group is
25.76 crore (Male 9.08 crore, Female 16.68 crore).
❖ In consideration of the progress of persons certified as literates being to the tune of 7.64 crore under
the Saakshar Bharat programme implemented during 2009-10 to 2017-18, it is estimated that currently
around 18.12 crore adults are still non-literate in India.
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60% of Voters Linked Aadhaar to Voter ID
❖ According to the Election Commission (EC), over 60% of India's 94.5 crore voters have linked their Aadhaar
number to their voter IDs.
❖ Tripura has the highest rate of Aadhaar linking, with over 92% of voters in the state providing their Aadhaar
details to the EC.
❖ Lakshadweep and Madhya Pradesh have the second and third highest rates of Aadhaar linking, with over
91% and 86% of voters having provided the number respectively.
❖ Southern states have lower proportions of Aadhaar registration compared to the national average, with
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka falling shy of 71%, and Tamil Nadu and Kerala standing around 63% and
61%.
❖ Gujarat has the lowest Aadhaar registration by voters, with only 31.5% of voters linking the document to
their voter registration
❖ Also, less than 34% of voters in Delhi had their Aadhaar Linked
National Mission on Natural Farming

❖ The Government of India has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a separate and
independent scheme to promote chemical-free and climate-smart agriculture.
❖ The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been formulated by upscaling the Bhartiya Prakritik
Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) to promote natural farming across the country.
❖ NMNF will cover a 7.5 lakh hectare area by developing 15,000 clusters. The farmers willing to implement
natural farming on their field will be registered as cluster members, each cluster shall comprise 50 farmers
or more with 50-hectare land.
❖ Also, each cluster can fall into one village or spread across 2-3 nearby villages under the same gram
panchayat.
❖ Under NMNF, farmers will receive a financial assistance of ₹15,000 per hectare per year for three years for
the creation of on-farm input production infrastructure.
❖ However, the incentives would be provided to farmers only when they commit to natural farming and have
actually taken it up. If a farmer defaults or does not continue with natural farming, subsequent instalments
shall not be disbursed.
❖ A Web portal has also been launched for the promotion of natural farming with information on the
implementation framework, resources, implementation progress, farmer’s registration, blog, and so on.
❖ The agriculture ministry is undertaking large-scale training of master trainers, ‘champion’ farmers and
practising farmers in the techniques of natural farming through the National Institute of Agricultural
Extension Management (MANAGE) and National Centre of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF).
❖ Establishment of BRCs: The Centre intends to set up 15,000 Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-inputs Resources
Centres (BRCs) to provide easy access to bio-resources wherein cow dung and urine, neem and bioculture
play an important role.
❖ Natural farming is a chemical-free farming method based on locally available resources. It
promotes traditional indigenous practices, which give freedom to farmers from externally purchased
inputs.
❖ The major stress of natural farming is on-farm biomass recycling with biomass mulching, use of on-farm
desi cow dung-urine formulation, managing pests through diversity, on-farm botanical concoctions, and
exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs directly or indirectly.
❖ Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): The NMNF is an upscaling of the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi
Paddati (BPKP) which is a sub-scheme under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). PKVY provides
financial assistance to farmers who want to adopt organic farming practices and encourages them to use
eco-friendly techniques for pest management and soil fertility management.
❖ Climate Smart Agriculture: is an integrated approach to managing landscapes-cropland, livestock, forests,
and fisheries-that address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change.
❖ It aims to tackle three main objectives: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes,
adapting and building resilience to climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions wherever
possible.
Marine Protected Areas
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❖ The Ministry of Earth Sciences (Jitendra Singh) Government of India has announced that India will support
setting up two Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in Antarctica to protect marine life and its ecosystem
services.
❖ MPA is a defined region managed for the long-term conservation of marine resources, ecosystem services
or cultural heritage.
❖ Within the region, certain activities are limited, or entirely prohibited, to meet specific conservation, habitat
protection, ecosystem monitoring or fisheries management objectives. MPAs do not necessarily exclude
fishing, research or other human activities; in fact, many MPAs are multi-purpose areas.
❖ The Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica covers around 10 % of the global ocean and is home to
nearly 10,000 unique polar species. Climate change is altering habitats such as sea ice and the sheltered
seafloor under ice shelves that are home to a variety of species.
❖ Commercial fishery harvest krill, to produce fish meal for feeding farmed fish and nutritional supplements
for people. Increased harvesting of krill threatens animals that feed on them. These include fish, whales,
seals, penguins and other seabirds.
❖ A 2022 study that analysed over forty years of krill fishery data found that krill fishing was highest in the
regions surrounding the Western Antarctic Peninsula and near the South Orkney Islands.
❖ Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are found in all the world's oceans. They are an important part
of the marine food chain, serving as a primary food source for many species of fish, birds, and whales.
❖ The Southern Ocean has two MPAs, one in the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands and the other in
the Ross Sea. These fully protect only 5% of the ocean.
❖ All types of fishing, other than scientific research, are prohibited within the southern shelf of the South
Orkney Islands MPA. Discharges and dumping from fishing vessels are also not allowed
❖ In Ross MPA, 72% of the waters are closed to commercial fishing.
❖ Since 2012, the European Union and Australia have proposed an MPA in East Antarctica. An MPA was
proposed in the Weddell Sea by the EU and Norway and in the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula
by Chile and Argentina.
❖ In 2021, India extended its support for designating East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea as MPA. But
according to reports, China and Russia blocked these efforts at the 41st annual meeting of the Commission
for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
Antarctica Treaty
❖ The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S latitude.
❖ Objective: To demilitarize Antarctica; use for peaceful purposes & resolve disputes.
❖ Signed in 1959 by 12 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway,
South Africa, USSR, the UK and the USA, and came into force in 1961.
o India signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1983.
o HQ- Buneos Aires, Argentina
o Leaglly Blinding
o Currently 54 Signatories
❖ Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR): Set up in 1980 for the
protection and preservation of the Antarctic. HQ- Hobart, Australia
❖ Madrid Protocol: Designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science” (Signed by
India).
❖ Convention for the Conservation of Antarctica Seals (CCAS) signed in London Feb 11 1972, India Ratified
in 1985
Key Facts About Antarctica
❖ The world's southernmost and fifth-largest continent has the geographic South Pole.
❖ The continent is divided into East Antarctica (which is largely composed of a high ice-covered plateau)
and West Antarctica (which is largely an ice sheet covering an archipelago of mountainous islands).
❖ Antarctica is a unique continent in that it does not have a native population. There are no countries in
Antarctica, although seven nations claim different parts of it: New Zealand, Australia, France, Norway, the
United Kingdom, Chile, and Argentina.
❖ The Indian Antarctic program (1981) has completed 41 scientific expeditions and built three permanent
research base stations in Antarctica.
❖ DakshinGangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012)
❖ Only 2 Maitri and Bharati are active currently
❖ ‘Himadri’ station in Svalbard, above the Arctic circle. (2008)
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❖ The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa—an autonomous institute under the
Ministry of Earth Sciences (Jitendra Singh)—manages the entire Indian Antarctic program.
❖ Longest River: Onyx.
❖ Largest Lake: Vostok, is one of the largest subglacial lakes in the world.
Foreign Trade Policy 2023

❖ Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles
(Piyush Goyal) launched the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 which comes into effect from April 1, 2023.
❖ FTP 2023 is a policy document which is based on continuity of time-tested schemes facilitating exports as
well as a document which is nimble and responsive to the requirements of trade.
❖ The policy is based on the principles of trust and partnership with exporters and aims at process re-
engineering and automation to facilitate ease of doing business for exporters.
❖ The Key Approach is based on Four Pillars:
o Incentive to Remission,
o Export promotion through collaboration - Exporters, States, Districts, Indian Missions,
o Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives, and
o Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining Special
Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies (SCOMET) policy.
❖ The government aims to increase India’s overall exports to USD 2 trillion by 2030, with equal contributions
from the merchandise and services sectors.
❖ The government also intends to encourage the use of the Indian currency in cross-border trade, aided by a
new payment settlement framework introduced by the RBI in July 2022.
❖ Process Re-Engineering and Automation: The policy emphasizes export promotion and development,
moving away from an incentive regime to a regime which is facilitating, based on technology interface and
principles of collaboration.
❖ Reduction in fee structures and IT-based schemes will make it easier for MSMEs and others to access
export benefits.
❖ Duty exemption schemes for export production will now be implemented through Regional Offices in a rule-
based IT system environment, eliminating the need for manual interface
❖ Towns of Export Excellence (TEE): Four new towns, namely Faridabad, Mirzapur, Moradabad, and
Varanasi, have been designated as TEE in addition to the existing 39 towns.
❖ The TEEs will have priority access to export promotion funds under the MAI scheme and will be able to
avail Common Service Provider (CSP) benefits for export fulfillment under the Export Promotion Capital
Goods (EPCG) Scheme.
❖ Recognition of Exporters: Exporter firms recognized with 'status' based on export performance will now be
partners in capacity-building initiatives on a best-endeavor basis.
❖ Similar to the 'each one teach one' initiative, 2-star and above status holders would be encouraged to
provide trade-related training based on a model curriculum to interested individuals.
❖ Promoting Export from the Districts: The FTP aims at building partnerships with State governments and
taking forward the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative to promote exports at the district level and
accelerate the development of grassroots trade ecosystem.
❖ Streamlining SCOMET Policy: India is placing more emphasis on the "export control" regime as its
integration with export control regime countries strengthens.
❖ Facilitating E-Commerce Exports: Various estimates suggest e-commerce export potential in the range
of USD 200 to USD 300 billion by 2030.
❖ FTP 2023 outlines the intent and roadmap for establishing e-commerce hubs and related elements such
as payment reconciliation, book-keeping, returns policy, and export entitlements.
❖ As a starting point, the consignment wise cap on E-Commerce exports through courier has been
raised from ₹5Lakh to ₹10 Lakh in the FTP 2023.
❖ Facilitation under (EPCG) Scheme: The EPCG Scheme, which allows import of capital goods at zero
Customs duty for export production, is being further rationalized. Some key changes being added are:
❖ Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) scheme has been added as
an additional scheme eligible to claim benefits under CSP(Common Service Provider) Scheme of EPCG.
❖ Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) of all types, Vertical Farming equipment, Wastewater Treatment and
Recycling, Rainwater harvesting system and Rainwater Filters, and Green Hydrogen are added to Green
Technology products – will now be eligible for reduced Export Obligation requirement under EPCG Scheme
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❖ Facilitation under Advance authorization Scheme: Advance authorisation Scheme accessed by DTA
(Domestic tariff area) units provides duty-free import of raw materials for manufacturing export items and
is placed at a similar footing to EOU and SEZ Scheme.
❖ Special Advance Authorisation Scheme extended to export of Apparel and Clothing sector on self-
declaration basis to facilitate prompt execution of export orders.
❖ Benefits of Self-Ratification Scheme for fixation of Input-Output Norms extended to 2 star and above
status holders in addition to Authorized Economic Operators at present.
❖ Amnesty Scheme: Under the amnesty scheme, an online portal will be launched for registration and a six-
month window will be available to exporters to avail the scheme.
❖ The previous foreign trade policy for 2015-2020 had targeted exports of USD 900 billion by 2020;
❖ This target was extended along with the policy for three years till March 2023.
❖ India is, however, likely to end 2022-23 with total exports of USD 760-770 billion as against USD 676 billion
in 2021-22.
India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline

❖ The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP) was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a virtual mode.
❖ The pipeline, with a capacity to transport 1 million Metric Ton Per Annum (MMTPA) of High-Speed Diesel
(HSD) to Bangladesh, is the second cross-border energy pipeline between India and its Neighbours. While
IBFP is the first cross-border energy pipeline between India and Bangladesh. This pipeline will further
strengthen their relationship, enhancing connectivity and people-to-people linkages between the two sides.
And enhance ongoing energy cooperation between the two countries and will further growth in Bangladesh,
especially in the agriculture sector.
India-Bangladesh Relation
❖ The PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed Visited India and both sides signed 7 MoU’s which includes-
❖ The withdrawal of water from the cross-border Kushiyara river.
o The agreement will benefit southern Assam in India and the Sylhet region of Bangladesh.
Kushiyara originates from Barak or Amlshid Bifurcation point
❖ Cooperation in space technology.
❖ Collaboration on Information Technology systems used by railways in areas such as movement of freight.
❖ Science and technology cooperation.
❖ Training of Bangladesh Railway personnel and Bangladeshi judicial officers in India.
❖ Cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh Television.
❖ Thermal Power Project: unveiled the first unit of the Maitree super thermal power project being built
in Khulna division of Bangladesh with concessional funding from India.
❖ The unit was synchronized with Bangladesh’s power grid in August 2022, and the project will generate
1,320MW, when completed.
❖ The 5.13-km Rupsha rail bridge constructed with an Indian line of credit of $389 million was also
inaugurated, a key part of the 64.7-km Khulna-Mongla port broad gauge railway project.
o It will increase connectivity with Mongla, Bangladesh’s second largest port.
❖ Indian and Bangladeshi government in 2017 restarted Bandhan Express. The Bandhan Express was the
second train to be flagged off after the introduction of Maitree Express between Kolkata and Dhaka
Cantonment in April 2008
❖ India has provided concessional loans worth USD 9.5 billion for development projects in Bangladesh,
which includes:
o Rail connectivity between Khulna and Dhaka, Chilahati and Rajshah.
o Connecting Mongla port with Darshana-Gede at a cost of USD 312 million.
o The Parbatipur-Kaunia rail project to facilitate the transportation of fuel is being built at a
cost of USD 120 million.
o Supply of road construction equipment and machinery worth USD 41 million to repair and
maintain Bangladesh’s road network.
❖ In 2018, India has extended USD 500 million defence Line of Credit (LoC) to Bangladesh.
❖ Defence public sector undertaking of Kolkata had signed a MoU with Bangladesh to provide assistance
and know-how in the design and construction of warships.
❖ Bangladesh Army has approved procurement of three items:
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o 5 Bridge Layer Tanks (BLT-72) at USD 10 million
o 7 Portable Steel Bridges (Bailey) at USD 2.2 million
o 1 Mine Protective Vehicles at USD 2.2 million.
❖ Ganga Water Treaty signed in 1996.
❖ For the year 2021, India’s imports from Bangladesh stands at USD 1.76 billion and exports to
Bangladesh stands at USD 14.09 billion, resulting in a trade gap of USD 12.33 billion.
❖ About Bangladesh: Capital – Dhaka Official Language – Bengali
❖ Independence Day – 26 March 1971 Victory Day – 16 December 1971
❖ President – Mohammed Shahabuddin Chief Justice – Hasan Foez Siddique
❖ Legislative – Jatiya Sangsad Currency – Taka
Indian Space Policy 2023

❖ The Indian Space Policy 2023 was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The policy seeks to
institutionalise private sector participation in the space sector, with ISRO focusing on research and
development of advanced space technologies.
❖ The policy delineates the roles and responsibilities of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), space
sector PSU NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization
Center (IN-SPACe).
❖ Strategic activities related to the space sector will be carried out by NSIL, which will work in a demand-
driven mode.
❖ IN-SPACe will be the interface between ISRO and non-governmental entities.
❖ ISRO will focus its energies on developing new technologies, new systems and research and development.
❖ The operational part of ISRO's missions will be moved to the NewSpace India Limited.
❖ Entry of Private Sector: The policy will allow the private sector to take part in end-to-end space
activities that include building satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, data collection and dissemination.
❖ The private sector can use ISRO facilities for a small charge and is encouraged to invest in creating new
infrastructure for the sector.
❖ Impact: The policy will help India increase its share in the global space economy substantially from less
than 2% to 10% in the future.
❖ The Indian Space Sector has been globally recognised for building cost-effective satellites, and now India
is even taking foreign satellites to space.
❖ As part of India's commitment to the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, the country continues to
advocate peaceful and civilian use of outer space and oppose any weaponization of space capabilities or
programs.
❖ ISRO is the 6th largest space agency in the world and with over 400 private space companies, India ranks
fifth globally in no. of space companies.
❖ India has recently set up its Defence Space Agency (DSA) supported by the Defence Space Research
Organisation (DSRO) that has the mandate to create weapons to “degrade, disrupt, destroy or deceive an
adversary’s space capability".
❖ SAMVAD Program: To encourage and nurture space research among young minds, ISRO launched
its Student Outreach Program called Support, Advocacy & Mental health interventions for children in
Vulnerable circumstances and Distress (SAMVAD) at its Bengaluru facility.
❖ A space debris tracking radar with a range of 1,500 km and an optical telescope will be inducted as part of
establishing an effective surveillance and tracking network under the Network for Space Objects Tracking
and Analysis (NETRA) project.
Geneva Conventions
❖ The Geneva Conventions (1949) and their Additional Protocols are international treaties that contain the
most important rules limiting the barbarity of war.
❖ They protect people who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those who can
no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war).
❖ The first Geneva Convention protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
❖ The second Geneva Convention protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during
war.
❖ The third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners of war.
❖ The fourth Geneva Convention affords protection to civilians, including in occupied territory
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❖ Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions, covers situations of non-international armed
conflicts. They include traditional civil wars, internal armed conflicts that spill over into other States or
internal conflicts in which a third State or a multinational force intervenes alongside the government.
❖ Two Protocols of 1977: Additional to the four 1949 Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1977. They
strengthen the protection of victims of international (Protocol I) and non-international (Protocol II) armed
conflicts and place limits on the way wars are fought.
❖ In 2005, a third Additional Protocol was adopted creating an additional emblem, the Red Crystal, which has
the same international status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.
❖ The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), an international humanitarian organisation, has the
mandate to monitor that signatories follow the rules in situations of conflict.
o Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed
violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war.
o An independent and neutral organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
o The ICRC is funded mainly by voluntary donations from governments and from National Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies.
Outer Space Treaty
❖ The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, formally the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the
Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies is a treaty that lays the
foundation of international space law.
❖ As of March 2023, 113 countries are parties to the treaty, while another 23 have signed the treaty but have
not completed ratification. India is a party to the Outer Space Treaty.
❖ There are four more multilateral treaties that deal with specific concepts agreed to in the Outer Space
Treaty:
o The Rescue Agreement of 1968
o The Space Liability Convention of 1972
o The Registration Convention of 1976
o The Moon Treaty of 1979
❖ The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) oversees these treaties
and other questions of space jurisdiction.
❖ The Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) document is a 1981 UN resolution that reaffirms
the fundamental principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and advocates for a ban on the weaponization
of space.
❖ On 27 March 2019, India tested an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon during an operation code named Mission
Shakti. The target of the test was a satellite present in a low Earth orbit, which was hit with a kinetic kill
vehicle.
❖ The ASAT test utilized a modified anti-ballistic missile interceptor code-named Prithvi Defence Vehicle
Mark-II which was developed under Project XSV-1. The test made India the fourth country after the United
States, Russia and China to have tested an ASAT weapon.
❖ It is the technological capability to hit and destroy satellites in space through missiles launched from the
ground. The technology is aimed at destroying, if necessary, satellites owned by enemy countries. The test,
however, can be carried out only on one’s own satellite.
Great Nicobar Island Project

❖ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stay on the Great Nicobar Island project worth ₹ 72,000
crore and created a committee under secretary EF&CC Leena Nandan to review the environmental
clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav).
❖ The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project is a mega project to be implemented at the southern end of the
Andaman and Nicobar islands.
❖ The project includes an international container transhipment terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international
airport, township development, and a 450 MVA gas and solar based power plant over an extent of 16,610
hectares in the island.
❖ The project is to be implemented in 3 phases over the next 30 years.
❖ The port will be controlled by the Indian Navy, while the airport will have dual military-civilian functions and
will cater to tourism as well.
❖ A total 166.1 sq km along the south-eastern and southern coasts of the island have been identified for
project along a coastal strip of width between 2 km and 4 km.
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❖ Some 130 sq km of forests have been sanctioned for diversion, and 9.64 lakh trees are likely to be felled.
❖ Great Nicobar is equidistant from Colombo to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to
the southeast, and positioned close to the East-West international shipping corridor, through which a very
large part of the world’s shipping trade passes.
❖ The proposed ICTT can potentially become a hub for cargo ships traveling on this route.
❖ The Zoological Survey of India is currently in the process of assessing how much of the coral reef will have
to be relocated for the project.
❖ Previously, India has successfully translocated a coral reef from the Gulf of Manner to the Gulf of
Kutch earlier.
❖ A conservation plan for the leatherback turtle is also being put in place.
❖ As per the government, the project site is outside the eco-sensitive zones of Campbell Bay and Galathea
National Park.
Great Nicobar Islands
❖ Great Nicobar, the southernmost of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has an area of 910 sq km.
❖ The A&N Islands are a cluster of about 836 islands in the eastern Bay of Bengal, the two groups of which
are separated by the 150-km wide Ten Degree Channel.
❖ Indira Point on the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island is India’s southernmost point, less than 150 km
from the northernmost island of the Indonesian archipelago.
❖ Nicobar Biosphere Reserve harbours a wide spectrum of ecosystems comprising tropical wet evergreen
forests, mountain ranges reaching a height of 642 m (Mt. Thullier) above sea level, and coastal plains.
❖ Great Nicobar is home to two national parks, a biosphere reserve
❖ National Parks: Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park
❖ Biosphere Reserve: Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
❖ The Mongoloid Shompen Tribe, about 200 in number, live in the forests of the biosphere reserve
particularly along the rivers and streams.
❖ Another Mongoloid Tribe, Nicobarese, about 300 in number, used to live in settlements along the west
coast.
❖ A&N is also the home of most isolated tribe in the world the Sentinelese who live on the North Sentinel
Island in the Bay of Bengal.
❖ Lieutenant Governor: Devendra Kumar Joshi
❖ Legal: Andaman & Nicobar Islands come under the jurisdiction of Calcutta High Court
❖ Capital: Port Blair
❖ State Animal: Dugong
❖ State Bird: Andaman Wood Pigeon
❖ Flower: Lagerstroemia speciosa
❖ Tree: Padauk
National Party
❖ The Election Commission of India has recognized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party. The
decision was made based on a review of the parties’ poll performances, including the 2014 and 2019 Lok
Sabha polls and 21 state assembly polls since 2014.
❖ AAP was founded on 26 November 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal. He is also serving as the current party
president.
❖ With this recognition, AAP joins the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP), CPI(M), and National People’s Party (NPP) as the sixth national party in the country.
This status ensures that the party’s symbol is reserved for its candidates across the country, and it
gets land for an office in the national capital.
❖ In contrast, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Communist Party of
India (CPI) have lost their national party status. The EC's decision was based on the criteria stipulated in
the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, of 1968.
❖ Among other conditions, a national party must get at least a 6% vote share in four or more states in the
last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and have at least four MPs in Lok Sabha. In its review, the EC found
that the TMC did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, while the
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NCP lost its state party status in Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya. The CPI had its status as a state party
withdrawn in West Bengal and Odisha.
❖ So total number of National parties in India is 6: Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata
Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress and National People’s Party.
❖ There is 57 State recognised parties in India
State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI)

❖ The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 has been released by the Union Minister of Power and
New & Renewable Energy (Raj Kumar Singh)
❖ The index is developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Ministry of
Power, in association with Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE).
❖ It assesses the annual progress of states and UTs in energy efficiency (energy savings and reduction in
emission intensity).
❖ The updated framework of 50 indicators is aligned with national priorities, and program-specific
indicators are included to track outcomes and impacts of state-level energy efficiency initiatives.
❖ Based on the progress and accomplishments of states in energy efficiency implementation, they have been
classified into four categories: Front Runner, Achiever, Contender, and Aspirant.
❖ Front Runner Category (>60 points): Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
❖ Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state
groups, while Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.
❖ Achiever Category (50-60 points): Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab.
❖ Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was established on March 1st, 2002, under the provisions of the Energy
Conservation Act, 2001.
❖ The mission of BEE is to assist in developing policies and strategies for energy efficiency with the primary
objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.
Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

❖ The Prime Minister of India, addressed the 5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
(ICDRI) 2023.
❖ ICDRI is the annual international conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in
partnership with member countries, organizations and institutions to strengthen the global discourse on
disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure.
❖ The Prime Minister said that since India is leading the G20 group, the CDRI will be included in many
important discussions.
❖ CDRI is an Independent International Organization consisting of global partnership of national
governments, United Nations agencies and programs, multilateral development banks and financing
mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and research institutions.
❖ It aims to increase the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby
ensuring sustainable development.
❖ It was launched in 2019, at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.
❖ CDRI is India's second major global initiative after the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
❖ The CDRI Secretariat is based in New Delhi, India.
❖ Members: Since its inception, 31 countries, 6 international organisations and 2 private sector
organisations have joined CDRI as members.
❖ The Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund is a fund supported by both the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
❖ It is a trust fund that will be managed by the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (UN MPTFO)
to help in improving the ability of infrastructure systems to withstand disasters, with a special focus on
developing countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Bandipur Tiger Reserves

❖ Bandipur Tiger Reserve, located in Karnataka, completed 50 years as a Project Tiger Reserve on April 1,
2023. The reserve was launched in 1973 by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, with the aim to stop the
decline in population of tigers.
❖ Bandipur Tiger Reserve( BTR) lies in one of the richest biodiversity areas of our country
representing “Western Ghats Mountains Biogeography Zone”, surrounded by Mudumalai Tiger
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Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the South, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the Southwest & on the North
West Side the Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
❖ The reserve is recognized as one of the Mega Biodiversity Areas in the country and is home to rich floral
and faunal diversity.
❖ It was established in 1973 under Project Tiger. In 1985, by including adjacent areas from Venugopala
Wildlife Park, it was enlarged and named Bandipur National Park.
❖ It is situated in two contiguous districts (Mysore and Chamarajanagar) of Karnataka and is located at
the tri-junction area of the States Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
❖ The BTR is part of the Mysore Elephant Reserve and is an important component of the country’s first
biosphere reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
❖ The landscape spanning Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai, and Wayanad complex is home not only to the
highest number of tigers in the country – about 724, but also to the largest Asian Elephant population.
❖ Rivers and the Highest Point: The park is located between the Kabini river in the north and the Moyar
river in the south. The Nugu river runs through the park. The highest point in the park is on a hill
called Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.
National Tiger Conservation Authority
❖ Statuary Body from Wildlife (Protection) Amendment act, 1972
❖ Recommended by Tiger Task Force
❖ Established in 2005 by Manmohan Singh
❖ Chaired by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate change: Bhupendra Yadav
❖ There are 53 Tiger reserves in india, latest Ranipur Tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh
❖ Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest Reserve and Bor tiger reserve is the smallest
❖ International Tiger day- 29 July
❖ Theme- India Launches Project Tiger to revive the tiger population
Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022

❖ The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002, was passed in
the Lower House amid protests from the Opposition.
❖ The Competition Act, 2002, regulates competition in the Indian market and prohibits anti-competitive
practices such as cartels, abuse of dominant market position, and mergers and acquisitions that may have
an adverse effect on competition. The Act has been amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.
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❖ The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Act.
❖ The Competition Appellate Tribunal is a statutory body created in accordance with the Competition Act,
2002 to hear and regulate on appeals against any rules made, decisions made, or orders made by the
Competition Commission of India.
❖ The government replaced the Competition Appellate Tribunal with the National Company Law Appellate
Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.
❖ The Bill amends the definition of "turnover" to include global turnover derived from all products and
services by a person or an enterprise.
❖ The amendment allows for the imposition of penalties for competition law violations based on a company's
global turnover, rather than just its turnover in India.
❖ The Bill reduces the time limit for the CCI to form a prima facie opinion on a combination from 30 working
days to 30 days.
❖ The Bill seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002, to regulate mergers and acquisitions based on the
value of transactions. Deals with transaction value of more than Rs 2,000 crore will require CCI’s approval.
❖ The Bill proposes to reduce the timeline for the CCI to pass an order on such transactions from 210 days to
150 days
❖ The Bill decriminalizes certain offences under the Act by changing the nature of punishment from
imposition of fine to civil penalties.
Aravali Green Wall Project

❖ Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change inaugurated the Aravali Green Wall Project on
the occasion of International day of Forests and unveiled the National Action Plan to Combat
Desertification and Land Degradation Through Forestry Interventions.
❖ It is an ambitious plan to create a 1,400km long and 5km wide green belt buffer around the Aravali
Mountain range covering states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi.
❖ In the initial phase, 75 water bodies will be rejuvenated, starting with five waterbodies each in every district
of Aravalli landscape.
❖ It will cover degraded land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bhiwani, Mahendergarh and in Rewari districts of
Haryana.
❖ The plan is inspired by Africa’s ‘Great Green Wall’ project, running from Senegal (West) to Djibouti (East),
which came into effect in 2007.
❖ The green belt being planned from Porbandar to Panipat will help in restoring degraded land
through afforestation along the Aravali hill range. It will also act as a barrier for dust coming from the
deserts in western India and Pakistan.
❖ According to Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
some 97.85 million hectares (29.7%) of India’s total geographical area (TGA) of 328.72 mha underwent
land degradation during 2018-19.
❖ The Aravali has been identified as one of the key degraded zones to be taken up for greening under India’s
target to restore 26 million hectares (mha) of its land.
❖ The Aravallis, is the oldest fold mountains on Earth.
❖ It spans over 800km from Gujarat to Delhi (through Rajasthan and Haryana).
❖ The highest peak in the Aravalli Range is Guru Peak on Mount Abu.
❖ The Aravallis have an impact upon the climate of northwest India and beyond. During monsoons, the
mountain range gently guides the monsoon clouds eastwards towards Shimla and Nainital, thus helping
nurture the sub-Himalayan rivers and feeding the north Indian plains.
Great Green Wall of Africa (GGW)
❖ GGW is a project launched by African union to restore the continent’s degraded landscapes and transform
millions of lives in the Sahel.
❖ The project plans 8km wide band of trees stretching 8,000km across Africa.
❖ It aims to restore 100 million hectares of currently degraded land.
❖ Also, the project envisages to sequester 250 million tons of carbon and create 10 million green jobs by
2030.
❖ Participating countries: Eleven countries in the Sahel-Sahara region—Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan,
Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Senegal have joined to combat land degradation
and restore native plant life to the landscape.
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Assam & Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute
❖ The border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which was going on since 1972 has been
resolved permanently.
❖ Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-km long boundary.
❖ The agreement is expected to settle the dispute relating to 123 villages covering over 700 kilometres of
the border between the two states, taking into account historical perspective, demographic profile,
administrative convenience, proximity to the border, and aspirations of the residents.
❖ This will be final agreement neither of states will make any new claim in future relating to any area or
village
❖ A detailed survey will be conducted by the Survey of India in the presence of representatives from both
state governments to determine the boundaries after the agreement.
Other Border Disputes in India
❖ Karnataka-Maharashtra: The border dispute over Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani in North Karnataka is long-
standing. When state boundaries were redrawn on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act of
1956, Belagavi became part of the erstwhile Mysore state.
❖ The Act was based on the findings of the Justice Fazal Ali Commission which was appointed in 1953 and
submitted its report two years later.
❖ Maharashtra claims that parts of Belagavi, where Marathi is the dominant language, should remain in
Maharashtra.
❖ In October 1966, the Centre set up the Mahajan Commission to resolve the border dispute in Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Kerala. The Commission recommended that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with
Karnataka. Maharashtra rejected the report, and in 2004, moved the Supreme Court.
❖ Assam-Mizoram: The border dispute between Assam and Mizoram is a legacy of two British-era
notifications of 1875 and 1933, when Mizoram was called Lushai Hills, a district in Assam.
❖ The 1875 notification differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar and the other demarcated
boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.
❖ While Mizoram became a state only in 1987 following years of insurgency, it still insists on the boundary
decided in 1875. Assam, on the other hand, wants the boundary demarcated in 1986 (based on the 1933
notification).
❖ Haryana-Himachal Pradesh: The Parwanoo region has had the spotlight over the border dispute between
the two states.
❖ It is next to the Panchkula district of Haryana and the state has claimed parts of the land in Himachal
Pradesh as its own.
❖ Himachal Pradesh-Ladakh: Himachal and Ladakh lay claim to Sarchu, an area on the route between Leh
and Manali.
❖ It is considered a major point where travellers stop when travelling between the two cities.
❖ Sarchu is in between Himachal’s Lahul and Spiti district and Leh district in Ladakh.
❖ Meghalaya-Assam: The problem between Assam and Meghalaya started when the latter challenged
the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 , which gave Blocks I and II of the Mikir Hills or
present-day Karbi Anglong district to Assam.
❖ Meghalaya contends that both these blocks formed part of the erstwhile United Khasi and Jaintia
Hills district when it was notified in 1835.
❖ Assam-Nagaland: It began soon after Nagaland became a state in 1963.
❖ The Nagaland State Act of 1962 had defined the state’s borders according to a 1925 notification
when Naga Hills and Tuensang Area (NHTA) were integrated into a new administrative unit.
❖ Nagaland, however, does not accept the boundary delineation and has demanded that the new state should
also have all Naga-dominated areas in North Cachar and Nagaon districts. S
❖ Tensions between Assam and Nagaland flared up soon after the latter was formed, resulting in the first
border clashes in 1965.
❖ This was followed by major clashes between the two states along the border in 1968, 1979, 1985, 2007
and 2014.
Guidelines for Assessment of Child Suspects

❖ The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued guidelines for the
assessment of child suspects in heinous offenses to determine whether a child should be treated as a
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minor or not in criminal cases which come under the “heinous” offences category of the Juvenile Justice
(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
❖ Child suspects should be assessed by a team of experts, including a child psychologist or psychiatrist, a
medical doctor, and a social worker.
❖ The assessment should take into account the child's age, developmental stage, and maturity level, as well
as any history of trauma or abuse.
❖ The team should also consider the child's cognitive abilities and capacity to understand the charges
against them.
❖ The child suspects will be provided with legal aid and support from child welfare agencies.
❖ The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) will be responsible for conducting a preliminary assessment of the child
suspect.
❖ The JJB must complete this assessment within three months from the date the child is first brought before
it.
❖ If the JJB determines that there is a need for a trial of the child as an adult, it will then transfer the case to
the Children's Court. Essentially, the JJB plays a key role in the assessment process and in determining
whether the case should be tried in juvenile court or adult court.
❖ The JJ Act, 2015 categorizes offences committed by children into three categories: Petty
offences, Serious offences and Heinous offences.
❖ Petty Offences include those for which the maximum punishment under any law is imprisonment up to
three years
❖ Serious offences include crimes for which the punishment is a minimum imprisonment for a term of more
than three years and not exceeding seven years.
❖ Heinous offences include those for which the minimum punishment under the Indian Penal Code or any
other law is imprisonment for seven years or more,
❖ There is a specific provision under which initiation of an inquiry into a heinous crime is differentiated based
on the age of the child, and two essential conditions need to be met for this preliminary assessment to
take place:
❖ The offence must be in the category of "heinous" as defined in the Act, and the child who allegedly
committed the crime must be in the age group of 16-18 years
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
❖ NCPCR is a statutory body set up in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights
(CPCR) Act, 2005. Under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development (Smriti
Irani)
❖ The Commission's mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative
mechanisms are in consonance with the child rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India
and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
❖ It inquiries into complaints relating to a child's right to free and compulsory education under the Right to
Education Act, 2009.
❖ It monitors the implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
❖ Chairman: Priyanka Kanoongo
❖ First Chairman: Shanta Sinha
❖ The Constitution guarantees to every child the right to live with dignity (Article 21), the right to
personal liberty (Article 21), the right to privacy (Article 21), the right to equality (Article 14) and/or the
right against discrimination (Article 15), the right against exploitation (Article 23 & 24).
❖ Right to free and compulsory elementary education for all children in the 6–14-year age group (Article 21 A)
❖ The Directive Principles of State Policy, and in particular Article 39(f), cast an obligation on the State to
ensure that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions
of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral
and material abandonment.
10 Years of POCSO
❖ The analysis, titled ‘A Decade of POCSO’, was carried out by the Justice, Access and Lowering Delays in
India (JALDI) Initiative at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, in collaboration with the Data Evidence for Justice
Reform (DE JURE) program at the World Bank.
❖ It analysed a total of 230,730 cases from 486 districts spanning 28 states and Union Territories, from 2012
to February 2021.
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❖ A Special Expert Committee under Justice VR Krishna Iyer presented a draft code for child rights in India –
the Children’s Code Bill, 2000.
❖ The Study of Child Abuse, a 2007 report published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
covering 13 states with a sample size of 12,447 children, 2,324 young adults and 2,449 stakeholders,
looked at different forms of child abuse and found that 50.76% of children surveyed reported having faced
one or more form of sexual abuse. Contrary to the general perception then, the overall percentage of boys
reporting experiencing sexual abuse was much higher than that of girls.
❖ In September 2010, the Ministry of Women and Child Development prepared a draft Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences Bill, 2010 which after several rounds of revisions came into force as the POCSO Act
on Children’s Day – 14 November, 2012.
❖ The analysis has found that 43.44% of trials under POCSO end in acquittals while only 14.03% end in
convictions. For every one conviction in a POCSO case, there are three acquittals.
❖ As per data published by the National Crime Record Bureau in 2021, in 96% of the cases filed under the
POCSO Act, 2012, the accused was a person known to the child victim – in 48.66% of cases, the accused is
either a friend or a romantic partner of the victim.
❖ The study has found on average, it takes 509.78 days for a POCSO case to be disposed of – whereas it has
been stipulated under the Act that such cases need to be disposed of within a year.
❖ Delhi has the highest number of POCSO trials in the country with 13.54 cases per 100,000 population in
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❖ Delhi also had the highest average case length in the country in 2020, at 1,284.33 days.
❖ Chandigarh and West Bengal are the only states where the average time taken for convictions is within one
year. States like Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Sikkim, Chandigarh and the NCT of Delhi seem to have a
much higher reporting of POCSO cases.
❖ The five districts with the highest number of POCSO trials (pending and disposed) are: Namchi (Sikkim),
New Delhi, Central Delhi, Medak (Telangana) and West Garo Hills (Meghalaya).
❖ Uttar Pradesh has the highest pendency with more than three-fourths (77.77%) of the total POCSO cases
filed between November 2012 and February 2021 pending. On the other hand, at 80.2%, Tamil Nadu has the
highest disposal percentage.
❖ District with the highest pendency percentages is Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Regulating Online Money Gaming

❖ The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Ashwini Vaishnaw) has released an amendment
to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to
regulate online real money games.
❖ Real money in the hopes of winning more money. These games can include casino-style games such as
poker, blackjack, and slot machines, as well as sports betting, fantasy sports, and other types of online
gaming that involve the exchange of money.
❖ No Promotion of Betting Platforms: The rules have advised media entities, media platforms and online
advertisement intermediaries to refrain from carrying advertisements/promotional content of betting
platforms.
❖ Betting and gambling are illegal activities and hence advertisements/ promotion of such activities directly
or indirectly on any of the media platforms fall foul of the regulations and in prima facie violation of
the Copyright Act 1957.
❖ Self-Regulatory Body: As per the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023, real money gaming platforms will have to register with a Self-
Regulatory Body (SRB) that will determine whether or not the game is "permissible."
❖ Three SRBs will be recognized soon.
❖ If these games are not deemed "permissible," they will not get the protection of the amendment, and states
may be able to take action against them for being betting or gambling platforms.
❖ As such, games that are deemed permissible will be allowed to operate legally, even if they involve
deposits against an expectation of winnings. Video games where money is not involved need not approach
an SRB.
Game of Skill VS Game of Chance
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❖ The distinction between a game of skill and a game of chance can be done by evaluating certain factors or
elements of the game in question
❖ The recent promulgation of Chhattisgarh Gambling Act 2023, which sought to prohibit online gambling, has
specifically excluded online games of skill.
❖ Earlier, the Madras High Court and the Karnataka High Court had also struck down their State legislation
that sought to prohibit online skill games for money, as gambling. It is largely an accepted principle that a
game of skill for money is not gambling.
❖ The distinction between a game of skill and a game of chance can be done by evaluating certain elements
of the game in question. Primarily, games in India have been classified as games of skill; where skill plays a
dominant role in determining the result of the game. The result depends on the knowledge, training,
experience and ability of the player.
❖ Typically, a game of skill is one in which success is dependent on the knowledge, attention, training,
experience and adroitness of the player and with certain amount of luck, as held by the Supreme Court in
the Dr KR Lakshmanan case and the Satyanarayana case, where, in a case brought forward by the Madras
Race Club, horse racing and wagering on it was held to be a game of skill.
❖ However, this still doesn’t form an objective criterion, and determination of the nature of a game is still
conducted on a case-to-case basis. This has often led to confusion, such as concerning the status of
games like ‘poker’ where courts have not seen eye-to-eye regarding its status as a game of skill.
❖ While a vast majority of courts have ruled that the game meets the criterion to be considered a ‘game of
skill’, the High Court of Gujarat classified ‘poker’ as a ‘game of chance’. Avoiding such ambiguity is
necessary considering the difficulty posed to operators, especially where millions of dollars of investment
are at stake and the threat of criminal prosecution looms.
India’s Export Capabilities

❖ Jamnagar in Gujarat is the top exporting district in India. It formed about 24% of India's exports in value
terms in FY23 (till January).
❖ Surat in Gujarat and Mumbai Suburban in Maharashtra feature second and third by a distance, forming
only about 4.5% of the country's exports in the period.
❖ The other districts in the top 10 are Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka), Devbhumi Dwarka, Bharuch and
Kachchh (Gujarat), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu) and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Uttar
Pradesh).
❖ Status of Trade: The merchandise trade deficit, which is the gap between exports and imports, increased
by over 39% in 2022-23 to record USD 266.78 billion, as compared to USD 191 billion in 2021-22.
❖ Merchandise imports increased by 16.51% in 2022-23, while merchandise exports rose by 6.03%.
❖ Overall trade deficit, however, stood at USD 122 billion in 2022-23, as compared to USD 83.53 billion in the
2022, gaining support from trade surplus in services.
❖ Engineering Goods: They registered a 50% growth in exports, at USD 101 bn in FY22. Currently, all pumps,
tools, carbides, air compressors, engines, and generators manufacturing MNC companies in India are
trading at all-time highs and shifting more production units to India.
❖ Agriculture Products: Agricultural exports were buoyed by the government's push to meet global demand
for food amid the pandemic. India exports rice worth USD 9.65 bn, the highest among agricultural
commodities.
❖ Textile and Apparels: India’s textile and apparel exports (including handicrafts) stood at USD 44.4 billion in
FY22, a 41% increase on a YoY basis.
❖ Government’s scheme like Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (MITRA) Park are giving a strong
boost to this sector.
❖ Pharmaceuticals and Drugs: India is the third-largest producer of medicines by volume and the biggest
supplier of generic drugs.
❖ India supplies over 50% of Africa’s requirement for generics, around 40% of generic demand in the US and
25% of all medicine in the UK.
Sangathan se Samriddhi
❖ The Ministry of Rural Development's Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission
(DAY-NRLM) launched a national campaign called “Sangathan Se Samridhhi– Leaving no Rural Woman
Behind”, aiming to mobilize a significant number of women into Self Help Groups (SHGs).
❖ The campaign is a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Samaveshi Vikaas and aims to mobilize 10 crore
women from eligible rural households into SHGs.
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❖ It aims to mobilize disadvantaged rural communities who are unaware of the benefits of the DAY-NRLM
program.
❖ The campaign will be organized in all states and form more than 1.1 lakh SHGs through interventions like:
➢ Organising general Body Meetings of Village Organizations
➢ Experience sharing by SHG champions to motivate left-out households to join SHGs
➢ Conducting Community Resource Person drives
➢ Opening SHG bank accounts, and creation of a common database of SHGs promoted by other
stakeholders.
❖ DAY-NRLM: It is a Centrally Sponsored Programme, launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in
2011. It aims to eliminate rural poverty through the promotion of multiple livelihoods and improved access
to financial services for the rural poor households across the country.
❖ Functioning: It involves working with community institutions through community professionals in the spirit
of self-help which is a unique proposition of DAY-NRLM.
❖ Mahila Kisan Shashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): It aims to promote agro-ecological practices that
increase women farmers’ income and reduce their input costs and risks.
❖ Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP): It aims to support entrepreneurs in rural areas to
set up local enterprises.
❖ Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY): It was launched in August 2017, to provide safe, affordable
and community monitored rural transport services to connect remote rural villages.
❖ Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY): It aims at building placement-linked skills of
the rural youth and placing them in relatively higher wage employment sectors of the economy.
❖ Rural Self Employment Institutes (RSETIs): DAY-NRLM, in partnership with 31 Banks and State
Governments, is supporting Rural Self Employment Institutes (RSETIs) for skilling rural youth to take up
gainful self-employment.
WTO Panel Rules Against India

❖ A World Trade Organization (WTO) Panel has ruled against India in a dispute over information technology
(IT) tariffs with the European Union (EU) and other countries.
❖ Background: India has been looking to promote domestic IT manufacturing and reduce its dependence on
imports, but this approach has been challenged by the EU and other countries, who argue that such
measures are Protectionist and violate Global Trade Rules.
❖ In 2019, the EU challenged India's introduction of import duties of between 7.5% and 20% for a wide range
of IT products, such as mobile phones and components, as well as integrated circuits, saying they
exceeded the maximum rate.
❖ Japan and Taiwan also complained the same.
❖ Ruling: The panel found that India's tariffs on certain IT products violated global trading rules, as they
were inconsistent with the terms of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).
❖ The ITA is a global trade agreement that aims to eliminate tariffs on a wide range of IT products. India is
signatory to the 1996 ITA.
❖ The ruling has highlighted the need for India to align its trade policies with global norms and obligations.
❖ It also underscores the challenges that developing countries like India face in balancing their domestic
policy objectives with their international trade commitments.
❖ India’s Argument: India argued that at the time of signing the ITA, products such as smartphones did not
exist and hence, it was not bound to eliminate tariffs on such items.
❖ Implications: According to the European Commission, the EU is India's third-largest trading partner,
accounting for 10.8% of total Indian trade in 2021.
❖ India may be required to lower or eliminate the import duties that were challenged by the EU and other
countries. This could have an impact on India's domestic manufacturing sector, which has been protected
by such tariffs.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
❖ It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus
replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948 in the
wake of the Second World War.
❖ Its objective is to help trade flow smoothly, freely and predictably.
❖ It has 164 members, accounting for 98% of world trade.
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❖ The WTO’s rules – the agreements – are the result of negotiations between the members. The current set
is largely the outcome of the 1986- 94 Uruguay Round negotiations, which included a major revision of the
original GATT.
❖ The WTO Secretariat is based in Geneva (Switzerland).
❖ Official Languages: English, French, Spanish
❖ Director General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria)
❖ The highest authority of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which must meet at least every two years
❖ In between each Ministerial Conference, the daily work is handled by three bodies The General Council, The
Dispute Settlement Body & The Trade Policy Review Body whose membership is the same; they only differ
by the terms of reference under which each body is constituted.
❖ Trade Facilitation Agreement (TEA): The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release
and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation
between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It
further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.
❖ Its was negotiated at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference. It entered into force on 22 February 2017
following its ratification by two-thirds of the WTO members
Logistic Performance Index 2023

❖ India has climbed six places on the World Bank's Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023, now ranking
38th in the 139 countries index.
❖ This is a significant improvement from its previous ranking of 44th in 2018 and 54th in 2014.
❖ Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the Logistics Ease Across Different States
(LEADS) Report 2022.
❖ The LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool developed by the World Bank Group. It helps countries identify
the challenges and opportunities they face in their performance of trade logistics and what they can do to
improve their performance.
❖ It measures the ease of establishing reliable supply chain connections and the structural factors that make
it possible. The LPI considers 6 parameters to evaluate logistics performance, namely:
o Customs performance
o Infrastructure quality
o Ease of arranging shipments
o Logistics services quality
o Consignment tracking and tracing
o Timeliness of shipments
❖ The LPI was reported by the World Bank every two years from 2010 to 2018 with a break in 2020 due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and a restructuring of the index methodology, eventually came out in 2023.
❖ LPI 2023 allows for comparison across 139 countries and for the first time, LPI 2023 measures the speed
of trade with indicators derived from big datasets tracking shipments.
❖ Infrastructure Improvements: According to the LPI report, India's rank moved up five places in the
infrastructure score from 52nd in 2018 to 47th in 2023.
❖ The government has invested in trade-related soft and hard infrastructure, connecting port gateways on
both coasts to the major economic centers located in the interior regions of the country.
❖ This investment has paid off, with India climbing to the 22nd spot for international shipments in 2023 from
44th in 2018
❖ Dwell time is how long a vessel spends at a specific port or terminal. It may also refer to the amount of
time that a container or cargo spends at a port or terminal before being loaded onto a vessel or after being
unloaded from a vessel.
❖ India's very low dwell time (2.6 days) is one example of how the country has improved its logistics
performance.
❖ According to the report, the average dwell time for containers between May and October 2022 was 3 days
for India and Singapore, much better than in some of the industrialized countries.
❖ The dwell time for the U.S. was 7 days and for Germany, it was 10 days
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010

❖ The plan to build six nuclear power reactors in Maharashtra's Jaitapur, which is currently the world's
biggest nuclear power generation site under consideration, has been delayed for over a decade due to
issues related to India's nuclear liability law.
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❖ Laws on civil nuclear liability ensure that compensation is available to the victims for nuclear damage
caused by a nuclear incident or disaster and set out who will be liable for that damage.
❖ International Conventions: The IAEA serves as depositary for several international legal instruments on
civil liability for nuclear damage, these include the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
(1963) and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.
❖ The umbrella Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) was adopted in 1997 with the aim
of establishing a minimum national compensation amount. India has ratified CSC in 2016.
❖ India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) of 2010: India enacted the CLNDA in 2010 to put in
place a speedy compensation mechanism for victims of a nuclear accident.
❖ The CLNDA provides for strict and no-fault liability on the operator of the nuclear plant, where it will
be held liable for damage regardless of any fault on its part.
❖ It specifies the amount the operator will have to pay in case of damage caused by an accident at ₹1,500
crore.
❖ In case the damage claims exceed ₹1,500 crore, the CLNDA expects the government to step in. It has
limited the government liability amount to the rupee equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights
(SDRs).
❖ Supplier Liability Clause: Having realised that the defective parts were partly responsible for the Bhopal
gas tragedy in 1984, the govt went beyond the provisions of CSC to provide for supplier liability over and
above that of the operator in CLNDA. Under this provision, the operator of the nuclear plant can seek
recourse from suppliers in the event of a nuclear incident caused by supplier actions, including the supply
of equipment or materials with defects, sub-standard services, or the actions of supplier employees.
❖ The CSC provides for “only” two conditions under which the national law of a country may provide the
operator with the “right of recourse”, where they can extract liability from the supplier:
➢ if it is expressly agreed upon in the contract or
➢ if the nuclear incident “results from an act or omission done with intent to cause damage”.
Nuclear program of India
❖ Nuclear programme of India was initiated in the late 1940s under the guidance of Homi J. Bhabha.
❖ Nehru was against nuclear weapons so he pleaded with the superpowers for comprehensive nuclear
disarmament. However, the nuclear arsenal kept rising.
❖ When Communist China conducted the nuclear tests in October 1964, the five nuclear powers (US, USSR,
UK, France, and China) also the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council had tried to impose
the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 on the rest of the world.
❖ The first nuclear explosion undertaken by India in May 1974 at Pokhran in Rajasthan, codenamed “Smiling
Buddha.
❖ The test was described as a “peaceful nuclear explosion” by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
❖ India argued that it was committed to the policy of using nuclear power only for peaceful purposes. India
opposed the indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995 and also refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT).
❖ Pokhran II: Operation Shakti was launched on 11 may 1998, following which India conducted a series of
nuclear tests, demonstrating its capacity to use nuclear energy for military purposes.
❖ Following Pokhran-II, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proclaimed India a nuclear state, making it
the sixth nation to do so.
❖ Pakistan soon followed, thereby increasing the vulnerability of the region to a nuclear exchange.
o Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer who is colloquially known
as the "father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program". He died due to COVID-19 on 10 October 2021
o Chagai-I is the code name of five simultaneous underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan on 28
May 1998. The tests were performed at Ras Koh Hills in the Chagai District of Balochistan Province.
❖ After the 1998 nuclear test India also enunciated a doctrine of 'No First Use’ (NFU) of nuclear weapons.
❖ The doctrine was formally adopted in January, 2003, and says that nuclear weapons will only be used in
retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere.
Nuclear Suppliers Groups (NSG)
❖ The NSG was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974 and first met in November 1975.
❖ It is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related
exports.
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❖ The grouping has 48 participating governments and the NSG Guidelines are implemented by each member
in accordance with its national laws and practices.
❖ The NSG takes decisions by consensus.
❖ Current Chair: Gustavo Ainchil (Argentina)
❖ China has been objecting to India's participation in the grouping since May, 2016 when India applied for the
membership of the NSG. China has been firm on its stand that only those countries which have signed the
NPT should be allowed to enter the organisation.
❖ Majority of the NSG member states including the US, Russia, Iceland, Denmark, Finland , Sweden and
Norway back for India’s membership in the grouping considering its non-proliferation record.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
❖ Signed in 1968, the treaty entered into force in 1970, now has 190 member states. It requires countries to
give up any present or future plans to build nuclear weapons in return for access to peaceful uses of
nuclear energy.
❖ Three main objectives of the treaty are non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use
nuclear technology.
❖ India is one of the only five countries that either did not sign the NPT or signed but withdrew, thus
becoming part of a list that includes Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan.
❖ India always considered the NPT as discriminatory and had refused to sign it.
❖ India has opposed the international treaties aimed at non-proliferation since they were selectively
applicable to the non-nuclear powers and legitimised the monopoly of the five nuclear weapons powers.
Cuban Missile Crisis and MAD Doctrine
❖ The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most intense confrontation between the Soviet Union and the
United States during the entire course of the Cold War.
❖ The Cold War nearly became hot on October 16, 1962, when the White House became aware of the Soviet
missiles present in Cuba.
❖ The Cuban Missile Crisis is widely regarded as the boiling point of the nuclear arms race, when fears of
thermonuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States seemed not only plausible, but even
possible.
❖ The Cuban Missile Crisis was the ultimate byproduct of MAD, or mutual assured destruction, a strategic
military doctrine in which the use of nuclear weapons on a full scale would theoretically result in the
destruction of both the attacker and the defender.
❖ This strategy ultimately sends both parties into an endless loop of increased military budgets.
Inter-State Water Dispute

❖ Odisha has complained to the Ministry of Jal Shakti under the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD)
Act 1956 accusing Chhattisgarh of misleading the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) by releasing
water in Mahanadi river in the Non-Monsoon Season.
❖ The MWDT was formed in March 2018. The tribunal has been asked to submit its report by December 2025
by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
❖ There is no inter-state agreement between Odisha and Chhattisgarh regarding Mahanadi basin water
allocation.
❖ Concern of Odisha: Chhattisgarh has opened 20 gates at Kalma Barrage through which 1,000-1,500 cusecs
of water is flowing into Mahanadi’s low catchment area during the non-monsoon season.
❖ Chhattisgarh’s reluctance to release water during non-monsoon seasons has often resulted in the non-
availability of water in the lower catchment of Mahanadi.
❖ This also affects the Rabi crops and aggravates the drinking problem in Odisha.
❖ However, this time Chhattisgarh has released water without any intimation, which raised concerns over its
management of Mahanadi River water.
❖ The state faced flood in upper catchment during monsoon and thus, opened gates without any intimation
to Odisha.
❖ Inter-State River Disputes in India: The Inter-State River Water Disputes are one of the most contentious
issues in Indian federalism today.
❖ The recent cases of the Krishna Water Dispute, Cauvery Water Dispute and the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal
are some examples.
❖ Constitutional Provisions: Entry 17 of the State List deals with water i.e., water supply, irrigation, canal,
drainage, embankments, water storage and hydro power.
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❖ Entry 56 of the Union List empowers the Union Government for the regulation and development of inter-
state rivers and river valleys to the extent declared by Parliament to be expedient in the public interest.
❖ According to Article 262, in case of disputes relating to waters: Parliament may by law provide for the
adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or
in, any inter-State River or river valley.
❖ Parliament may, by law, provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise
jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as mentioned above.
❖ As per Article 262, the Parliament has enacted the following: River Board Act, 1956: This empowered the
GoI to establish Boards for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments. To
date, no river board has been created.
❖ Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956: In case, if a particular state or states approach the Centre for the
constitution of the tribunal, the Central Government should try to resolve the matter by consultation among
the aggrieved states. In case, if it does not work, then it may constitute the tribunal.
❖ Note: Supreme Court shall not question the Award or formula given by tribunal, but it can question the
working of the tribunal.
❖ The Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956 was amended in 2002, to include the major recommendations of
the Sarkaria Commission.
❖ The amendments mandated a one-year time frame to set up the water disputes tribunal and also a 3-year
time frame to give a decision.
Chhattisgarh Moist Attack

❖ Ten personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the civilian driver of their
vehicle were reported killed in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack by Maoists in the state’s
Dantewada district.
❖ Chhattisgarh is the only state in India where Maoists continue to have a significant presence and retain the
capability to mount big attacks.
❖ In the last 5 years (2018-22), Chhattisgarh has accounted for more than 1/3rd of all Maoist-related
violence and had a share of 70%-90% of total deaths due to same.
❖ According to the government, Maoist violence in the country has gone down by 77% since 2010.
❖ As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) the number of resultant deaths (security forces + civilians)
has come down by 90% from the all-time high of 1,005 in 2010 to 98 in 2022.
❖ Left-wing extremism (LWE) is a political ideology that advocates for radical socialist, communist, or
anarchist ideas and is characterized by the use of violence and terrorism as a means of achieving its goals.
❖ It often involves opposition to capitalism, imperialism, and the established political and social order, and
seeks to establish a revolutionary socialist or communist state.
❖ Government Initiatives: SAMADHAN doctrine is the one-stop solution for the LWE problem. It
encompasses the entire strategy of government from short-term policy to long-term policy formulated at
different levels. SAMADHAN stands for: S- Smart Leadership, A- Aggressive Strategy M- Motivation and
Training A- Actionable Intelligence D- Dashboard Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key
Result Areas) H- Harnessing Technology A- Action plan for each Theatre N- No access to Financing
❖ National Policy and Action Plan in 2015: It consists of a multi-pronged approach comprising security
measures, development initiatives and ensuring rights & entitlements of local communities.
❖ Aspirational Districts Programme: Aspirational Districts Programme launched in 2018, aims to rapidly
transform the districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas.
❖ Greyhounds: Greyhounds was raised in 1989 as an elite anti-naxal force.
❖ Operation Green Hunt: Operation Green Hunt was started in 2009-10 and massive deployment of security
forces was done in the naxal-affected areas.
❖ Bastariya Battalion: In Chhattisgarh, the CRPF raised a Bastariya Battalion the recruits for which were taken
from the local population, who knew the language and terrain, and could generate intelligence. This unit
now has 400 recruits and regularly conducts operations in Chhattisgarh.
❖ Related News: Five Army soldiers were killed in Poonch district of J&K when their vehicle was fired upon
by “unidentified terrorists”
Dima Hasao Peace Pact

❖ The Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) signed a Peace Agreement with the Assam government and
the Union Government.
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❖ The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed which makes the DNLA lay down its arms and
abide by the Constitution of India.
❖ The group will disband their armed organisation, vacate all camps occupied by DNLA cadres and join the
mainstream.
❖ A total of 179 DNLA cadres will surrender their arms and ammunition.
❖ The central and state governments will provide Rs 500 crore each for the development of the Dimasa tribal
areas.
❖ Dimasa Welfare Council will be set up by the Government of Assam to protect, preserve and promote a
social, cultural, and linguistic identity to meet political, economic and educational aspirations and will
ensure speedy and focused development of the Dimasa people residing outside the jurisdiction of North
Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC). Dimasa Tribal Region is run by NCHAC.
❖ The MoU also provides for the appointment of a Commission under Paragraph 14 of the Sixth Schedule to
the Constitution of India to examine the demand for the inclusion of additional villages contiguous to
the NCHAC with the Council.
o The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 provides for the formation of autonomous administrative
divisions — Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial, and
administrative autonomy within a state.
❖ DNLA: It is an insurgent group operating in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts in Assam.
❖ The DNLA was established in April 2019 seeking a sovereign territory for the Dimasa tribals and launched
an armed insurgency to achieve its goal.
❖ The group aims to “develop a sense of brotherhood among the Dimasas and also to rebuild the trust and
faith among the Dimasa society for regaining the Dimasa Kingdom”.
❖ The group runs on extortion and taxation. “It draws its support and sustenance from the NSCN(IM) of
Nagaland.
❖ The Dimasas (or Dimasa-Kacharis) are the earliest known rulers and settlers of Assam, and now live in
Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hojai and Nagaon districts of central and southern Assam, as well as
parts of Nagaland.
❖ Some of the historians describe them as “aborigines” or the “earliest known inhabitants of the
Brahmaputra Valley”.
❖ Prior to Ahom rule, the Dimasa kings — believed to be the descendants of the rulers of the ancient
Kamarupa kingdom — ruled large parts of Assam along the south bank of the Brahmaputra between the
13th and 16th centuries.
❖ Their earliest historically known capital was Dimapur (now in Nagaland), and later Maibang in North Cachar
Hills.
❖ Dima Hasao district and Karbi Anglong both enjoy the Sixth Schedule status granted by the Constitution of
India.
❖ They are run by the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous
Council (KAAC) respectively. The Autonomous Council is a powerful body and almost all the departments
of government are under its control except the police and Law & Order are under Assam Government.
❖ History of Militancy in Dima Hasao Region: The hill districts of Assam, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao,
have had a long history of insurgency by Karbi and Dimasa groups which peaked in the mid-1990s, and
was rooted in a core demand of statehood.
❖ In Dima Hasao, the demand for statehood began in the 1960s, along with other tribal sections of undivided
Assam.
❖ While new states such as Meghalaya were carved out, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar remained with
Assam on a promise of more power by the government, including implementation of Article 244 (A), which
allows for an ‘autonomous state’ within Assam in certain tribal areas. This was never implemented.
❖ Dimasa National Security Force: A demand for a full-fledged state, ‘Dimaraji’, gathered steam, and led to
the formation of the militant Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF) in 1991.
❖ The group surrendered in 1995, but its commander-in-chief (Jewel Gorlosa) broke away and formed
the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).
❖ In 2003, the DHD began negotiations with the government, but its commander-in-chief broke and formed
the DHD-J (Jewel) with an armed group called Black Widow.
❖ These groups were violent and had popular support. They signed a ceasefire in 2012.
❖ Other Peace Developments in North East India: Karbi Anglong Agreement, 2021, Bodo Accord 2020, Bru-
Reang Agreement 2020, NLFT-Tripura Agreement, 2019
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India Latest Farm Export Data
❖ Provisional data released recently by the Department of Commerce has shown that both agricultural
exports from and imports into India have scaled new highs in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2023.
❖ The data shows that total farm exports were at USD 53.15 billion and imports at USD 35.69 billion during
2022-23, surpassing their previous year’s records.
❖ The resultant agricultural trade surplus has marginally dipped from USD17.82 billion to USD 17.46 billion.
❖ Between 2013-14 and 2015-16, India's agricultural exports sharply fell from USD 43.25 billion to USD 32.81
billion, primarily due to the crash in global prices, as reflected the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's
Food Price Index (FFPI). However, imports continued to rise, leading to a decline in the farm trade surplus.
❖ In recent years, the FFPI has recovered, making India's agricultural commodities more globally price
competitive, resulting in a surge in exports during 2020-2023. o The FFPI is a measure of the monthly
change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. It measures changes for a basket of
cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar.
o Base Period: 2014-16.
o FFPI increases when international food prices rise.
❖ In recent times, marine products, rice, and sugar have been the driving forces behind India's agricultural
exports.
❖ Marine Products: Marine product exports have grown steadily from USD5.02 billion in 2013-14 to USD8.08
billion in 2022-23.
❖ Rice: Rice exports have also gone up during this period, from USD7.79 billion to USD11.14 billion. It’s been
driven by non-basmati rice, which has more than doubled. On the other hand, premium priced basmati rice
has witnessed a decline.
❖ Basmati exports are mainly to the Persian Gulf countries and, to some extent, the US and UK. Non-basmati
shipments are more diversified. It’s non-basmati that has made India the biggest rice exporter, ahead of
Thailand.
❖ Sugar: The recent boom in sugar exports has been the third largest contributor – from a mere USD 810.90
mn in 2017-18 to USD 5.77 bn in 2022-23 – the sugar exports have grown many folds during these years.
❖ India has, in the process, emerged as the world’s No. 2 exporter after Brazil.
❖ Spices: Spices exports, which saw a jump during 2013-2021, have stagnated since then.
❖ Buffalo: Buffalo meat exports, too, have gone down and never regained their peak of USD 4.78 billion
reached in 2014-15.
❖ Raw Cotton, Guar-Gum and Oil Meals: The drop has been even more for raw cotton, guar-gum and oil
meals. Exports of the three in 2022-23 were a pale shadow of their highs of 2011-12.
❖ Cultivation of genetically modified Bt cotton and high global prices had enabled India to become the
world’s top producer (ahead of China) and No. 2 exporter (after the US) of the natural fibre.
❖ Guar-gum (a thickening agent used in extraction of shale oil and gas) and oil meal exports rode the global
commodity price boom from 2003-04 to 2013-14.
❖ Major Contributors to the Import basket: India's basket of imported farm produce is less dominated by
agricultural products compared to its exports.
❖ Among these imports, the most significant is vegetable oils, whose imports have more than doubled in
value terms between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
❖ Imports meet roughly 60% of India’s vegetable oil requirements while the dependence on pulses imports is
hardly 10% now. The value of pulses imports has also come down – halved - from USD4.2 billion in 2016-17
to USD1.9 in 2022-23.
❖ Imports of spices, cashew, and cotton – commodities where India has traditionally been a net exporter –
have shown a rising trend.
NGT Bans Mining in Son River

❖ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive to halt all mining activities in Son riverbed in
Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh.
❖ The directive addresses illegal mining, imposing environmental compensation on mining companies.
❖ About: The Son River, also known as the Sone River, is a perennial river that flows through central India.
❖ The Son River is the 2nd-largest southern (right bank) tributary of the Ganges after the Yamuna River.
❖ Geography: It originates near Amarkantak Hill in the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district of Chhattisgarh and
finally merges with the Ganges River near Patna in Bihar.
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❖ Son forms a series of waterfalls at the edge of Amarkantak plateau.
❖ It flows through four states: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
❖ Tributaries: Ghaghar, Johilla, Chhoti Mahanadi, Banas, Gopad, Rihand, Kanhar and North Koel River.
❖ Prominent Dams and Hydroelectric Projects: Bansagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh
❖ Rihand Dam near Pipri in Uttar Pradesh on Rihand River.
❖ Indrapuri Barrage in Bihar; it diverts water from the Son River to the Sone Canal System for irrigation
purposes.
❖ Koilwar Bridge constructed in 1862 in Bihar; it serves as India's oldest river bridge, connecting Arrah with
Patna.
Ludhiana Gas Leak Tragedy

❖ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed an eight-member fact-finding committee to look into the
death of 11 people due to a recent gas leak in Ludhiana district of Punjab.
❖ The NGT took suo motu cognisance of the matter based on media reports.
❖ A gas leak has claimed the lives of 11 people in the Giaspur area of Ludhiana. The Police has suspected
that a poisonous gas may have emanated from a partially open manhole in the locality and spread to the
shops and houses nearby
❖ The autopsy reports suggested that the deaths were due to “inhalation poisoning”. Forensic experts have
suspected Hydrogen Sulphide – a neurotoxic gas – to be responsible for the tragedy.
❖ According to an expert - Probably some acidic waste was thrown into sewer which reacted with methane,
carbon monoxide and other sewerage gases to produce hydrogen sulphide.
❖ Neurotoxins: Neurotoxins are poisonous substances which can directly affect the nervous system. These
substances can disrupt or even kill neurons or nerve cells, which are important for transmitting and
processing signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
❖ Neurotoxic Gases: Methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are common
neurotoxic gases.
❖ Methane and carbon monoxide are odourless gases, but hydrogen sulphide has a pungent odour and in
higher concentration can be fatal for humans.
Safeguards Against Chemical Disasters in India
❖ Background: Prior to the Bhopal Gas tragedy, the IPC 1860 was the only law providing safeguards against
such disasters; however, soon after the tragedy, the government came with a series of legislations
regulating the environment and prescribing and specifying safeguards and penalties. Some of the laws are:
❖ Bhopal Gas Leak (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985 gave powers to the central government to secure the
claims arising out of or connected with the Bhopal gas tragedy. Under the provisions of this Act, such
claims are dealt with speedily and equitably.
❖ The Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986 gives powers to the central government to undertake
measures for improving the environment and set standards and inspect industrial units.
❖ The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 is an insurance meant to provide relief to persons affected by
accidents that occur while handling hazardous substances.
❖ Under the Hazardous Waste (Management Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules,
1989, industries are required to identify major accident hazards, take preventive measures and submit a
report to the designated authorities.
❖ Under the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989, importers must furnish
complete product safety information to the competent authority and must transport imported chemicals in
accordance with the amended rules.
❖ Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996 requires the central
govt to constitute a central crisis group for management of chemical accidents; set up quick response
mechanism termed as the crisis alert system.
❖ The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997: Under this Act, the National Environment
Appellate Authority can hear appeals regarding the restriction of areas in which any industries, operations
or processes or class of industries shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain
safeguards under the EPA1986.
National Green Tribunal
❖ It is a statutory body set up under the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010 for effective and
expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other
natural resources.
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❖ Comes under Ministry of Law and Justice (Kiren Rijiju), Department of Legal Affairs
❖ With NGT, India became the 3rd country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal,
only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.
❖ NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
❖ The NGT has five places of sitting, New Delhi is the principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and
Chennai are the other four.
❖ Powers: The Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial questions relating to the
environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment).
❖ It can take Suo Motu cognizance of the environmental cases.
❖ Apart from original jurisdiction side on filing of an application, NGT also has appellate jurisdiction to hear
appeal as a Court (Tribunal).
❖ NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the CPC 1908 but shall be guided by principles of
'natural justice'.
❖ An order/decision/award of Tribunal is executable as a decree of a civil court.
National Disaster Management Authority
❖ NDMA celebrated its 18th Formation Day on 28th September, 2022
❖ Theme 2022: Volunteerism in Disaster Management.
❖ India’s apex statutory body for disaster management.
❖ The NDMA was formally constituted on 27th September 2006, by the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The
Prime Minister is its chairperson and it has 9 other members. One of the nine members is designated as
Vice-Chairperson.
❖ The primary responsibility for the management of disaster rests with the State Government
concerned. However, the National Policy on Disaster Management puts in place an enabling environment
for all i.e., the Centre, state and district.
❖ In recognition of the importance of Disaster Management as a national priority, the Government of India
set up a High-Powered Committee (HPC) in August 1999 and a National Committee after the Gujarat
earthquake (2001), for making recommendations on the preparation of Disaster Management plans and
suggesting effective mitigation mechanisms.
❖ The 10th Five-Year Plan document also had, for the first time, a detailed chapter on Disaster Management.
The Twelfth Finance Commission was also mandated to review the financial arrangements for Disaster
Management.
❖ Establishment of National Disaster Reaction Force (NDRF):India has increasingly mitigated and responded
to all types of disasters, including with the establishment of NDRF, the world’s largest rapid reaction force
dedicated to disaster response.
❖ India has adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals
(2015-2030), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, all of which make clear the connections among
DRR, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), and sustainable development.
❖ It was adopted at the 3rd United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held from March 14
to 18, 2015 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
Protest in Manipur
❖ Recently, the All-Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) has carried out a solidarity march in order to
oppose the demand of Meitei Community be included in the List of State’s Scheduled Tribes (ST).
❖ The march broke into violent clashes after an order from the Manipur High Court, directing the State to
pursue a 10-year-old recommendation to grant ST status to the non-tribal Meitei community.
❖ The Manipur government also authorised all District Magistrates to issue “shoot at sight orders” in
“extreme cases” in order to control the situation
❖ The Meitei community, led by the Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM), has been
demanding ST status since 2012, asking to provide them with constitutional safeguards to preserve their
culture, language, and identity.
❖ The Meiteis argue that they were recognised as a tribe before the merger of Manipur with India in 1949
but lost their identity after the merger in India.
❖ As a result of being left out of the ST list, the Meitei community feels marginalized and victimized without
any constitutional protections.
❖ The STDCM has stated that the Meitein/Meetei have been gradually marginalised in their ancestral land.
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❖ Their population, which was 59% of the total population of Manipur in 1951, has now been reduced to 44%
as per 2011 Census data.
❖ They believe that granting ST status would help preserve their ancestral land, tradition, culture, and
language, and safeguard them against outsiders.
❖ Why are Other Tribal Groups in Manipur opposing the Demand of Meiteis? Meitei's Already in Majority:
People belonging to the Meitei community account for over 64% of the State population and yield 40 out
of the 60 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the State.
❖ The ST communities fear that granting ST status to the Meiteis would result in them losing job
opportunities and other affirmative actions meant for STs.
❖ Meitei Culture has Recognition: Meitei language is already included in the 8th Schedule of the
Constitution, and some sections of the Meitei community are already classified under Scheduled Castes
(SC) or Other Backward Classes (OBC), which gives them access to certain opportunities.
❖ More Political Influence: They also think that the demand for ST status is a way for the dominant Meitei
community from the valley area to gain political influence and control over the hill areas of the state
by diverting attention from the political demands of other tribal groups like the Kukis and Nagas.
❖ The Kukis are an ethnic group including multiple tribes originally inhabiting the NE states such as Manipur,
Mizoram and Assam; parts of Burma (now Myanmar), and Sylhet district and Chittagong hill tracts of
Bangladesh.
❖ Wanting to dominate trade and cultural activities in these areas, Kukis and Nagas often engaged in violent
standoffs, with villages being torched, civilians killed and so on.
❖ Eviction of Tribal Groups: One of the other reasons for the discontent has been the state government’s
notices since August 2022 claiming that 38 villages in the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest area
are “illegal settlements” and its residents are “encroachers”.
❖ Kuki groups have claimed that the survey and eviction is a violation of Article 371C, which confers
some administrative autonomy to the tribal-dominated hill areas of Manipur.
Kuki-Meitei Divide
❖ Ethnic conflict between the hill communities and the Meiteis has continued to exist ever since the time of
the kingdom of Kangleipak.
❖ These tensions and conflicts escalated during the 1950s with the rise of the Naga national movement and
the demands for an independent Naga nation.
❖ The Naga insurgency was countered by the rise of insurgent groups among the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi.
❖ In the 1990s, as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM), which is one of the
largest Naga groups, pushed harder for self-determination, the Kuki-Zomi groups began to militarise.
❖ The Kukis later launched their own movement for “Kukiland”, which demanded the creation of a separate
state within India.
❖ Although the Kukis once were the protectors of the Meitei people, the “Kukiland movement” created a rift
between the communities.
Process of Inclusion under List of STs
❖ The process for including a community in the list of ST follows a set of modalities established in 1999.
❖ The respective State or Union Territory government must initiate the proposal for inclusion, which then
goes to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry and subsequently to the Office of the Registrar General of India
(ORGI).
❖ If the ORGI approves the inclusion, the proposal is then sent to the National Commission for Scheduled
Tribes, and if they concur, the proposal is forwarded to the Cabinet for amendment to the Constitution
(Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
❖ In September 2022, the government approved the inclusion of certain communities in the lists of
Scheduled Tribes. These include:
❖ Binjhia in Chhattisgarh
❖ Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran in Tamil Nadu
❖ ‘Betta-Kuruba’ in Karnataka,
❖ Hattis from Himachal Pradesh
❖ Gond Community in Uttar Pradesh
Ethnic Composition of Manipur
❖ Meiteis are the largest community in Manipur and there are 34 recognized tribes broadly classified as ‘Any
Kuki Tribes’ and ‘Any Naga Tribes’.
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❖ The Imphal valley in the state, at the centre of Manipur, accounts for about 10% of its landmass and is
home primarily to the Meitei and Meitei Pangals who constitute roughly 64.6% of the state’s population.
❖ The remaining 90% of the state’s geographical area comprises hills surrounding the valley, which are home
to the recognized tribes, making up about 35.4% of the state’s population.
❖ While a majority of the Meiteis are Hindus followed by Muslims (8%), the 33 recognised tribes, broadly
classified into ‘Any Naga tribes’ and ‘Any Kuki tribes’ are largely Christians.
❖ Manipur, along with Dimapur district of Nagaland, was brought under the purview of the Inner Line
Permit (ILP) System in December 2019. ILP is a special permit obligatorily required by “outsiders” from
other regions of the country to enter the notified states.
❖ Key Points of Meitei Community: The Meitei people are also known as Manipuri people. Their primary
language is the Meitei language, which is also called Manipuri and is the only official language of Manipur.
❖ They are predominantly settled in the Imphal Valley, although a significant number reside in other Indian
states, such as Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
❖ There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
❖ The Meitei people are divided into clans, and members of the same clan do not intermarry
❖ The valley districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching, Imphal East and Imphal West were part of the
erstwhile kingdom of Kangleipak. The kingdom of Kangleipak was ruled by the Ningthouja dynasty.
Special Provisions under Article 371
❖ Article 371 of the Constitution provides “special provisions” for 11 states, including six states of the
Northeast (excluding Tripura and Meghalaya).
❖ Articles 369-392 (including some that have been removed) appear in Part XXI of the Constitution,
titled ‘Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions’.
❖ Article 370 deals with ‘Temporary Provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir’;
❖ Articles 371 and 371A-371J define special provisions with regard to another state (or states).
❖ Article 371I deals with Goa, but it does not include any provision that can be deemed ‘special’.
Article (Amendment) For State Provision
Article 371 Maharashtra and The Governor has “special responsibility” to
Gujarat establish “separate development boards” for “Vidarbha,
Marathwada, and the rest of Maharashtra”, and
Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat.
Article Nagaland Parliament cannot legislate in matters of Naga
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371A (13 Amendment religion or social practices, Naga customary law and
Act, 1962) procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice
involving decisions according to Naga customary law,
and ownership and transfer of land without concurrence
of the state Assembly.
Article Assam The President may provide for the constitution and
nd
371B (22 amendment functions of a committee of the Assembly consisting of
Act, 1969) members elected from the state’s tribal areas.
Article Manipur The President may provide for the constitution of a
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371C (27 Amendment committee of elected members from the Hill areas in
Act, 1971) the Assembly and entrust “special responsibility” to the
Governor to ensure its proper functioning.
Article Andhra The President must ensure “equitable opportunities and
371D (32nd Amendment Pradesh and Telangana facilities” in “public employment and education to
Act, 1973; Substituted people from different parts of the state”.
by The Andhra Pradesh He may require the state government to organise “any
Reorganisation Act, class or classes of posts in a civil service of, or any class
2014) or classes of civil posts under, the State into different
local cadres for different parts of the State”.
Article 371E is for Andhra Pradesh but not a special
provision.
Article Sikkim The members of the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim shall
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371F (36 Amendment elect the representative of Sikkim in the House of the
Act, 1975) People.
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To protect the rights and interests of various sections of
the population of Sikkim, Parliament may provide for the
number of seats in the Assembly, which may be filled only
by candidates from those sections.
Article Mizoram Parliament cannot make laws on “religious or social
371G (53rd Amendment practices of the Mizos, Mizo customary law and
Act, 1986) procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice
involving decisions according to Mizo customary law,
ownership and transfer of land… unless the Assembly…
so decide
Article Arunachal Pradesh The Governor has a special responsibility with regard to
371H (55th Amendment law and order, and “he shall, after consulting the Council
Act, 1986) of Ministers, exercise his individual judgment as to the
action to be taken”.
Article Karnataka There is a provision for a separate development board
371J (98th Amendment for the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
Act, 2012) There shall be “equitable allocation of funds for
developmental expenditure over the said region”, and
“equitable opportunities and facilities” for people of this
region in government jobs and education.
a
National Medical Device Policy 2023

❖ The Union Cabinet has approved the National Medical Devices (NMD) Policy, 2023.
❖ Policy lays down a roadmap for accelerated growth of the medical devices sector to achieve the following
missions viz, Access & Universality, Affordability, Quality, Patient Centred & Quality Care, Preventive &
Promotive Health, Security, Research and Innovation and Skilled manpower.
❖ Regulatory Streamlining: To make it easier to do research and business while balancing patient safety and
product innovation, a "Single Window Clearance System" for licensing medical devices will be created.
❖ This system will involve all relevant departments and organizations, such as MeitY (Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology), and DAHD (Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying).
❖ Enabling Infrastructure: Large medical device parks with world-class infrastructure facilities will be
established, near economic zones. It will be done as envisioned under the National Industrial
Corridor Program and the proposed National Logistics Policy 2021 under the ambit of PM Gati Shakti, and
in collaboration with state governments and the industry, to improve convergence and integration with the
medical device industry.
❖ Facilitating R&D and Innovation: The policy aims to promote Research & Development in India,
complementing the proposed National Policy on R&D and Innovation in the Pharma-MedTech sector.
❖ Attracting Investments: The policy encourages private investment and Public-Private Partnerships
(PPP) to complement existing schemes such as Make in India, Ayushman Bharat program, Heal-in-India,
and Start-up mission. This includes funding from venture capitalists to support the growth of the medical
device industry.
❖ Human Resources Development: The policy aims to ensure a skilled workforce in the medical device
sector by providing skilling, reskilling and upskilling programs through the Ministry of Skill Development
and Entrepreneurship.
❖ Brand Positioning and Awareness Creation: The policy envisages the creation of a dedicated Export
Promotion Council for the sector which will be an enabler to deal with various market access issues.
Related Static GK
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❖ India is the 4 largest Asian medical devices market after Japan, China, and South Korea, and among
the top 20 medical devices markets globally.
❖ India’s current market share in the medical device category is 1.5% of the global space or $11 billion (that
is ₹90,000 crore) in 2020.
❖ US dominates the global market with a 40% market share, followed by Europe and Japan at 25% and
15% respectively.
❖ Government Initiatives: The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for promoting domestic
manufacturing of Medical Devices. NMDP 2023 will be in addition to the existing PLI schemes.
❖ The GoI India has already initiated implementation of PLI Scheme for medical devices and support
for setting up of four medical devices parks – one each in Himachal Pradesh, MP, TN and UP.
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❖ In June 2021, the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical
Devices (AiMeD) launched the Indian Certification of Medical Devices (ICMED) 13485 Plus scheme to
undertake verification of the quality, safety and efficacy of medical devices.
National Medical Commission
❖ Is an Indian Regulatory body of 33 members.
❖ Replaced Medical Council of India on 25 September 2020
❖ MCI was established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1933
❖ Chairman: Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma
❖ HQ: New Delhi
Millets Experience Centre

❖ The Indian government has launched a first of its kind Millets Experience Centre (MEC) in collaboration
with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
❖ This initiative comes in light of the UNGA's declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM
2023).
❖ Millet has been referred to as ‘Shree Anna’ in Union Budget 2023-24.
❖ The MEC is a unique concept that will promote millets as a versatile, healthy grain by showcasing its
dietary benefits and offering customers a unique dining experience.
❖ Visitors to the center can purchase a variety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products from local millet
start-ups.
❖ The MEC will help widen the horizon for consumers who are actively looking for healthier alternatives.
❖ The establishment of the MEC is a step in the direction of India's goal to become a "Global Hub" for millet.
❖ The MEC will not only promote the dietary benefits of the ancient grain but also popularize millet as
a nutritional powerhouse fit for cooking a variety of dishes such as millet dosa and millet pasta.
❖ Other Government-led Initiatives for Mainstreaming Millets: Initiative for Nutritional Security through
Intensive Millet Promotion (INSIMP), Price Support Scheme (PSS), Promoting Millets in PDS, Hiked MSP of
Millets, Promotion of Organic Farming of millets, Development of Value-Added Millet-based Products
❖ National Millets Mission (NMM): On September 10, 2021 the Chhattisgarh state government formally
launched the 'Millet Mission' with the aim of making the state a millet hub. Under this mission, the Indian
Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad signed MoUs with 14 districts of the state.
❖ Coarse cereals are traditionally grown in resource poor agro-climatic regions of the country.
❖ Sorghum, pearl millet, maize, barley, finger millet and several small millets such as kodo millet, little millet,
foxtail millet, proso millet and barnyard millet together called coarse cereals.
❖ Sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, maize and small millets (barnyard millet, proso millet, kodo millet and
foxtail millet) are also called nutri-cereals.
Central CounterParties
❖ The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Union's financial markets regulator,
has derecognized six Indian Central Counterparties (CCPs) from April 30, 2023, in accordance with
the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).
❖ These six CCPs are the Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL), Indian Clearing Corporation Ltd (ICCL), NSE
Clearing Ltd (NSCCL), Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing (MCXCCL), India International Clearing
Corporation (IFSC) Ltd (IICC) and NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation Ltd (NICCL).
❖ CCP is a financial institution that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers in various derivatives
and equities markets. CCPs are structures that help facilitate the clearing and settlement process in
financial markets.
❖ The primary goal of CCPs is to increase efficiency and stability in financial markets.
❖ CCPs reduce risks associated with counterparty, operational, settlement, market, legal, and default issues
❖ CCPs act as a counterparty to both buyers and sellers in a trade, collecting money from each party involved
and guaranteeing the terms of the trade
❖ Functions: Clearing and settlement are the two main functions of a CCP. Clearing involves validating the
details of the trade and ensuring that both parties have sufficient funds to complete the transaction.
❖ Settlement involves the transfer of ownership of the asset or security being traded from the seller to the
buyer.
❖ Regulators in India: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for CCPs clearing money market instruments and
foreign exchange derivatives.
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❖ A CCP is authorized by the RBI to operate in India under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
❖ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for CCPs clearing securities and commodity derivatives.
❖ The ESMA derecognized Indian CCPs due to their failure to meet all EMIR requirements. The decision came
due to ‘no cooperation arrangements’ between ESMA and Indian regulators – the RBI, the SEBI and
the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
❖ While ESMA wants to supervise these six CCPs, Indian regulators are of the view that since these domestic
CCPs operate in India and not in the EU, these entities cannot be subjected to the ESMA regulations. They
feel that these six CCPs have robust risk management and there is no need for a foreign regulator to
inspect them.
❖ Impact: As of the date of application of the withdrawal decisions, these CCPs will no longer be able to
provide services to clearing members and trading venues established in the EU. The decision will impact
European banks in India as they will either need as much as 50 times higher capital to carry out trades
involving the Indian central counterparties or will have to unwind positions with the central counterparties
over the next 6 to 9 months.
❖ ESMA: ESMA is an independent EU authority.
❖ ESMA enhances the protection of investors and promotes stable and orderly financial markets.
❖ ESMA is the direct supervisor of specific financial entities such as credit rating agencies, securitization
repositories, and trade repositories
❖ EMIR is an EU regulation adopted in August 2012
❖ It aims to reduce systemic, counterparty, and operational risk in the OTC derivatives market
❖ It sets higher prudential standards for CCPs and trade repositories
❖ EMIR enhances risk mitigation techniques for non-cleared derivatives
❖ It establishes a framework for the recognition and supervision of third-country CCPs
India to join International Climate Action in Civil Aviation

❖ The Ministry of Civil Aviation (Jyotiraditya Scindia) has announced has recently announced that India will
start participating in the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction
Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the Long-Term Aspirational Goals (LTAG) from 2027.
❖ CORSIA Scheme is envisaged in 3 phases: Pilot (2021-2023) and first phases (2024-2026) are voluntary
phases whereas second phase (2027-2035) is mandatory for all the member States.
❖ India has decided not to participate in the voluntary phases of CORSIA.
❖ The ICAO has been tasked to reduce carbon emissions from international civil aviation as one of its focus
areas.
❖ In order to mitigate carbon emissions from aviation and its impact on climate change, the global body has
adopted several key aspirational goals. Among them are: 2% annual fuel efficiency improvement through
2050, carbon neutral growth. net zero by 2050
❖ CORSIA: It is a global scheme established by the ICAO to address the growth in CO2 emissions from
international aviation.
❖ CORSIA aims to stabilize net CO2 emissions at 2020 levels through a combination of measures, including
carbon offsetting, carbon credits, and sustainable aviation fuel.
❖ It offers a harmonized way to reduce emissions from international aviation, minimizing market
distortion, while respecting the special circumstances and respective capabilities of ICAO Member States.
❖ CORSIA complements the other measures by offsetting the amount of CO2 emissions that cannot be
reduced through technological improvements, operational improvements, and sustainable aviation
fuels with emissions units from the carbon market.
❖ CORSIA is applicable only to flights originating from one country to another.
❖ LTAG: 41st ICAO Assembly adopted LTAG for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by
2050 in support of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement's temperature goal.
❖ The LTAG does not attribute specific obligations or commitments in the form of emissions reduction goals
to individual States. Instead, it recognizes each State's special circumstances and respective capabilities
e.g., the level of development, maturity of aviation markets.
❖ National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016: It includes a goal of developing a sustainable aviation
framework that promotes the use of alternative fuels, energy-efficient aircraft, and infrastructure, among
others.
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
❖ It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was created in 1944 to promote safe, secure, and
efficient air transportation around the world.
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❖ ICAO develops international standards and recommended practices for aviation, including regulations for
air navigation, communication, and airport operations.
❖ It also works to address global aviation issues, such as air traffic management, aviation security, and
environmental protection.
❖ Secretary General: Juan Carlos Salazar Gómez
❖ Council President: Salvatore Sciacchitano
❖ It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
RVNL Gets Navratna Status

❖ Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, has
been granted Navratna status. The company, incorporated in 2003, was established to implement railway
infrastructure projects and raise extra-budgetary resources for Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). RVNL
began operations in 2005 and was granted Mini-Ratna status in 2013. RVNL is responsible for undertaking
Rail project development and execution of works, creating project specific SPVs, and handing over
completed railway projects to the relevant Zonal Railway for operation and maintenance.
❖ The grant of Navratna status to RVNL provides it with more operational freedom, financial autonomy, and
enhanced delegation of powers.
❖ Navratna status is a recognition given by the Indian government to select public sector enterprises (PSEs)
that have financial and operational autonomy. This status enables PSEs to invest up to Rs. 1000 crore
without any approval from the central government, giving them more flexibility in decision making,
personnel management, and joint ventures.
Ratna Companies
❖ The Public Sector Enterprises are run by the Government under the Department of Public Enterprises of
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (Mahendra Nath Panday) The government grants the
status of Navratna, Miniratna and Maharatna to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) based upon the
profit made by these CPSEs.
❖ The Maharatna category has been the most recent one since 2009, the other two have been in function
since 1997.
❖ The Criteria for granting Miniratna Status: Those CPSEs that have shown profits in the last continuous 3
years and have positive net worth, can be considered eligible for grant of Miniratna status. Presently, there
are 74 Miniratnas in total.
❖ The Miniratnas are divided in two categories –
❖ Category I: These have made profits for the last 3 years continuously or earned a net profit of Rs. 30 crores
or more in one of these three years. There are 62 such companies.
❖ Category II : These companies have made profits continuously for the last 3 years and must have a
positive net worth. There are 12 such companies in this category.
❖ The Criteria for granting Navratna Status: The company must have ‘Miniratna Category – I‘ status along
with a Schedule ‘A’ listing.
❖ It should have at least 3 ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the last
five years.
❖ Along with the above, it should also have a composite score of 60 or above out of possible 100 marks in
the 6 selected performance parameters.
❖ There are 12 Navratna Companies currently:
1. Bharat Electronics Limited
2. Container Corporation of India Limited
3. Engineers India Limited
4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
5. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
6. National Aluminium Company Limited
7. National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited
8. Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
9. NMDC Limited
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10. Oil India Limited
11. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
12. Shipping Corporation of India Limited
The Criteria for giving Maharatna Satus:-
❖ There are Currently 12 maharatna Companies in India:

1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
3. Coal India Limited (CIL)
4. Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
6. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
7. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited
8. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited
9. Power Finance Corporation
10. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
11. Steel Authority of India Limited
12. Rural Electrification Cooperation (REC) [September 2022]
India-Israel Relations
❖ India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Israel’s Defense Research and
Development (DDR&D) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Industrial Research and
Development Cooperation.
❖ It aims to work together on research and development projects in various fields such as Artificial
Intelligence (AI), Quantum and semiconductors, synthetic biology, Sustainable Energy, Healthcare,
and Agriculture. They will focus on implementing specific projects in mutually agreeable areas.
❖ The collaboration will include important industrial sectors such as aerospace, chemicals, and
infrastructure.
❖ The MoU will be monitored by a Joint Steering Committee led by the heads of the CSIR and DDR&D for
taking forward mutually benefiting Industrial and technology cooperation.
❖ India-Israel Relations: Though India officially recognized Israel in 1950, both countries established full
diplomatic ties only on 29th January 1992.
❖ As of December 2020, India was among 164 United Nations (UN) member states to have diplomatic ties
with Israel.
❖ Trade between India and Israel has increased from USD 5 billion before the Covid-19 pandemic to about
USD 7.5 billion till 2023 January. Trade in diamonds constitutes about 50% of bilateral trade.
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❖ India is Israel's third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh largest globally. Israeli companies have
invested in India in energy, renewable energy, telecom, real estate, water technologies, and are focusing on
setting up R&D centers or production units in India.
❖ India is also in dialogue with Israel for concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
❖ Defence: India is one of the largest importers of weapons from Israel, contributing to about 40% of its
annual arms exports.
❖ The Indian armed forces have inducted a wide array of Israeli weapon systems over the years, which range
from Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control Systems) and Heron, Searcher-II and Harop drones
to Barak anti-missile defence systems and Spyder quick-reaction anti-aircraft missile systems.
❖ At the 15th Joint Working Group (JWG 2021) meeting on Bilateral Defence Cooperation, countries agreed
to form a Task Force to formulate a comprehensive Ten-Year Roadmap to identify new areas of
cooperation.
❖ Agriculture: In May 2021, “a three-year work program agreement” for development in agriculture
cooperation, was signed.
❖ In recent years, multiple MoUs have been signed between Israel’s Start-Up National Central and Indian
entrepreneurship centres like iCreate and TiE (Technology Business Incubators).
❖ In 2022, the two countries recently widened the scope of the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation
Fund (I4F) to include sectors like renewable energy and ICT (Information and Communication
Technology) through increased participation of academia and business entities.
The Kerala Story Controversy

❖ A film ‘The Kerala Story’ has sparked controversy all around India accused of falsely claiming that 32,000
of women from Kerala have been converted to Islam and recruited into ISIS without any solid data to
backup the alleged figures.
❖ Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. It stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia
Balani, and Siddhi Idnani.
❖ The events portrayed in the film are loosely based on the accounts of three women from Kerala —Nimisha
Nair, Sonia Sebastian and Merin Jacob — who converted to Islam and traveled with their husbands to
Afghanistan to join ISIS between 2016 and 2018,
❖ It was theatrically released on 5 May 2023, and became a commercial hit, becoming the second highest
grossing Hindi film of 2023.
❖ The film has also faced protracted litigation and protests, primarily in Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
❖ The Film got banned in West Bengal, but the ban was lifted by Supreme Court
❖ Made Tax free in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh both ruled by BJP
❖ 32000 Claim: While director Sudipto Sen has claimed that he has evidence for this claim, so far, he has not
publicly shared it. In an interview on YouTube channel ‘Festival of Bharat’, Sen claims that in 2010, then
chief minister Oommen Chandy tabled a report on the floor of the Kerala Assembly that said “every year
approximately 2800-3200 girls were being converted to Islam”. Sen says in the interview, “just calculate this
number for ten years and that gives you 32,000 to 33,000 girls” – the number quoted in his film. According
to Sen, Chandy denied these figures when Sen questioned him, but he has “the document” to prove his
claim.
❖ However no 2010 documents were found that mentions the figures quoted by Sen
❖ Incidentally, Sen was part of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury last year, whose chairperson
Nadav Lapid at the closing ceremony said that The Kashmir Files was a “propaganda” movie. Sen was the
first jury member to distance himself from Lapid’s comments.
Operation Pigeon
❖ "Operation Pigeon." This is the name given to an operation that is being carried out by the Kerala police,
Central Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigating Agency to prevent the youth of Kerala from
joining the Islamic State.
❖ The operation was launched following the incident in which over 20 youth slipped out of Kerala and joined
the IS in Afghanistan in 2017. This incident caused a great amount of concern among the security
agencies who then went on to form a special squad to stop the menace.
❖ Rescue of Nurses from Iraq: In June 2014, 46 Indian nurses were held in captivity of Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) militants in war-ravaged Iraq for 23 days. They were stranded in their hospital in Tikrit when
the Civil War between the ISIS forces and the Iraqi army intensified.
❖ The Militants of ISIS didn’t harmed them and arranged buses to take them to the Erbil airport to help them
fly them back to their country.
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❖ Then External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was personally in touch with all the major Gulf countries,
especially Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Through informal channels, New Delhi had also established peripheral
contacts with ISIS, and some splinter groups in Iraq. Foreign ministry refused to identify interlocutors who
had negotiated the release swiftly.
❖ Salman Khans Film ‘Tiger Zinda hai’ was inspired by this event
India’s Power Sector in 2030

❖ The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) (Ministry of Power) released a new publication titled Report on
Optimal Generation Mix 2030 Version 2.0.
❖ This is an updated version of the report published in 2020 titled Report on Optimal Generation Capacity
Mix for 2029-30.
❖ The report highlights the changes expected in India's energy mix, with a decline in coal's share and a rise
in renewable energy (RE) sources.
❖ Earlier, the CEA released the latest draft of the National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2022-27.
❖ Key Highlights: Coal Share in Power Mix: Coal's share in the power mix is projected to decline from 73% in
2022-23 to 55% in 2030.
❖ Impact on Coal Usage: Although the share of coal in power generation is set to reduce, in absolute
terms, coal power capacity and generation will increase between 2023 and 2030.
❖ Coal capacity is projected to rise by 19%, and generation is expected to increase by 13% during this period.
❖ Solar Energy Contribution: Solar energy is expected to play a significant role in the power mix, lifting the
overall load.
❖ Projections indicate a quadrupling of solar capacity from 109 GW to 392 GW by 2030.
❖ Solar generation is expected to increase from 173 BU to 761 BU in the same period.
o Note: Power capacity differs from generation. Capacity is the maximum power a plant can produce
and is expressed in watts (or gigawatts or megawatts).
o Generation is the actual amount of power produced in one hour, expressed in watt-hours or billion
units (BU).
❖ Contribution of Other RE Sources: Projections for large hydropower and wind energy remain modest in the
future power mix.
❖ Large hydro generation is expected to increase from 8% to 9% by 2030.
❖ Wind generation, on the other hand, is projected to decrease to 9% in the updated version (from 12% in the
previous report).
❖ Renewable sources, including small hydro, pumped hydro, solar, wind, and biomass, are expected to
account for 31% of the power mix in 2030, compared to the current 12%.
❖ Role of Natural Gas in the Power Generation Mix: Despite aspirations to increase the share of natural gas,
its contribution to power generation remains small.
❖ The report estimates the likely retirement of 2,121.5 MW of coal plants by 2030, with 304 MW set to be
retired during 2022-23.
❖ Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The power sector contributes approximately 40% of India's total greenhouse
gas emissions.
❖ Power sector emissions are projected to rise by 11%, reaching 1.114 Gt CO2 in 2030, accounting for 10%
of global power sector emissions.
❖ Climate Commitments: In terms of climate commitments, CEA's projections indicate that India is likely
to over-achieve on its pledge to the Paris Agreement - to have 50% of installed power capacity from non-
fossil sources by 2030.
❖ As per the report, India's share of capacity from non-fossil sources will be 62% by 2030. The share will be
64% if nuclear power is considered.
❖ India's Renewable Energy Targets: 175 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2022: 100 GW of Solar Power,
60 GW of Wind Power, 10 GW of Biomass Power, 5 GW of Small Hydro Power.
❖ 500 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Based Energy by 2030: Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26
summit.
❖ 50% Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources by 2030: Pledged in India's Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
❖ India's Global Ranking: The 4th largest installed capacity of solar and wind power in the world.
❖ The 4th most attractive renewable energy market in the world.
❖ CEA: The CEA is a statutory organization that advises the government of India on policy matters and
formulates plans for the development of electricity systems in the country.
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❖ It was established in 1951 under the Electricity Supply Act 1948, which has been now superseded by
the Electricity Act 2003.
❖ Functions: Policymaking, Technical Standards, Data Collection and Research, Implementation Monitoring
and Coordination
India’s Initiatives for Power Generation from RE Sources
❖ Solar Power: National Solar Mission, International Solar Alliance, PM Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan
Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)
❖ Wind Power: National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, National Offshore Wind Energy Policy
❖ Hydropower: National Hydroelectricity Policy, Renewable Energy Status: The government has declared
large hydropower projects (>25 MW) as renewable energy sources, which will enable them to avail the
benefits of renewable energy such as waiver of inter-state transmission charges, renewable purchase
obligation, green energy certificates, etc.
❖ Hydrogen: National Hydrogen Energy Mission, National Green Hydrogen Mission
National Electricity Plan

❖ The latest draft of the National Electricity Plan (NEP), which covers the period 2022-27, marks a significant
departure from its previous edition, which had focused primarily on renewable energy
❖ The NEP is a crucial document that guides the development of the power sector in India. It is formulated by
the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) every five years under the Electricity Act, 2003.
❖ The NEP provides a review of the last five years (2017-22), capacity addition requirements for 2022-27, and
projections for the period 2027-2032.
❖ The first NEP was notified in 2007, the Second Plan in December 2013, and the third plan which covers the
detailed Plan for 2017-22 and the perspective Plan for 2022-27 was notified in 2018.
❖ New Draft: It recognizes the need for additional coal-based capacity, ranging from 17 GW to nearly 28 GW,
till 2031-32, over and above the 25 GW of coal-based capacity that is currently under construction.
❖ The draft Plan also highlights the need for significant investments in battery storage, with an estimated
requirement of between 51 GW to 84 GW by 2031-32.
❖ It projects an increase in the Plant Load Factor (PLF) of coal-fired power plants from 55% up to 2026-27 to
62 % in 2031-32.
❖ It also emphasizes the challenges posed by the increasing reliance on renewables, which will require
careful management and planning in the years ahead.
Multimodal Logistics Park
❖ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, visited the construction site of India’s first
International Multi-Modal Logistics park(MMLP) in Jogighopa, Assam, to review the progress made so far.
❖ Multi Modal Logistics Park is likely to Boost Connectivity in the Northeast.
❖ The park is being developed under the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Government.
❖ This park is being made by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited
(NHIDCL).
❖ The park will be connected to road, rail, air, and waterways.
❖ It is being developed in 317-acre land along the Brahmaputra.
❖ Project is likely to unlock huge potential for the region along with neighboring countries like Bhutan
and Bangladesh.
❖ A MMLP is a transportation hub that combines different modes of transport in one location to enable
efficient movement of goods.
❖ These logistics parks are typically located near major transportation nodes, such as ports, airports, and
highways.
❖ They are designed to handle a large volume of goods, with facilities for warehousing, distribution, and
value-added services such as packaging and labeling.
❖ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) authorized the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways (MoRTH) to develop 35 MMLP under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
o Bangalore, Chennai, Guwahati, and Nagpur MMLPs under implementation.
❖ The MMLPs are to be developed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Design, Build, Finance, Operate
and Transfer (DBFOT) mode.
❖ The National Highways and Logistics Management (NHLML), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) fully owned
by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), plans to construct the majority of the proposed MMLPs
in PPP mode.
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Polygamy in India
❖ The Chief Minister of Assam has said that the state government will move to ban the practice of Polygamy
through “Legislative Action”, and that an “Expert committee” would be formed to examine the issue.
❖ Polygamy comes from two words: “poly,” which means “many,” and “gamos,” which means “marriage.” As a
result, polygamy relates to marriages that are several.
❖ Thus, polygamy is marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same
time.
❖ Traditionally, polygamy — mainly the situation of a man having more than one wife — was practiced widely
in India. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 outlawed the practice.
❖ The Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954 allows individuals to perform inter-religious marriages, but it forbids
polygamy. The Act has been used by many Muslim women to help them stop practicing polygamy.
❖ Polyandry: It is a type of marriage in which a female has several husbands. Nevertheless, this can be an
extremely uncommon occurrence.
❖ Bigamy: When one is already married additionally, the marriage continues to be valid, then married with
someone else is known as bigamy plus the person committing this will be called bigamist.
❖ Prevalence in India: The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) showed the prevalence of polygamy
was 2.1% among Christians, 1.9% among Muslims, 1.3% among Hindus, and 1.6% among other religious
groups. The data showed that the highest prevalence of polygynous marriages was in the Northeastern
states with tribal populations.
❖ Laws Pertaining to Marriage in India: Hindus: The Hindu Marriage Act, which came into effect in 1955,
made it clear that Hindu polygamy would be abolished and criminalized.
❖ Under Section 11 Act, which states that polygamous marriages are void, the Act cautiously mandates
monogamous relationships.
❖ When someone performs it, they are punished under Section 17 of the very same Act, as well as
Sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
❖ Because Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are all considered Hindus and do not have their own laws, the
provisions in the Hindu Marriage Act apply to these three religious denominations as well.
❖ Parsi: The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, had already outlawed bigamy. Any Parsi, who has been
married during his or her life, is subject to the penalties provided for by the India Penal Code for an offence
to return to marriage during the lifetime of a Parsi or not, without being legally divorced by a wife or
husband or having his or her previous marriage declared invalid or dissolved.
❖ Muslims: The clauses under the ‘Muslim Personal Law Application Act (Shariat) of 1937, as construed by
the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, apply to Muslims in India.
❖ Polygamy is not prohibited in Muslim legislation because it is recognised as a religious practice, hence
they tend to preserve and practice it. It is, nevertheless, clear that if this method is determined to violate
the constitution’s basic rights, it can be overturned.
❖ When there is a disagreement between the Indian Penal Code and personal laws, the personal laws are
implemented since it is a legal principle that a specific law supersedes the general law.
Related SC Judgements
❖ Parayankandiyal v. K. Devi & Others (1996): The Supreme Court (SC) concluded that monogamous
relationships were the standard and ideology of Hindu society, which scorned and condemned a second
marriage.
❖ State of Bombay v. Narasu Appa Mali (1951): The Bombay High Court ruled that the Bombay (Prevention of
Hindu Bigamy Marriage) Act, 1946 was not discriminatory. The SC ruled that a state legislature has the
authority to enact measures for public welfare and reforms, even if it violates the Hindu religion or custom.
❖ Javed & Others v. State of Haryana & Others (2003): The SC decided that under Article 25 freedom
is subjected to social harmony, dignity, and wellness.
❖ Muslim law allows for the marriage of four women, but it is not compulsory. This will not be violating
religious practice to not marry four women.
❖ Article 13 of the Constitution specifies that any law that contravenes Part III of the Constitution is invalid.
❖ In R.C. Cooper v. Union of India (1970), the SC observed that the theoretical approach that the component
and construct of state intervention ascertain the severity of the safeguard that an underprivileged group
may purport is incompatible with the constitutional provision, which aims to provide the ordinary citizen
with the broadest possible safeguards of his fundamental rights.
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❖ The right to marry is a component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India which
states that “No person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty except according to the procedure
established by law”.
❖ In Lata Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh 2006, the Supreme Court viewed the right to marry as a component
of the right to life under Article 21 of Indian Constitution.
Northeast Top Tourist Destination

❖ The year 2022 witnessed record-breaking tourism in the Northeast Region having over 11.8 million
domestic visitors and over 100,000 international travelers.
❖ It is the result of Ministry of development of North Eastern Region (G. Kishan Reddy) & North Eastern
Council (NEC)’s Destination Northeast India initiative massive infrastructural push.
❖ Top Destinations: Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang Monastery: One of the oldest and largest Buddhist
monasteries in India.
❖ Namdapha National Park: Home to diverse flora and fauna, including tigers, flying squirrel and leopards.
❖ Assam: Kamakhya Temple: A revered Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya.
❖ Kaziranga National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the one-horned rhinoceros.
❖ Majuli Island: Located in the Brahmaputra River, is the largest river island in the world and a cultural hub in
Northeast India.
❖ Manipur: Loktak Lake: The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and home to the floating Keibul
Lamjao National Park.
❖ Imphal War Cemetery: A significant religious site for those who lost their lives in the Second World War.
❖ Meghalaya: Nohkalikai Falls: The tallest plunge waterfall in India.
❖ Living Root Bridges: A unique natural wonder created by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes.
❖ Mizoram: Phawngpui National Park: Home to the highest peak in Mizoram and diverse flora and fauna. ❖
Solomon's Temple: A unique religious site built by a local pastor, resembling the biblical Temple of
Solomon.
❖ Nagaland: Hornbill Festival: The festival is named after the hornbill bird, which is revered by the Naga tribes
as a symbol of their folklore and tradition.
❖ Dzukou Valley: A picturesque valley known for its stunning landscapes and diverse flora and fauna.
Treeless but unbelievably green and floral.
❖ Sikkim: Tsomgo Lake: A sacred lake considered by local people, it is believed that the water of the lake has
medicinal properties. Lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is fed by the melting snow from
the mountains
❖ Rumtek Monastery: A prominent Buddhist monastery and the largest in Sikkim.
❖ Tripura: Neermahal Palace: A unique palace located in the middle of Rudrasagar Lake, a unique example of
a fusion of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. The palace is designed in the shape of a half-moon and
is surrounded by water on three sides.
❖ Unakoti: A significant religious site featuring rock-cut sculptures and carvings. The largest sculpture at
Unakoti is a 30-foot-high image of Lord Shiva, known as Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava. The site also features
several waterfalls and natural rock formations.
6 Digit Alphanumeric HUID

❖ Bureau of India Standards (BIS) has prohibited the sale of hallmarked gold jewelry or gold artefacts without
6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification Number (HUID) after 31st March 2023.
However, Hallmarked jewelry lying with consumers as per old schemes shall remain valid.
❖ Earlier, the old hallmarked jewelry with 4 marks without HUID was also permitted to be sold by the jewelers
along with the 6-digit HUID mark.
❖ Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious
metal in precious metal articles.
❖ Hallmarking scheme for Jewelry was started by BIS in the year 2000. In India, at present two precious
metals namely gold and silver have been brought under the purview of Hallmarking.
❖ However, Mandatory Hallmarking has been successfully implemented in 288 districts of the country with
effect from 23 June 2021 by Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2022.
❖ After introduction of 6-digit HUID in 2021, hallmark consisted of 3 marks viz, BIS logo, purity of the article
and six-digit alphanumeric HUID. Each hallmarked article has unique HUID number which is traceable
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❖ Working Mechanism: A consumer can check and authenticate hallmarked gold jewelry items with HUID
number using ‘verify HUID’ in BIS CARE app .
❖ It provides information of the jeweler who got the article hallmarked, their registration number, purity of
the article, type of article as well as details of hallmarking centre which test and hallmark the article.
❖ Using this information, a common consumer can verify the article being purchased by matching it with
article type as well as it’s purity.
Delhi Government Ordinance

❖ The President of India recently Promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2023.
❖ The Centre promulgated an Ordinance extending powers to the Delhi lieutenant governor over services in
the administration of the national capital.
❖ The powers are mainly to transfer and appoint bureaucrats posted to Delhi.
❖ The Ordinance is aimed at nullifying the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision that gave the Delhi
government powers over administrative services in the national capital, raises several key questions–
questions that are likely to soon be posed before the Supreme Court.
❖ Creation of National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA): The Ordinance creates a new statutory
authority – the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA).
❖ Composition: NCCSA will be headed by the elected Chief Minister of Delhi in addition to the Chief
Secretary and the Principal Secretary of the Home department.
❖ Role of NCCSA: The NCCSA will make “recommendations” to the LG regarding “transfer posting, vigilance
and other incidental matters.”
❖ All matters required to be decided by the body shall be decided by “majority of votes of the members
present and voting.”
❖ This means, that in effect, the decision of the elected chief minister of Delhi can be overruled by the two
senior bureaucrats.
❖ Furthermore, in case the LG differs with the recommendation made, they would be empowered to “return
the recommendation to the Authority for reconsideration” and, in case of continuing difference of
opinion, “the decision of the Lieutenant Governor shall be final.”
❖ This effectively reverses the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court, which vested the Delhi government
with final authority over the matter.
❖ Dispute over control of services: According to few, the Delhi government has no power over administrative
services at all.
❖ Whereas according to others, transfers and postings of Secretaries, HODs and other officers in the scale
of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above can be done by the Lieutenant Governor and
for other levels, including DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) officers, the files can
be routed through the Chief Minister to LG”.
❖ Centre’s opinion: The Centre had sought a reference to a larger Bench, arguing that it needed the power to
make transfers and postings of officers in Delhi on account of it being the national capital and the “face of
nation”.
❖ Opinion of Delhi government: According to Delhi govt., a government cannot function if it does not have
control over services as the exclusion of civil servants will negate governance and render officials
unaccountable to people.
❖ Can a decision of the Supreme Court be undone: Parliament has powers to undo the effect of a judgment
of the Court by a legislative act.
❖ This means that a law can be passed removing the basis of the judgment. Such a law can be both
retrospective or prospective.
❖ However, the law cannot simply be contradictory to the Supreme Court judgment, it must address the
underlying reasoning of the Court.
❖ In case of basic structure: Parliament cannot bring in a law, or even a Constitution amendment, that
violates the basic structure of the Constitution.
New PLI Scheme for IT Hardware

❖ The Union Cabinet recently approved an updated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for IT
hardware manufacturing in India.
❖ This move comes as India's electronics manufacturing industry has experienced significant growth,
achieving a major milestone by crossing USD 105 billion in production.
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❖ Enhancements to the PLI Scheme for IT Hardware: The PLI scheme for IT hardware was first notified in
March 2021. The scheme provides upwards of 4% in incentives for incremental investment in domestic
manufacturing for eligible firms
❖ The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Ashwini Vaishnaw), stated that the incentive has
been increased to 5% in the updated scheme.
❖ Additionally, an "additional optional incentive" has been introduced for the utilization of domestically
produced components.
❖ Revised Budgetary Outlay and Duration: The updated PLI scheme for IT hardware has been allocated a
budgetary outlay of ₹17,000 crore. The scheme will have a tenure of 6 years, providing a longer-term
incentive for companies to establish and expand their operations in India.
❖ Growth of Electronics Manufacturing in India: Over the past eight years, the electronics manufacturing
sector in India has experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%.
❖ In 2023, India surpassed USD 11 billion in mobile phone exports, solidifying its position as the 2nd-largest
mobile handset manufacturer globally, trailing only China.
❖ The Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme is the latest addition to the list of reforms introduced
under the aegis of the 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
❖ The strategy behind the PLI scheme is to offer companies incentives on incremental sales from products
manufactured in India, over the base year.
❖ The Union Budget 2021-22 announced an outlay of INR 1.97 lakh crores for the PLI schemes for 14 key
sectors which have been shortlisted on the basis of their potential for revenue and employment generation.
❖ The 14 sectors are mobile manufacturing, manufacturing of medical devices, automobiles and auto
components, pharmaceuticals, drugs, specialty steel, telecom & networking products, electronic products,
white goods (ACs and LEDs), food products, textile products, solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell
(ACC) battery, and drones and drone components.
Operation Dhvast
❖ The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently conducted a nationwide operation called 'Operation
Dhvast' targeting the interconnected network of terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers. Collaborating
with the police in Punjab and Haryana, the NIA carried out raids at 129 locations across multiple states,
resulting in the arrest of three individuals.
❖ The operation was aimed at breaking the terror nexus of terrorists, and other notorious gangsters involved
in targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits, and extortion, and smuggling of drugs and
weapons.
❖ The NIA is a federal agency established in 2009 by the Indian government to investigate and prosecute
crimes related to terrorism, insurgency, and national security. It operates under the Ministry of Home
Affairs (Amit Shah) and has jurisdiction over matters that affect the entire country.
❖ The NIA was formed in response to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and operates under the National
Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008. The agency was further empowered by the National Investigation
Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019. The NIA is authorized to take over terrorism-related cases from state
police forces and other agencies, and it can investigate cases across state boundaries without requiring
prior permission from state governments. Its functions include collecting, analyzing, and disseminating
intelligence on terrorism and national security, coordinating with law enforcement agencies within and
outside India, and prosecuting cases before the NIA Special Court. It seeks the sanction of the Central
government for prosecuting accused individuals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and
other scheduled offenses.
Pokhran-ll & National Technology Day

❖ India recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pokhran-II on 11th May 2023 marking the successful
nuclear bomb test explosions which became a significant milestone in its journey to become a nuclear
power.
❖ May 11 is also celebrated as the National Technology Day to honour Indian scientists, engineers and
technologists, who worked for the country's scientific and technological advancement and ensured the
successful conduct of Pokhran tests
❖ In 1945, renowned physicist Homi J. Bhaba lobbied for the establishment of the Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Bombay, dedicated to nuclear physics research.
❖ TIFR became India’s first research institution dedicated to the study of nuclear physics.
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❖ Post-independence, Bhaba convinced the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru about the importance of nuclear
energy and in 1954, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was founded, with Bhabha as the director.
❖ The DAE operated autonomously, away from significant public scrutiny.
❖ Reasons for India's Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons: India's pursuit of nuclear weapons was motivated by
concerns over its sovereignty and security threats from China and Pakistan.
❖ The 1962 Sino-Indian War and China's nuclear test in 1964 heightened the need for India to safeguard its
national security.
❖ The war with Pakistan in 1965, with Chinese support, further emphasized the need for self-sufficiency in
defense capabilities.
❖ Pokhran- I: Pokhran-I was India's first nuclear bomb test conducted on May 18, 1974, at the Pokhran Test
Range in Rajasthan. It was code-named Smiling Buddha and officially described as a "peaceful nuclear
explosion" with “few military implications”.
❖ India became the 6th country in the world to possess nuclear weapons capability after the US, Soviet Union,
Britain, France and China.
❖ Implications of Test: The tests faced near-universal condemnation and significant sanctions especially
from US and Canada. It hindered India's progress in nuclear technology and slowed down its nuclear
journey. Domestic political instability, such as the Emergency of 1975 and opposition to nuclear weapons
also hindered progress.
❖ Pokhran-II: Pokhran-II refers to a sequence of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India on
between 11-13th May 1998 at Rajasthan's Pokhran desert.
❖ Code name - Operation Shakti, this event marked India's 2nd successful attempt.
❖ Pokhran-II cemented India's status as a nuclear power. It demonstrated India's ability to possess and
deploy nuclear weapons, thus enhancing its deterrence capabilities.
❖ India's Current Nuclear Capability: India currently possesses approximately 160 nuclear warheads,
according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
o Russia has the largest number of nuclear warheads (5,977) followed by USA (5,428) and China (350)
❖ India has achieved an operational nuclear triad capability, allowing for the launch of nuclear weapons
from land, air, and sea.
❖ Wassenaar Arrangement: India joined the arrangement on December 2017 as its 42nd participating state.
New CBI Director

❖ The 1986-batch, Karnataka cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Praveen Sood has been appointed
the head of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
❖ The process of appointment was established by the Supreme Court’s Vineet Narain judgement (1997), and
the changes made to The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 by The Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
❖ The Lokpal Act 2013 prescribed that the CBI director shall be appointed on the recommendation of a
committee comprising the:- Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and hief Justice of
India or a judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him.
Sapre Committee
❖ The Supreme Court made public the report of the court-appointed expert panel in the Hindenburg-Adani row
case.
❖ It is a six-member expert committee constituted by the Supreme Court in the Hindenburg-Adani allegations
case and headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice A.M. Sapre.
❖ Panel findings: It gave the Supreme Court a detailed assessment of the situation which could have led to
volatility in the securities market due to the Hindenburg-Adani row.
❖ The committee also looked at two other issues — investor awareness and whether there was any regulatory
failure that led to the conclusions drawn by the Hindenburg report.
❖ It found that there was no evidence of a “regulatory failure" on the part of SEBI.
❖ However, it acknowledged that there is a need for an effective enforcement policy.
Cyclone Mocha
❖ Cyclone Mocha that made landfall recently in Myanmar has been categorized as an Extremely
Severe Cyclonic Storm by the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) and as a ‘Super Cyclone’ by global
weather website Zoom Earth.
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❖ It became the strongest cyclone on earth so far in 2023 according to Typhoon Research Center in South
Korea’s Jeju National University.
❖ There have been 16 cyclones so far this year in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
❖ Yemen suggested the name ‘Mocha', which is supposed to be pronounced as Mokha. The cyclone has
been named after a Red Sea port city known for its coffee production. The city also gave its name to the
popular beverage, café Mocha
❖ Origin: It originated in the Bay of Bengal.
❖ Intensity: With a recorded wind speed of 277 kmph, Mocha became the strongest cyclone for all seasons in
both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, since 1982, in the North Indian Ocean, tying with Cyclone Fani in
terms of speed and intensity.
❖ Amphan, witnessed in 2020, was 268 kmph while Tauktae in 2021 it was 222 kmph and Gonu in 2007
recorded a speed of 268 kmph.
❖ Cyclone: Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a low-pressure area. The air circulates in
an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
❖ Cyclones are usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather.
❖ The word Cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake. It was coined by
Henry Peddington because the tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear like coiled
serpents of the sea.
❖ Types: Tropical Cyclones: The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) uses the term 'Tropical Cyclone’
to cover weather systems in which winds exceed ‘Gale Force’ (minimum of 63 km per hour). Tropical
cyclones develop in the region between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.
❖ Extra Tropical cyclones: They are also called Temperate cyclones or middle latitude cyclones or Frontal
cyclones or Wave Cyclones. They occur in temperate zones and high latitude regions, though they are
known to originate in the Polar Regions.
❖ The conditions favourable for the formation and intensification of tropical storms are:
o Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C.
o Presence of the Coriolis force.
o Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
o A pre-existing weak low- pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
o Upper divergence above the sea level system.
❖ Note: 1 knot = 1.85 km per hour
❖ How are Names of Cyclones Decided: Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named
by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres
(TCWCs).
❖ There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
❖ In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), which comprised Bangladesh, India, the
Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, decided to start naming cyclones in the
region.
❖ After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the
list.
❖ The WMO/ESCAP expanded to include five more countries in 2018 — Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen.
Competition Commission of India

❖ The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Ravneet Kaur, a 1988-batch IAS officer,
as the first woman chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
❖ She is the first woman to head the CCI. She is also the second woman to head an ‘economic regulator’ role
after Madhabi Puri Buch, who was appointed chairperson of the market regulator Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) in 2022.
❖ The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
(Nirmala Sitharaman) and is responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002.
❖ The CCI was established in 2003.
❖ It consists of a Chairperson and not more than 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
❖ The Director General (DG) Office is the investigative wing of the CCI, which commences investigation once
the Commission passes a prima facie order directing the DG to do so.
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❖ The Competition Act, 2002 prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by
enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely
to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
❖ The Competition Act, 2002 replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969.
❖ The Competition Act, 2002 was amended in 2007 and again in 2009. In 2009, the antitrust provisions of the
law came into force.
Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023
❖ It amends the Competition Act, 2002 to ensure regulatory certainty and foster a trust-based business
environment.
❖ The definition of turnover under the law has been enlarged to mean “global turnover from all products and
services of a contravening enterprise”. It provides for the CCI to impose penalties on entities based on their
‘global turnover’ instead of considering only relevant ‘market turnover’ that is followed right now.
❖ It empowers the CCI to pass orders in relation to anti-competitive agreements and the “abuse of dominant
position”, by imposing a penalty that can either go up to 10% of the average income or turnover for the
three preceding financial years.
❖ Firms penalised by the CCI must pay at least 25% of the penalties levied on them, for their appeals to be
heard by an appellate tribunal.
❖ It provides certainty to stakeholders by prescribing a limitation period of three years for filing
information on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position.
❖ It has introduced the concept of “Deal Value Threshold” for notifying mergers and acquisitions (M&As) to
CCI to address killer acquisitions in the digital market.
❖ To make approvals for M&As time-bound, the Bill cuts the overall time limit for assessment to 150 days,
from 210 days, from the date of filing of notice by the involved parties. The CCI will have to frame a “prima
facie opinion” within a time-period of 30 days from the receipt of such notice, failing which the combination
shall be considered as deemed approved.
❖ The changes will also give the CCI a greater say in M&As, as entities will have to seek its approval if deals
are worth more than ?2,000 crore, and if both parties have substantial business operations in India.
❖ It introduces ‘Settlement and Commitment Framework’ for faster market correction and reduced
litigations.
❖ It has introduced a “Leniency Plus” regime under which the CCI could also incentivise parties in ongoing
cartel investigations in terms of lesser penalty to disclose information regarding other cartels.
❖ The revised law provides for appointment of Director General (Investigation) by the CCI. So far, the Centre
has been appointing the DG (Investigation).
❖ The Bill decriminalises certain offences under the Act by changing the nature of punishment from
imposition of fine to civil penalties. These offences include failure to comply with orders of the CCI and
directions of the Director General related to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position.
Rohingya Refugees in India

❖ Recent report titled 'A Shadow of Refuge: Rohingya Refugees in India' sheds light on the challenges faced
by Rohingya refugees in India.
❖ The report was jointly prepared by The Azadi Project, a women’s rights non-profit and Refugees
International, an international NGO that advocates for the rights of stateless people
❖ The Rohingya people are a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic group who predominantly follow Islam and reside
in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
❖ Before the Rohingya genocide in 2017, an estimated 1.4 million Rohingya lived in Myanmar.
❖ Rohingyas are the most persecuted minority in the world according to the United Nations. Cox’s Bazar in
Bangladesh is the biggest refugee camp in the world today.
❖ In order to escape discrimination and violence in Myanmar, minority Rohingya Muslims have fled from the
Buddhist-majority country to neighbouring Bangladesh and other countries, including India.
❖ The illegal immigration of Rohingyas into India and their stay here can have serious national security
ramifications and poses serious security threats.
❖ It impacts the interests of local populations in the areas seeing large-scale influxes of illegal immigrants.
❖ It increases the political instability when leaders start mobilizing the perception of the citizens against the
migrants.
❖ The persistent attacks against the Muslims perceived as illegal migrants have given way to radicalisation.
❖ Trafficking of women and human smuggling has become quite rampant across borders.
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❖ The rule of law and integrity of India are undermined by the illegal migrants due to their engagement in
illegal and anti-national activities.
❖ Recommendations: Formal Recognition and Domestic Laws: India should formally recognize Rohingya
refugees as individuals with a right to asylum rather than as illegal migrants.
❖ Neighbouring Country: Bangladesh is planning to send more than 80,000 Rohingya Refugees to a remote
island-Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal after Sealing an agreement for the United Nation to Provide help.
❖ Bhasan Char is an island specifically developed to accommodate 1,00,000 of the 1 million Rohingya who
have fled from neighbouring Myanmar
India’s attitude towards handling Refugees
❖ India has welcomed refugees in the past and nearly 300,000 people here are categorized as refugees at
present.
❖ But India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention or the 1967 Protocol. Nor does India have a refugee
policy or a refugee law of its own.
❖ This has allowed India to keep its options open on the question of refugees. The government can declare
any set of refugees as illegal immigrants - as has happened with Rohingya despite the UNHCR verification -
and decide to deal with them as trespassers under the Foreigners Act or the Indian Passport Act.
❖ The Foreigners Act, 1946 in India has procedures to deport illegal immigrants.
❖ Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920: Under Section 5, authorities can remove an illegal foreigner by force
under Article 258(1) of the Constitution of India.
❖ Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939: Under this, there is a mandatory requirement under which all
foreign nationals (excluding overseas citizens of India) visiting India on a long-term visa (more than 180
days) are required to register themselves with a Registration Officer within 14 days of arriving in India.
❖ Citizenship Act, 1955: It provided provisions for renunciation, termination, and deprivation of citizenship.
❖ Further, Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) seeks to provide citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Jain,
Parsi, Sikh, and Buddhist immigrants persecuted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
❖ India issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by all concerned agencies while dealing
with foreign nationals who claim to be refugees.
❖ Myanmar shares a 1,600-km border with the four North-eastern states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and
Arunachal Pradesh.
❖ The Center had asked these states to “take appropriate action as per law” and “maintain a strict vigil at the
border” to prevent a Rohingya influx.
❖ The state governments were told that they did not have the authority to declare anyone as “refugee” since
India is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention of 1951.
❖ This lack of generosity and compassion is a blemish on India’s record of treating communities under siege
in its neighborhood – Tibetans, people from erstwhile East Pakistan and Sri Lankan Tamils.
Illegal Immigrant vs Refugee
❖ Under the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and the subsequent 1967 Protocol, the word
refugee pertains to any person who is outside their country of origin and unable or unwilling to return owing
to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular
social group or political opinion.
❖ Stateless persons may also be refugees in this sense, where the country of origin (citizenship) is
understood as a ‘country of former habitual residence.
❖ Persons in India without either valid Indian citizenship or a visa are considered by the central government
as illegal and unlawful immigrants.
❖ Illegal immigrants are subject to The Foreigners Act, 1946 which defines a foreigner as a person who is not
a citizen of India.
United Nations Human Right Council (UNHRC)
❖ The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for
strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
❖ The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. It replaced the former United
Nations Commission on Human Rights.
❖ The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serves as the Secretariat of the Human
Rights Council.
❖ headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
❖ It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
o African States: 13 seats
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o Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
o Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
o Western European and other States: 7 seat
o Eastern European States: 6 seats
❖ Members of the Council serve for a period of 3 years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after
serving two consecutive terms.
❖ High Commissioner for Refugees: Filippo Grandi
❖ UNHCR was awarded Nobel Peace Prize Twice in 1954 and 1981
❖ Awarded Indira Gandhi Prize in 2015
INS Sindhuratna
❖ The Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuratna has successfully reached Mumbai, India, after undergoing a
significant upgrade in Russia. INS Sindhuratna, a diesel-electric submarine belonging to the Sindhughosh-
class, has a rich history and has served the Indian Navy for over three decades. Commissioned in 1988, it
has undergone several upgrades and refits to extend its operational life and capabilities. Notably, in 2010, it
was equipped with the Klub-S cruise missile system, enhancing its striking range. In 2018, it underwent a
comprehensive Medium Refit Life Certification (MRLC) process in Russia, involving the replacement of
crucial systems.
❖ INS Sindhuratna plays a significant role in enhancing the force level and operational readiness of the
Western Naval Command. With its modernized weapon and sensor suite, the submarine strengthens India's
maritime capabilities and contributes to safeguarding the nation's interests and security in the Indian
Ocean Region.
❖ The Kilo-class submarines have a displacement of 2,300 tonnes, a maximum diving depth of 300
metres and a top speed of 18 knots.
❖ The Navy has 16 conventional submarines in service. These are seven Russian Kilo-class submarines, four
German-origin HDW submarines and five French Scorpene-class submarines.
World Food India 2023

❖ In celebration of the International Year of Millets in 2023, India's Ministry of Food Processing
Industries will be organizing the second edition of 'World Food India 2023', which aims to showcase India's
rich food culture and attract global investments in the diverse food processing sector.
❖ The event will take place from 3rd-5th November 2023 in New Delhi.
❖ World Food India 2023 is a gateway to the Indian food economy, facilitating partnerships between Indian
and foreign investors.
❖ It will be a one-of-a-kind gathering of manufacturers, producers, food processors, investors,
policymakers, and organisations from across the global food ecosystem.
❖ It is a promising platform to showcase, connect and collaborate in retail, processing, technology transfer,
manufacturing, and cold chain logistics, along the global food value chain.
❖ It will showcase investment opportunities in backward linkages, processing equipment, research and
development, cold chain storage, start-ups, logistics, and retail chains.
❖ Focus Pillars: Shree Anna (Millets): Leveraging India’s Super Food for the World
❖ Exponential Food Processing: Positioning India as the Global Hub
❖ Strategic Segments: Unlocking Potentials for Growth
❖ India is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of food products. India leads the world in
the production of milk, bananas, mangoes, papayas, guavas, ginger, okra and buffalo meat, ranks second in
the production of rice, wheat, potatoes, garlic, cashew nuts.
❖ Efficient Ecosystem - Harnessing Opportunities with Inclusion
❖ Sustainable Development: Processing for Prosperity
❖ World Food India 2017: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries launched the first edition of World
Food India in 2017 with the theme of Transforming the Food Economy.
❖ The event aimed to introduce the world to India's diverse and rich food culture.
Stricter Regulations for Exported Cough Syrup

❖ In response to recent incidents of contamination in India-made cough syrups, India has implemented
stricter regulations for the export of cough syrups. Starting from June 1, 2023 cough syrups can only be
exported after undergoing testing and certification by a government laboratory, as stated in a notification
by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (Amit Yadav)
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❖ The directive requires a certificate of analysis from approved laboratories, including central drug testing
laboratories, regional testing laboratories, or those accredited by the National Accreditation Board for
Testing and Calibration Laboratories. Previously, there were no checks on products being exported
❖ Notably, all batches of medicines sold within India already undergo testing by authorised laboratories.
The contamination incidents were initially brought to attention by the WHO, which identified
contaminated Indian-manufactured syrups linked to deaths in Gambia, Uzbekistan, Micronesia, and
Marshall Islands.
❖ The contaminants diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, found in the samples tested by other
countries, are likely originating from contaminated solvents used during manufacturing. While the solvents
themselves are not harmful, the presence of these toxic contaminants can cause various health
issues, including acute kidney injury.
❖ The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued an alert about 4 Indian-manufactured cough syrups, which
are said to be linked to acute kidney injury in children and 66 deaths in the small West African nation of The
Gambia.
❖ The WHO analysis of samples of each of these products had confirmed the presence of “unacceptable
amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants”. These ingredients are not allowed in
food or drugs, as they can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, severe renal injury and
neurological toxicity.
o In 2020, 17 children died in Jammu and Kashmir after consuming a syrup with high levels of
diethylene glycol.
❖ The syrups — Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and
Magrip N Cold Syrup — were manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, based in Sonipat, Haryana.
❖ The company said these were not sold in India and are only for export markets already approved by the
DGCI
❖ The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central and
state regulators for regulation of drugs and cosmetics.
❖ It is mandatory for the manufacturers to adhere to the prescribed requirements for licensing of
manufacturing units & medicines including proof of safety & effectiveness, compliance with the Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
❖ Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) is drug regulator in india: Prescribes standards
and measures for ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics and devices in
the country.
❖ Regulates the market authorization of new drugs and clinical trials standards.
❖ Supervises drug imports and approves licences to manufacture the above-mentioned products.
❖ CDSCO regulates export of drugs in India, any manufacturer with the certification from CDSCO can export
drugs outside India.
❖ Drugs Controller General of India: DCGI is the head of department of the CDSCO of the Government of India
responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV
fluids, vaccines and sera in India.
o Current DGCI is Rajeev Raghuvanshi
❖ The Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC) advise the DCGI.
❖ In 2018, Johnson and Johnson’s hip implant called Pinnacle was found to be leaking the cobalt-chromium
ions into the body, leading to serious health complications, including metal poisoning of the blood,
debilitating pain, and damage to the body organs.
National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA)
❖ NPPA is an organization under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers which was set up in 1997 to revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to
enforce prices and availability of medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO),
1995.
❖ The prices are now fixed/revised under Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013.
❖ It also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
Drug Recall
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❖ Recently, a pharmaceutical company inadvertently shipped a Mislabeled batch of Drugs to the market,
which highlights the issue of circulating substandard drugs in the market and need for Drug Recall Law in
India.
❖ While such recalls take place regularly in the U.S., including by Indian companies, but not seen in India.
❖ A drug recall occurs when a prescription or over-the-counter drug is removed from the market because of
its harmful or side effects.
❖ Drug recall is the process of removing or correcting a marketed drug product that violates the laws and
regulations governing the safety, efficacy, or quality of a drug.
❖ Drug recalls are typically issued when a product is found to be defective, contaminated, mislabeled, or
poses a risk to the health and safety of patients.
❖ The goal of a drug recall is to protect the public from harm by removing the affected product from the
market, and to provide a remedy or refund for consumers who have already purchased the product.
Tribes Demand Total Separation of Manipur’s Hill Areas

❖ In Manipur, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) is a tribal leaders’ forum in Manipur that describes
itself as a conglomerate of the recognized tribes in Manipur’s Churachandpu. It has called for the
complete separation of the hill areas, inhabited primarily by the indigenous tribes of the Kuki-Chin-Zomi-
Mizo group, from the rest of the state. The ITLF, representing the recognized tribes in Manipur's
Churachandpur district, submitted a petition to the former CRPF chief, who was appointed as the security
advisor to the Manipur government following recent ethnic clashes. The forum expressed their inability to
coexist with the dominant Meiteis, accusing them of perpetrating endless atrocities and displaying hatred
towards the tribal people.
Assam & Meghalaya Border Dispute

❖ The recent chief minister-level meeting between Assam and Meghalaya marked a significant step towards
resolving the long-standing border disputes between the two states. With Assam and Meghalaya sharing
an 884 km-long border that has witnessed frequent flare-ups, this meeting was the "beginning" of the
resolution process for the remaining six disputed areas.
❖ Since July 2021, they have been engaged in discussions to settle the disputes, and last March, 2022 they
signed an MoU to address six out of the twelve disputed areas. The six sectors where disputes remain are
Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, DeshDoomreah, Block 1 & Block II, and Psiar-Khanduli.
❖ Additionally, the meeting decided to initiate visits to the disputed areas by three panels previously formed
by both states. These developments indicate a renewed commitment to resolve the border issues and
foster peace and stability in the region.
Narco Analysis Test

❖ Protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, Delhi have expressed their willingness to undergo narco analysis
tests, with the condition that it is monitored by the Supreme Court and broadcasted live for the entire
country to witness.
❖ The deception detection tests (DDT) such as polygraph, narco-analysis and brain-mapping have important
clinical, scientific, ethical and legal implications1. The DDTs are useful to know the concealed information
related to crime.
❖ Narco Test: In a narco analysis test, a drug called sodium pentothal is injected into the body of the
accused, which transports them to a hypnotic or sedated state in which their imagination is neutralised.
❖ In this hypnotic state, the accused is understood as being incapable of lying and is expected to divulge
information that is true.
❖ In India, Narco analysis tests were notably used in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, and the 26/11 Mumbai
terror attack case and most recently in Aftab Shraddha Murder case
❖ About Sodium Pentothal: Sodium pentothal, or sodium thiopental, is a fast-acting, short-duration
anaesthetic used in larger doses to sedate patients during surgery.
❖ It belongs to the barbiturate class of drugs that act on the central nervous system as depressants.
❖ Because the drug is believed to weaken the subject’s resolve to lie, it is sometimes referred to as a “truth
serum” and is said to have been used by intelligence operatives during World War II.
❖ Narco vs Polygraph Tests: Narco tests must not be confused with polygraph tests, which, although
having the same truth-decoding motive, work differently.
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❖ A polygraph test is carried out on the assumption that physiological responses triggered when one is lying
are different from what they otherwise would be.
❖ Rather than injecting drugs into the body, polygraph tests attach instruments like cardio-cuffs or sensitive
electrodes to the suspect and measure variables such as blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, change in
sweat gland activity, blood flow, etc., while the suspect is being questioned.
❖ Legal Implications of Narco Tests: Selvi vs State of Karnataka & Anr Case 2010: The SC ruled on the
legality and admissibility of narco tests establishing that the involuntary administration of narco or lie
detector tests constitutes an intrusion into an individual's "mental privacy."
❖ The apex court held that narco tests violate the fundamental right against self-incrimination under Article
20(3) of the Constitution, which states that no person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a
witness against himself.
❖ D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal case, 1997: The SC ruled that involuntary administration of the
polygraph and narcos test will amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment in the context of Article
21 or the Right to Life and Liberty.
❖ Other Observations of the SC: Narco tests are not reliable or conclusive as evidence, as they are based on
assumptions and probabilities.
❖ Any information or material that is subsequently discovered with the help of voluntarily administered test
results can be admitted, in accordance with Section 27 of the Evidence Act, 1872.
❖ For example: if an accused reveals the location of a physical piece of evidence (something like a murder
weapon) in the course of the narco test and the police later find that specific piece of evidence at that
location, the statement of the accused will not be treated as evidence, but the physical evidence will be
valid.
❖ There is no guarantee that the person who undergoes such tests will reveal only the truth. There
are chances of manipulation and fabrication of results by vested interests. Therefore, statements made
during narco analysis test are not admissible in the court, except under certain circumstances when the
court thinks that the facts and nature of the case permit it
❖ Narco tests can be conducted only with the consent of the accused, and that too after informing them
about their rights and consequences.
❖ The court also emphasised that the ‘Guidelines for the Administration of Polygraph Test on an Accused’,
published by the National Human Rights Commission in 2000, must be strictly followed.
UDAN 5.1
❖ The Ministry of Civil Aviation (Jyotiraditya Scindia) has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance
the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters.
For the first time under Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN, this round is designed specifically for
helicopter routes.
❖ The scheme will now allow routes where one of the origin or destination locations is in a priority
area. Earlier both points had to be priority areas. Airfare caps have been reduced by 25% to make flying in
helicopters more affordable for passengers.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF) caps for the operators have been increased substantially for both single and
twin-engine helicopters to enhance financial viability for operating the awarded routes.
❖ The latest round of UDAN scheme is a testament to two emerging phenomena in Indian civil aviation: One
is a deeper democratization of air travel with a focus on last-mile connectivity. Second is a growing
appetite for helicopters in aiding tourism.
❖ It may be mentioned that up to date 46 helicopter routes have been operationalized under previous rounds
of the scheme benefiting several hilly and Northeast states and this round is targeting coverage of a much
larger number of routes.
❖ UDAN day is celebrated on 21st October
UDE Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) Scheme
❖ UDAN was launched as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.
❖ Objectives: To develop the regional aviation market. To provide affordable, economically viable and
profitable air travel on regional routes to the common man even in small towns.
❖ Features: The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the
country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme is operational for a period of 10
years.
o Under-served airports are those which do not have more than one flight a day, while unserved
airports are those where there are no operations.
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❖ Financial incentives from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected
airlines to encourage operations from unserved and under-served airports, and keep airfares affordable.
❖ Achievements So Far: Till date, 387 routes and 60 airports have been operationalised out of which 100
routes are awarded in the North East alone.
❖ Under the KRISHI UDAN Scheme, 16 airports have been identified to enhance the export opportunities of
the North East region establishing dual benefits of enhancement of cargo movements and exports.
❖ UDAN 1.0: Under this phase, 5 airlines companies were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including
36 newly made operational airports).
❖ UDAN 2.0: In 2018, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced 73 underserved and unserved airports. For the
first time, helipads were also connected under phase 2 of the UDAN scheme.
❖ UDAN 3.0: Inclusion of Tourism Routes under UDAN 3 in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism.
Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes. Bringing in a number of routes in the North-East
Region under the ambit of UDAN.
❖ UDAN 4.0: In 2020, 78 new routes were approved under the 4th round of RCS-UDAN to further enhance the
connectivity to remote & regional areas of the country. Kavaratti, Agatti, and Minicoy islands of
Lakshadweep will be connected by the new routes of UDAN 4.0.
❖ UDAN 4.1: The UDAN 4.1 focuses on connecting smaller airports, along with special helicopter and
seaplane routes. Some new routes have been proposed under the Sagarmala Seaplane services.
o Sagarmala Seaplane Services is an ambitious project under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways with potential airline operators.
❖ KRISHI UDAN: It was launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in August 2020, on international and national
routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products so that it improves their value realisation.
❖ International UDAN: Under International UDAN, the plan is to connect India’s smaller cities directly to some
key foreign destinations in the neighbourhood.
PM Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)

❖ The Finance Minister announced the launch of a new scheme called the Pradhan Mantri PVTG (Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Development Mission as part of the Union Budget 2023-24.
❖ A fund of Rs 15,000 crore for the next three years has been allocated for the socio-economic development
of the group.
❖ It will be launched as part of ‘Reaching The Last Mile’, one of the seven Saptarishi priorities enlisted in this
year’s Budget.
❖ The PVTGs Mission aims to provide basic facilities like housing, water, road, telecom, education and health
in PVTG areas across the country.
o The scheme follows the strategic approach of Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana , which is need-based and
strives to optimise utilisation of resources available under various programs and aims at specific
outcomes.
❖ Implementation: Among the ministries that are expected to be roped in to implement the PM-PVTG
Mission the Rural Development Ministry, the Water Resources Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Health
Ministry and the Women and Child Development Ministry.
❖ Need for Special Support: Due to their vulnerability, PVTGs require greater support and development
compared to other tribal groups.
❖ The more developed and assertive tribal groups often receive a larger portion of tribal development funds,
leaving PVTGs in need of more targeted support.
❖ The programme for the welfare of PVTGs began in the 1970s and there is an absence of a proper
policy that considers their culture, practices, livelihood and other aspects of their lives for their welfare.
❖ Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
❖ The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are those that depend on hunting for food, have pre-
agriculture level technologies, zero or negative population growth, and extremely low levels of literacy and
are in need of greater support and development.
❖ Background: On the recommendation of the Dhebar Commission, the Central government began to identify
the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category in 1975, establishing 52 such groups.
o The list was expanded in 1993, when another 23 groups were added, for a total of 75 PVTGs out
of 705 Scheduled Tribes spread across 17 states and one Union Territory (UT) in the country
(2011 census), the highest number being found in Odisha.
❖ Criteria for identification of PVTGs:
o Pre-agricultural level of technology
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o Low level of literacy
o Economic backwardness
o A declining or stagnant population.
❖ Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY): The Scheme was launched in 2014 as a Central Sector Scheme by the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
❖ The scheme aims at overall development of tribal people with an outcome-based approach, ensuring that
all the intended benefits, goods and services through various programmes/schemes of Central and State
Governments covered under the respective Tribal Sub-Plans actually reach them.
Census 2021: National Population Register

❖ For Census 2021, the Government has made the National Population Register (NPR) mandatory, allowing
citizens to self-enumerate, for individuals who wish to fill out the census form themselves instead of relying
on government enumerators.
❖ Self-enumeration refers to the completion of census survey questionnaires by the respondents
themselves. Self-enumeration will be provided to only those households that have updated NPR online.
❖ During self-enumeration, Aadhaar or mobile number will be mandatorily collected.
❖ The upcoming Census will be the first digital one, allowing respondents to complete the questionnaire
from their homes.
❖ The set of questions for the Houselisting and Housing Schedule phase has been finalized, while the
questions for the Population Enumeration phase are yet to be notified.
❖ The comparison between the 2011 Census and the next one reveals new inquiries on travel time and metro
rail usage for commuting.
❖ The question on disabilities includes additional categories like acid attack, intellectual disability, chronic
neurological disease, and blood disorder.
❖ The next Census will also gather information on whether individuals living in rented houses own residential
property elsewhere or do not own any.
❖ Clarifications are provided on the availability of drinking water within specific distances from the
premises.
❖ National Population Register: NPR is a database containing a list of all usual residents of the country. A
usual resident for the purposes of NPR is a person who has resided in a place for six months or more and
intends to reside there for another six months or more.
❖ NPR was first collected in 2010. It was updated in 2015 and already has details of 119 crore residents.
❖ In March 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) amended the Census Rules framed in 1990 to
capture and store the Census data in an electronic form and enabled self-enumeration by respondents.
❖ Legal Backing: The NPR is prepared under the provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship
(Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
❖ It is mandatory for every “usual resident of India” to register in the NPR.
❖ NPR and NRC: According to Citizenship Rules 2003, NPR is the first step towards compilation of a National
Register of Citizens (NRC). After a list of residents is created (i.e., NPR), a nationwide NRC could go about
verifying the citizens from that list.
❖ However, unlike the NRC, the NPR is not a citizenship enumeration drive as it records even a foreigner
staying in a locality for more than six months.
❖ NRC is a register prepared after the conduct of the Census of 1951 in respect of each village, showing the
houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of
persons staying therein.
❖ The NPR is a mechanism outlined in a set of rules framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955
Census in India
❖ Population Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating
demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specific time, of all persons in a country or a well-
defined part of a country.
❖ Nodal Ministry: The decennial Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census
Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs. Until 1951, the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc
basis for each Census.
o Registrar General & Census Commissioner (RGCC): Mritunjay Kumar Narayan
o W. W. Plauden was first RGCC
o R. A. Gopalaswami was the first Indian RGCC
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❖ Legal/Constitutional Backing: Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948. The bill
for this Act was piloted by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister of India.
❖ The population census is a Union subject under Article 246 of India Constitution. It is listed at serial
number 69 of the seventh schedule of the constitution.
o The 7th Schedule of Indian Constitution is the schedule that divides the legislative power between
the Union and State Governments on the subject matters listed in three lists – the union list, the
state list, and the concurrent list.
❖ Confidentiality of Information: The information collected during the population Census is so confidential
that it is not even accessible to the courts of law. The confidentiality is guaranteed by the Census Act,
1948. The law specifies penalties for both public and census officials for non-compliance or violation of
any provision of the Act.
❖ Pre-independence Period: Initial Attempts: The history of the census began with 1800 when England had
begun its Census.
❖ In its continuation, a census was conducted in Allahabad (1824) and in Banaras (1827-28) by James
Prinsep.
❖ The first complete census of an Indian city was conducted in 1830 by Henry Walter in Dacca (now Dhaka).
❖ The Second Census was conducted in 1836-37 by Fort St. George.
❖ In 1849, the Government of India ordered the local governments to conduct quinquennial (five-yearly)
returns of population.
❖ First Non-synchronous Census: It was conducted in India in 1872 during the reign of Governor-General
Lord Mayo.
❖ First Synchronous Census: The first synchronous census was taken under British rule on February 17,
1881, by W.C. Plowden (Census Commissioner of India, He is also known as Father of Indian Census).
Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.
Major Events/Findings in India’s Census
❖ First Census (1881): It laid main emphasis on the classification of demographic, economic and social
characteristics of the entire continent of British India (except Kashmir and French and Portuguese
colonies).
❖ Second Census (1891): It was conducted almost on the same pattern as of the 1881 census. Efforts were
made for 100% coverage and the Upper part of present-day Burma, Kashmir and Sikkim were also
included.
❖ Third Census (1901): In this Census, Balochistan, Rajputana, Andaman Nicobar, Burma, Punjab and remote
areas of Kashmir were also included.
❖ Fifth Census (1921): The decade of 1911-21 has been the only one till now to witness a decadal population
decline of 0.31%. This was the decade that ended in the flu pandemic of 1918 which cost at least 12
million lives. India’s population was continuously increasing until Census 1921 and still has been doing so
after the 1921 Census. Therefore, the census year of 1921 is called the year of “The Great Divide” in the
demographic history of India.
❖ First Census after Independence was held in 1951
❖ Eleventh Census (1971): It was the second Census after independence. It added a question for information
on fertility for currently married women.
❖ Thirteenth Census (1991): It was the fifth Census of independent India. In this Census, the concept of
literacy was changed and the children of the 7+ age group were considered literate (as compared to 1981
when children up to the age group of 4+ were treated as literate).
❖ Fourteenth Census (2001): It witnessed a quantum leap in the technology front. The schedules for the
phases were scanned through high speed scanners and handwritten data from the schedules were
converted into digitized form through Intelligent Character Reading (ICR). An ICR captures handwriting
from image files. It is an advanced version of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology in which
printed characters are captured.
❖ Fifteenth Census (2011): In the 2011 Census, significant fall in case of EAG States (Empowered action
group states: UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan & Orissa) was noticed for
the first time.
❖ Sixteenth Census (2021): Census 2021 was postponed owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. It is
for the first time that information of households headed by a person from the Transgender Community and
members living in the family will be collected.
❖ Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC): The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted
in 2011 for the first time since 1931.
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❖ It seeks to canvass every Indian family in rural and urban India, and ask about their: Economic status, to
allow Central/State authorities to come up with a range of indicators of deprivation which could be used by
each authority to define a poor or deprived person.
❖ Specific caste name, to allow the government to re-evaluate which caste groups are economically worse
off and which are better off.
IRDAI Vision 2047

❖ The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), as part of its Vision Insurance for
all’ by 2047, has allotted states and union territories to every insurer to increase insurance penetration in
India.
❖ IRDAI is also planning to launch Bima Trinity - Bima Sugam, Bima Vistar, Bima Vaahaks – in collaboration
with general and life insurance firms to make insurance activities hassle free.
❖ Objective: Insurance for All by 2047 aims that every citizen has an appropriate life, health and property
insurance cover and every enterprise is supported by appropriate insurance solutions. It also aims to make
the Indian insurance sector globally attractive
❖ Pillars: Insurance customers (Policyholders) – Insurance providers (insurers) – Insurance distributors
(intermediaries)
❖ Focus Areas: Making available right products to right customers
o Creating robust grievance redressal mechanism
o Facilitating ease of doing business in the insurance sector
o Ensuring the regulatory architecture is aligned with the market dynamics
o Boosting innovation
o Competition and distribution efficiencies while mainstreaming technology and moving towards principle
based regulatory regime.
❖ Bima Trinity: Bima Sugam: It is a unified platform that combines insurers and distributors. It simplifies
policy purchases, service requests, and claims settlement for customers in one convenient portal.
❖ Bima Vistar: It is a comprehensive bundled policy that covers life, health, property, and accidents. It
provides defined benefits for each risk category, ensuring quick claim payouts without surveyors.
❖ Bima Vaahaks: It is a women-centric workforce operating at the Gram Sabha level. They will educate and
convince women about the benefits of comprehensive insurance, particularly Bima Vistar. By addressing
concerns and emphasizing advantages, Bima Vaahaks empower women and enhance their financial
security.
❖ State of Insurance Sector in India: According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, life insurance density in the
country increased from USD 11.1 in 2001 to USD 91 in 2021. Total global insurance premiums in
2021 increased 3.4% in real terms, with the non-life insurance sector registering 2.6% growth, driven by
rate hardening in commercial lines in developed markets.
❖ According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, India's insurance market is poised to emerge as one of the
fastest-growing markets globally in the coming decade.
❖ As per the IRDAI, insurance penetration in India increased from 3.76% in 2019-20 to 4.20%in 2020-21,
registering a growth of 11.70%.
❖ Life insurance penetration in 2021 was 3.2%, almost twice as high as the emerging markets and slightly
above the global average.
❖ India is at present the 10th biggest market in the world it is projected to be 6th biggest by 2032.
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
❖ IRDAI, founded in 1999, is a regulatory body created with the aim of protecting the interests of insurance
customers.
❖ It is a statutory body under the IRDA Act 1999 and is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance.
❖ It regulates and sees to the development of the insurance industry while monitoring insurance-related
activities.
❖ The powers and functions of the Authority are laid down in the IRDAI Act, 1999 and Insurance Act, 1938.
PM KUSUM
❖ The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Raj Kumar Singh) has extended the deadline to install 30,000
MW solar power capacity in rural India to March 2026 under PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja
Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan).
❖ The PM-KUSUM was launched by the MNRE in 2019, in order to endow installation of off-grid solar pumps
in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid, in grid-connected areas.
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❖ Components: 10,000 MW of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants.
❖ Installation 20 lakh solar-powered agriculture pumps
❖ Converting 15 lakh agriculture pumps, already connected to the grid, into solar.
❖ Objective: It aims to enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their arid lands and to
sell it to the grid.
❖ It also seeks to increase the income of farmers by allowing them to sell surplus solar power to the grid.
❖ Recently, the first farm-based solar power plant under the PM-KUSUM scheme has come up in Jaipur
(Rajasthan) district’s Kotputli tehsil with a provision for production of 17 lakh units of electricity every year.
8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog

❖ The Prime Minister of India has chaired the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog.
❖ It was attended by Chief Ministers/Lt.Governors representing 19 States and 6 UTs.
❖ Theme: Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India.
❖ PM’s Address: The Centre and the States would have to work as “Team India” to realise the objective of a
“Viksit Bharat (Developed India)” in 2047.
❖ NITI Aayog can play a critical role in helping the States to develop their strategies for the next 25
years and align the same with the national development agenda.
❖ The States and Union Territories were urged to work with the Aayog so that the country could take a
quantum leap towards achieving its vision for the “Amrit Kaal”.
❖ There is a need for the States and the Centre to promote “Shree Anna” in the International Year of Millets.
❖ He also deliberated on the need to work towards water conservation through the “Amrit Sarovar”
programme.
❖ NITI Aayog’s Governing Council: It is the premier body trusted with developing a shared vision of national
priorities and strategies with the active involvement of States and Union Territories.
❖ It is a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues.
❖ It comprises:
o The Prime Minister of India.
o Chief Ministers of all the states and union territories with the legislature.
o Lt Governors of other UTs.
o Ex-Officio Members,
o Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog,
o Full-Time Members, NITI Aayog.
o Special Invitees.
National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) Aayog
❖ In 1950, the Planning Commission was formed as an extra-constitutional body that would formulate and
implement India’s Five Year Plans and allocate funds accordingly to the States; it followed a “Top-Down”
approach.
❖ In 2015, the NDA government through a cabinet resolution dissolved the Planning Commission and
replaced it with a new institution – NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) which
emphasises on ‘Bottom-Up’ approach. It serves as a “Think Tank” and States are equal partners in
deliberation (unlike in Planning Commission) to promote co-operative federalism.
❖ The Prime Minister is the Ex-officio chairman. The permanent members of the governing council are all the
State Chief Ministers, along with the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Puducherry, the Lieutenant Governor of
Andaman and Nicobar, and a vice chairman nominated by the Prime Minister.
❖ Formed in 1 January 2015
❖ Chairman: Narendra Modi
❖ Vice Chairman: Suman Bery
❖ CEO: B. V. R. Subrahmanyam
❖ Replaced Planning Commission
❖ First Planning Commission 1952-57 with KC Neogy as Chairman
❖ First 5 year Plan was launched in 1951
❖ 12th five year Plan (2012-2017) was the last plan
❖ First CEO was Sindhushree Kullar
❖ First Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya
❖ Joseph Stalin was the first one to launch 5 year plan in USSR in 1928
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❖ Initiatives: 15 year Road Map, 7 year Vision, SDG India Index, Composite Water Management Index, Atal
Innovation Mission, SATH Project, Aspirational District Programme, School Education Quality Index, District
Hospital Index, Health Index, Agriculture Marketing And Farmer Friendly reform Index, India Innovation
Index, Women Transforming India Awards, Good Governance Index
❖ NITI Aayog is Under Ministry of Planning (Narendra Modi)
❖ It has two Hubs: Team India Hub acts as an interface between States and Centre & Knowledge and
Innovation Hub builds the think-tank acumen of NITI Aayog.
Annual Health Index 2020-21

❖ Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana emerged as the top performers among the ‘larger states’ in the NITI
Aayog’s annual ‘health index’ for the Covid year of 2020-21.
❖ Larger States: Among the 19 ‘larger states’, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have occupied first, second
and third place respectively, in terms of overall performance. Bihar (19th), Uttar Pradesh (18th) and Madhya
Pradesh (17th) are at the bottom of the list.
❖ Smaller States: Among the eight smaller states, Tripura has recorded the best overall
performance, followed by Sikkim and Goa; Arunachal Pradesh (6th), Nagaland (7th) and Manipur (8th) are
at the bottom.
❖ Union Territories(UT): And among the eight UTs, Lakshadweep has been ranked as the top performer in
terms of overall performance, while Delhi ranked at the bottom.
❖ Based on Incremental Performance: Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Odisha emerged as the top three
performers in 2020-21, as compared to their performance in 2019-20.
❖ About: In 2017, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) in collaboration with
the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Mansukh L. Mandaviya) and the World Bank initiated an annual
Health Index for tracking Overall Performance and Incremental Performance across all states and Union
Territories (UTs).
❖ The objective of the Annual Health Index is to track and rank progress on health outcomes and health
systems performance, develop healthy competition and encourage cross learning among states and UTs.
❖ The health index assesses states and UTs on two parameters – incremental performance (year-on-year
progress) and overall performance.
❖ Categories: The ranking is done under three categories: larger states, smaller states and Union territories
(UTs) to ensure comparison among similar entities.
❖ Composition: The Health Index is a composite score that reflects the achievements and incremental
improvements of the states and UTs on 24 indicators across three domains: health outcomes, governance
and information, and key inputs and processes.
CAG Chief Re-elected as WHO External Auditor

❖ Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), has been re-elected as
the External Auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) for a four-year term from 2024 to 2027. The
re-election took place during the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva. This marks his second major
international audit assignment this year, following his selection as the External Auditor for the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) in March 2023. Additionally, the CAG of India holds the position of External
Auditor for several other international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture
Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The CAG's re-
election as the WHO External Auditor highlights India's strong presence and influence in international audit
and governance bodies.
❖ The function of the External Auditor of the WHO is to conduct independent audits and provide assurance
on the financial statements, compliance with regulations, effectiveness of operations, and risk
management within the organization.
Delimitation
❖ Many politicians of the Southern States are raising voices over Delimitation of constituencies based on
population, which they consider to be unfair.
❖ Southern states that followed population control policies are now facing potential disadvantages despite
their success in controlling population growth.
❖ Delimitation means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a
country or a province having a legislative body.
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❖ Delimitation for LS (Lok Sabha) and LA (Legislative Assembly) is different from that of Local bodies.
❖ The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952. The Delimitation Commission is appointed by
the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
❖ Composition: Retired Supreme Court Judge – Chief Election Commissioner – Respective State Election
Commissioners
❖ Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of
1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
❖ The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission)
in 1950-51.
❖ History: The last delimitation exercise that changed the state-wise composition of the Lok Sabha was
completed in 1976 and done on the basis of the 1971 census.
❖ The Constitution of India mandates that the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha should be based on the
population of each state so that the ratio of seats to population is as close as possible to being equal
across all states. It is intended to ensure that each person's vote carries roughly the same weight,
regardless of which state they live in.
❖ However, this provision meant that states that took little interest in population control could end up with a
greater number of seats in Parliament.
❖ To avoid these consequences, the Constitution was amended 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 froze the
allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha to the states and the division of each state into territorial
constituencies till the year 2000 at the 1971 level.
❖ The 84th Amendment Act of 2001 empowered the government to undertake readjustment
and rationalisation of territorial constituencies in the states on the basis of the population figures of 1991
census.
❖ The 87th Amendment Act of 2003 provided for the delimitation of constituencies on the basis of
2001 census and not 1991 census. However, this can be done without altering the number of seats allotted
to each state in the Lok Sabha.
❖ Need: To provide equal representation to equal segments of a population. To follow the principle of “One
Vote One Value”.
❖ Constitutional Provisions: Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
❖ Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every
Census.
❖ Concerns Related to Delimitation: The delimitation based solely on population disregards the progress
made by the southern states in population control and may lead to disparities in the federal structure.
❖ Despite having only 18% of the country's population, the southern states contribute 35% to the country's
GDP.
❖ Inadequate Funding: After the 15th Finance Commission (headed by NK Singh) used the 2011 Census as a
basis for its recommendation, concerns were raised about southern states losing funding and
representation in parliament. Previously, the 1971 Census was used as the base for funding and tax
devolution recommendations to states.
Digital India Act 2023

❖ The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will soon come up with the Digital India Act,
2023 which will replace the Information Technology Act (IT Act) of 2000.
❖ The Indian parliament plans to implement the Digital India Act alongside the Digital Personal Data
Protection Bill, 2022, proposed in November 2022, where the two legislations will work in tandem with
each other.
❖ Need for a New Act: Since the IT Act of 2000 was enacted, there have been many revisions and
amendments (IT Act Amendment of 2008, IT Rules 2011) in attempts to define the digital space in which it
regulates while trying to put more emphasis on the data handling policies.
❖ However, because the IT Act was originally designed only to protect e-commerce transactions and define
cybercrime offenses, it did not deal with the nuances of the current cybersecurity landscape adequately
nor did it address data privacy rights.
❖ Without a complete replacement of the governing digital laws, the IT Act would fail to keep up with the
growing sophistication and rate of cyber-attacks.
❖ The new Digital India Act envisages to act as catalysts for Indian economy by enabling more
innovation, more startups, and at the same time protecting the citizens of India in terms of safety, trust, and
accountability.
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❖ Likely Provisions under Digital India Act 2023: Freedom of Expression: Social media platforms’ own
moderation policies may now be reduced to constitutional protections for freedom of expression and
Fundamental speech rights.
❖ An October 2022 amendment to the IT Rules, 2021 says that platforms must respect users’ free speech
rights.
❖ Three Grievance Appellate Committees have now been established to take up content complaints by social
media users.
❖ These are now likely to be subsumed into the Digital India Act.
❖ Online Safety: The Act will cover Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deepfakes, cybercrime, competition issues
among internet platforms, and data protection.
❖ The government put out a draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill in 2022, which would be one of the four
prongs of the Digital India Act, with the National Data Governance Policy and amendments to the Indian
Penal Code being others, along with rules formulated under the Digital India Act.
❖ New Adjudicatory Mechanism: A new “Adjudicatory Mechanism” for criminal and civil offenses committed
online would come into place.
❖ Safe Harbour: The government is reconsidering a key aspect of cyberspace — ‘safe harbour’, which is the
principle that allows social media platforms to avoid liability for posts made by users.
❖ The term has been reined in recent years by regulations like the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which require platforms to take down posts when
ordered to do so by the government, or when required by law.
Digital Personal Data Protection Bill
❖ The Bill will apply to the processing of digital personal data within India where such data is collected online,
or collected offline and is digitised. It will also apply to such processing outside India, if it is for offering
goods or services or profiling individuals in India.
❖ Personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose for which an individual has given
consent. Consent may be deemed in certain cases.
❖ Data fiduciaries will be obligated to maintain the accuracy of data, keep data secure, and delete data once
its purpose has been met.
❖ “Data Fiduciary” is defined as any person who alone or in conjunction with other persons determines the
purpose and means of processing of personal data.
❖ The Bill grants certain rights to individuals including the right to obtain information, seek correction and
erasure, and grievance redressal.
❖ The central government may exempt government agencies from the application of provisions of the Bill in
the interest of specified grounds such as security of the state, public order, and prevention of offences.
❖ The central government will establish the Data Protection Board of India to adjudicate non-
compliance with the provisions of the Bill.
❖ Data Protection Laws in other Nations: European Union Model: The General Data Protection
Regulation focuses on a comprehensive data protection law for processing of personal data.
❖ In the EU, the right to privacy is enshrined as a fundamental right that seeks to protect an individual’s
dignity and her right over the data she generates.
❖ US Model: There is no comprehensive set of privacy rights or principles in the US that, like the EU’s GDPR,
addresses the use, collection, and disclosure of data.
❖ Instead, there is limited sector-specific regulation. The approach towards data protection is different for
the public and private sectors.
❖ The activities and powers of the government vis-a-vis personal information are well-defined and
addressed by broad legislation such as the Privacy Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, etc.
❖ For the private sector, there are some sector-specific norms.
❖ China Model: New Chinese laws on data privacy and security issued over the last 12 months include the
Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), which came into effect in November 2021.
❖ It gives Chinese data principals new rights as it seeks to prevent the misuse of personal data.
❖ The Data Security Law (DSL), which came into force in September 2021, requires business data to be
categorized by levels of importance, and puts new restrictions on cross-border transfers.
World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector

❖ The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the establishment of the "world's largest grain storage plan in
the cooperative sector" with an outlay of around Rs 1 lakh crore.
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❖ The initiative aims to curb crop damages, prevent distress sales by farmers, and bolster the country’s food
security.
❖ The plan focuses on the creation of godowns and other agricultural infrastructure at the level of Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to strengthen food security, reduce wastage, and empower farmers.
❖ This ambitious project aims to converge eight ongoing schemes of three ministries to address the
shortage of agricultural storage infrastructure in India.
❖ Ministry of Cooperation (Amit Shah) will implement a pilot project in at least 10 selected districts.
❖ Inter-Ministerial Committee: An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) will be constituted under the
chairmanship of the Minister of Cooperation, with the participation of the Ministers of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare (Narendra Singh Tomar), Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Piyush Goyal),
and Food Processing Industries (Pashupati Kumar Paras), along with the concerned secretaries.
❖ 8 Schemes identified for Convergence: Ministry of Agriculture and farmers welfare: Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
❖ Ministry of Food Processing Industries: Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing
Enterprises Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
❖ Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: Allocation of Food Grains under the Food
Security Act, Procurement ops at MSP
❖ The Ministry of Cooperation has developed the grain storage plan to leverage the strength of cooperatives
and transform them into successful business enterprises, aligning with the vision of "Sahakar-se-
Samriddhi" (Cooperation for Prosperity).
❖ The plan focuses on establishing agri-infrastructure, including warehouses, custom hiring centres, and
processing units, at the PACS level.
❖ India has over 1,00,000 PACS with a vast membership base of more than 13 crore farmers.
❖ Given their significant role in the agricultural and rural landscape, the plan seeks to empower PACS by
creating decentralised storage capacity and other necessary infrastructure.
❖ This transformation will enhance the economic viability of PACS and contribute to the growth of the Indian
agricultural sector.
❖ Benefits: Addressing Infrastructure Shortage, Diversification of PACS Activities, Reduction of Food Grain
Wastage, Preventing Distress Sale & Cost Reduction
❖ Primary Agricultural Credit Societies: PACS constitute the lowest tier of the Short-Term Cooperative
Credit (STCC) structure in the country, headed by the State Cooperative Banks (SCB) at the state level.
❖ Credit from the SCBs is transferred to the District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), which operate at
the district level. The DCCBs work with PACS, which deal directly with farmers.
❖ The first PACS was established in 1904. They are involved in short term lending. At the start of
the cropping cycle, farmers avail credit to finance their requirement of seeds, fertilisers etc.
❖ The Union Budget 2023-24 has announced Rs 2,516 crore for computerisation of 63,000 PACS over the
next five years, with the aim of bringing greater transparency and accountability in their operations and
enabling them to diversify their business and undertaking more activities.
Cropping Seasons in India
❖ Agriculture season in india is June to October
❖ Major Crops are:
➢ Food Grains: Rice, Wheat, Maize, Millets, Pulses
➢ Cash Crops: Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane, Oilseeds
➢ Planation Crops: Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Coconut
➢ Horticulture Crops: Fruits and Vegetables
❖ Kharif Crops
➢ Grown at the beginning of Monsson, started in June
➢ Harvested after the Monsoon, End of October
➢ These crops require hot weather and lot of water for Proper Growth
➢ Examples: Rice, Maize, Millets (Tea & Coffee are also Kharif Crops)
➢ Millets: also known as Coarse Grains. Ragi, Jowar, Sama, Bajra, Variga are some of the examples.
➢ India is the largest producer of millets in the world accounts for 20% global and 80% Asia’s Production
➢ Rajasthan is the largest producer
❖ Rabi crops
➢ Grown in Winter season, Mid November
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➢ Harvested in Spring season, May/April
➢ Require cold Climate for Growth
➢ Trick: MULI aur OATS khao, WBC bhadao
➢ Examples: MU-Mustard LI-Linseed, Oats, W-Wheat B-Barley C-Chickpea
❖ Zaid Crops
➢ Grown and harvested between March and June
➢ Example: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Bitter Ground, Watermelon etc
❖ Top Producers States in India
➢ Top Sugar Producing States: Maharashtra
➢ Top Sugarcane Producer: Uttar Pradesh
➢ Largest Wheat Producer-Uttar Pradesh
➢ Rice- West Bengal
➢ Sunflower- Karnataka
➢ Maize- Karnataka
➢ Groundnut- Gujarat
➢ Mustard- Rajasthan
➢ Cotton- Gujarat
➢ Tea- Assam
Food Corporation of India (FCI)
❖ Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a Public Sector Undertaking, under the Department of Food & Public
Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
❖ FCI is a statutory body set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act 1964. It was established against
the backdrop of major shortage of grains, especially wheat.
❖ Simultaneously, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) was created in 1965 to recommend
remunerative prices to farmers.
❖ FCI coordinates its functions through a country-wide network of offices with Headquarters at New
Delhi with five Zonal Offices, twenty-five Regional Offices and 170 District Offices under its control.
❖ Objectives of FCI: To provide remunerative prices to farmers.
❖ To help in transforming the crisis management oriented food security into a stable security system to
ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of food grains to all people at all times so that no one,
nowhere and at no time should go hungry.
❖ Ensuring food security of the nation by maintaining satisfactory level of operational buffer stocks of food
grains.
❖ Distribution of food grains throughout the country for Public Distribution System.
❖ Effective Price Support Operations for safeguarding the interest of farmers.
❖ Food Security: According to Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO), food security has basically four
pillars: Availability, Affordability, Absorption, Stability
❖ National Food Security Act: Notified On: 10th September, 2013.
❖ Objective: To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access
to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.
Portal for GOBARdhan Launched

❖ The Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan was launched as a part of the Government of India's
initiative to convert waste to wealth and promote a circular economy.
❖ The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti (Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat), has developed the portal to facilitate the setting up of Biogas/Compressed Biogas (CBG)
plants.
❖ Objectives and Scope: The portal acts as a one-stop repository for assessing investment and participation
in the Biogas/CBG sector at the pan India level.
❖ Enrollment: Any government, cooperative, or private entity intending to set up a Biogas/CBG/Bio CNG
plant in India can enroll in the portal and obtain a registration number.
❖ The registration number enables access to various benefits and support from the Ministries and
Departments of the Government of India.
❖ The launch of the portal demonstrates cooperative federalism, with stakeholders from central Ministries,
line departments of the Centre and States collaborating on its development and deployment.
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❖ The Union Minister of Jal Shakti emphasizes the significant achievements in waste to wealth generation
through more than 650 GOBARdhan plants and the unified registration portal.
❖ GOBARdhan Initiative: Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) is a crucial umbrella
initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
❖ In 2018, the government launched this scheme as a national priority project under the Swachh Bharat
Mission Grameen-Phase II program.
❖ Objective: To support villages safely manage their cattle waste, agricultural waste and in long run all
organic waste.
❖ To support communities convert their cattle and organic waste to wealth using decentralized systems.
❖ Promote environmental sanitation and curb vector borne diseases through effective disposal of waste in
rural areas.
❖ Convert organic waste, especially cattle waste to biogas and fertilizer for use in rural areas.
❖ Models of Scheme: Individual Household: This model can be adopted by households which have three (3)
or more cattles. The biogas and slurry generated from the plants are used for cooking and as manure by
the households.
❖ Community: The Biogas plants can be constructed for a minimum number of households (5 to 10). The
plants can be operated and managed by GP/SHGs. The gas generated will be supplied to
households/restaurants / institutions and slurry can be used by the community as organic manure in
agriculture or sold to farmers.
❖ Commercial CBG: CBG plants can be set up by Entrepreneurs / Cooperative Societies/ Gaushalas etc.
❖ The raw biogas produced is compressed and can be used as vehicular fuel and / or sold to industries.
❖ The slurry generated is converted into organic manure / bio-fertilizer and can be sold to farmers.
PM SVANidhi Scheme
❖ Over 46.54 lakh small working capital loans have been disbursed to street vendors under the Prime
Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi) in the three years since it was launched on
June 1, 2020.
❖ A total of 46,54,302 loans had been disbursed. Out of those loans, about 40% (18,50,987) have been
repaid so far.
❖ PM SVANidhi: It is a Central Sector Scheme i.e., fully funded by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with
the following objectives: To facilitate working capital loan; - To incentivize regular repayment; and – To
reward digital transactions
❖ Introduction of 3rd term loan of up to ₹50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000 and
₹20,000 respectively.
❖ The loans would be without collateral.
❖ Lending Agencies: Microfinance Institutions, Non-Banking Financial Company, Self Help Groups have
been allowed due to their ground level presence and proximity to the urban poor including the street
vendors.
❖ The Scheme is available for beneficiaries belonging to only those States/UTs which have notified Rules and
Scheme under Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
❖ Beneficiaries from Meghalaya, which has its own State Street Vendors Act may, however, participate.
❖ The Scheme is available to all street vendors engaged in vending in urban areas. Earlier the Scheme was
available to all street vendors engaged in vending on or before March 24, 2020.
❖ E-governance: In line with the vision of leveraging technology to ensure effective delivery and
transparency, a digital platform with web portal/ mobile app is being developed to administer the scheme
with end-to-end solution.
❖ This platform will integrate the web portal/ mobile app with UdyamiMitra portal of SIDBI for credit
management and PAiSA portal of MoHUA to administer interest subsidy automatically.
PM MITRA Scheme & Textile Sector

❖ The Centre has selected sites in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to set up new textile parks under the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and
Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme.
The parks will be set up by 2026-27. The total outlay for the project is Rs 4,445 crore, though the initial
allocation in the 2023-24 Budget is only Rs 200 crore.
❖ PM MITRA Park will be developed by a Special Purpose Vehicle which will be owned by the Central and
State Government and in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode.
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❖ Each MITRA Park will have an incubation centre, common processing house and a common effluent
treatment plant and other textile related facilities such as design centres and testing centres.
❖ Special Purpose Vehicle: An SPV owned by the Centre and State Government will be set up for each park
which will oversee the implementation of the project.
❖ Development Capital Support: The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial support in the form of
Development Capital Support upto Rs 500 crore per park to the park SPV.
❖ Competitive Incentive Support (CIS): A CIS upto Rs 300 crore per park to the units in PM MITRA Park shall
also be provided to incentivise speedy implementation.
❖ Convergence with other Schemes: Convergence with other Government of India schemes shall also be
facilitated in order to ensure additional incentives to the Master Developer and investor units.
❖ The textile sector is one of the critical sectors of the Indian economy, accounting for more than 2% of the
total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and more than 12 % of the manufacturing sector GDP.
❖ The sector is the 2nd largest provider of employment in India, after agriculture.
❖ India is the 6th largest exporter of textile and apparel in the world, with 4% share of the global trade in
textiles and apparel.
❖ India allowed duty-free import of readymade garments from Bangladesh under the South Asian Free Trade
Agreement (SAFTA) in 2006, resulting in an increase in imports of apparels made with Chinese fabrics and
yarns.
Interpol’s Notice
❖ Interpol, the global police body, has removed the red notice against Mehul Choksi, a fugitive wanted by
India in the USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank fraud case.
❖ However, the Interpol red notice removal doesn't affect India's investigations or extradition request.
❖ Its notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to
share critical crime-related information.
❖ Notices are issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country’s INTERPOL National
Central Bureau and are made available for all our member countries to consult in our Notices database.
❖ The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) was set up in 1923, as a secure information-
sharing platform that facilitates criminal investigation of police forces across the globe through collection
and dissemination of information received from various police forces.
❖ It is headquartered in Lyon, France.
❖ Interpol has 195 member countries.
❖ President: Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi (UAE)
❖ India became member since 15th October 1949.
❖ It keeps track of the movements of criminals and those under the police radar in various regions and tips
off police forces which had either sought the Interpol’s assistance or which in its opinion will benefit from
the particulars available with it.
❖ It aims to promote the widest-possible mutual assistance between criminal police forces.
❖ The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) assumes this role in India with one of its senior officers heading
its exclusive Interwing (the National Central Bureaus) for collation of information and liaison with the world
body.
❖ Interpol Notices:-
❖ Red Notice: Wanted Persons Green Notice: Warnings and Intelligence
❖ Yellow Notice: Missing Persons Orange Notice: Imminent Threat
❖ Blue Notice: Additional Information Purple Notice: Modus Operandi
❖ Black Notice: Unidentified Bodies
Morgan Stanley’s Report

❖ A recent report by Morgan Stanley (global financial services firm) highlights the significant changes that
have taken place in India over the past decade.
❖ The report challenges the skepticism surrounding India's potential and emphasizes the transformative
reforms implemented in recent years.
❖ Morgan Stanley counters global opinions of India's underperformance. It emphasizes India's growth as the
second-fastest-growing economy and top-performing stock market.
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❖ India of today, the report said, is different from what it was in 2013.
❖ Highlights of the Report: Significant Growth Drivers: Supply-Side Policy Reforms: Bringing corporate
tax at par with other countries and Acceleration of infrastructure investment.
❖ Formalization of the Economy: Rising collection of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
o Implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
o Introduction of flexible inflation targeting.
o Focus on foreign direct investment (FDI).
o Government support for corporate profits
o Digitalizing Social Transfers.
o Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act .
o Multi-year high sentiment among multinational corporations (MNCs).
❖ India’s 401(k) Moment: India’s 401(k) moment is the term used by Morgan Stanley to describe
moment refers to the increase in household savings and investments in financial assets, inspired by the
US 401(k) retirement savings plan.
❖ This shift reflects a change in household preferences from physical assets like gold and real estate
to financial assets like equities and bonds.
❖ Key financial assets involved in India's 401(k) moment include mutual funds, insurance, and pension
schemes.
❖ Economic Indicators: Manufacturing and capital spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) have consistently risen.
❖ Export market share is projected to double to 4.5% by 2031(from 2021 level).
❖ Lower volatility in inflation and shallower interest rate cycles has impacted consumption patterns.
❖ Future Outlook: Anticipated rise in manufacturing and capital spending in GDP.
❖ Expected broad-based gains in goods and services exports.
❖ Per capita income is projected to increase and implications for discretionary consumption. It is expected
to clock in at $5,200 within the next decade.
❖ Structural transformation contributing to a narrower current account deficit (CAD).
❖ Doubling of profits in GDP, resulting in strong earnings growth.
❖ Implications on Stock Market: There is a possibility of higher valuations for domestic shares, which could
lead to increased investment opportunities.
❖ The demand for stocks within India is expected to remain strong, contributing to sustained growth in the
market.
❖ India's reduced dependence on global capital flows may contribute to a more stable stock market, with
less vulnerability to international market fluctuations.
❖ India's beta to emerging markets falling to 0.6, which is a consequence of reduced dependence on global
capital market flows.
❖ Beta: Beta is a measure of systematic risk, also known as market risk or non-diversifiable risk. It quantifies
how sensitive a stock's returns are to changes in the broader market.
❖ A beta of 1 indicates that the stock tends to move in line with the market, while a beta greater than 1
suggests the stock is more volatile than the market.
Morgan Stanley
❖ Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company
headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
❖ The original Morgan Stanley, formed by J.P. Morgan & Co. partners Henry Sturgis Morgan (a grandson of
J.P. Morgan), Harold Stanley, and others, came into existence on September 16, 1935, in response to the
Glass–Steagall Act, which required the splitting of American commercial and investment banking
businesses
❖ Chairman & CEO: James P. Gorman
❖ Co=President: Ted Pick and Andy Saperstein
❖ CFO: Sharon Yeshaya
Special Protection Group (SPG)

❖ The Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) notified fresh rules for the elite Special Protection Group (SPG).
❖ New Rules: The Special Protection Group (SPG) will now be handled by an officer not less than the rank of
an Additional Director-General belonging to the Indian Police Service, while junior officers will be appointed
on deputation for an initial period of six years.
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❖ The appointment for the 2nd tenure may be done with the prior approval of the central government for
reasons to be recorded.
❖ The SPG, will have its headquarters in New Delhi and now be handled by an officer not less than the rank of
an Additional Director-General belonging to the Indian Police Service.
❖ The general superintendence, direction, command and control, supervision, training, discipline, and
administration of the SPG will be vested in the director.
❖ These parameters were fixed through a new set of rules issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under
the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 (34 of 1988).
❖ Special Protection Group: The SPG is an elite force, specifically raised for the protection of the country’s
Prime Minister, former PMs and their immediate family.
❖ The force is currently 3,000 strong and it was started in 1985 in the wake of the killing of PM Indira Gandhi
in 1984.
❖ After Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991, the SPG Act was amended, offering SPG protection to all
former Prime Ministers and their families for a period of at least 10 years.
❖ The SPG is highly trained in physical efficiency, marksmanship, combat and proximate protection tactics
and is assisted by all central and state agencies to ensure fool proof security. SPG Special Agents assigned
to the PM security detail wear black, Western-style formal business suits, with sunglasses, and carry a two-
way encrypted communication earpiece, and concealed handguns. They wear safari suits on occasions.
❖ The Special Protection Group (SPG) Act 1988 provides the constitution & regulation of SPG to provide
security to the Prime Minister of India and the former prime ministers and members of their immediate
families.
❖ The term ‘proximate security’ as mentioned in the Act means the protection provided from close quarters,
during the journey by road, rail, aircraft, watercraft or on foot or any other means of transport and shall
include the places of functions, engagements, residence.
❖ The Act amends Special Protection Group Act 1988 which was in application.
❖ The Act reduces Special Protection Group cover to only Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and their
immediate family members up to 5 years after ceasing post if they are residing at the residence allotted.
100 Episodes of Mann ki Baat

❖ Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popular radio programme, completed 100 episodes.
❖ At 100th episode PM framed the radio show as a national conversation that helps connect with the people
— “a matter of faith, of worship”, and a “thaal of prasad” at the feet of “Janata Janardan”.
❖ Radio can also reach those people who do not own a mobile device and have Internet connection.
❖ Recognition of important initiatives like 'Selfie with Daughter’ campaign in Haryana.
❖ Idea is to convey positivity and to spread optimism like during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.
❖ Spreading awareness about government schemes and initiatives — Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Har Ghar
Tiranga, digital payments, startups and unicorns etc.
❖ Almost every show includes little-known information about India’s arts, craft, folk culture and heroes, etc.
that inform and educate, and evoke and sustain listener interest.
❖ Evolution of Radio: Radio Broadcasting began in June 1923 during the British Raj with programs by the
Bombay Presidency Radio Club.
❖ Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-
commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radio sport,
contesting, and emergency communications. Amateur radio is practised by more than 22,000 licensed
users in India.
❖ Amateur radio operators played an important part in the Indian independence movement with the
establishment of illegal pro-independence radio stations in the 1940s.
❖ Congress Radio, also known as Azad Radio, was an underground radio station that operated for about three
months during the Quit India Movement of 1942.
❖ It was organized by Usha Mehta (1920–2000), then a 22-year student activist, with the help of amateur
radio operators.
All India Radio (AIR)
❖ All India Radio (AIR) was established in 1936 (named as Akashvani in 1956) is the national public radio
broadcaster of India and is a division of Prasar Bharati. Its headquarter is in New Delhi.
❖ It is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, an Indian television broadcaster.
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❖ All India Radio is the largest radio network in the world, and one of the largest broadcasting organizations
in the world in terms of the number of languages broadcast and the spectrum of socio-economic and
cultural diversity it serves.
❖ AIR motto – ‘Bahujan Hitaya: Bahujan Sukhaya’.
❖ AIR's home service comprises 420 stations located across the country, reaching nearly 92% of the country's
area and 99.19% of the total population.
❖ AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 179 dialects.
❖ Private Radio: Private participation wasn't allowed until 1993 when the government experimented with a
daily, two-hour private show slot on the FM channels in Delhi and Mumbai.
❖ Radio City Bangalore, which started on July 3, 2001, is India's first private FM radio station.
❖ Community Radio: Community radio is a radio service offering a third model of radio broadcasting in
addition to commercial and public broadcasting. Community radio is when local people produce and
broadcast their own programs and participate in operating the station. It is a community space for people
to meet and collaborate.
❖ In December 2002, the government of India approved a policy for the grant of licenses for setting up of
community radio stations to well-established educational institutions including IITs/IIMs.
❖ Sreedher Ramamurthy is regarded as the father of community radio in India.
Mekedatu Project
❖ The Karnataka Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution requesting clearance for the Mekedatu
drinking water and balancing reservoir project.
❖ This resolution was in response to Tamil Nadu's opposition to the project.
❖ The 9000Cr Mekedatu project is a multipurpose project involving the construction of a balancing reservoir
near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka.
❖ Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge situated at the confluence of the rivers Cauvery and its
tributary Arkavathi.
❖ Its primary objectives are to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas, totaling 4.75 TMC,
and generate 400 MW of power.
❖ Current Status: Karnataka has not obtained the consent of Tamil Nadu, which is mandatory.
❖ The project is still in its preliminary stage and has not obtained the necessary clearances and approvals
from authorities such as the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC), and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
❖ Opposition By Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu argues that the Mekadatu dam would significantly reduce the water
flow downstream, negatively impacting the state's agricultural activities and water supply.
❖ The Cauvery River is a crucial water source for Tamil Nadu, supporting its farming communities and
meeting the drinking water needs of its residents.
❖ The state claims that the project violates the final judgment of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
(CWDT), which allocated a specific share of water to each riparian state, including Tamil Nadu.
❖ Cauvery River Dispute: River Cauvery (Kaveri): It is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil, and it is the fourth largest
river in southern India.
❖ It is a sacred river of southern India. It rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in southwestern
Karnataka state, flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and
descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls and drains into Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry.
❖ Left Bank Tributary: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Shimsa, and Harangi.
❖ Right Bank Tributary: Lakshmantirtha, Suvarnavati, Noyil, Bhavani, Kabini, and Amaravathi.
❖ The Dispute: As the river originates in Karnataka, flows through Tamil Nadu with major tributaries coming
from Kerala and drains into the Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry the dispute therefore involves 3 states
and one Union Territory.
❖ The genesis of the dispute is 150 years old and dates back to the two agreements of arbitration in 1892
and 1924 between the then Madras presidency and Mysore.
❖ In 1924, an agreement enabled the construction of the Krishnaraja Sagar dam and decided the allocation of
Cauvery waters among the states. The timeline of the agreement was 50-year and after it lapsed, the
dispute caught fire again.
❖ It entailed the principle that the upper riparian state must obtain consent of lower riparian state for any
construction activity viz. reservoir on the river Cauvery.
❖ The Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu began in 1974 when Karnataka started
diverting water without Tamil Nadu's consent.
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❖ After several years, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was established in 1990 to resolve the
issue. It took 17 years for the CWDT to reach a final order in 2007, which outlined the sharing of Cauvery
water among the four riparian states. In distress years, water would be shared on a pro-rata basis.
❖ In 2018, the Supreme Court declared the Cauvery a national asset and largely upheld the water-sharing
arrangements determined by the CWDT.
❖ It also directed the Centre to notify the Cauvery Management Scheme. The central government notified the
‘Cauvery Water Management Scheme’ in June 2018, constituting the ‘Cauvery Water Management
Authority’ and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’.
India’s First International Cruise Vessel MV Empress

❖ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, flagged off India's first international cruise
vessel, MV Empress, from Chennai to Sri Lanka. This significant event marked the inauguration of
the international cruise tourism terminal in Chennai, which is a testament to the government's
commitment to enhancing cruise tourism and maritime trade opportunities. The MV Empress will sail to
three Sri Lankan ports: Hanbantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei.
❖ The cruise service is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Chennai Port
and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd during the first Incredible India International Cruise
Conference in 2022. The government plans to develop three new international cruise terminals
in Andamans, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep, which are expected to be operational by 2024. The
government envisions an increase in the number of cruise ships from 208 in 2023 to 500 in 2030 and up to
1100 by 2047, with the number of passengers rising from 9.5 lakhs in 2030 to 45 lakhs in 2047.
New Appointment in Financial Services Institution

❖ The Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) has selected N Ramaswamy, the General Manager
of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of
GIC Re, while M Rajeswari Singh, the General Manager and Director of United India Insurance, as the CMD
of National Insurance Company (NIC).
❖ FSIB has been constituted in 2022, by Central Government for the purpose of recommending persons for
appointment as whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons on the Boards of financial services
institutions and for advising on certain other matters relating to personnel management in these
institutions. It replaced Banks Board Bureau (BBB). FSIB is headed by a chairman, a central government
nominee. The board comprises the Secretaries of the Department of Financial Services, the chairman of
IRDAI, and a deputy governor of the RBI. Additionally, it has three part-time members who are experts in
banking and three more from the insurance sector.
NIRF Ranking 2023

❖ The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2023 was announced recently, showcasing
the excellence and achievements of various educational institutions in India.
❖ The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras secured the top spot in the overall ranking for the fifth
consecutive year, while the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru was ranked as the best university.
❖ Areas of Ranking: The ranking exercise for the year 2023 continues with the practice of providing a
common “Overall” rank in addition to a separate rank for Universities, Research Institutions, Degree
Colleges, and discipline-specific ranks in Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Law, Medical, Dental and
Architecture & Planning.
❖ Three Distinct Additions of 2023 Edition of India Rankings: Introduction of a new subject
namely Agriculture & Allied Sectors
❖ Expansion of scope of “Architecture” to “Architecture and Planning” to include institutions imparting
courses in Urban and Town Planning.
❖ Integration of the “Innovation” ranking previously executed by the Atal Ranking of Institutions on
Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) into the India Rankings to reduce the burden on institutions of providing
similar data to two different agencies.
❖ Participants: While the total number of Higher Educational Institutes that participated in the ranking
exercise in various categories and subject domains have increased from 3565 in 2016 to 8686 in 2023, the
number of categories and subject domains have increased from 4 in 2016 to 13 in 2023.
❖ Major Top Rankings: Leading Engineering Institutions: IIT-Madras maintained its dominance as the top
engineering institution in India for the eighth consecutive year, with IIT-Delhi and IIT-Bombay securing the
second and third positions, respectively.
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❖ Top Management Institutes: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, claimed the top position
as the leading management institute in India, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode.
❖ Top Law Institutes: The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, emerged as the top law
institute in the country. National Law University, Delhi, secured the second position, and NALSAR University
of Law, Hyderabad, was ranked third.
❖ Top Pharmacy Institutes: The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research,
Hyderabad, was recognized as the leading pharmacy institute in India. It was closely followed by Jamia
Hamdard and BITS Pilani.
❖ Top Colleges: Delhi University (DU) made its mark in the rankings, with five of its colleges securing
positions in the top 10 colleges in India.
❖ Miranda House retained its top position, while Hindu College secured the second spot.
❖ NIRF Ranking: The NIRF is a methodology to rank institutions across the country based on various
parameters.
❖ NIRF was approved by the Ministry of Education (Erstwhile Ministry of Human Resource
Development) and launched on 29th September 2015.
❖ It is the first-ever effort by the government to rank Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country.
❖ Parameters for NIRF Ranking: The weightage for each parameter varies depending on the category of the
institution
Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System

❖ The Chief Election Commissioner emphasised the need to facilitate postal voting for Non-Resident Indians
(NRIs). It highlights the Election Commission's proposal for Electronically Transmitted Postal
Ballots(ETPBs) for NRIs, which is currently awaiting government approval.
❖ The initiative aims to allow over 1.34 crore overseas Indians to participate in elections using a technology-
driven methodology.
❖ The ETPBS is a system designed to facilitate remote voting for individuals who are unable to cast their
votes in person at a polling station.
❖ For Service Voters: Under this system, postal ballots are sent electronically to registered service voters.
❖ The service voter can then download the ETPB (along with a declaration form and covers), register their
mandate on the ballot and send it to the returning officer of the constituency via ordinary mail.
❖ The post will include an attested declaration form (after being signed by the voter in the presence of an
appointed senior officer who will attest it).
❖ The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended in 2016 to allow service voters to use the ETPBS.
❖ The Election Commission (EC) had proposed an amendment in Section 60 of the Representation of the
People Act, 1951, to extend the facility of ETPB to overseas electors in 2015.
❖ Later in 2020, the EC wrote to the law ministry that it was technically and administratively ready to
implement this proposal.
❖ The EC has suggested that the ETPBS can be used for NRIs with some modifications, such as allowing
them to download their ballot papers online and return them by post or courier within a specified time limit.
❖ The EC has also suggested that NRIs can be allowed to appoint a proxy voter in India, who can cast their
vote on their behalf after verifying their identity and consent.
❖ The EC has also proposed that NRIs can be given an option to vote at designated polling stations set up at
Indian missions abroad, where they can use electronic voting machines (EVMs) or paper ballots.
❖ However, the proposal is still pending with the law ministry and has faced opposition related to concerns
over the security and authenticity of the postal ballots.
Non-Registered Indian
❖ NRI, which is a term used for an Indian citizen who resides outside India for employment, education or any
other purpose.
❖ According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are about 1.34 crore NRIs across 208 countries as of
December 2020.
❖ NRIs are also eligible to vote in Indian elections if they are registered as overseas electors in their
respective constituencies in India.
❖ Criteria for NRI: A person is considered NRI if: She/he is not in India for 182 days or more during the
financial year Or;
❖ If She/he is in India for less than 365 days during the 4 years preceding that year and less than 60 days in
that year.
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Sagar Samriddhi
❖ The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (Sarbananda Sonowal) has launched 'Sagar Samriddhi,' an
online dredging monitoring system to accelerate the 'Waste to Wealth' initiative of the Government.
❖ Dredging is the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water
bodies.
❖ The main purpose of dredging is to maintain or increase the depth of navigation channels,
anchorages, and berthing areas so that larger ships can pass through and transport goods. This is crucial
for the economy, as these ships carry a significant portion of the country's imports.
❖ Sagar Samridhi: This system has been developed by National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and
Coasts (NTCPWC), the technological arm of MoPSW.
❖ The system improves upon the old Draft & Loading Monitor (DLM) system.
❖ The system aims to enhance productivity, contract management, and promotes effective reuse of
dredged material.
❖ Capabilities: Real time dredging progress report – Daily and monthly progress Visualization – Dredger
performance and downtime monitoring – Easy location track data with snapshot of loading, unloading and
idle time
❖ Guidelines: The MoPSW issued ‘Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports’ in 2021, which outlined the
procedure for planning and preparation, technical investigations, dredged material management, estimating
the cost of dredging etc., to enable the Major Ports to formulate the dredging projects in order to complete
in time.
❖ In March 2023, the Ministry added an update to the Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports, including a
provision in the bidding documents that helps reduce dredging costs through the concept of 'Waste to
Wealth.'
❖ NTCPWC: The NTCPWC was established under the Sagarmala Programme of MoPSW with the total
investment of RS 77 Crores at IIT Madras in April 2023.
❖ The aim of the centre is to enable research & development for the marine sector, enabling solutions
towards achieving the ultimate goal of building a robust marine industry in the country.
❖ This state-of-the-art centre has world class capabilities for undertaking the 2D & 3D investigations of
research and consultancy nature for the Port, Coastal, and Waterways sector across all disciplines.
Inland Water Authority of India (IWAI)
❖ IWAI is the statutory authority in charge of the waterways in India. It was constituted under IWAI Act-1985
by the Parliament of India.
❖ Its headquarters is located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
❖ Chairman: Sanjay Bandopadhyay
❖ Agency Executive: Jayant Singh
❖ Under: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Sarbananda Sonowal)
First Ever National Training Conclave

❖ Prime Minister of India inaugurated the first-ever National Training Conclave at the International Exhibition
and Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
❖ PM emphasized Jan Bhagidari (People's Participation) and its significance on the Swachh Bharat
Mission, Amrit Sarovar, while also highlighting the iGOT Karmayogi platform which offers training
opportunities for government personnel at all levels.
❖ The conclave is part of the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) - ‘Mission
Karmayogi’.
❖ The Conclave is being hosted by the Capacity Building Commission.
❖ The Capacity Building Commission was constituted in 2021 which facilitates preparation of Annual
Capacity Building Plans of departments, ministries and agencies.
❖ Civil Servants from the Central government departments, State governments, and local governments, as
well as experts from the private sector, will take part in the deliberations.
❖ Objectives: It seeks to foster collaboration among civil services training institutes and bolster the training
infrastructure for civil servants across the country.
❖ Mission Karmayogi: The NPCSCB- Mission Karmayogi aims to transform capacity-building in the
bureaucracy through institutional and process reforms.
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❖ It envisages to prepare Indian civil servants for the future by making them more creative, constructive,
imaginative, innovative, proactive, professional, progressive, energetic, enabling, transparent and
technology enabled.
❖ iGOT- Karmayogi Platform: iGOT Karmayogi is an online learning platform being developed as an integral
part of the Digital India stack for capacity building of all government employees.
❖ It will provide ‘anytime-anywhere-any device’ learning to train around 2.0 crores users which was so far
unachievable through traditional measures.
National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 Report

❖ The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has released the National Time Release Study
(NTRS) 2023 report, which measures the cargo release time at various ports in India.
❖ The report aims to assess the progress made towards the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP)
targets, identify the impact of various trade facilitation initiatives, and identify the challenges to more
expeditious reduction in release time.
❖ The study was conducted based on a sample period of January 1-7, 2023, comparing the performance
with the corresponding periods of 2021 and 2022.
❖ The ports included in the study represent seaports, air cargo complexes (ACCs), inland container depots
(ICDs), and integrated check posts (ICPs). These account for approximately 80% of bills of entry and 70%
of shipping bills filed in the country.
❖ Cargo release time is defined as the time taken from the arrival of the cargo at the Customs station to
its out-of-charge for domestic clearance in case of imports and arrival of the cargo at the Customs station
to the eventual departure of the carrier in case of exports.
❖ Cargo release time is measured using Time Release Study (TRS), a performance measurement tool
recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO).
❖ Key Highlights of NTRS 2023: Import Release Time Improvements: The average import release time
has shown improvements compared to previous years.
❖ There was a 20% reduction in release time for ICDs, an 11% reduction for ACCs, and a 9% reduction for
seaports in 2023 over 2022.
❖ In absolute terms, the import release time for seaports is 85 hours and 42 minutes, for ICDs is 71 hours and
46 minutes, for ACCs is 44 hours and 16 minutes, and for ICPs is 31 hours and 47 minutes.
❖ Reaffirmation of 'Path to Promptness': The findings of NTRS 2023 reaffirm the importance of the three-
fold 'Path to Promptness' strategy.
❖ This strategy includes advance filing of import documents for pre-arrival processing, risk-based
facilitation of cargo, and the benefits of the trusted client program - Authorised Economic Operators.
❖ Cargoes that combine all three features under the 'Path to Promptness' achieve the National Trade
Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) release time target across all port categories.
❖ Focus on Export Release Time: NTRS 2023 has placed a greater focus on measuring the release time for
exports.
❖ The study recognizes the distinction between regulatory clearance (customs release) and physical
clearance.
❖ Regulatory clearance is completed with the grant of Let Export Order (LEO), while physical clearance
occurs upon the completion of logistics processes and the departure of th e carrier with the goods.
❖ Sources of Information for NTRS 2023: NTRS 2023 is based on data collected from various sources, such
as ICEGATE portal, port authorities, customs brokers, participating government agencies (PGAs), feedback
from various stakeholders, such as exporters, importers, trade associations and chambers of commerce.
❖ NTRS 2023 is aligned with the WCO TRS methodology and follows international best practices.
National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP)
❖ NTFAP aims to implement the provisions of the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in India.
❖ TFA focuses on simplifying customs procedures and norms for cross-border trade.
❖ NTFAP was prepared by the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) chaired by the Cabinet
Secretary.
❖ It includes over 90 specific activities with timelines for implementation, aligned with India's policy
objectives.
❖ NTFAP covers areas like advance import document filing, risk-based cargo facilitation, trusted client
program, infrastructure upgrades, legislative issues, outreach programs, and agency coordination.
❖ NTFAP reduces trade costs, enhances efficiency, supports evidence-based policy making, and fulfills
India's TFA commitments.
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❖ Initiatives Related to Logistics: National Logistics Policy (NLP), Multimodal Transportation of Goods Act,
1993, PM Gati Shakti Scheme, Multi Modal Logistics Parks, LEADS Report, Dedicated Freight Corridor,
Sagarmala Projects, Bharatmala Project
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
❖ It is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.
❖ The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) was renamed as the CBIC in 2018 after the roll out of the
GST.
❖ It deals with the tasks of formulation of policy concerning levy and collection of customs, central excise
duties, Central GST (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST).
❖ GST Law comprising (i) Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (ii) State Goods and Services Tax Act,
2017 (iii) Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, (iv) Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act,
2017 (v) Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017.
Inter-Service Organisation Bill 2023

❖ The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok
Sabha to empower designated military commanders to take charge of soldiers and enforce
discipline, regardless of the service they belong to.
❖ The bill came ahead of the impending move to establish integrated or joint commands, where all the
manpower and assets will be under the operational control of a single three-star general of the Indian
Army, Navy and IAF (Indian Air Force).
❖ Key Provisions of the Bill: The system is likely to include five joint services commands - western, eastern,
northern, maritime, and air defense.
❖ The central government may constitute an Inter-services Organisation, which may include a Joint Services
Command.
❖ It will empower the Commander-in-Chief/the Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations to
maintain discipline and ensure proper discharge of duties of all the personnel from the army, navy and IAF
serving under his command.
❖ The Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of an Inter-services Organisation shall be the head of
such Inter-services Organisation.
❖ Current Set up of Indian Armed forces: At present, soldiers from their respective services are governed by
different Acts of Parliament.
❖ They are the Navy Act of 1957, the Air Force Act of 1950, and the Army Act of 1950.
❖ In a current joint services setup, an army soldier commanded by a navy officer would have to be sent back
to his parent unit for any disciplinary proceedings. The navy officer does not have administrative powers
over the said soldier.
❖ The Indian armed forces currently have 17 commands. There are 7 commands each of the Army and the Air
Force. The Navy has 3 commands. Each command is headed by a 4-star rank military officer.
❖ There is one joint command in Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is the first Tri-Service theatre
command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.
❖ The other tri-service command, the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), looks after the delivery and
operational control of the country’s nuclear assets.
❖ There are also some tri-service organisations like the Defence Intelligence Agency, Defence Cyber
Agency, Defence Space Agency, etc.
❖ How does China Operate its Armed Forces: In 2016, China re-organised its 2.3-million People’s Liberation
Army into five theatre commands to boost offensive capabilities.
❖ Its Western Theatre Command handles the entire 3,488-km Line of Actual Control from eastern Ladakh to
Arunachal Pradesh.
❖ India has four Armies and three IAF commands for the northern borders with China.
VAIBHAV Scheme
❖ The Government of India has introduced a new fellowship programme called Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik
(VAIBHAV) to facilitate collaboration between the Indian diaspora in Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and Indian academic and research institutions.
❖ VAIBHAV Summit was also organised as an event dedicated to connecting the Indian
STEMM diaspora with Indian institutions.
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❖ The VAIBHAV Fellowship aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational and
Scientific Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and
the best institutions in the world through mobility of faculty/researchers from overseas institutions to India.
❖ It is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and
Technology (Ashwini Vaishnaw)
❖ Key Features of the VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme: Knowledge Verticals: The programme will focus
on 18 identified knowledge verticals, including quantum technology, health, pharmaceuticals, electronics,
agriculture, energy, computer sciences, and material sciences, among others.
❖ Eligibility: The fellowship is open to outstanding scientists and technologists of Indian origin (Non-resident
Indians (NRI)/ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)/Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) who are actively engaged in
research activities in their respective countries.
❖ Collaboration Duration: Selected fellows will have the opportunity to work in collaboration with Indian
Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), universities, and public-funded scientific institutions. They may
spend up to two months per year, for a maximum of three years, at an Indian institution of their choice.
❖ Fellowship Grant: VAIBHAV fellows will receive a monthly fellowship grant of INR 4,00,000, which will
support their research activities during the collaboration period.
❖ Travel, Accommodation, and Contingencies: The fellowship will cover international and domestic travel
expenses, accommodation, and contingencies, ensuring a conducive research environment for the fellows.
❖ Other Government Initiatives involving Overseas Indian: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on
9th January every year to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian community in the development of
India.
❖ Know India Program (KIP) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for diaspora
engagement which familiarises Indian-origin youth (18-30 years) with their Indian roots and contemporary
India.
❖ VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme of the Department of S&T enables NRIs and
overseas scientific communities to participate and contribute to research and development in India.
MQ-9B Armed Drones

❖ Recently, India's Ministry of Defence (Rajnath Singh) has granted approval for the procurement of 31 MQ-
9B armed drones from the United States. The deal, worth a little over $3 billion, is expected to be
announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington.
❖ The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper" which was used to launch a modified version of the
Hellfire missile that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
❖ The MQ-9B has two variants SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian. The Indian Navy has been operating
the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.
❖ The drone can operate at over 40,000 feet, giving the Indian military surveillance capacity in the high-
altitude Himalayan border areas.
❖ The Predator also has the maximum endurance of 40 hours, making it useful for long-hour surveillance.
❖ MQ-9B drones are equipped with advanced features such as automatic take-off and landing, detect and
avoid system, anti-spoofing GPS, and encrypted communication links.
❖ About: Weight: 5,670 kg, Fuel Capacity: 2,721 kg, Payload Capacity: 2,177 kg across 9 hardpoints (8 wing, 1
centerline)
❖ Need For India: India needs MQ-9B armed drones to enhance its surveillance and strike capabilities across
its land and maritime borders, especially in the context of the ongoing standoff with China in Ladakh and
the rising tensions with Pakistan.
❖ India also needs MQ-9B armed drones to counter the growing presence of Chinese submarines and
warships in the Indian Ocean Region, and to protect its vital sea lanes of communication and trade.
India talks with Taliban

❖ Recently, Taliban representatives met Indian and Pakistani special envoys amongst a number of
international diplomats, in an effort by the Norwegian Government to break the impasse in talks on the
sidelines of a peace conference in Oslo.
❖ Oslo Accords: The Oslo Accords are a pair of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) that marked the start of the Oslo process, a peace process aimed at resolving the
Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
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❖ The Oslo process began after secret negotiations in Oslo, Norway, resulting in both the recognition of Israel
by the PLO and the recognition by Israel of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and as a
partner in bilateral negotiations.
❖ Oslo I Accords (1993): Signed in Washington, D.C
❖ Established a framework for interim self-government arrangements for the Palestinians in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip and set a timetable for further negotiations.
❖ Oslo II Accords (1995): The Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip commonly known as
Oslo II.
Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

❖ Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was introduced in parliament
❖ The Bill aims to bring clarity to India’s forest conservation law and fast-track strategic and security-related
projects
❖ The Bill seeks to clarify the scope of applicability of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, on various lands.
❖ It aims to broaden the horizons of the Act, keeping in view India’s aim to increase forest cover for creation
of a carbon sink of additional 2.5-3.0 billion Tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
❖ The Bill amends the short title of the Act to be called the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam,
1980.
❖ The Bill proposes to insert a preamble to the Act to encompass the country’s rich tradition of preserving
forests and their biodiversity.
❖ The bill amends to exempt certain categories of lands from the purview of the Act which includes the
following:
❖ forest land situated alongside a rail line, or a public road maintained by the Government, which provides
access to a habitation, or to a rail, and roadside amenity up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectare.
❖ The forest land as is situated within a distance of one hundred kilometers along international borders or
Line of Control or Line of Actual Control proposed to be used for the construction of strategic linear
projects of national importance and concerning national security.
Exploration of Coal and Lignite

❖ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the continuation of a central-sector scheme
for “Exploration of Coal and Lignite” with an estimated outlay of â‚¹2,980 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
❖ Under this scheme, exploration for Coal and Lignite is conducted in two broad stages:
o Promotional (Regional) Exploration: Approximately, 1300 sq. km area will be covered under Regional
exploration and
o Detailed Exploration in Non-Coal India Limited blocks: Approximately 650 sq. km area will be covered
under Detailed exploration.
❖ Exploration for Coal and Lignite is required to prove and estimate coal resources available in the country
which helps in preparing detailed project report to start coal mining.
❖ The Geological reports prepared through these exploration is used for auctioning new coal blocks and the
cost is thereafter recovered from successful allocatee.
Additional Information
❖ Coal: Coal is a one of the important minerals which is mainly used in the generation of thermal power and
smelting of iron ore.
❖ It occurs in rock sequences mainly of two geological ages, namely Gondwana and tertiary deposits.
❖ The Indian coal deposits are primarily concentrated in the Gondwana sediments occurring mainly in the
eastern and central parts of Peninsular India, although Gondwana coal deposits also occur in Assam and
Sikkim in the northeastern part of the country.
❖ The Tertiary coal-bearing sediments are found in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
❖ Jharkhand has the largest coal reserves and highest coal producer in India
❖ The Gevra OC Mine is a surface mine located in Chhattisgarh the largest coal Mine in India. It is owned by
Coal India and produced an estimated 52 million tonnes of coal in 2022. The mine will operate until 2036
❖ China is the largest producer of Coal globally followed by India and United States
❖ Lignite: Lignite is a low-grade brown coal, which is soft with high moisture content.
❖ Indian lignite deposits occur in the Tertiary sediments in the southern and western parts of the peninsular
shield particularly in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir.
❖ The principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are used for the generation of electricity.
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Cyclone’s Effect on Monsoon Onset
❖ Biparjoy, a very severe cyclonic storm that has developed in the Arabian Sea, is likely to affect the progress
of the monsoon season.
❖ Biparjoy was suggested by Bangladesh and the word means ‘disaster’ or ‘calamity’ in Bengali.
❖ It is not rare for cyclones to develop in the Arabian Sea. There are fewer cyclones compared to the Bay of
Bengal, but it is not uncommon.
❖ Between 1980–2019, Cyclone Gonu in June 2007 — the strongest cyclone in the Arabian Sea
❖ Monsoon: A monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a
region. Monsoons cause wet and dry seasons throughout much of the tropics.
❖ Factors Affecting the Monsoon: Mascarene High: The southwest monsoon derives its name from winds
which blow from a south-westerly direction in the Indian subcontinent. These come from a powerhouse
located more than 4,000 kilometres from India known as the Mascarene High. This high-pressure region is
located between 25°S-35°S and 40°E-90°E near the Mascarene Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.
❖ A stronger high pressure will produce stronger winds or monsoon current. If there is a delay in the
formation of Mascarene High, there is also the possibility of a delay in the onset of monsoon in India.
❖ Coriolis Force: Coriolis Force is a pseudo force which exists only because of the Earth’s rotational
effect. Rotational motion observed in a tropical cyclone is also due to this force.
❖ Hence, these monsoon winds get deflected eastwards and now they blow from south-west to the north-
east direction. They split into two branches—the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
❖ Differential Heating: A mechanism is needed to attract the monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea or the Bay
of Bengal. Winds flow from high pressure to low pressure areas.
❖ The Himalayan range plays a vital role in summer heating by restricting the intrusion of cold air from the
north and allowing heating to occur.
❖ It is during this season that the land of India, particularly Rajasthan and surrounding areas (Gujarat and also
Pakistan) heat up extensively.
❖ The seas surrounding the country also see a temperature rise. As a result of the differential heating rates
and capacities of air over the sea and the land, we observe a gradient between air pressure over the
sea and that over India (especially Rajasthan).
❖ The air pressure over India is lower than that over the southern part of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal. This acts as an attractor mechanism for the monsoon winds.
❖ El Nino Southern Oscillation: El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) refers to the oscillatory mode of the sea
surface temperatures near the equatorial Pacific Ocean in which a warming (El Nino or cooling (La Nina) or
neutrality is observed.
❖ Indian Ocean Dipole: In 1999, N H Saji of Japan’s University of Aizu and others discovered an ENSO-like
phenomenon in the Indian Ocean which they named the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
❖ Like ENSO, IOD also has three phases—positive, negative and neutral. During the positive phase of IOD, sea
surface temperatures are warmer in the western Indian Ocean (which gives a boost to monsoon winds) as
compared to the eastern Indian Ocean—hence a dipole nature.
❖ The reverse happens during IOD negative and no gradient is observed during the IOD neutral period.
❖ It has been observed that during the period of positive IOD, the Indian summer monsoon rainfall is
considerably good as compared to the negative IOD period. Despite 1994 and 2006 being El Nino years,
India did not witness drough as IOD was significantly positive.
❖ Cyclones: The word Cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake. It was
coined by Henry Peddington because the tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear
like coiled serpents of the sea.
❖ Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and
often destructive air circulation. The air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern
hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
❖ Cyclones are classified as: (i) extra tropical cyclones (also called temperate cyclones or middle latitude
cyclones or Frontal Cyclones or Wave Cyclones); and (ii) tropical cyclones (Originate b/w Tropics of
Capricorn and Cancer)
❖ The World Meteorological Organisation uses the term 'Tropical Cyclone’ to cover weather systems in which
winds exceed ‘Gale Force’ (minimum of 63 km per hour).
❖ Anticyclones: An anticyclone is the opposite of a cyclone i.e. i.e., it has an outward-spiralling air circulation
around a high pressure centre.
❖ An anticyclone’s winds rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere around a center of high pressure.
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❖ In anticyclones, air comes in from above and sinks to the ground. High pressure centers generally have fair
weather.
❖ Worldwide terminology: Cyclones are given many names in different regions of the world – They are known
as typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean; hurricanes in the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea
and Atlantic Ocean; tornados in the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA.; willy-willies in north-
western Australia and tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean.
Type of Disturbance Wind Speed in Km/h Wind Speed in Knots
Low Pressure Less Than 31 Less than 17
Depression 31 – 49 17 – 27
Deep Depression 49 – 61 27 – 33
Cyclonic Storm 61 – 88 33 – 47
Severe Cyclonic Strom 88 – 117 47 – 63
Super Cyclone More than 221 More than 120
❖ 1 knot is equal to 1.852 km/h. It is a unit of speed which is equal to one nautical per hour. The symbol of
the knot is kn.
Formation of Cyclones
❖ Tropical cyclones originate and intensify over warm tropical oceans. The conditions favourable for the
formation and intensification of tropical storms are:
o Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C.
o Presence of the Coriolis force.
o Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
o A pre-existing weak low- pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
o Upper divergence above the sea level system.
❖ The development cycle of tropical cyclones may be divided into three stages:
1. Formation and Initial Development Stage: The formation and initial
development of a cyclonic storm depends upon the transfer of water
vapour and heat from the warm ocean to the overlying air, primarily by
evaporation from the sea surface.
❖ It encourages formation of massive vertical cumulus clouds due to
convection with condensation of rising air above the ocean surface.
2. Mature Stage: When a tropical storm intensifies, the air rises in vigorous
thunderstorms and tends to spread out horizontally at the tropopause
level. Once air spreads out, a positive pressure at high levels is produced,
which accelerates the downward motion of air due to convection.
❖ With the inducement of subsidence, air warms up by compression and a
warm ‘Eye’ (Low pressure centre) is generated. The main physical feature
of a mature tropical cyclone in the Indian Ocean is a concentric pattern of
highly turbulent giant cumulus thundercloud bands.
3. Modification and Decay: A tropical cyclone begins to weaken in terms of its central low pressure, internal
warmth and extremely high speeds, as soon as its source of warm moist air begins to ebb or is abruptly cut
off. This happens after its landfall or when it passes over cold waters.
Nomenclature of Tropical Cyclones
❖ The naming of tropical cyclones is a recent phenomenon. The process of naming cyclones involves several
countries in the region and is done under the aegis of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
❖ Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised
meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
❖ There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
❖ For the Indian Ocean region, a formula for naming cyclones was agreed upon in 2004. 8 countries in the
region - Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand - all contributed a
set of names which are assigned sequentially whenever a cyclonic storm develops.
❖ Hudhud, Titli, Phethai, Fani, Vayu and Amphan are among the names of cyclones in the Indian Ocean
region.
❖ The WMO/ESCAP expanded to include five more countries in 2018 — Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen.
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❖ Air Mass: Air Mass is an extremely large body of air whose properties of temperature and moisture content
(humidity), at any given altitude, are fairly similar. It can cover hundreds of thousands of square miles of
area.
❖ Fronts: When two different air masses (having distinctly different properties) meet, the boundary zone
between them is called a front.
❖ There are four types of fronts: Stationary front: When the front remains stationary, it is called a stationary
front.
❖ Cold front: When the cold air moves towards the warm air mass, its contact zone is called the cold front,
❖ Warm front: If the warm air mass moves towards the cold air mass, the contact zone is a warm front.
❖ Occluded front: If an air mass is fully lifted above the land surface, it is called the occluded front.
Recent Cyclone Mocha
❖ Cyclone Mocha that made landfall recently in Myanmar has been categorized as an Extremely
Severe Cyclonic Storm by the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) and as a ‘Super Cyclone’ by global
weather website Zoom Earth.
❖ It became the strongest cyclone on earth so far in 2023 according to Typhoon Research Center in South
Korea’s Jeju National University.
❖ There have been 16 cyclones so far this year in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
❖ Naming: Yemen suggested the name ‘Mocha', which is supposed to be pronounced as Mokha. The cyclone
has been named after a Red Sea port city known for its coffee production. The city also gave its name to
the popular beverage, café Mocha
❖ Origin: It originated in the Bay of Bengal.
❖ Intensity: With a recorded wind speed of 277 kmph, Mocha became the strongest cyclone for all seasons in
both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, since 1982, in the North Indian Ocean, tying with Cyclone Fani in
terms of speed and intensity.
❖ Amphan, witnessed in 2020, was 268 kmph while Tauktae in 2021 it was 222 kmph and Gonu in 2007
recorded a speed of 268 kmph.
❖ Recent Cyclones: Tauktae, Vayu, Nisarga and Mekanu (in Arabian Sea) and Asani, Amphan, Fani, Nivar,
Bulbul, Titli, Yaas and Sitrang (bay of Bengal)
CoWIN Portal Data Breach

❖ The CoWIN portal, which is used by most Indians to register for COVID-19 vaccination, has been in the
news recently after reports of a data breach by a Telegram bot.
❖ The Telegram bot allegedly shared the personal information of vaccinated people, such as their name,
Aadhaar and passport numbers, when their phone number was entered.
❖ The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) had been asked to investigate the issue and
submit a report.
❖ CERT-In, in its initial report, has pointed out that the back-end database for the Telegram bot was not
directly accessing the APIs (application programming interfaces) of the CoWIN database.
❖ CoWIN Portal: CoWIN Portal is the digital platform to capture covid-19 vaccination program details.
❖ CoWIN connects to various stakeholders, including vaccine manufacturers, administrators, and verifiers,
public and private vaccination facilities, and vaccine recipients etc.
❖ The CoWIN platform was developed at a record speed with ample consideration to its scalability,
modularity and interoperability. CoWIN has been integrated with other government mobile applications
such as Aarogya Setu and UMANG.
❖ UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is developed by the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY) and National e-Governance Division (NeGD) to drive mobile
governance in India. UMANG provides a single platform for all Indian citizens to access pan India e-Gov
services ranging from Central to local government bodies.
❖ CoWIN provides access to third-party applications that have been authorised by the government to use
its APIs (application programming interfaces).
❖ APIs are a set of rules that allow two applications to communicate and share data.
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in)
❖ It is an office within the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) established
in 2004 under the IT Act 2000.
❖ It is the nodal agency to
o Deal with cyber security threats.
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oStrengthen the security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain.
oCoordinate with public and private organisations in India when cyber incidents like data breaches and
ransomware attacks are reported.
o Issue advisories for software vulnerabilities as guidance for organisations.
❖ CERT-IN has overlapping responsibilities with other agencies such as:
o National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) which is under the National
Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) that comes under the Prime Minister's Office.
o The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Exercise Air Defender 23

❖ Germany is preparing to host the biggest air deployment Exercise Air Defender 23 in NATO's history.
❖ The Air Defender 23 exercise will see 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 nations respond to a
simulated attack on a NATO member country.
❖ The exercise will be held across Germany, with some of the training taking place at Ramstein Air Base,
which is one of NATO’s largest air bases.
❖ The exercise is being held in response to the increased threat posed by Russia following its invasion of
Ukraine. The exercise is designed to demonstrate NATO’s readiness to respond to any threat to its
airspace.
❖ Sweden, which is hoping to join the alliance, and Japan are also taking part in the exercise.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
❖ NATO is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty)
of April 1949, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective
security against the Soviet Union.
❖ Its has 31 Members
❖ In 1949, there were 12 founding members of the Alliance: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland,
Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
❖ Since then, 19 more countries have joined the Alliance: Greece and Turkey (1952); Germany (1955); Spain
(1982); Czechia, Hungary and Poland (1999); Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and
Slovenia (2004); Albania and Croatia (2009); Montenegro (2017); North Macedonia (2020); and Finland
(2023)
❖ HQ-Brussels Belgium
❖ Headquarters of Allied Command Operations: Mons, Belgium.
❖ Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg, First- General Hastings Ismay
❖ Chairman of NATO Military Command: Lt. Admiral Rob Bauer (Netherlands)
❖ Supreme Allied Commander: General Christopher G. Cavoli (US)
❖ Supreme Allied: General Philippe Lavigne (France)
❖ Article 5 of the NATO, requiring member states to come to the aid of any member state subject to an
armed attack
❖ It was invoked for the first and only time after the September 11 attacks, after which troops were deployed
to Afghanistan under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The organization has
operated a range of additional roles since then, including sending trainers to Iraq, assisting in counter-
piracy operations, and in 2011 enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya in accordance with UN Security Council
Resolution 1973.
❖ 3 main objectives of NATO when it was made was:
o Deterring Soviet Expansionism
o Forbidding the revival of national militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on
the continent
o Encouraging European political integration
❖ Membership of NATO: It is open to all European nations that fulfil certain criteria that include “a
functioning democratic political system based on a market economy; fair treatment of minority
populations; a commitment to resolve conflicts peacefully; an ability and willingness to make a military
contribution to NATO operations; and a commitment to democratic civil-military relations and
institutions”.
❖ New members are admitted with the unanimous consent of all members.
❖ South Korea (National Intelligence Service) recently became the first Asian country to join NATO's
Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence(CCDCOE)
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❖ NATO held cyber defence exercise Locked Shields in Estonia
India’s Jet Engine Deal with US

❖ India has announced a significant agreement between the American multinational corporation General
Electric (GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), during Indian PM's state visit to the US. The deal
involves the transfer of critical jet engine technologies and the manufacturing of GE's F414 engine for
India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2.
❖ This development marks a crucial milestone in India's pursuit of advanced combat jet engine technology.
❖ Only a handful of countries — such as the US, Russia, the UK, and France — have mastered the technology
❖ Note: The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) was also launched during the ongoing visit
of the PM.
❖ INDUS-X is meant as a platform for Indian and U.S. start-ups and tech companies to collaborate for the co-
development and co-production of advanced technologies.
❖ GE's F414 engine: GE's F414 engine is a turbofan engine used by the US Navy for over 30 years
❖ It is equipped with a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC), a six-stage high-pressure
compressor, an advanced high-pressure turbine, and a "fueldraulic" system for nozzle area control.
❖ It offers exceptional throttle response, excellent afterburner light and stability, and unrestricted engine
performance when required.
❖ The F414 engine has powered military aircraft in eight nations, making it a trusted choice for modern
fighter jets.
❖ For India, the F414 engine holds great significance,
particularly in the context of the LCA Tejas Mk2.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of
❖ The DRDO has selected the India-specific version of
the engine, known as F414-INS6, for the LCA Tejas
Mk2
❖ LCA Tejas Mk2: It is an upgraded version of the
indigenous fighter aircraft developed in India.
❖ It has the capability to carry eight Beyond-Visual-
Range (BVR) missiles simultaneously and integrate
both native and advanced weapons from other
countries.
❖ The LCA Mk2 offers improved range and mission endurance compared to its predecessor, with a mission
endurance of 120 minutes, as opposed to 57 minutes for the LCA Tejas Mk1.
❖ It is intended to serve as a replacement for the Jaguars, MiG-29s, and Mirage 2000s as they retire in the
coming decade. Manufacturing has already begun, and the aircraft is expected to be rolled out by 2024.
❖ Development Efforts by DRDO: The DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) initiated the
development of the GTX-37 engine for the LCA, followed by the ambitious Kaveri engine project in 1989.
❖ Despite the development of 9 full prototype engines and 4 core engines and extensive testing, the engines
did not meet the requirements for fighter aircraft making this deal crucial for its defence capabilities.
❖ End of Technology Denial Regime: This pact finally lays to rest what former PM of India (in 2008) had
described in as the “technology denial regime” imposed on India by the West, led by the US.
❖ India's Recent Developments in Defence Sector: Successful testing of indigenous weapons and systems,
including: Rustom-2 drone, Light Combat Helicopter, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile, Agni-5
intercontinental ballistic missile, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
❖ Launch and commissioning of indigenous naval vessels, including: INS Karanj submarine, OPV Vijaya
patrol vessel, INS Dhruv nuclear missile tracking ship, INS Himgiri stealth frigate
❖ India's Defence Collaboration with Other Countries: Barak missiles and Precision Guided Munitions from
Israel, S-400 air defence systems from Russia, Rafale fighter jets from France
❖ Aside from GE, India has been talking to other global jet engine makers for technology transfer such
as Safran SA of France and Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom for the AMCA.
CAATSA
❖ United States (US) House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the National Defence
Authorization Act (NDAA), proposing India-specific waiver under the Countering America’s Adversaries
Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
❖ The US President was given the authority in 2018 to waive CAATSA sanctions on a case-by-case basis.
❖ It will allow India to freely purchase Russia’s S-400 missile system without the fear of American sanctions.
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❖ The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is legislation that Congress passes each year to make
changes to the policies and organization of United States defense agencies and provide guidance on how
military funding can be spent.
❖ The amendment urges the US administration to use its authority to provide India with a CAATSA waiver to
help deter aggressors like China.
❖ CAATSA is a law that came into effect in the US in 2017, and was meant to punish countries having deep
engagements with Russia, North Korea, and Iran using economic sanctions.
❖ Title II of the Act primarily deals with sanctions on Russian interests such as its oil and gas industry,
defence and security sector, and financial institutions, in the backdrop of its military intervention in
Ukraine and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US Presidential elections.
❖ Section 231 of the Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed sanctions —
enumerated in Section 235 of the Act — on persons engaged in a “significant transaction” with Russian
defence and intelligence sectors.
❖ Sanctions that can Impact India: There are only two sanctions that may impact either India-Russia relations
or India-US relations.
❖ Prohibition of Banking transactions: The first of these, which is likely to have an impact on India-Russia
relations, is the “Prohibition of Banking transactions”.
❖ This would mean difficulties for India in making payments in US Dollars to Russia for the purchase of the S-
400 systems.
❖ In 2020, Turkey was sanctioned for its purchase of the S-400 system.
❖ Export Sanction: This is the “export sanction” which has the potential to completely derail the India-US
Strategic and Defence partnership, as it will deny the license for, and export of, any items controlled by the
US.
S-400 Missile System
❖ In October 2018, India signed a 5.43 billion USD deal with Russia for the S-400 Triumf missile system
despite objections from the US
❖ It is a mobile, Surface-to-Air Missile system (SAM) designed by Russia.
❖ It is the most dangerous operationally deployed Modern Long-Range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world,
considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD).
❖ It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence.
❖ The system can engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km.
General Electric Company
❖ GE is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892 and incorporated in the state of New York
and headquartered in Boston.
❖ Founders: Charles A. Coffin, Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan
❖ Chairman & CEO: H. Lawrence Culp Jr.
❖ The company operates in aviation, power, renewable energy, digital industry, additive manufacturing, and
venture capital and finance.
❖ In 2020, GE ranked among the Fortune 500 as the 33rd largest firm in the United States by gross revenue.
In 2011, GE ranked among the Fortune 20 as the 14th most profitable company, but later very severely
underperformed the market (by about 75%) as its profitability collapsed.
❖ Two employees of GE – Irving Langmuir (1932) and Ivar Giaever (1973) – have been awarded the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry and Physics respectively.
General Atomics
❖ GA is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, specializing in
research and technology development.
❖ Chairman: J. Neal Blue
❖ Vice-Chairman: Linden S. Blue
❖ General Atomics was founded on July 18, 1955, in San Diego, California, by Frederic de Hoffmann with
assistance from notable physicists Edward Teller and Freeman Dyson.
❖ Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist. Who is also known as ‘Father of Hydrogen
Bomb’. He was one of the early members of the Manhattan Project charged with developing the first
Atomic Bomb
US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology
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❖ India and the United States have taken a significant step towards strengthening their strategic partnership
and driving technology and defense cooperation. Under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technologies (iCET), the two nations have unveiled a roadmap for enhanced collaboration in high-
technology areas.
❖ The initiative focuses on addressing regulatory barriers, aligning export controls, and fostering deeper
cooperation in critical and emerging fields.
❖ iCET: The iCET was announced by India and the US in May 2022 and was officially launched in January
2023 and is being run by the National Security Council of both countries.
❖ Under iCET, both countries have identified six areas of cooperation which would include co-development
and co-production, that would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by Europe and the
rest of the world.
❖ Under iCET, India is ready to share its core technologies with the US and expects Washington to do the
same.
❖ It aims to promote collaboration in critical and emerging technology areas, including AI, quantum
computing, semiconductors, and wireless telecommunication.
❖ Focus Areas of the Initiative: AI research agency partnership.
o Defense industrial cooperation, defense technological cooperation, and defense startups.
o Innovation Ecosystems.
o Semiconductor ecosystem development.
o Cooperation on human spaceflight.
o Advancement in 5G and 6G technologies, and adoption of OpenRAN network technology in India.
❖ Progress Made So Far: Key achievements include the Quantum Coordination Mechanism, public-private
dialogue on telecommunication, important exchanges on AI and space, MoU on establishing
a semiconductor supply chain, and conclusion of a roadmap for defense industrial cooperation.
❖ The two countries are close to finalizing a mega jet engine deal, and a new initiative called the India-U.S.
Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) is set to be launched.
❖ Strategic Trade Dialogue has been established to address regulatory barriers and review export control
norms.
❖ India’s Relations with the US: Economic Relations: The U.S. has emerged as India's biggest trading partner
in 2022-23 on account of increasing economic ties between the two countries.
❖ The bilateral trade between India and the U.S. has increased by 7.65% to USD 128.55 in 2022-23 as against
USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22.
❖ Exports to the U.S. rose by 2.81% to USD 78.31 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 76.18 billion in 2021-22,
while imports grew by about 16% to USD 50.24 billion.
OpenRAN Network Technology
❖ It is a non-proprietary version of the Radio Access Network (RAN) system.
❖ A RAN is a major component of a wireless telecommunications system that connects individual devices to
other parts of a network through a radio link.
❖ Allows interoperability between cellular network equipment from different vendors.
❖ Advantages of OpenRAN Network Technology: Creates a more open and flexible RAN architecture.
o Based on open interfaces and virtualization.
o Supported by industry-wide standards.
o Cost reduction.
o Increased competition.
o Faster innovation.
❖ Applications of OpenRAN Network Technology:
o Supporting 5G and 6G networks.
o Enhancing network performance and security.
o Enabling new services and capabilities.
o Bridging the digital divide.
DAKSHTA
❖ The recently launched curated collection, DAKSHTA (Development of Attitude, Knowledge, Skill for
Holistic Transformation in Administration) For Young Professionals, on the iGOT Karmayogi
Platform aims to equip young professionals and consultants in government with the necessary
competencies to effectively discharge their duties and responsibilities
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❖ Consisting of 18 courses, the collection covers a wide range of subjects crucial to their roles, including
data-driven decision making, code of conduct, communication skills, public policy research, stress
management, and more.
❖ The iGOT Karmayogi Platform, an online portal established under the Mission Karmayogi, offers a
comprehensive resource for capacity building, career management, and networking for government
officials.
NATO Plus five

❖ Recently, in a significant move coinciding with Prime Minister of India's visit to Washington, the co-chairs
of the U.S. Senate announced their plan to introduce legislation granting India 'NATO plus five' defence
status.
❖ This arrangement currently includes the US, its NATO partners, and five countries: Australia, New Zealand,
South Korea, Japan, and Israel. Aims to enhance defence ties and facilitate the transfer of defence
equipment.
❖ However, India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, had already rejected this framework, stating that it
did not apply to India. US defended the proposal, emphasizing the importance of increasing defence trade
between the US and India to bolster India's defence capabilities, particularly in the face of the China
threat. The goal is to establish a comprehensive partnership between the two nations.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

❖ As Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) enters its 4th year of implementation, the
Department of Fisheries plans to expedite the pace of implementation of the scheme.
❖ As part of this plan, the Department has scheduled a series of review meetings with states and Union
Territories (UTs). The first review meeting recently took place in the Northeastern Region (NER) of India.
❖ PMSSY: It aims to bring about the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of
the fisheries sector in India.
❖ PMMSY was introduced as part of the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ package with an investment of Rs. 20,050
crores, the highest-ever investment in this sector.
❖ The scheme is being implemented in all States and UTs for a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY
2024-25.
❖ In order to facilitate access to institutional credit, fishermen are provided with insurance
coverage, financial assistance and a facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) as well.
❖ Implementation: It is implemented as an umbrella scheme with two separate components namely: Central
Sector Scheme: The project cost will be borne by the Central government.
❖ Centrally Sponsored Scheme: All the sub-components/activities will be implemented by the States/UTs,
and the cost will be shared between the Centre and State.
❖ Objectives: Harness the potential of the fisheries sector, Enhance fish production and productivity,
Modernise and strengthen the value chain, Double fishers' and fish farmers’ incomes, Enhance the
contribution of the fisheries sector to agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA), Ensure social, physical and
economic security for fishers and fish farmers, Build a robust fisheries management and regulatory
framework
❖ Achievements: As of 2023, under PMMSY, projects worth Rs 14,654.67 crore have been approved from
2020-21 to 2022-23.
❖ As the 3rd largest fish producer and the 2nd largest aquaculture producer globally, India recognizes the
significance of the fisheries and aquaculture industry.
❖ The fish production reached an all-time high of 16.25 MMT during FY 2021-22 with marine exports
touching Rs. 57,586 Crores.
❖ Note: Aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and
other organisms living in all types of water environments whereas Pisciculture refers to the breeding,
rearing, and transplantation of fish by artificial means.
❖ Other Initiatives Related to Fisheries Sector: Sagar Parikrama, Palk Bay Scheme, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
Blue Revolution
❖ Blue Revolution also called as Neel or Nili Kranti Mission in India was launched in 1985-1990 during the 7th
Five-Year Plan which was led by then PM Rajiv Gandhi
❖ Hiralal Chaudhuri and Dr. Arun Krishnsnan are known as Father of Blue revolution.
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❖ Later, during the 8th Five Year Plan (1992-97), the Intensive Marine Fisheries Program was launched, and
eventually, the fishing harbours in Vishakhapatnam, Kochi, Tuticorin, Porbandar, and Port Blair were also
established over the time.
❖ The Blue Revolution, with its multi-dimensional activities, focuses mainly on increasing fisheries
production and productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources, both inland and marine.
❖ The aquaculture industry has been growing at an average rate of 9% a year and India is one of the fastest
growers.
❖ Objectives: To increase overall fish production in a responsible and sustainable manner for economic
prosperity
❖ To modernise the fisheries with a special focus on new technologies
❖ To ensure food and nutritional security
❖ To generate employment and export earnings
❖ To ensure inclusive development and empower fishers and aquaculture farmers
Kisan Credit Card Scheme
❖ The scheme was introduced in 1998 for providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking
system, under a single window with flexible and simplified procedures to farmers for their cultivation and
other needs like the purchase of agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash
for their production needs.
❖ In the Budget-2018-19, the government announced the extension of the facility of KCC to fisheries and
animal husbandry farmers to help them to meet their working capital needs.
❖ Implementing Agencies: Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks ,
Cooperatives
First Waterbodies Census

❖ The Ministry of Jal Shakti (Gajendra Singh Shekhawat) recently released the report of its first-ever census
of water bodies, revealing crucial insights into the country's water resources.
❖ The census provides an extensive inventory of water sources in India, highlighting disparities between
rural and urban areas and varying levels of encroachment.
❖ The census of waterbodies was conducted in conjunction with the 6th Minor Irrigation Census for 2017-18.
❖ It defines a waterbody as "all-natural or man-made units bounded on all sides with some or no masonry
work used for storing water for irrigation or other purposes."
❖ Key Insights from the Census: The census enumerated a total of 24,24,540 water bodies across the
country, with West Bengal accounting for the most (7.47 lakh) and Sikkim the least (134).
❖ West Bengal has the highest number of ponds and reservoirs. The top district in terms of waterbodies is
South 24 Parganas in West Bengal.
❖ Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of tanks
❖ Tamil Nadu has the highest number of lakes
❖ Maharashtra leads in water conservation schemes
❖ The report highlights that 97.1% of the waterbodies are in rural areas, with only 2.9% in urban areas.
❖ Most of the waterbodies are ponds, followed by tanks, reservoirs, water conservation schemes, percolation
tanks, check dams, lakes, and others.
❖ Encroachment of Waterbodies: The census also collected data on the encroachment of waterbodies for the
first time, revealing that 1.6% of all enumerated waterbodies are encroached, with 95.4% of
encroachments in rural areas and the remaining 4.6% in urban areas.
❖ A significant percentage of encroachments cover more than 75% of the waterbody's area.
New Secretary of RAW

❖ The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister, has approved IPS officer Ravi
Sinha'a appointment as Secretary, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for a tenure of two years.
❖ He replaces Samant Kumar Goel, who will complete his tenure on June 30, 2023.
❖ Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is India's premier intelligence agency and was created in 1968 to
handle India’s external intelligence affairs.
❖ The chief of RAW is designated secretary (research) in the Cabinet Secretariat, which is part of the prime
minister’s office.
❖ RAW reports directly to the prime minister instead of the Ministry of Defense.
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❖ Since its inception, RAW is credited with providing intelligence support to many significant operations on
foreign soil.
❖ History: Until 1968, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was handling both the internal and external intelligence.
❖ After the 1962 border war with China, the need for a separate external intelligence agency was felt. During
that conflict, our intelligence failed to detect Chinese build up for the attack.
❖ As a result, India established a dedicated external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing.
❖ Founded mainly to focus on China and Pakistan, over the last forty years the organization has expanded its
mandate and is credited with greatly increasing India’s influence abroad.
❖ In 1968, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed R. N. Kao as the first director of RAW.
❖ Structure of RAW: R&AW has been organised on the lines of the CIA. The head of R&AW is designated
Secretary (R) in the Cabinet Secretariat.
❖ The Secretary (R), is under the direct command of the Prime Minister, and reports on an administrative
basis to the Cabinet Secretary, who reports to the Prime Minister.
❖ RAW’s Role in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka: RAW played a significant role in the formation of
Bangladesh along with the Indian army and other Indian security and intelligence agencies.
❖ RAW trained and armed Mukti Bahini, a group of East Pakistanis fighting for the separate state of
Bangladesh.
❖ Analysts say that RAW also facilitated the northeastern state of Sikkim’s accession to India in 1975, and
provided military assistance to groups hostile to the pro-China regime in Myanmar.
❖ RAW helped train and arm the LTTE in the 1970s, but after the group’s terrorist activities grew in the
1980s—including its alliances with separatist groups in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu—RAW
withdrew this support.
❖ In 1987, India made a pact with the Sri Lankan government to send peacekeeping troops to the island, and
Indian forces ended up fighting the group RAW had armed. In 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, prime minister of India at
the time of the peacekeeping force deployment, was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber.
❖ Covert Action in Afghanistan and Pakistan: RAW set up two covert groups of its own, Counter Intelligence
Team-X (CIT-X) and Counter Intelligence Team-J (CIT-J), the first targeting Pakistan in general and the
second directed at Khalistani groups.
Common Uniform for Indian Army

❖ The Indian Army has decided that from 1st August 2023, all officers of the rank of Brigadier and above will
wear Common Uniform items irrespective of their cadre and appointment, in order to promote and
strengthen common identity and approach.
❖ Current Position: Different branches of the Indian Army wear different uniform accouterments, such as
berets, lanyards, and badges of rank, based on their regimental or corps affiliation.
❖ New Uniform: All officers of the rank of Brigadier, Major General, Lt. General, and General will now wear
berets (caps) of the same colour, common badges of rank, a common belt buckle, and a common pattern
of shoes.
❖ The shoulder rank badges will be golden for all senior officers. As of now, officers from the rifle regiments
such as Gorkha Rifles, Garhwal Rifles and Rajputana Rifles wear black rank badges.
❖ The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belts and shoes of senior officers of Brigadier and
above ranks will now be standardised and common.
❖ There is no change to the uniform worn by Colonels and below-rank officers.
❖ They will no longer wear regimental lanyards (cords) on their shoulders. They will also not wear any
shoulder flashes like ‘Special Forces’, ‘Arunachal Scouts’, ‘Dogra Scouts’, etc.
❖ Thus, there will be no item of uniform that will identify them as belonging to a particular Regiment or
Corps. All officers of these higher ranks will dress alike in the same pattern of uniform.
❖ This decision will help to promote a more cohesive and integrated organizational culture within the Indian
Army.
❖ A standard uniform will ensure a common identity for all senior-rank officers, while reflecting the true
ethos of the Indian Army.
Model Prison Act 2023

❖ The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prepared the ‘Model Prisons Act 2023’ that will replace a
Britishera law, (the Prisons Act of 1894), to overhaul the prison administration that will focus on the
reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.
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❖ There are “several lacunae” in the old pre-Independence act, Prisons Act of 1894 and there was
“conspicuous omission” of the correctional focus in the existing Act.
❖ The Prision Act 1894 mainly focuses on keeping the criminals in custody and enforcement of discipline
and order in Prisons. There is no provision for reform and rehabilitation of prisoners in this Act.
❖ Salient Features of the New Act: Provisions of punishment for prisoners and jail staff for use of prohibited
items such as mobile phones in jails.
❖ Establishment and management of high security jails, open jail (open and semi-open).
❖ Provisions for protecting society from the criminal activities of hardened criminals and habitual offenders.
❖ Providing legal aid to prisoners, parole, furlough and premature release to incentivize good conduct.
❖ Security assessment and segregation of prisoners, individual sentence planning; grievance redressal,
prison development board, attitudinal change towards prisoners and provision of separate accommodation
for women prisoners, transgender, etc.
❖ There are provisions for use of technology in prison administration with a view to bring transparency in
prison administration, provision for videoconferencing with courts, scientific and technological
interventions in prisons, etc.
❖ Significance: The Prisoners Act of 1900 and the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950 are also decades-old and
relevant provisions of these Acts have been assimilated in the Model Prisons Act, 2023, expecteting to
bring much-needed reforms to the Indian prison system and align it with international standards.
Manipur Invokes RBI’s Riot Provisions

❖ The Manipur government has invoked the Riot Provision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in response to
a Grave Situation in the State marked by riots and violence.
❖ The order acknowledged the borrowers' inability to repay loans due to the crisis and sought relief
measures for the affected individuals.
❖ While typically applied in areas affected by natural calamities, this move marks the first instance of its
utilization in response to a law-and-order situation.
❖ Provisions: RBI Directions 2018: The Provisions are as per Chapter No. 7 of the "Reserve Bank of India
(Relief Measures by Banks in Areas Affected by Natural Calamities) Directions, 2018."
❖ Whenever RBI advises the banks to extend rehabilitation assistance to the riot/disturbance affected
persons, the aforesaid guidelines may broadly be followed by banks for the purpose.
❖ The Provisions specifically addresses "Riots and Disturbances".
❖ The rules specify several norms that must be followed for Restructuring the Loans, providing fresh loans
and other measures, including KYC norms.
❖ According to the directions, all the short-term loans, except those overdue at the time of the occurrence of
riots, will be eligible for restructuring.
❖ Applicability: The provisions of these Directions shall apply to every Scheduled Commercial Bank (including
Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) licensed to operate in India by RBI.
❖ Crop Loans: In the case of crop loans, if the loss ranges between 33% and 50%, borrowers are eligible for a
maximum repayment period of two years. If the crop loss exceeds 50%, the repayment period can be
extended up to a maximum of five years.
❖ Additionally, all restructured loan accounts will have a moratorium period of at least one year.
❖ Long Term Agri Loan: If the crop is damaged without harm to productive assets, banks can reschedule
installment payments for the affected year and extend the loan period by one year. Additionally, banks have
the option to postpone interest payments by borrowers. However, if productive assets are also damaged, a
new loan may be required.
❖ Fresh loans: Banks will evaluate borrowers' credit needs, follow loan approval procedures, and may offer
collateral-free consumption loans up to Rs 10,000 to existing borrowers without personal guarantees, even
if the value of assets is lower than the loan amount.
❖ Relaxation in KYC Norms: For the people who have lost their documents due to the calamity of riots, the
banks need to open new accounts for such people. This will be applicable where the balance in the
account does not exceed Rs 50,000. The total credit in the account should not exceed Rs 1,00,000.
India-US Strategic Partnership

❖ The Indian Prime Minister was on a significant visit to the United States of America.
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❖ The visit aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and focused
on addressing common challenges, taking a stand on global issues, collaborating in critical emerging
technologies, promoting sustainable development, and transitioning towards clean energy.
❖ Strengthening Semiconductor Supply Chains: Micron Technology, with support from the India
Semiconductor Mission, will invest in a new semiconductor assembly and test facility in India.
❖ US Semiconductor Applied Materials will invest $400 million over next 4 years Semiconductor Centre for
Commercialization and Innovation in Bangalore, India to enhance the diversification of the semiconductor
supply chain.
❖ Lam Research will train 60,000 Indian engineers through its "Semiverse Solution" to accelerate India's
semiconductor education and workforce development goals.
❖ Advanced Telecommunications: India and the US have established public-private Joint Task Forces on
the development and deployment of Open RAN systems and advanced telecoms research and
development.
❖ Bharat 6G from India and the US Next G Alliance will co-lead the public-private research, aiming to reduce
costs, enhance security, and improve the resiliency of telecommunication networks.
❖ Note: Open RAN, also known as Open Radio Access Network, is a concept and approach to designing and
implementing radio access networks in telecommunications. It aims to introduce greater openness,
flexibility, and interoperability into traditional RAN architectures by decoupling hardware and software
components and promoting multi-vendor integration.
❖ NASA-ISRO Collaboration in Space: India has signed the Artemis Accords, joining 26 other countries
committed to peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation for space exploration.
❖ NASA will provide advanced training to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronauts, with the
goal of a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.
❖ A strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation between NASA and ISRO is being developed by
the end of 2023.
❖ Quantum, Advanced Computing, and Artificial Intelligence: The Joint Indo-US Quantum Coordination
Mechanism has been established to facilitate joint research on quantum technology , Artificial
Intelligence (AI), and advanced wireless technologies.
❖ Joint collaboration on trustworthy and responsible AI, including generative AI, will promote AI education,
workforce initiatives, and commercial opportunities.
❖ India's leadership as Chair of the Global Partnership on AI was commended, and Google's investment in
Indian startups and AI research centre was appreciated.
❖ Fibre Optics Investments: Sterlite Technologies Limited from India has invested USD 100 million in
constructing a optical fibre cable manufacturing unit near Columbia, South Carolina, facilitating USD 150
million in annual exports of optical fiber from India.
❖ Cutting-edge Research: The US National Science Foundation has joint research collaborations with India's
Department of Science and Technology. A cooperative arrangement has been signed with India's Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology to promote emerging technologies.
❖ Innovation Handshake: The US-India Commercial Dialogue will launch an "Innovation Handshake" to
connect the startup ecosystems of both countries, supporting the US-India Initiative on Critical and
Emerging Technology (iCET).
❖ Critical Minerals Partnership: India has become the newest partner of the US-led Minerals Security
Partnership (MSP), focused on developing diverse and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains
globally.
❖ Epsilon Carbon Limited, an Indian company, will invest in a greenfield electric vehicle battery component
factory in the US.
❖ Defense Partnership: A groundbreaking proposal has been welcomed to co-produce GE's F414 combat
aircraft engines in India, allowing for greater transfer of US jet engine technology.
❖ India intends to procure armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs from General Atomics to enhance intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
❖ Agreements have been reached for service and repair of US Navy ships at Indian shipyards, fostering
closer cooperation. Master Ship Repair Agreements with Indian shipyards will expedite contracting
processes for mid-voyage and emergent repair.
❖ The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) has been inaugurated, fostering joint innovation
on defence technologies and integrating India's private sector defence industry with the US defence sector.
❖ The adoption of a Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap will provide policy direction for defence
industries.
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❖ The roadmap aims to enable co-production of advanced defence systems and collaborative research,
testing, and prototyping.
❖ Strengthening India-US Trade and Investment Partnership: Bilateral trade exceeds USD 191 billion in
2022, with a focus on greater engagement and technical cooperation in emerging technologies, clean
energy, and pharmaceuticals.
❖ People-Centric Efforts: Initiatives have been taken to simplify visa renewals for certain petition-based
temporary work visas, benefiting Indian nationals and reducing the need to leave the country for renewal.
❖ Plans are underway to open new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, fostering closer diplomatic ties.
❖ The Leaders welcomed the establishment of the Tamil Studies Chair at the University of
Houston and reinstating the Vivekananda Chair at the University of Chicago to further research and
teaching of India’s history and culture.
PIL Scheme for Semiconductor
❖ The Centre approved changes to the scheme for the development of a semiconductor and display
manufacturing ecosystem in the country in order to make India’s $10 billion chip-making initiative more
attractive to investors
❖ In 2021, India announced its roughly $10 billion (₹76,000) dollar Production-Linked Incentive (PLI)
scheme to encourage semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country.
❖ Also, a Design-Linked Initiative (DLI) scheme to drive global and domestic investment related to design
software, IP rights etc. was announced.
❖ Changes: Uniform 50% Fiscal Support: In the previous version of the scheme, the Centre was offering to
fund 30% of the project cost for 45nm to 65nm chip production, 40% for 28nm to 45nm, and 50% or half of
the funding for chips 28nm or below. The modified scheme provides uniform 50% fiscal support for all
nodes.
❖ Setting-up of New Semiconductor Plants: Vedanta and Taiwanese chipmaker Foxconn have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a ₹1,54,000 crore semiconductor plant in Gujarat.
❖ Two other projects have also been announced: A $3 billion plant in Karnataka by the International
consortium ISMC.
❖ ISMC is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures and Israel’s Tower Semiconductor.
❖ A $3.5 billion plant in Tamil Nadu by Singapore’s IGSS Ventures.
❖ Production of the 45nm Chip: The modified scheme also emphasised the production of the 45nm chip,
which is fairly less time-consuming and economical in terms of production. These chips have high
demand, driven primarily by automotive, power and telecom applications.
❖ India’s Semiconductors consumption is expected to cross $80 Billion by 2026. $110 Billion by 2030
❖ Invest India agency estimates electronics manufacturing to be worth $300 Billion by 2025-26
❖ Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) set-ups take care of less capital-intensive parts of
chipmaking and run specialized tests.
❖ The United States has passes the CHIPS and Science Act. The act provides roughly $280 billion in new
funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States. The act
includes $39 billion in subsidies for chip manufacturing on US soil along with 25% investment tax credits
for costs of manufacturing equipment, and $13 billion for semiconductor research and workforce training,
with the primary aim of countering China.
❖ The European Union has passed the $47 Billion (€43 Billion) European Chips Act, seeks to help the block
compete with the US and Asia on tech, and secure control over a semiconductor supply chain
❖ The new rules would aim to double the EU’s global market share in Semiconductors from 10% to 20% by
2030
❖ The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the world’s largest semiconductor
producing company.
PM Visit to Egypt
❖ The Indian Prime Minister (PM) has visited Egypt for the first time since 1997 to discuss bilateral relations
between India and Egypt.
❖ The Government of Egypt bestowed the highest honor of the land — the Order of the Nile — on the PM.
❖ Instituted in 1915, the ‘Order of the Nile’ is conferred upon heads of states, crown princes, and vice
presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services.
❖ Key Highlights of the Visit: Strategic Partnership Agreement: The visit marked the signing of a strategic
partnership agreement between India and Egypt, which is a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship
between the two countries. The strategic partnership will have broadly four elements: Political, Defense
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and Security, Economic engagement, Scientific and academic collaboration, Cultural and people-to-people
contact
❖ Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): Three MoUs were signed between India and Egypt in the fields of
agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law, aiming to enhance cooperation in these
areas.
❖ Bilateral Discussions: Indian PM and Egypt’s President discussed various topics, including multilateral
cooperation at the G-20 food and energy security, Climate Change, and Clean Energy collaboration.
❖ India Unit in Egyptian Cabinet: Indian PM met with the India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted
by Egyptian President in Egyptian Cabinet in March, 2023 to enhance India-Egypt relations.
❖ Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery: Indian PM paid homage to over 4,300 Indian soldiers who lost their
lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I at the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery.
❖ Egypt's Participation in G-20 Summit: Egypt was designated as a "guest country" at the upcoming G-20
summit scheduled to be held in September, further strengthening bilateral ties between India and Egypt.
❖ Al-Hakim Mosque: Indian Prime Minister visited the 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo, which was
restored by India's Dawoodi Bohra community.
❖ The mosque was built in 1012 and is the fourth oldest mosque in Cairo. The Dawoodi Bohra Muslims are
known for their adherence to the Fatimi Ismaili Tayyibi school of thought and originated from Egypt before
establishing a presence in India in the 11th century.
❖ Meet with Grand Mufti: PM has discussed Egypt-India ties as well as issues related to promoting social
harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Shawky Ibrahim
Abdel-Karim Allam.
❖ Prime Minister apprised the Grand Mufti that India would set up a Centre of Excellence in IT at the Dar-al-
Ifta - an Egyptian advisory body for Islamic legal research — under the Ministry of Social Justice of Egypt.
❖ In 2013, Dr Allam became the first elected Grand Mufti of Egypt. He holds the office of the Chairman of the
Supreme Council of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide - an umbrella organisation
that was created to coordinate among more than 100 fatwa authorities globally.
India-Egypt Relations
❖ The history of contact between India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilizations, can be traced back
to at least the time of Emperor Ashoka. Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II.
❖ In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and the Egyptian revolutionary Saad Zaghloul shared the common goal
of independence from British colonial rule.
❖ The joint announcement of establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was made on
18th August 1947.
❖ India and Egypt signed a friendship treaty in 1955. In 1961, India and Egypt along with Yugoslavia,
Indonesia and Ghana established the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
❖ In 2016, the joint statement between India and Egypt identified political-security cooperation, economic
engagement and scientific collaboration, and cultural and people-people ties as the basis of a new
partnership for a new era.
❖ Bilateral Trade: India’s trade with Egypt stood at USD 6,061 million in 2022-23, having declined by 17% over
the previous year. Nearly a third of it was petroleum related.
❖ India was Egypt’s sixth largest trading partner, while Egypt was India’s 38th in 2022-23.
❖ Indian investments in Egypt are spread over 50 projects totalling USD 3.15 billion. Egypt has invested USD
37 million in India.
❖ Defense Cooperation: The two Air Forces collaborated on the development of fighter aircraft in the
1960s, and Indian pilots trained their Egyptian counterparts from the 1960s until the mid-1980s.
❖ Both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Egyptian air force fly the French Rafale fighter jets.
❖ In 2022, a pact was signed between the two countries that have decided to also participate in
exercises and cooperate in training.
❖ The first joint special forces exercise between the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army, "Exercise Cyclone-I"
was completed in January 2023 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
❖ Cultural Relations: The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) was established in Cairo in 1992.
The centre has been promoting cultural cooperation between the two countries.
❖ About Egypt: Capital – Cairo President – Abdel Fattah el-sisi Prime Minister – Moustafa Madbouly
❖ Independence Day – 28 February 1922 Currency – Egyptian Pound
India-US Semiconductor Unit Deal
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❖ US-based Company – Micron Technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
state government of Gujarat to establish a Semiconductor Unit worth Rs 22,500 crore ($825 Million)
semiconductor unit at Sanand near Ahmedabad.
❖ It would be bolstered by investment from the Indian and Gujarat governments, totalling $2.75 billion.
❖ The MoU was signed at a formal ceremony organised at the chief minister’s office in the presence of
Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Micron Technology senior vice-president Gursharan Singh.
❖ This is the second MoU being signed by the Gujarat government with a semiconductor manufacturer. In
September 2022, the state government had inked a similar MoU with the Foxconn-Vedanta joint venture
for setting up a Rs 1.54-lakh crore unit in Gujarat. Though the company had selected Dholera SIR for the
unit.
❖ Earlier, India and the US signed MoU on establishing the Semiconductor Supply chain during India–US 5th
Commercial Dialogue 2023, which can help India realise its long-nurtured dream of becoming a hub for
electronic goods.
❖ The MoU seeks to establish a collaborative mechanism on semiconductor supply chain resiliency and
diversification in view of US’s CHIPS and Science Act, 2022 and India’s Semiconductor Mission.
❖ The Assembly, Test, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) facility, to be set up on 93 acres in Sanand GIDC -II
industrial estate, looks to create 5,000 direct jobs and is expected to be commissioned within 18 months.
❖ The facility will focus on transforming wafers into Ball Grid Array (BGA)-integrated circuit packages,
memory modules and solid-state drives.
❖ It aligns with govt’s goal of promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing import dependency in the
semiconductor sector and is expected to bolster India's position as a global semiconductor manufacturer.
❖ Semiconductor Chips: Semiconductors are materials which have a conductivity between conductors and
insulators. They can be pure elements - silicon and germanium or compounds - gallium,
arsenide and cadmium selenide.
❖ Indian semiconductor industry in 2022 was USD 27 Billion, with over 90% being imported, and therefore a
significant external dependence for Indian chip consumers.
❖ Countries exporting semiconductors to India include China, Taiwan, the USA, Japan, etc.
❖ The Indian semiconductor market is expected to reach USD 55 Billion by 2026 with its own consumption of
semiconductors expected to cross USD 80 billion by 2026 and to USD 110 billion by 2030.
Indian Initiative Related to Semiconductors
❖ In 2021, India announced its roughly USD 10 billion-dollar Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to
encourage semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country.
❖ In 2021, the MeitY also launched the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme to nurture at least 20 domestic
companies involved in semiconductor design and facilitate them to achieve a turnover of more than
Rs.1500 crore in the next 5 years.
❖ India has also launched the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and
Semiconductors (SPECS) for manufacturing of electronics components and semiconductors.
❖ India’s Semiconductor Mission was launched in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs 76,000 crore as a
part of the comprehensive program for the development of sustainable semiconductors and display
ecosystem in India. The components of the mission include:
❖ Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India - fiscal support of up to 50% of Project Cost subject to a
ceiling of INR 12,000 crore per Fab.
❖ Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors Fab and
Semiconductor ATMP/ OSAT facilities in India.
Tiger Census 2022

❖ The Prime Minister of India has released the figures of the 5th cycle of India’s Tiger Census 2022, revealing
6.7% in the increase in the past four years.
❖ The tiger census covered forested habitats in 20 states of India. Camera traps were set up at 32,588
locations and generated 47,081,881 photographs.
❖ The PM has released the Census while inaugurating the International Big Cat Alliance (IBC) in Karnataka’s
Mysuru, organised to mark 50 years of Project Tiger.
❖ IBCA is launched for conservation of seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Leopard,
Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma harbouring our planet.
❖ Its members include 97 countries that are home to these big cats and other interested parties. The IBCA
will engage in advocacy, partnerships, capacity building, eco-tourism, and finance tapping.
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❖ Tiger Population has grown by 200 from 2018 to 2022. The current tiger population in India is 3,167, up
from 2,967 in 2018.
❖ The growth rate slowed to 6.7% in the four years from 2018 to 2022, from around 33% during 2014-2018.
❖ There has been a significant increase in the tiger population in the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains, while
tiger occupancy in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana showed a decline.
❖ The North East Hills and Brahmaputra Plains had 194 tigers captured by camera traps, and the region's
Nilgiri cluster is the largest tiger population in the world, contributing significantly to colonisation of tigers
in neighbouring areas.
❖ Tiger occupancy in the Western Ghats declined, the latest analysis showed. Significant declines were
observed in the Wayanad landscape and in the Biligiriranga Hills.
❖ The genetically unique and small population of tigers in Simlipal is also highlighted as being of high
conservation priority.
❖ The report calls for ecologically viable economic development and trans-boundary tiger conservation
strategies to sustain isolated populations.
Tiger Census in India
❖ The national tiger census is done every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in
partnership with state forest departments, conservation NGOs, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The
census uses a double sampling method based on ground-based surveys and images from camera-traps. ❖
Scientific Name: Panthera tigris
❖ Indian Sub Species: Panthera tigris tigris.
❖ Its habitat stretches from Siberian temperate forests to subtropical and tropical forests on the Indian
subcontinent and Sumatra.
❖ It is the largest cat species and a member of the genus Panthera.
❖ Traditionally eight subspecies of tigers have been recognized, out of which three are extinct.
o Bengal Tigers: Indian Subcontinent
o Caspian tiger: Turkey through central and west Asia (extinct)
o Amur tiger: Amur Rivers region of Russia and China, and North
Korea
o Javan tiger: Java, Indonesia (extinct).
o South China tiger: South central China.
o Bali tiger: Bali, Indonesia (extinct)
o Sumatran tiger: Sumatra, Indonesia.
o Indo-Chinese tiger: Continental south-east Asia.
❖ Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
❖ International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Endangered.
❖ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I.
❖ Tiger Reserves in India: 53 according to NTCA.
❖ Largest: Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh on the basis of core area. ❖ Smallest:
Orang tiger reserve in Assam on the basis of core area.
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary
❖ Recently, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) announced that the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in
Arunachal Pradesh would soon be notified as a tiger reserve.
❖ This move has caused unrest among the Idu Mishmi tribe who feel that a tiger reserve would “hinder their
access” to the forest.
❖ Idu Mishmi is a sub-tribe of the Mishmi group in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Tibet, primarily
living in the Mishmi Hills bordering Tibet.
❖ Their ancestral homelands are spread over the districts of Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley as well
as parts of Upper Siang and Lohit.
❖ They are known for their weaving and craftsmanship skills and are estimated to comprise around 12,000
people (as per census 2011).
❖ Their language, also called Idu Mishmi, is considered endangered by UNESCO.
❖ Tigers are particularly important to the tribe, and according to their mythology, tigers are their elder
brothers.
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Shorter Medical Course to Address Rural Doctor Shortage
❖ The West Bengal Chief Minister (Mamta Banerjee) proposed a Shorter Medical Course for medical
practitioners who would serve in primary health centers (PHCs) in rural areas.
❖ This proposal aims to address the chronic shortage of doctors in rural regions where a significant
percentage (around 65%) of the Indian population resides.
❖ Similar initiatives have been implemented in other states, such as Chhattisgarh, which introduced a three-
year community health program producing Rural Medical Assistants (RMAs) to serve in villages.
❖ About: A shorter medical course proposed in India is a three-year diploma course for medical practitioners
who would serve in primary health centres (PHCs) in rural areas. This course is different from the
regular MBBS course.
❖ The shorter medical course focuses on providing first-level care in rural areas, while the regular MBBS
course covers all aspects of medical science and practice.
❖ The shorter medical course may not train trainees adequately to deal with complex and diverse
conditions in rural areas, while the regular MBBS course prepares doctors for any kind of situation.
❖ Benefits: Increased availability of medical professionals in rural areas, Rapid response to healthcare needs
and emergencies, Cost-effective solution for resource-constrained regions, Enhanced primary healthcare
services in rural communities.
❖ Status of Doctors in Rural India as per Rural Health Statistics Report 2021-22: The Rural Health Statistics
report reveals an acute shortage of specialist doctors at Community Health Centers (CHCs) in India.
❖ Nearly 80% of the required specialists are unavailable.
❖ There is a shortfall of specialist doctors, including surgeons (83.2%), obstetricians and gynaecologists
(74.2%), physicians (79.1%) and paediatricians (81.6%).
❖ The number of specialist doctors in CHCs has seen a 25% increase from 3,550 in 2005 to 4,485 in 2022.
❖ However, the growth in CHCs has resulted in an increased requirement for specialist doctors, creating a
disparity. In addition to the shortage of specialist doctors, there is also a lack of female health workers and
auxiliary nursing midwives in PHCs and sub-centers, with upto 14.4% of these posts lying vacant.
❖ What are the Recent Government Initiatives Related to Healthcare: Accredited Social Health Activists
(ASHA), National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY),
National Medical Commission, PM National Dialysis Programme, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram
(JSSK), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)
Uniform Civil Code

❖ Indian Prime Minister in his recent address expressed his support for the implementation of a Uniform Civil
Code (UCC) in India, stating that India cannot function efficiently with a system of “separate laws for
separate communities”.
❖ Origin and History: The British government's 1835 report in colonial India called for uniform codification of
Indian law, including crimes, evidence, and contracts.
❖ However, the Lex Loci Report of October 1840 suggested that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims should
be excluded from this codification.
❖ As British rule progressed, the B N Rau Committee was formed in 1941 to codify Hindu law, leading to the
enactment of the Hindu Succession Act in 1956.
❖ Constituent Assembly’s Views on UCC: During the debates in the Constituent Assembly, the inclusion of
the UCC sparked significant discussion.
❖ There was a vote, resulting in a 5:4 majority, where it was decided by the sub-committee on fundamental
rights, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, that the UCC would not be included as a fundamental right.
❖ Dr. B R Ambedkar, while drafting the Constitution, stated that a UCC was desirable but should remain
voluntary until the nation was socially prepared to accept it.
❖ As a result, the UCC was placed in the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) (Article 44).
❖ Note: In India, personal law subjects like marriage, divorce, inheritance come under Concurrent list
(7th Schedule)
❖ Arguments in Favour of UCC: Celebrating Diversity, Strengthening Unity: It will promote national
integration and secularism by removing the distinctions and contradictions based on religious personal
laws and creating a common identity for all citizens.
❖ It would also foster a sense of unity and harmony among diverse communities. For example, UCC would
enable inter-faith marriages and relationships without any legal hurdles or social stigma.
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❖ Empowering Women through Uniformity: It would ensure gender justice and equality by abolishing the
discriminatory and oppressive practices against women in various personal laws, such
as polygamy, unequal inheritance, etc.
❖ Streamlining Laws for Legal Efficiency: India's current legal system is burdened with complex and
overlapping personal laws, leading to confusion and legal disputes.
❖ Drawing Inspiration from Global Success Stories: Many countries across the world like France, have
implemented a uniform civil code.
❖ Arguments Against the UCC: Threat to Minority Rights: Critics argue that imposing a single code might
undermine the cultural and religious autonomy of minority communities, leading to feelings of alienation
and marginalisation.
❖ Judicial Backlog: India already faces a significant backlog of cases, and implementing a UCC could
exacerbate the situation.
❖ Complexities within UCC in Goa: Goa's implementation of a UCC has been praised by the Supreme Court
in 2019. However, the ground reality reveals complexities and legal pluralities within the state's UCC.
❖ The UCC in Goa permits a specific form of polygamy for Hindus and does not extend the Shariat Act to
Muslims (they are governed by Portuguese and Shastric Hindu laws).
❖ Additionally, catholics enjoy certain privileges, such as exemption from marriage registration and the
ability of Catholic priests to dissolve marriages.
❖ Efforts Towards UCC in India: Statutory Provision: Special Marriage Act, 1954: Under the act, civil
marriage is permitted for any citizen, regardless of religion, allowing any Indian to get married outside of
religious custom.
❖ SC Judgements Recommending the Need for UCC: Shah Bano Case 1985, Sarla Mudgal Case 1995, Paulo
Coutinho vs Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira (2019)
❖ Stance of Law Commission Related to UCC: Law Commission of India (2018): It stated that UCC is neither
necessary nor desirable at this stage, as it would be counter-productive for the harmony of the nation
❖ It also suggested that reforms in personal laws should be done by amendments and not by replacement.
❖ Recently, 22nd Law Commission of India has chosen to seek the opinions and suggestions of the general
public as well as recognised religious organizations regarding the UCC.
Ceiling on Stocks of Wheat and Pulses

❖ The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has imposed limits on Stock of Wheat that
can be held by traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors to manage the overall food
security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation.
❖ The Ministry has also imposed stock limits on Tur and Urad by invoking the Essential Commodities Act
(ECA), 1955 due to same reasons.
❖ Concerns over Wheat Production: Unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and higher temperatures in Feb 2023
raised concerns about the overall wheat output. Lower production leads to higher prices, which may
surpass the government's purchase prices and affect supply stability.
❖ There are indications of a potential 20% decrease in wheat procurement compared to initial estimate.
❖ Invoking ECA 1955 for Tur and Urad: Tur prices have risen since mid-July 2022 amid slow progress in
Kharif sowing as compared to 2021 due to excess rainfalls and water logging conditions in some parts of
major Tur growing states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and MP.
❖ To control any unwarranted price rise, the government is taking pre-emptive steps to ensure overall
availability and controlled prices of pulses in the domestic as well as overseas markets.
❖ Government Orders regarding Wheat Stock Limits: Imposition of Stock Limits to Stabilize Prices: The
permissible stock limits are set at 3,000 metric tonnes for traders/wholesalers, 10 metric tonnes at each
outlet for retailers, and 3,000 metric tonnes at all depots (combined) for big chain retailers.
❖ Processors are allowed to stock up to 75% of their annual installed capacity.
❖ Entities are required to declare their stock positions regularly on the Department of Food and Public
Distribution's portal.
❖ In case of stocks being held are higher than the limit, the time limit is 30 days from the day of issuing
notification to bring the same under the prescribed limits.
❖ Offloading Wheat through OMSS: The government has decided to sell 15 lakh tonnes of wheat from the
central pool through the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).
❖ Wheat will be sold via e-auction to flour mills, private traders, bulk buyers, and manufacturers of wheat
products.
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❖ The sale will be conducted in lot sizes of 10 to 100 metric tonnes, with the possibility of releasing more
batches based on prices and demand. ❖ A similar plan is being considered for offloading rice to moderate
its prices.
Essential Commodities Act 1955
❖ The ECA Act 1955 was legislated at a time when the country was facing a scarcity of foodstuffs due to
persistent low levels of foodgrains production.
❖ The country was dependent on imports and assistance (such as wheat import from the US under PL-480)
to feed the population.
❖ India signed a long-term Public Law (PL) 480 agreement to get food aid under Government agricultural
trade development assistance, with the US in 1954.
❖ To prevent hoarding and black marketing of foodstuffs, the Essential Commodities Act was enacted in
1955.
❖ Objective: The ECA 1955 is used to curb inflation by allowing the Centre to enable control by state
governments of trade in a wide variety of commodities.
❖ Essential Commodity: There is no specific definition of essential commodities in ECA 1955. Section 2(A) of
the Act states that an “essential commodity” means a commodity specified in the Schedule of the Act. ❖
Centre's Role: The Act gives powers to the central government to add or remove a commodity in the
Schedule.
H-1B Visa
❖ The United States authorities have announced that they will introduce ‘in-country’ renewable H-1B visas as
part of the people-to-people initiative. The move is set to smoothen the process of H-1B visa renewal for
several Indians who are working in the US on a H-1B visa.
❖ The Indian professionals will now not have to travel overseas to renew their work visa.
❖ Until 2004, certain categories of non-immigrant visas, particularly the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped
inside the US.
❖ After 2004, non-immigrant visas including the much sought after H-1B visa renewal included foreign tech
workers having to go out of the country, mostly to their own country to get the H-1B extension stamped on
their passport.
❖ The H-1B visas are issued for three years at a time.
❖ For all the H-1B visa holders, when their visa is renewed, they need to get their passports stamped with
renewal dates. This is required if they wish to travel outside of the US and re-enter the US. As of now, H-1B
visa restamping is not allowed within the US. Restamping can only be done at any US consulate.
❖ The United States last year issued 125,000 visas to Indian students, which is a record and they are on pace
to become the largest foreign student community in the United States with a 20% increase last year alone,
an official explained.
❖ About H1B Visa: The H-1B visa has its roots in the H-1 visa of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
❖ It is a multiple entry non-immigrant visa which allows foreign workers employed by US companies to work
in the United States.
❖ The workers under H1B visas should be engaged in specialised occupations such as science, medicine,
engineering and mathematics.
❖ H1B applicants must have at least a US bachelor's degree or equivalent.
❖ Generally this visa is granted for a period of three years and can be extended for an additional three years
for special circumstances.
❖ H-1B visa requires the employer to apply on the person’s behalf.
❖ Holders of H1B visas can sell or buy property and invest in the stock market in the United States.
❖ H-1B visa holders can bring their spouse and children under 21 years of age to the US under the H-4 Visa
category as dependents. An H4 Visa holder is allowed to remain in the US as long as the H-1B visa holder
remains in legal status.
❖ While, an H-4 visa holder is not eligible to work in the US, they may attend school, obtain a driver's license
and open a bank account while in the US.
❖ USCIS sets a limit on how many H1B visas are issued each year.
❖ These numbers can change as per regulations of the US government. Historically, the cap is placed at
65,000.
❖ An additional 20, 000 H1B visas are issued for qualified people who have completed a Masters degree
from USA. This quota is independent and additional to general 65,000 quota.
❖ It is done through lottery process.
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❖ However, because of the lack of available visas employers frequently have to look at applying for other visa
categories such as:
o L-1B for specialized workers
o L-1A for managers and executives
o E-2 Treaty Investor visa
o E-1 Treaty Trader visa
o E-3 for Australians etc.
❖ Indian continues to get the highest allocation of the H1B Visas. In 2022 Indians got 3.2 Lakh or 76.3% of
the total 4.4 Lakh visas granted followed by China and Canada.
❖ About L1 Visa: L1 Visa is an Intra-Company Transferee Visa.
❖ It allows large multinationals (need not be a US company) - with operations across various countries - to
shift employees in specialized positions on a temporary basis to the US.
❖ There are two types of L1 visas - L1A and L1B.
❖ Managers and executives come under the category of L1As while L1Bs encompass workers with
specialized knowledge.
❖ There is no education requirement for the L1 visa.
❖ L-1A visa holders are allowed a maximum stay of seven years in the U.S while s L-1B visa holders are
allowed a maximum stay of five years.
National Research Foundation

❖ The Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, has approved the introduction of
the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in Parliament.
❖ Features of the NRF Bill 2023: Establishment of NRF: The bill, after approval in the Parliament, will
establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in India as per
recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), at a total estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crores
during five years (2023-28).
❖ Subsumption of SERB: The bill will repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established
by an act of Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF which has an expanded mandate and covers
activities over and above the activities of SERB.
❖ Administration and Governance: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the
administrative Department of NRF which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent
researchers and professionals across disciplines.
❖ The Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of Science &
Technology & Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents.
❖ NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive Council chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to
the Government of India.
❖ National Research Foundation: Objective: To ensure that scientific research was conducted and funded
equitably and greater participation from the private sector was forthcoming.
❖ It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage
collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.
❖ The NRF aims to involve colleges and universities in scientific research, as currently, less than 1% of the
nearly 40,000 higher learning institutions in India are engaged in research.
❖ The NRF plans to build research capacities in universities by encouraging active researchers to take up
NRF professorships, regardless of age, and collaborate with existing faculty.
❖ Funding: It seeks to increase funding for scientific research in India, both from government and private
sources. Currently, India's spending on research and development is below 0.7 % of its GDP, when even
countries like Egypt or Brazil spend more.
❖ Initiatives to Foster R&D and Innovation in India: Sign Language AstroLab, Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR)- National Physical Laboratory, One Week - One Lab, Science and Heritage
Research Initiative, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), National Initiative for
Developing and Harnessing Innovations, Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research.
Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulations (ART), 2023

❖ The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulations
(ART), 2023.
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❖ New Regulations: The provision states that an oocyte donor should be an ever-married (persons who have
been married at least once in their lives) woman having at least one living child of her own (minimum three
years of age).
❖ She can donate oocytes only once in her lifetime and not more than seven oocytes can be retrieved.
❖ An ART bank cannot supply gamete (reproductive cell) of a single donor to more than one commissioning
couple (couple seeking services).
❖ Parties seeking ART services will be required to provide insurance coverage in the favour of the oocyte
donor (for any loss, damage, or death of the donor).
❖ A clinic is prohibited from offering to provide a child of pre-determined sex. Also checking for genetic
diseases before the embryo implantation is needed.
❖ Significance: A regulation like this is a big step towards preventing congenital abnormalities and in the
long run will help the community and eliminate exploitation of donors.
❖ Implications: The new provisions have pushed up the already sky-high medical costs and are proving to be
a challenge for treating doctors and couples wanting to have children through ART because of
the restricted and limited resource availability in terms of donors.
❖ Assisted Reproductive Technology: It refers to techniques that seek to obtain a pregnancy by handling a
gamete (sperm or egg) outside the human body and transferring the gamete or fertilised embryo into the
woman’s uterus.
❖ Assisted Reproductive Techniques: In vitro Fertilization: Mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from
ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) is transferred to the uterus.
❖ Gamete Donation: A person provides his /her gametes (sperm or oocyte) with the objective of enabling an
infertile couple or woman to have a child.
❖ Intrauterine Insemination: A procedure in which laboratory processed sperm are placed in the uterus to
attempt a pregnancy.
❖ Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): A procedure in which a single spermatozoon is injected into the
oocyte cytoplasm.
❖ Preimplantation Genetic Testing: A test performed to analyze the DNA from oocytes or embryos for HLA-
typing or for determining genetic abnormalities.
❖ Surrogacy: A practice whereby one woman bears and gives birth to a child for an intending couple with the
intention of handing over such child to the intending couple after the birth.
❖ Altruistic Surrogacy: Surrogacy in which no charges, expenses, fees, remuneration or monetary incentive of
whatever nature, except the medical expenses and such other prescribed expenses incurred on surrogate
mother and the insurance coverage for the surrogate mother, are given to the surrogate mother.
❖ ART Regulation in India: The Act aims at the regulation and supervision of ART clinics and assisted
reproductive technology banks, prevention of misuse, and safe and ethical practice of ART services
❖ Every ART clinic and bank is required by the Act to be listed in the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of
India.
❖ Minimum standards and codes: Act seek to set minimum standards and codes of conduct for fertility
clinics and egg or sperm banks
❖ Standard operating procedures: There is a need to formulate standard operating procedures to ensure
“uniform costs” and “global quality standards” across India.
❖ Monitoring body: The committee also noted that a monitoring body should be set up to prevent the
“commercialisation” of ART services by private players.
General Consent of CBI

❖ The Tamil Nadu government has announced that it has withdrawn the general consent given to the Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.
❖ Mizoram, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, Punjab and Meghalaya
had withdrawn their general consent given to CBI as of March. 2023.
❖ The CBI was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs and later transferred to the
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Narendra Modi), currently functioning as an
attached office. o NOTE: If no minister has been appointed to lead a particular ministry it automatically
comes under the control of the Prime Minister
❖ Its establishment was recommended by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption. ❖
Headquarter: New Delhi
❖ Director: Praveen Sood
❖ First Director: D.P. Kohli
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❖ First Women as Additional Director: Archana Ramasundaram
❖ The Bureau of Investigation traces its origins to the Special Police Establishment (SPE), a Central
Government Police force, which was set up in 1941 by the GOI to investigate bribery and corruption in
transactions with the War and Supply Department of India. It had its headquarters in Lahore. The
Superintendent of the SPE was Qurban Ali Khan, who later opted for Pakistan during the Partition of India
❖ Rai Sahib Karam Chand Jain was the first Legal Advisor of the War & Supply Department of India and
Special Police Establishment (SPE), which later developed into the CBI.
❖ The CBI operates under the DSPE Act, 1946. It is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body.
❖ It investigates cases related to bribery, governmental corruption, breaches of central laws, multi-state
organized crime, and multi-agency or international cases.
❖ CBI function in India: Provision of Prior Permission: The CBI is required to obtain the prior approval of the
Central Government before conducting any inquiry or investigation into an offence committed by officers
of the rank of joint secretary and above in the Central Government and its authorities.
❖ However, in 2014, the Supreme Court held it invalid and held that Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, which granted protection to joint secretary and above officers from facing even a
preliminary inquiry by the CBI in corruption cases, was violative of Article 14.
❖ General Consent Principle for CBI: The consent of the state government to CBI can be either case-specific
or “general”.
❖ General consent is normally given by states to help the CBI in the seamless investigation of cases of
corruption against central government employees in their states.
❖ This is essentially consent by default, which means CBI may begin investigations taking consent as having
been already given.
❖ In the absence of general consent, CBI would have to apply to the state government for its consent in
every individual case, and before taking even small actions.
❖ Coalgate Case: In 2013, a Bench headed by Justice R M Lodha described the CBI as “a caged parrot
speaking in its master’s voice”
❖ CBI VS CBI Case: The SC in CBI VS CBI case held that the power to remove/send on leave the director of
CBI, vested in the selection committee, not with the central govt.
❖ SC says this verdict when CBI Director challenge the decision of central govt to send him on leave without
his will.
Meira Paibis
❖ In the recent visit to Manipur, Home Minister met with the Meira Paibis as part of his meetings with
various civil society groups.
❖ The Meira Paibi was formed in 1977.
❖ The Meira Paibis, also known as Imas or Mothers of Manipur, are Meitei women who come from all
sections of society in the Imphal valley, are widely respected, and represent a powerful moral force.
❖ The Meira Paibis are loosely organised, usually led by groups of senior women, but have no rigid hierarchy
or structure, or any overt political leanings.
❖ Their role as society’s conscience keepers is widely acknowledged.
❖ What social role do the Meira Paibis play?: One of the largest grassroots movements in the world, its initial
focus of fighting alcoholism and drug abuse has now expanded to countering human rights violations and
the development of society at large.
❖ Over the decades, the Meira Paibis have led numerous social and political movements in the state,
including some powerful protests against alleged atrocities by Indian security forces, leveraging their
strong position in society in the interest of the causes they have espoused.
❖ Major actions undertaken by these women: The Meira Paibi women were the active support base of Irom
Sharmila, the activist who remained on a hunger strike in the state from 2000 to 2016 to protest against
the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
❖ The Meira Paibis played an active role in 2015, over demands for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to be
introduced there.
Global Liveability Index

❖ The Economist Intelligence Unit released its 2023 report on global liveability index, placing Austria’s
capital Vienna as the top ranked city to live in 2023.
❖ About: It rates living conditions in 173 cities across five categories: stability, health care, culture and
environment, education and infrastructure.
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❖ List of Top Ten Cities to Live in 2023: 1. Vienna (Austria), 2. Copenhagen (Denmark) 3. Melbourne
(Australia) 4. Sydney (Australia) 5. Vancouver (Canada) 6. Zurich (Switzerland) 7. Calgary (Canada) 8.
Geneva (Switzerland) 9. Toronto (Canada) 10. Osaka (Japan), 10. Auckland (New Zealand)
❖ Observations Related to Developing Countries' Progress: Many developing nations have shown
incremental improvements in their livability rankings.
❖ Asia-Pacific cities have demonstrated significant progress, while Western European cities have slipped in
the 2023 rankings.
❖ The report highlights the growing emphasis on healthcare and education in Asian, African, and Middle
Eastern countries, signalling a positive trend.
❖ However, it also notes a decline in stability scores attributed to civil unrest in certain parts of the world
❖ Indian Cities: New Delhi and Mumbai are at 141st position and Chennai at 144th. Ahmedabad and
Bengaluru are ranked 147 and 148, respectively.
❖ Challenges Faced by Specific Cities: Kyiv, Ukraine: Despite ongoing efforts, Kyiv ranks at a lowly 165th out
of 173 cities, reflecting the challenges faced by the war-ravaged capital.
❖ Damascus, Syria, and Tripoli, Libya: These cities continue to occupy the bottom positions on the livability
index, similar to the 2022.
❖ Bottom 10 Positions: 173. Damascus (Syria) 172. Tripoli (Libya) 171. Algiers (Algeria) 170. Lagos
(Nigeria) 169. Karachi (Pakistan) 168. Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) 167. Dhaka (Bangladesh) 166.
Harare (Zimbabwe) 165. Kyiv (Ukraine) 164. Douala (Cameroon)
India Removed from report on Children & Armed Conflict

❖ First time since 2010, the United Nations Secretary-General has removed India from the 2023 report on
Children and Armed Conflict in view of measures taken by the Indian government to protect children.
❖ India was previously accused of recruiting and using boys in armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
In 2022, a higher number of violations against children were confirmed in J&K.
❖ Background: 25 years ago, in December 1996, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) took the unprecedented
decision to create a mandate to protect children from hostilities and adopted resolution 51/77 which
created the CAAC mandate.
❖ 51/77 resolution recommended that the Secretary-General appoint for a period of three years, a Special
Representative on the impact of armed conflict on children.
❖ Recent Observation: Among the various types of violations, the highest numbers were reported for the
killing of 2,985 children and the maiming (wound or injured) of 5,655 children, totaling 8,631 affected
children.
❖ This was followed by the recruitment and use of 7,622 children and the abduction of 3,985 children.
Additionally, children were detained either for their actual or alleged association with armed
groups (2,496), including those recognised as terrorist groups by the UN or for reasons related to national
security.
❖ Countries recording the highest number of violations were the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
Israel, the State of Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Yemen.
❖ Steps Taken by the Indian Government to Protect Children: Several measures recommended by the UN
have already been implemented or are currently underway in India. Training programs for security forces
on protecting children have been conducted, and the use of pellet guns has been suspended.
❖ Additionally, the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO)
Act, 2012 are being actively enforced.
❖ The implementation of legal and administrative frameworks for safeguarding children and the improved
accessibility to child protection services in Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and J&K were also
appreciated by the UNGA.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
❖ It is a treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989.
❖ It recognises a child as every human being under 18 years old.
❖ It sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race,
religion or abilities.
❖ It includes rights such as Right to Education, Right to Rest and Leisure, Right to Protection from Mental or
Physical Abuse including Rape and Sexual Exploitation.
❖ It is the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty.
❖ National Children’s Day- 14 November (Remember PM Nehru)
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❖ World Children’s Day- 20 November
❖ Theme- A Better Future for Every Child
❖ The recruitment or use of children below the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited by both the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions.
❖ Note: India is a party to the CRC and acceded to Optional Protocol in November 2005. The Constitution
encompasses most rights included in the CRC as Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State
Policy (DPSP).
❖ Article 39 (f) states that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and
in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and
against moral and material abandonment.
❖ The Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalises the recruitment or use in hostilities of persons under-18
years by state armed forces or non-state armed groups.
❖ Adults of age over 18 years are recruited in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
❖ UNICEF was created in 1946h as International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by UN relief Rehabilitation
Administration to help children affected by World War II.
❖ UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953.
❖ It strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of
behaviour towards children.
❖ Awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.
❖ Headquarters: New York City.
❖ Head- Catherine M. Russell
❖ Awards: Nobel Peace Prize (1965), Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (1989), Princess of Asturias Award (2006)
Paris Global Climate Finance

❖ The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact was recently held in Paris with an objective of tackling the
lack of financial support for developing countries.
❖ The Summit was announced at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the UNFCCC. The summit was
also attended by India's Finance Minister.
❖ Highlights of the Summit: The Scale of Crises Faced by Developing Countries: Developing countries are
grappling with a combination of crises, including poverty, escalating debt levels, and inflation triggered by
events such as the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
❖ Besides economic challenges, developing nations are under pressure to decarbonise their
economies while lacking sufficient Climate Finance.
❖ Demands from the Global South: Leaders from the Global South demand that Multilateral Development
Banks (MDB) address transboundary challenges and provide increased resources for development,
including climate finance.
❖ Developing countries call for more concessional and grant financing to address their debt burdens,
also advocating for debt reductions particularly for the least developed nations.
❖ While acknowledging the potential of private sector investment, they emphasise that long-term
development funds are necessary to complement private sector financing.
❖ Announcements at the Summit: The Summit announced the unlocking of an additional USD 200
billion lending capacity for emerging economies.
❖ The World Bank introduced disaster clauses to suspend debt payments during extreme weather events.
❖ The IMF announced the allocation of USD 100 billion in SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) for vulnerable
countries, although some SDRs still require approval from the US Congress.
❖ A new Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) deal worth 2.5 billion Euros was announced for Senegal,
aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy in the country's electricity mix.
❖ Zambia reached a USD 6.3 billion debt restructuring deal, and calls were made for a Global Expert Review
on Debt, Nature, and Climate.
❖ The EU called for increased coverage of global emissions by Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and allocating a
portion of revenues to climate finance.
❖ The Summit indicated that the long-awaited USD 100 billion climate finance goal would be achieved this
year.
❖ This commitment was made at UNFCCC COP 15 in Copenhagen in 2009.
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❖ Climate Finance: It refers to local, national, or transnational financing—drawn from public, private and
alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address
climate change.
❖ Global Discussions: The UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance
from Parties with more financial resources (Developed Countries) to those that are less endowed and more
vulnerable (Developing Countries).
❖ This is in accordance with the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective
Capabilities” (CBDR).
❖ In UNFCCC COP26, new financial pledges to support developing countries in achieving the global goal for
adapting to the effects of climate change were made.
❖ Climate finance is critical to achieve the goal of limiting the rise in the earth’s average temperature to below
2°C over pre-industrial levels, (2018 IPCC report).
Initiatives regarding Climate Finance
❖ Global: In 2010, the 194 member countries agreed to create the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at UNFCCC COP
16.
❖ GCF was established to support the developing countries in their efforts to challenge climate change by
aiding them in shifting to low-emission and climate-resilient development regime.
❖ It is headquartered in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
❖ At the COP27 summit, delegates from the UN agreed to create a 'Loss and Damages' fund to compensate
the most vulnerable countries for their losses due to climate-related disasters.
❖ India: National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): It was established in 2015 to meet the cost
of adaptation to climate change for the State and Union Territories of India that are particularly vulnerable
to the adverse effects of climate change.
❖ National Clean Energy Fund: It was created through the Finance Bill 2010-11 by the recommendation
of Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) to promote clean energy and funded through an
initial carbon tax on the use of coal by industries.
❖ It is governed by an Inter-Ministerial Group with the Finance Secretary as the Chairman.
❖ Its mandate is to fund research and development of innovative clean energy technology in the fossil and
non-fossil fuel-based sectors.
❖ National Adaptation Fund: The fund was established in 2014 with a corpus of Rs. 100 crores with the aim
of bridging the gap between the need and the available funds.
❖ The fund is operated under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
United National Democracy Fund

❖ India is the fourth highest donor ($150,000) to the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), which funds at least 68
projects worldwide linked to George Soros’s Open Society Foundation.
❖ Top three donors are US, Sweden and Germany
❖ India has put George Soros’s NGO on watchlist in 2016.
❖ UNDEF was established in 2005 by UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan as a United Nations General Trust
Fund to support democratization efforts around the world.
❖ It was welcomed by the General Assembly in the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit.
❖ UNDEF funds projects that empower civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of
all groups in democratic processes.
❖ The majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organizations (CSOs).
❖ The Advisory Board of the UNDEF offers policy guidance and funding guidelines, considers proposals for
funding, and recommends funding proposals for approval by the Secretary-General.
❖ UNDEF provides grants ranging from USD 100,000 to USD 300,000.
❖ In 15 rounds of funding so far, UNDEF has supported over 880 two-year projects in more than 130
countries.
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International Affairs
Protest in China
❖ Cities across China have been witnessing waves of protests against the country’s tough zero-Covid policy
in recent weeks. The movement, which is no longer limited to China alone, is widely being dubbed the ‘white
paper revolution’. This is because of the blank sheets of white A4-sized paper many of the demonstrators
have been seen holding during these protests.
❖ At least 10 people were killed in a building fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang, which had been under lockdown for
about 100 days. People blamed China’s brutal lockdown for the deaths. When a Chinese official appeared
to blame the residents for the incident, protests first broke out in Xinjiang and then eventually spread to
Beginning, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Lanzhou, and Nanjing.
❖ Over the weeks, the humble white sheet of paper became a symbol of the protests. It has come to
symbolise the lack of free speech in the country. White papers as a sign of protest were previously used in
Hong Kong in 2020, to avoid slogans banned under the city’s new national security law.
❖ Demonstrators in Moscow have also used them this year to protest Russia’s war with Ukraine
❖ The hashtag “A4Revolution” — a reference to the size of the paper — began trending on Twitter after the
protests started spreading across the nation. Soon, Instagram and Facebook users around the world
started changing their profile photos to blank sheets of paper in support of the Chinese protesters, The
New York Times reported.
❖ On China’s state-controlled social media, WeChat and Weibo, users are showing solidarity by posting blank
white squares or photos of themselves holding blank sheets of paper. The movement has spread to an
extent where the hashtag “white paper exercise” was blocked on Weibo prompting users to lament the
censorship.
Related Information
❖ Zero Covid Policy, which involves complete control and maximum suppression for the elimination of the
virus by using aggressive public health measures, such as contact-tracing, social isolation, mass testing,
and lockdowns. Under this policy, cities are directed to impose stringent lockdowns and follow strict
measures of social isolation even if only a small number of cases are reported. The objective of the
strategy is to ensure there are no new infections and the virus is eliminated so that the nation can resume
its usual social and economic affairs.
❖ China, officially the People's Republic of China is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous
country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of 5
time zones and borders 14 countries by land, the most of any country in the world, tied with Russia.
❖ Capital: Beijing Largest City: Shanghai, President: Xi Jinping, Currency: Renminbi
China-Qatar Energy Deal
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❖ QatarEnergy announced a 27-year natural gas supply deal with China Monday, calling it the "longest" ever
seen as it strengthened ties with Asia while Europe scrambles for alternative sources.
❖ The state energy company will send four million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually from its new North
Field East project to China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), it said.
❖ The deal "marks the longest gas supply agreement in the history of the LNG industry", said Saad Sherida al-
Kaabi, Qatar's energy minister and QatarEnergy's chief executive.
❖ China is the first country to seal a deal for North Field East.
Global South Summit

❖ India will host a special virtual summit, the Voice of Global South summit, on January 12 and 13.
❖ The summit under the theme ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’ envisages bringing together countries of
the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. More than 120 countries
are being invited to participate in this Summit.
❖ Global South refers to the developing and the less-developed countries of the world. India’s ongoing
Presidency of the G20 provides a special and strong opportunity for those countries that are not part of the
G20 process to share their ideas and expectations from the G20.
Wassenaar Arrangement
❖ India assumed chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) for 1 year from January 1st.
❖ 42-member WA is a voluntary Multilateral Export Control Regime (MECR) to promote transparency and
greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies by facilitating:
❖ Information sharing among WA participating states. Standards setting on export controls of conventional
arms and Dual-use goods and technologies.
❖ India joined WA in 2017.
❖ Headquarter: Vienna
❖ MECR are voluntary and non-binding agreements. It prevents proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD) which includes nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological or other weapons.
Related Information
❖ Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), 1975: Prevents nuclear proliferation by implementing guidelines for
nuclear-related Exports (India is NOT a member)
❖ Australia Group, 1985: Ensures that Exports do not contribute to development of chemical or biological
Weapons (India is a member)
❖ Missile Technology Regime (MTCR), 1987: Prevents proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle
technology capable of delivering WMD (India joined in 2016)
❖ Zangger Committee, 1971: Formed following coming into force of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
It maintains a Trigger List (triggering safeguards as a condition of supply) of nuclear-related strategic
goods (india is NOT a member)
❖ Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC), 1993: It is a multilateral treaty banning chemical weapons and
requiring their destruction within the stipulated time. It makes it mandatory to destroy old and abandoned
chemical weapons. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is an international organization
established by the CWC in 1997 to implement and enforce the terms of the CWC.
Brazil Anti- Democratic Riots

❖ Thousands of supporters of Brazil’s ousted former president, Jair Bolsonaro, ransacked Brazil’s Congress,
Supreme Court and presidential offices in a full-blown riot to protest what they alleged was a stolen
election. More than 1,200 protesters were detained following the riots.
❖ On October 30, 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who served as the president from 2003 to 2011, beat
Bolsonaro in a run-off vote.
❖ Following this, right-wing supporters began gathering outside military bases across Brazil, calling for
military intervention to prevent the newly elected president Lula from returning to office on January 1.
❖ Bolsonaro had challenged the results of the Brazilian election, arguing votes from some machines should
be “invalidated” in a complaint that election authorities rebuffed. For years, Bolsonaro had alleged that
Brazil’s election systems were rife with fraud and that the nation’s elites were conspiring to remove him
from power.
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❖ On December 12, Lula’s election victory was certified by the federal electoral court. Later that day, after the
arrest of a pro-Bolsonaro indigenous leader for alleged anti-democratic acts, Bolsonaro supporters tried to
invade the federal police headquarters in Brasilia. A few days later, on December 24, a man named George
Washington de Oliveira Sousa was arrested for attempting to set off a bomb in protest against Brazil’s
election results.
❖ A copy of his police statement showed that he was inspired to build up an arsenal by Bolsonaro’s
traditional support of the arming of civilians. In the last week of December, at least four people were
arrested by Brazilian police for an alleged coup attempt during riots by Bolsonaro supporters. Amid the
riots, Bolsonaro landed in Florida less than two days before Lula was set to take office.
❖ On January 1, 2023, Lula was sworn in as president for the third time. Bolsonaro supporters were
convinced that the election was stolen from them. Congregating in front of the Congress, Supreme Court
and presidential offices, the protesters were met with tear gas and rubber bullets, but were eventually able
to overrun the security and set fire to the buildings.
❖ Brazil Capital: Brasilia Currency: Real Vice President: Geraldo Alckmin
Kilauea Volcano
❖ Recently, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted again after a brief pause. The eruption in the volcano’s crater
started in Jan 2022.
❖ The US Geological Service (USGS) has warned the locals about dangerous volcanic fumes containing
sulphur dioxide, Pele’s hair (tiny strands of drifting lava) (Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of fire and
volcanoes) and other volcanic particles.
❖ Kilauea is among the most active ones on the planet which last erupted in Sept 2021 and continued for 16
months. The eruption in 2018 destroyed 700 homes, sending rivers of lava across farms and into the
ocean.
❖ In Nov-Dec 2022, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa also erupted for the first time in 38 years. Volcanic eruptions have
significant cultural and spiritual meanings for the native Hawaiians.
Related Static GK
❖ India’s only active volcano Barren Island is in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
❖ In January 2022, the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai in the Pacific Island nation of Tonga
erupted after the region witnessed heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning. Satellite images showed the
spectacular eruption with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a mushroom above the blue Pacific
waters.
Uganda Ebola Outbreak

❖ After 4 months and 55 deaths, the latest Ebola epidemic in Uganda (worst in 2 decades) was declared over
by the WHO. The outbreak was caused by the Sudan strain of the virus.
❖ Ebola virus disease is a hemorrhagic fever that is transmitted through body contact with sick or dead
people or animals (a “viral hemorrhagic fever” is a condition that damages the overall cardiovascular
system, and reduces the body's ability to function on its own). Its symptoms include fever, fatigue and
headaches, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal and external bleeding. Ebola virus was first
discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in DRC.
❖ While there are existing Ebola vaccines (Ervebo vaccine), they do not protect against the Sudan strain.
❖ Host: Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts
❖ Transmission through both Animal to Human and Human to Human
Young Professional Scheme

❖ On the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, India and the UK have decided to launch Young Professionals Scheme
(YPS) under which, up to 3,000 of their degree-holding citizens (age 1830) will be permitted to live and work
in each other’s countries for a period of 2 years.
❖ The YPS was conceived as part of an India-U.K. Migration and Mobility MoU (signed in 2021). The scheme
will have an initial running period of 3 years and is expected to be launched by March 2023
India-US Trade Policy Forum
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❖ The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry (Piyush Goyal) of India and the US Trade Representative
Ambassador co-chaired the 13th Ministerial-level meeting of India – US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) in
Washington D.C.
❖ The India-US TPF aims to activate its working groups in the fields of agriculture, non-agriculture goods,
services, investment, and intellectual property to meet frequently and address issues of mutual concern in
a mutually beneficial manner.
❖ Highlights of the Meeting: While the two sides appreciated the rise in bilateral trade in goods and services
(which reached ~160 billion USD in 2021), they also recognised that for economies of their size, significant
potential still remains unfulfilled.
❖ The US welcomed India’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
❖ The Ministers welcomed the finalization of the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) design with the technical
support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The TED will help in minimizing
the impact of fishing on sea-turtle populations.
❖ A new TPF Working Group on Resilient Trade was launched to help the officials deepen bilateral dialogue
on a range of issues.
❖ The US is India’s largest trading partner and most important export market. It is one of the few countries
with which India has a trade surplus. In 2021-22, India had a trade surplus of USD 32.8 billion with the US.
Global Risks Report

❖ The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released the 18th Edition of Global Risks Report 2023 which seeks
that the world be prepared for ‘Natural disasters and extreme weather events’ in the next two years.
❖ Global risk is defined as the possibility of the occurrence of an event or condition which, if it occurs,
would negatively impact a significant proportion of global gross domestic product, population or natural
resources.
❖ The Global Risks Report is an annual study published by the World Economic Forum ahead of the Forum’s
Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Based on the work of the Global Risk Network, the report describes
changes occurring in the
global risks landscape from
year to year.
❖ ‘Failure to Mitigate
Climate Change’ and
‘Failure of Climate
Change Adaptation’ are the
two most severe risks
facing the world in the next
decade, followed by
‘natural disasters and
extreme weather events’ and
‘Biodiversity loss and
ecosystem collapse’.
❖ Today, atmospheric levels of
carbon dioxide, methane and
nitrous oxide have all
reached record highs.
Emission trajectories make it
very unlikely that
global ambitions to
limit warming to 1.5°C will be
achieved.
❖ Over the next 10 years or by 2033, the interconnections between biodiversity loss, pollution, natural
resource consumption, climate change and socioeconomic drivers will make for a dangerous mix.
❖ In the meantime, the current global pandemic and war in Europe has been held responsible for the energy,
inflation and food crises. In fact, ‘cost of living’ ranks as the top most serious global risk in the short term
(over the next two years).
❖ 70% of the respondents in the WEF report said existing measures to prevent or prepare for climate change
have been “ineffective” or “highly ineffective”.
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Related Static GK
cooperation.
❖ Mission: Committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and
other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
Indian- Maldives
❖ India and Maldives have signed pacts on development projects in Maldives.
❖ Grant Assistance: It includes grant assistance of 100 million Rufiyaa (currency of Maldives) for the High
Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) scheme.
❖ Sports complex and Academic Collaboration: It also included the development of a sports complex in
Gahdhoo, and academic collaboration between Maldives National University and Cochin University of
Science and Technology.
❖ Security Partnership: Defence cooperation extends to the areas of Joint Exercises - “Ekuverin”, “Dosti”,
“Ekatha” and “Operation Shield” (begun in 2021).
❖ Political Relations: Both nations are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC), the South Asian Economic Union and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade
Agreement.
❖ Trade and Economy: India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981. India and Maldives signed the
$800 million Line of Credit Agreement in March 2019, for assisting the Maldives to achieve sustainable
social and economic development.
❖ Operation Cactus: It was an attempt by a group of Maldivians led by Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by
armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the People’s Liberation
Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives on
3rd November 1988. The coup failed due to the intervention of the Indian Army, whose military operations
efforts were code-named Operation Cactus.
❖ The Maldives urged India for help following the collapse of the island’s only water treatment plant, India
helped by sending its heavy-lift transporters like C-17 Globemaster III, II-76 carrying bottled water.
❖ Operation Neer: It was initiated by the Indian government to help the Maldives after a major fire broke out
at the Male Water and Sewerage Company.
❖ India supported Abdulla Shahid, the Foreign Minister of Maldives to become the President of UNGA
❖ Maldives is the smallest country of South Asia by land, world's lowest lying country and the 2nd least
populous country in Asia
❖ Maldives has 1192 islands, of which 185 are inhabited, Gan-Mandhoo being the largest one
❖ India had a 150 million USD currency swap deal with Maldives, and also provided medicines to them under
Operation Sanjeevani
❖ Maldives and Bhutan were the first beneficiaries of vaccines from India under its Vaccine Maitri initiative
UN World Social Report 2023

❖ According to the United Nations (UN) World Social Report 2023: Leaving no one behind in an ageing world,
the number of persons aged 65 years or older worldwide is expected to double over the next three
decades.
❖ The elderly population will reach 1.6 billion in 2050, accounting for more than 16% of the global population.
North Africa, West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are expected to experience the fastest growth in the number
of older people over the next three decades.
❖ Also, Europe and North America combined now have the highest share of older persons.
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❖ Gender inequality also persists into old age. Economically, women’s lower levels of formal labour market
participation, shorter working lives and lower wages during working years lead to more economic insecurity
in later life.
❖ According to the National Commission on Population, the share of the elderly in India’s population, close to
9% in 2011, is growing fast and may reach 18% by 2036.
❖ Life expectancy in India has more than doubled since Independence from around 32 years in the late 1940s
to 70 years or so today.
Related Static GK
❖ Schemes Related to Old Age Population: Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), Integrated
Program for Older Persons (IPOP), SAMPANN Project
❖ International Initiative: The World Health Organization and the UN have designated 2021-2030 as the
Decade of Healthy Aging, building on the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing is a good step for
elderly empowerment.
United Nations
❖ Formed in 1945, HQ: New York, 197 members
❖ Celebrated 77th anniversary on 24 October 2022
❖ Successor of League of Nations formed in 1919 under the treaty of Versailles
❖ United Nations Conference on International Organization (1945) held in San Francisco (USA), was attended
by representatives of 50 countries and signed the United Nations Charter
❖ 6 components all established in 1945 are: General Assemble, Security Council, Economic and social
Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and UN Secretariat.
Antimicrobial-Resistant Gonorrhea
❖ Recently, a strand of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea outbreak has hit Kenya.
❖ Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae
❖ It can infect both men and women and can occur in the genitals, rectum, and throat. If left untreated,
gonorrhea can cause serious health problems, including infertility and an increased risk of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.
❖ According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the second-most common disease to be sexually
transmitted across the world after chlamydia.
❖ There is no vaccine licensed to prevent gonorrhoea; however, outer membrane vesicle serogroup B
meningococcal vaccines have shown some protection against N gonorrhoeae.
❖ Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
parasites) to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and
antiparasitics). Also, Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as
“superbugs”.
❖ The National Health Policy 2017 highlights the problem of antimicrobial resistance and calls for effective
action to address it.
❖ The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Mansukh Mandaviya) identified AMR as one of the top 10 priorities
for the ministry’s collaborative work with the World Health Organization (WHO).
❖ The multi-drug resistance determinant, New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), emerged from this
region to spread globally
Related Static GK
❖ Governement Initiatives : National Programme on AMR containment (2012), National Action Plan on AMR
(2017), AMR Surveillance and Research Network 2013 (AMRSN), Antibiotic Stewardship Program:
❖ Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Has initiated Antibiotic Stewardship Program (AMSP) on a pilot
project across India to control misuse and overuse of antibiotics in hospital wards and ICUs.
❖ Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS): AIDS is a chronic
immune system disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV damages the immune
system and interferes with the body's ability to fight infection and disease. HIV can be spread through contact
with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can control the
infection and prevent disease progression.
❖ World AIDS Day: December 1
❖ Theme: “Equalize”
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Rare Earth Minerals
❖ Sweden’s state-owned mining company LKAB has discovered Europe’s largest deposit of rare earth metals.
❖ The store, situated in Kiruna located in the northern region of Sweden, holds a stockpile of over 1 million
metric tons of rare earth oxides. This discovery bolsters Europe's ambition to rely less on imported raw
materials needed for the green transition.
❖ Currently, no rare earths are mined in Europe and it mostly imports them from other regions.
❖ According to a report in the BBC, 98% of rare earths used by the European Union (EU) were sent by China.
❖ The discovery can also prove to be a significant turning point not just for the EU but also for other western
countries as they have been trying to reduce their reliance on China for the import of these rare earth
elements.
❖ Rare Earth Elements: They are a set of 17 metallic elements. These include the 15 lanthanides on the periodic
table in addition to scandium and yttrium that show similar physical and chemical properties to the
lanthanides.
❖ They are important in technologies of consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications,
clean energy, advanced transportation, healthcare, environmental mitigation, and national defence, among
others.
o Scandium is used in televisions and fluorescent lamps o Yttrium is used in drugs to
treat rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
o Cerium, the most abundant rare earth element, is essential to NASA’s Space Shuttle
Programme.
❖ China has over time acquired global domination of rare earths, even at one point, it produced 90% of the rare
earths the world needs.
❖ Today, however, it has come down to 60% and the remaining is produced by other countries, including the
Quad (Australia, India, Japan and United States).
❖ Since 2010, when China curbed shipments of Rare Earths to Japan, the US, and Europe, production units
have come up in Australia. Even so, the dominant share of processed Rare Earths lies with China.
❖ India has 6% of the world’s rare earth reserves, it only produces 1% of global output, and meets most of its
requirements of such minerals from China.
❖ Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) is majorly responsible for mining and extraction of primary mineral that
contains Rare Earth Elements: monazite beach sand, found in many coastal states
❖ IREL’s prime focus is to provide thorium — extracted from monazite — to the Department of Atomic Energy.
❖ Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas: Hardeep Singh Puri
Rare-Earth Elements
❖ Scientists at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have found rare-earth elements (REEs) in
Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh.
❖ REEs consist of a group of 17 chemical elements, including the 15 lanthanides: lanthanum (La), cerium
(Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium
(Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu),
and two additional elements: scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y).
Fast Movers Coalitions Leadership Meeting

❖ The World Economic Forum recently conducted the First Movers Coalition Leadership Meeting deliberating
the need for clean energy technologies. India participated in the meeting.
❖ India pushed for increased European investments. The country highlighted the need for mutual partnership
with European countries.
❖ India met several world leaders and discussed its Startup 20 agenda. The S20 is a Science Summit to be
organized by India on the sidelines of the G20. In 2023, India is hosting the G20 meeting.
❖ The FMC was launched by US President Joe Biden in 2021. He launched it at the Climate Change Conference
held in Glasgow. The aim of the coalition is to create a robust market for clean energy technologies. The
FMC aims to aid high-emitting industries like aviation, steel, shipping, and chemicals to decarbonize. This is
to be achieved by leveraging their purchasing power
❖ India, Japan, Norway, Italy, and Sweden. UK, USA, Singapore, Germany, Denmark. Canada joined the coalition
in 2023. Apart from these countries, 60 other multinational companies are also part of FMC.
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Indus Water Treaty
❖ India has issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a review and modification of the Indus Waters Treaty
(IWT) citing Pakistan’s “intransigence” in resolving disputes over the Kishanganga and Ratle (on Chenab
River) hydropower projects, both in Jammu and Kashmir.
❖ The notice was sent after the “contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by
Article IX of the IWT.”
❖ In 2015, Pakistan asked that a Neutral Expert should be appointed to examine its technical objections to
the Kishanganga and Ratle HEPs. But the following year, Pakistan unilaterally retracted this request, and
proposed that a Court of Arbitration should adjudicate on its objections.
❖ In August 2016, Pakistan had approached the World Bank seeking the constitution of a Court of
Arbitration under the relevant dispute redressal provisions of the Treaty.
❖ Instead of responding to Pakistan’s request for a Court of Arbitration, India moved a separate application
asking for the appointment of a Neutral Expert.
❖ India had argued that Pakistan’s request for a Court of Arbitration violated the graded mechanism of
dispute resolution in the Treaty.
❖ In March 2022, the World Bank decided to resume the process of appointing a Neutral Expert and a
Chairman for the Court of Arbitration.
❖ Michel Lino has been appointed as the Neutral Expert and Sean Murphy has been appointed as Chairman
of the Court of Arbitration.
❖ India and Pakistan signed the Indus Water Treaty in September, 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with
the World Bank being a signatory to the pact.
❖ The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the
use of the water of the Indus River and its five tributaries Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab.
❖ It allocated the three western rivers—Indus, Chenab and Jhelum—to Pakistan for unrestricted use, barring
certain non-consumptive, agricultural and domestic uses by India and the three Eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas
and Sutlej—were allocated to India for unrestricted usage.
❖ This means that 80% of the share of water went to Pakistan, while leaving the rest 20% of water for use by
India.
❖ Permanent Indus Commission: It also required both the countries to establish a Permanent Indus
Commission constituted by permanent commissioners on both sides.
❖ According to the provisions of the IWT, the Permanent Indus Commission is required to meet at least once
a year.
❖ While Pakistan has rights over the waters of Jhelum, Chenab and Indus, Annexure C of the IWT allows India
certain agricultural uses, while Annexure D allows it to build ‘run of the river’ hydropower projects, meaning
projects not requiring live storage of water.
❖ The IWT provides a three-step dispute resolution mechanism under Article IX of the Indus Waters
Treaty, under which “questions” on both sides can be resolved at the Permanent Commission, or can also
be taken up at the inter-government level.
Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project
❖ The Kishanganga project is located 5 km north of Bandipore in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
❖ It is a run-of-the-river project that includes a 37 m tall concrete-face rock-fill dam.
❖ It requires to divert water from the Kishanganga River through a tunnel to a power plant in the Jhelum
River basin.
❖ It will have an installed capacity of 330 MW.
❖ The construction of this hydroelectric project began in 2007.
❖ Pakistan objected to the project arguing that it will affect the flow of the Kishanganga River (called the
Neelum River in Pakistan).
❖ In 2013, The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration (CoA) ruled that India could divert all the water with
certain conditions.
China Constructs New Dam

❖ China is constructing a new dam on the Mabja Zangbo river in Tibet, close to the tri-junction of India, Nepal
and Tibet, raising concerns since China has ramped up creation of military and dual use infrastructure and
in the eastern and western sectors of the LAC (Line of Actual Control).
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❖ The development comes in the wake of China unveiling plans in 2021 to build a massive dam on the lower
reaches of Yarlung Zangbo to generate up to 70 GW of power, three times that of the country’s Three
Gorges dam, which is the world’s largest hydropower plant in terms of installed capacity.
❖ The Brahmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in China, is a 2,880 km long transborder river that originates
in the Mansarovar lake and flows 1,700 km within Tibet, 920 km in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and 260
km in Bangladesh. It accounts for nearly 30% of freshwater resources and 40% of India’s hydropower
potential.
❖ The new dam is located around 16 km north
of the tri-junction and is opposite the
Kalapani area of Uttarakhand.
❖ The dam is on the Mabja Zangbo river,
a tributary of the Ganga.
❖ Construction activity on the dam has been
observed on the northern side of the river in
Burang county, Tibet since May 2021.
❖ The Mabja Zangbo River flows into Nepal’s
Ghaghara or the Karnali River before it joins
the Ganga River in India.
❖ China has built a large number of dams and dikes to control the flow of rivers on the Indus, Brahmaputra
and Mekong.
❖ With the occupation of Tibet, China has acquired the starting points for rivers that flow into 18 countries.
❖ China has built several thousand dams, which can cause floods by suddenly releasing water or create
droughts by turning off the tap, thus devastating the river’s ecosystem and disrupting normal human life.
❖ China plans to have four dams on the Brahmaputra River which would affect the river’s flows, India had
lodged a complaint with China.
❖ China refused to share hydrographic data with India while it did so with Bangladesh, which resulted in huge
destruction because of floods in Assam subsequently for which India was not prepared.
❖ China has already built eleven huge dams on the Mekong River, which worries the South-East-Asian
countries.
India – Sri Lanka Relation
❖ India sent written financing assurances to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), becoming the first
bilateral creditor of the island nation to officially support its crucial debt restructure programme after last
year’s economic meltdown.
❖ A bilateral agreement between India and Sri Lanka on raising the limit of the High Impact Community
Development Project (HICDP) was also signed during the India’s External Affairs Minister’s Visit.
❖ The International Monetary Fund’s provisional USD 2.9 billion package to Sri Lanka will be cleared only
after Sri Lanka’s official creditors — China, Japan and India — have provided adequate financing
assurances.
❖ The decision of financing assurance was also a reassertion of India’s belief in the principle of
“neighborhood first”, and not leaving a partner to fend for themselves.
Related Static Gk
❖ India and Sri Lanka are two South Asian nations situated in the Indian Ocean region. Geographically, Sri
Lanka is located just off the southern coast of India, separated by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar
❖ India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination, after the US and UK. More than 60% of Sri Lanka’s
exports enjoy the benefits of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. India is also a major investor in
Sri Lanka.
❖ India and Sri Lanka conduct joint Military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX).
❖ 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution: It envisages devolution of necessary powers to the
provincial councils to address the just demand of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect
within a united Sri Lanka. India supports its implementation but the Sri Lankan government is yet to “fully
implement” the 13th Amendment.
❖ Hambantota International Port Group is a Public Private Partnership and a Strategic Development Project
between the Government of Sri Lanka and China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort).
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❖ This port was given to China by Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease after Sri Lanka failed to repay Chinese loans.
Chinese loans to the Sri Lankan public sector amount to 15% of the central government’s external debt.
Trincomalee Oil Tank Farms
❖ India and Sri Lanka has signed the deal to jointly Develop the Trincomalee oil tank farms.
❖ The oil tank farm was built by the British during World War II as a refuelling station.
❖ It is located in ‘China Bay’ in close proximity to the internationally coveted deep water natural harbour of
Trincomalee.
❖ It comprises 99 storage tanks, with a capacity of 12,000 kilolitres each, spread across Lower Tank farm
and Upper Tank Farm.
❖ In 2003, Indian Oil Corporation set up its Sri Lankan subsidiary called Lanka IOC, to work on this oil farm.
❖ Currently, Lanka IOC runs 15 tanks. The new agreement is being negotiated for the remaining tanks.
Indo-Lanka Accord
❖ It is popularly referred to as the Rajiv-Jayewardene Accord, after its architects Prime Minister of India Rajiv
Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene. It was signed in 1987.
❖ It was signed on the pretext of the Civil War in Sri Lanka(1983-2009)
❖ Between Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam and Sri lankan govt.
❖ Vellupilai Prabhakaran was the leader of LTTE.
❖ The accord sought to balance India’s strategic interests, interest of people of Indian origin in Sri
Lanka and Tamil minority rights in Sri Lanka.
❖ The accord saw the placement of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka to resolve the Sri
Lankan Civil War.
❖ Indian Peace Keeping Force-Operation Pawan(1987-1990)
❖ The accord also resulted in enactment of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka and
the Provincial Councils Act of 1987.
India-Egypt Relation
th
❖ On the occasion of the 74 Republic Day, the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was invited as the
chief guest at the parade, this is the first time that an Egyptian President has been accorded this honour. A
military contingent from Egypt also participated in the parade.
❖ The history of contact between India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilisations, can be traced back
to at least the time of Emperor Ashoka. Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II.
❖ In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and the Egyptian revolutionary Saad Zaghloul shared the common goal
of independence from British colonial rule.
❖ India and Egypt signed a friendship treaty in 1955. In 1961, India and Egypt along with Yugoslavia,
Indonesia and Ghana established the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
❖ In 2016, the joint statement between India and Egypt identified political-security cooperation, economic
engagement and scientific collaboration, and cultural and people-people ties as the basis of a new
partnership for a new era.
❖ India and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for three years to facilitate content
exchange, capacity building, and co-productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority
of Egypt.
❖ The first joint special forces exercise between the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army, "Exercise Cyclone-
I" has been underway since 14 January 2023 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
❖ Cultural Relations: The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) was established in Cairo in 1992.
The centre has been promoting cultural cooperation between the two countries.
❖ Egypt’s economy has been in chaos over the past few years due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine
war which impacted its supply of food as almost 80% of Egypt’s grain imported from Russia and
Ukraine and impacted Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves.
❖ In 2022, despite restrictions on the export of wheat, India allowed shipments of 61,500 metric tonnes to
Egypt.
Non Alignment Movement
❖ The policy of Non Alignment Movement (NAM) did not seek to formally align themselves with either the
United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral.
❖ The basic concept for the group originated in 1955 during discussions that took place at the Asia-Africa
Bandung Conference held in Indonesia.
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❖ The first NAM Summit Conference took place in Belgrade, Serbia, in September 1961. Under the leadership
of Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Kwame
Nkrumah of Ghana, and Sukarno of Indonesia.
❖ It has 120 members as on April 2018 comprising 53 countries from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin
America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe (Belarus, Azerbaijan). There are 17 countries and 10
international organizations that are Observers at NAM.
❖ The purpose of the organization was enumerated in Havana Declaration of 1979 to ensure "the national
independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries" in their struggle
against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign subjugation.
Related Static GK
❖ Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of
Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the
Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip of Palestine and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the
east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west.
❖ Capital: Cairo Prime Minister: Moustafa Marlbouly Currency: Egyptian Pound
Japan to Flush Fukushima Wastewater

❖ Japan is expected to start flushing 1.25 million tons of wastewater from the embattled Fukushima nuclear
power plant into the Pacific Ocean in 2023, as part of a USD 76-billion project to decommission the
facility.
❖ In March 2011, after a magnitude 9 earthquake, a tsunami flooded the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
power plant in Okuma and damaged its diesel generators.
❖ The loss of power suspended coolant supply to reactors at the facility; the tsunami also disabled backup
systems.
❖ Soon, radioactive materials leaked from reactor pressure vessels, exploded in the facility’s upper
levels, and exposed themselves to the ambient air, water, soil, and local population.
❖ Winds also carried radioactive material thrown up into the air into the Pacific. Since then, the power plant
and its surrounding land have been uninhabitable.
❖ The water that the Japanese government wants to flush from the plant was used to cool the reactors, plus
rainwater and groundwater.
❖ It contains radioactive isotopes from the damaged reactors and is thus itself radioactive. Japan has said
that it will release this water into the Pacific Ocean over the next 30 years.
❖ Concerns of Releasing Water: There is no known threshold below which radiation can be considered safe,
therefore any discharge of radioactive materials will increase the risk of cancer and other known health
impacts to those who are exposed.
❖ Water released can be poisonous to the fish and anyone who happens to live in the vicinity of the discharge
point can be caught precarious.
❖ Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) hasn’t removed tritium from the water because this is very
difficult to do.
❖ Tritium is “easily absorbed by the bodies of living creatures” and “rapidly distributed via blood.
❖ There were other radionuclides in the water that TEPCO’s treatment procedure couldn’t entirely remove.
❖ These include isotopes of ruthenium and plutonium, which could persist for longer in the bodies of marine
creatures and on the seafloor.
Related Static GK
❖ The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet
Union.
❖ It is one of only two nuclear energy accidents rated at 7—the maximum severity—on the International
Nuclear Event Scale, the other being the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
❖ The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in southeastern Ukraine is the largest nuclear power plant in
Europe and among the 10 largest in the world. It was built by the Soviet Union near the city of Enerhodar, on
the southern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnieper river.
DRACO: NASA
❖ DARPA of the USA is working on nuclear fission-powered spacecraft along with NASA called the DRACO.
DARPA is Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency. And DARPA is the research and development wing
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of the US military. Just like the DRDO of India. DARPA is to launch the DRACO Spacecraft. DRACO stands
for Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations.
❖ DRACO is to run on nuclear fission reaction. This is considered a big leap in the space industry as no
nuclear rockets have been launched till 2021. The USA began testing the technology in 1955. Due to a lack
of funds, the project was stalled.
❖ The rocket that uses a nuclear fission reactor to fly is called a nuclear thermal rocket. No country on earth
has succeeded in this technology. China, Russia, and USA are space racing on the technology. India has not
yet started working on the technology.
❖ The nuclear thermal rocket is faster than the conventional rockets being used today. With the world
expanding its space exploration, the need has come for faster space travel.
❖ Rockets take more time traveling to another planet. For instance, the JUICE spacecraft of Europe to be
launched in 2023 will reach Jupiter in 2034. Almost, 11 years. More time is wasted on traveling. Nuclear
fission-powered rockets will help scientists reduce traveling time greatly
FAO: India elected as Vice Chair

❖ The Inter-Governmental Technical Working Group reviews the technical issues at the Food and Agriculture
Organization and also advises the organizations on key decisions.
❖ India will hold the position of Vice Chairperson at the 12th session of the group. The ITWG is to meet at
Rome in January 2023 and discuss animal genetic resources.
❖ USA is the Chair of the session. Along with India, other countries will also hold the Vice Chair position. They
are Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tonga, and Brazil. India will also hold the position of Rapporteur
along with the Vice Chair post. Rapporteur means the reporting officer.
❖ Mr. Bhupendra Nath Tripathi is to represent India and hold these positions.
❖ The group will discuss Animal Genetic Resources. The discussions will be held based on the inputs from
the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS).
❖ The DAD-IS has national data for all countries. It includes the breed types, adaptations, classification, cost–
efficient methodologies adopted, technical support received, diversity, and many more. The ITWG will make
decisions and provide recommendations after analyzing the reports submitted based on the information
from DAD-IS. The action plan suggested will target the implementation of SDG 2.4 and SDG2.5
❖ SDG 2.4: Sustainable Food Production
❖ SDG 2.5: Maintain Genetic Diversity
❖ SDG 2: Zero Hunger
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

❖ Pakistan inaugurated a USD 2.7 billion nuclear reactor under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),
providing some relief as the nation grapples with an energy crisis.
❖ This is a 1,100 megawatts capacity power plant, which will generate some of the nation’s cheapest
electricity.
❖ Background: Pakistan experienced nationwide power outages recently due to a breakdown in its national
grid.
❖ The country has struggled with blackouts for years and is facing surging energy costs, low foreign-
exchange reserves, and pressure on its government budget.
❖ Pakistan is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout in exchange for increased energy
tariffs. The country’s foreign-exchange reserves fell to the lowest in nine years, as high fossil fuel costs put
pressure on the government’s budget.
❖ CPEC is a 3,000-km long route of infrastructure projects
connecting China’s northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region and the Gwadar Port in the western province of
Balochistan in Pakistan.
❖ It is a bilateral project between Pakistan and China, intended
to promote connectivity across Pakistan with a network of
highways, railways, and pipelines accompanied by energy,
industrial, and other infrastructure development projects.
❖ It will pave the way for China to access the Middle East
and Africa from Gwadar Port, enabling China to access
the Indian Ocean and in return China will support
development projects in Pakistan to overcome the
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latter’s energy crises and stabilising its faltering economy. CPEC is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
❖ The BRI, launched in 2013, aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with
a network of land and sea routes.
Related Static GK
❖ India may join the US-led Blue Dot Network (BDN).
❖ The BDN was formally announced on 4th November, 2019 at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok,
Thailand. It will be led by the US along with Japan and Australia.
❖ It is a multi-stakeholder initiative to bring together governments, the private sector and civil society to
promote high-quality, trusted standards for global infrastructure development.
❖ It is expected to serve as a globally recognised evaluation and certification system for roads, ports and
bridges with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
❖ Infrastructure projects would be graded on debt, environmental standards, labour standards etc.
❖ This system would apply to projects in any citizen-centric country where citizens would like to evaluate
such projects.
❖ It seems to be planned as a direct counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, unlike the
BRI, the BDN would not offer public funds or loans for the project. BDN will serve as a globally recognized
seal of approval for major infrastructure projects, letting people know that projects are sustainable and not
exploitative
World Economic Situation and Prospect 2023

❖ The United Nations has released a new report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023, which stated
that the Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is likely to drop to 1.9 % in 2023 from 3 % in 2022.
❖ Series of severe and mutually reinforcing shocks — the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and
resulting food and energy crises, surging inflation, debt tightening, as well as the climate emergency
❖ Inflation: The world’s average inflation rate was at 9% in 2022, which led to budgetary constraints in
several developed as well as developing countries.
❖ Recession: Current downturn has slowed the pace of economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis,
threatening several countries with the prospects of recession in 2023.
❖ Slight Growth in Global Output: The world’s output growth can bounce back to 2.7 % in 2024, subject to a
change in the war situation and the disruption of supply chains.
❖ Outlook of South Asia: In South Asia, the economic outlook has significantly deteriorated due to high food
and energy prices, monetary tightening and fiscal vulnerabilities.
❖ Growth Rate in India: Growth in India is expected to remain strong at 5.8 %, albeit slightly lower than the
estimated 6.4 % in 2022, as higher interest rates and a global slowdown weigh on investment and exports.
India will grow at 6.7 % in 2024, the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
❖ Inflation in India: Annual inflation is estimated at 7.1% in 2022. India’s inflation is expected to decelerate to
5.5 % in 2023 as global commodity prices moderate and slower currency depreciation eases imported
inflation.
❖ Unemployment in India: Unemployment rate in 2022 declined to pre-pandemic levels through stepped-up
urban and rural employment, indicating strong domestic demand.
United Nations
❖ Formed in 1945, 197 member
❖ HQ: New York
❖ United Nations Conference on International Organization (1945) held in San Francisco (USA), was
attended by representatives of 50 countries and signed the United Nations Charter
Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and UN Secretariat
❖ Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations
from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.
Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases

❖ The World Health Organization’s (WHO) has released a Global report on Neglected Tropical Diseases
(NTD) 2023, which states that NTD continues to disproportionately impact the most impoverished
members of the international community.
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❖ World NTD day is observed every year on 30th January. It was declared in the 74th World Health
Assembly (2021).
❖ NTDs are a group of infections that are most common among marginalized communities in the developing
regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
❖ They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms.
❖ These diseases generally receive less funding for research and treatment than malaises like tuberculosis,
HIV-AIDS and malaria.
➢ Malaria is caused by being bitten by Female Anopheles Mosquito
➢ Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an Aedes aegypti Mosquito
❖ NTDs are especially common in tropical areas where people do not have access to clean water or safe
ways to dispose of human waste.
❖ Examples of NTDs are: snakebite envenomation, scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis and Chagas
disease etc.
❖ About 16 countries accounted for 80 % of the global NTD burden.
❖ Globally, nearly 1.65 billion people are estimated to require treatment for at least one NTD.
❖ Covid-19 impacted the community-based initiatives, access to healthcare facilities and healthcare goods
supply chains. As a result, between 2019 and 2020, 34% fewer persons received treatment for NTDs.
❖ Greater efforts and investments are required to reverse delays and accelerate progress towards the
NTD road map targets by 2030.
❖ WHO’s New Roadmap for 2021–2030: The NTD road map 2021–2030 is WHO’s blueprint to drive global
efforts in the fight against NTDs in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The
Blueprint recommends following measures,
➢ From measuring process to measuring impact.
➢ From disease-specific planning and programming to collaborative work across sectors.
➢ From externally driven agendas reliant to programmes that are country-owned and country-financed.
❖ London Declaration on NTDs: It was adopted on 30th January, 2012 to recognise the global burden of
NTDs.
Indian Initiatives to Eliminate NTDs
❖ The Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) was launched in 2018, as part of
intensifying efforts towards the elimination of NTDs.
❖ A WHO-supported regional alliance established by the governments of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal in
2005 to expedite early diagnosis and treatment of the most vulnerable populations and improve disease
surveillance and control of sandfly populations (Kala-azar).
❖ India has already eliminated several other NTDs, including guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws.
❖ Preventive methods like Mass Drug Administration (MDA) rounds are periodically deployed in endemic
areas during which anti-filarial medicines are provided free-of-cost to at-risk communities.
❖ Vector-control measures like Indoor Residual Spraying rounds are undertaken in endemic areas to prevent
sandfly breeding.
❖ State and central governments have also introduced wage compensation schemes for those suffering from
Kala-Azar and its sequela (a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury) known
as Post-Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis.
Ukraine’s Odesa in UNESCO’s World Heritage List

❖ Recently, the World Heritage Committee decided to add the historic centre of Ukraine’s Black Sea port city
of Odesa to its list of World Heritage sites. This decision recognizes the extraordinary universal value of
the site and the duty of all humanity to protect it. The Historic Centre of Odesa has also been inscribed on
the List of World Heritage in Danger.
❖ The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions that
threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List and to
encourage corrective action.
❖ As of 2023, the 52 properties are decided by the Committee to include on the List of World Heritage in
danger.
Related Static GK
❖ Total 40 sites in India, in 19 states and UT (highest in Maharashtra-5). These include 32 cultural sites, 7
natural sites, and 1 mixed-criteria site.
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❖ Dholavira(Gujarat) and Kakatiya Rudreshwara Ramappa Temple (Telangana) was recently added to the list
in the 44th meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, China
❖ India's first World Heritage Site- Ajanta, Ellora caves, Taj Mahal, Agra fort (1983)
❖ International Day for Monuments and Sites- 18th April
❖ World Heritage Day: 18th April
❖ Theme is Heritage and Climate
❖ India's first mixed WHS- Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim In 2016
❖ China and Italy have the highest number of World Heritage Sites, both with 55 entries.
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
❖ Armenia appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order Azerbaijan to dissolve the road
blockade isolating Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is within Azerbaijan but had been under the
control of ethnic Armenian forces since 1994 when a separatist war ended.
❖ The conflict can be traced back to the pre-Soviet era when the region was at the meeting point of Ottoman,
Russian and the Persian empires.
❖ Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous and heavily forested region that under international law is recognised
as part of Azerbaijan
❖ However, ethnic Armenians who constitute the vast majority of the population there reject Azeri rule (the
legal system of Azerbaijan).
❖ After Azerbaijan’s troops were pushed out of the region following a war in the 1990s, these ethnic
Armenians have been in administrative control of Nagorno-Karabakh, with support from Armenia.
❖ Strategic Significance: The energy-rich Azerbaijan has built several gas and oil pipelines across the
Caucasus (the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) to Turkey and Europe.
❖ Some of these pipelines pass close to the conflict zone (within 16 km of the border).
❖ In an open war between the two countries, the pipelines could be targeted, which would impact energy
supplies and may even lead to higher oil prices globally.
❖ Background of the Conflict: The conflict can be traced back to
the pre-Soviet era when the region was at the meeting point of
Ottoman, Russian and the Persian empires.
❖ Once Azerbaijan and Armenia became Soviet Republics in 1921
Russia (erstwhile Sovient Union) gave Nagorno-Karabakh to
❖ Azerbaijan but offered autonomy to the contested region.
In the 1980s, when the Soviet power was receding, separatist
currents picked up in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1988, the national
assembly voted to dissolve the region’s autonomous status and join Armenia.
❖ However, Azerbaijan suppressed such calls, which led to a military conflict.
❖ Flash Point of Conflict: The self-declaration of independence by Nagorno-Karabakh in September 1991 in
the backdrop of an imminent collapse of the USSR resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-
Karabakh — supported by Armenia.
❖ Ceasefire: This clash lasted till a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1994, mediated largely by Russia.
Since then, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chaired by
the USA, Russia and France have engaged Azerbaijan and Armenia extensively to resolve the conflict.
❖ By that time, Armenia had taken control of Nagorno-Karabakh and handed it to Armenian rebels.
❖ Role of India: With Armenia, India has a friendship and cooperation treaty (signed in 1995), which,
incidentally, would prohibit India from providing military or any other assistance to Azerbaijan.
❖ In the case of Azerbaijan, ONGC/OVL has made investments in an oilfield project in Azerbaijan and GAIL is
exploring the possibilities of cooperation in LNG.
❖ Azerbaijan also falls on the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) route, connecting India
with Russia through Central Asia.
❖ It can also connect India with Turkey and beyond through the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars passenger and freight rail
link.
❖ Armenia extends its unequivocal support to India on Kashmir issue whereas Azerbaijan not only opposess
but also promotes Pakistan’s narrative on this issue.
❖ India does not have a publicly articulated policy for the South Caucasus — unlike “Neighbourhood
First”, “Act East” or “Central Asia Connect”.
❖ The region has remained on the periphery of its foreign policy radar.
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Myanmar Extends Emergency Rule
❖ Myanmar's junta announced the extension of the country's state of emergency by another 6 months.
❖ ‘Coup’ is generally described as a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.
❖ In the November 2020 parliamentary election, Suu Kyi’s party National League for Democracy (NLD)
secured the majority of the seats.
❖ Aung San Suu Kyi won Nobel Peace Prize in 1991
❖ In Myanmar's Parliament, the military holds 25% of the total seats according to the 2008 military-drafted
constitution and several key ministerial positions are also reserved for military appointees. When the newly
elected Myanmar lawmakers were to hold the first session of Parliament in 2021, the military imposed a
state of emergency for one year citing massive voting fraud in the parliamentary elections.
Myanmar
❖ Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma (the official name until
1989), is a country in Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia.
❖ Capital: Naypyidaw
❖ Currency: Kyat
❖ State Administration Council (SAC) Chairman and Prime Minister: Min Aung Hlaing
❖ Independence day: 4 December 1948
India-Kenya Ties
❖ India recently handed over 100 nautical charts to Kenya, the result of a collaborative survey between the
navies of both countries of the coastal area near the Lamu Archipelago.
❖ From India, the survey was conducted by the Indian Navy's National Hydrography Office.
❖ Kenya is located in East Africa. Its terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to mountains
and plateaus at its centre.
❖ Kenya's location between the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria means that people from all over Africa and
the Middle East have travelled and traded across it for centuries.
❖ This has created a diverse culture with many ethnic groups and languages.
❖ Scientists think Northern Kenya and Tanzania may have been the original birthplace of humans.
❖ The bones of one of the earliest human ancestors ever found were discovered in Kenya's Turkana Basin.
❖ Lake Turkana, the world's largest desert lake, is part of the Omo-Turkana basin, which stretches into four
countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda.
❖ UN-Habitat maintains its headquarters at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya.
❖ India and Kenya have historical linkages rooted in the well-documented trade in spices.
❖ In addition to being India’s maritime neighbour, it is also a significant stakeholder in determining the
geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean.
❖ India has a long-established connection with the African Union of which Kenya is an active member.
❖ The Kenyan government in 2017, recognized the Indian descent as the 44th tribe in the country.
❖ Also, till date, a total of 14 Kenyan personnel has undergone courses at the National Institute of
Hydrography, Goa under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme.
❖ Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme
❖ ITEC is the leading capacity building platform of the Ministry Of External Affairs, Government of India.
❖ Instituted in 1964, ITEC is one of the oldest institutionalised arrangements for international capacity
building having trained more than 200,000 officials from 160+ countries in both the civilian and in the
defence sector.
❖ EC offers nearly 10,000 fully-funded in-person training opportunities through nearly 400 courses offered
at 100+ eminent institutes in India each year.
Boeing 747
❖ US aircraft maker Boeing has ended production of its famous 747 jumbo jet more than half a century
after its first flight in 1969. But the company expects the legendary "Queen of the Skies" to fly on for
decades to come.
❖ On January 31, 2023, a glamorous era in aviation ends, as almost exactly 54 years after its first flight,
production of the Boeing 747 has been stopped and the last aircraft delivery is celebrated. Only a small
decal near the nose which can open upwards marks this as the final aircraft of the line and depicts the
"father of the 747," chief engineer Joe Sutter, who passed away in 2016 as an industry legend.
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❖ The Boeing 747 achieved the biggest quantum leap in the history of commercial aviation, as its
predecessor, the Boeing 707, accommodated just up to 189 passengers. The 747 was the first airplane
dubbed "jumbo jet" because of its wide-body design. It was initially certified for up to 550 passengers and
later capable of carrying up to 660 travelers.
China Surveillance Balloon

❖ The United States (US) shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over US airspace
for a couple of days.
❖ That time and place came at 2:39 p.m., Pentagon officials said, about 6 miles off the coast of South
Carolina. The Federal Aviation Administration had paused departures and arrivals at airports in Wilmington,
North Carolina, and in Myrtle Beach and Charleston in South Carolina. One of two F-22 fighter jets from
Langley Air Force Base fired a Sidewinder air-to-air missile, downing the balloon, which was flying at an
altitude of 60,000 to 65,000 feet. The F-22s were at 58,000 feet, with other American fighters in support.
❖ According to China the Balloon was for research but got off track
❖ These cheap, quiet and hard-to-reach balloons have been used for reconnaissance purposes, including in
conflicts like the American Civil War.
❖ The practice became widespread during World War I and was used extensively during the Cold War when
the US launched hundreds of balloons to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union and China.
❖ While their use has declined with the rise of unmanned drones and satellites, many countries still employ
spy balloons.
❖ China has for decades complained about US surveillance by ships and spy planes near its own territory,
leading to occasional confrontations over the years.
❖ Air Space and its Related Laws
❖ Air space, in international law, is the space above a particular national territory, treated as belonging to
the government controlling the territory.
❖ It does not include outer space, which, under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 is declared to be free and not
subject to national appropriation. The treaty, however, did not define the altitude at which outer space
begins and air space ends.
❖ It is the fundamental right of a sovereign state to regulate the use of its air space and enforce its own
aviation law.
❖ The State controls the entry of foreign aircraft into its territory and that persons within its territory are
subject to its laws.
❖ The principle of air space sovereignty is established through the Paris Convention on the Regulation of
Aerial Navigation (1919) and subsequently by other multilateral treaties.
❖ Under the 1944 Chicago Convention, contracting states agree to permit aircraft registered in the other
contracting states and engaged in commercial non-scheduled flights to fly into their territory without
prior diplomatic permission and, moreover, to pick up and discharge passengers, cargo, and mail.
❖ The point where Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) consider spacecraft and astronauts to have
entered space, known as the Von Karman Line – is only 62 miles (100 kilometers) above sea level.
❖ But the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Air Force, NOAA, and NASA generally use 50 miles (80
kilometers) as the boundary.
Paris Club
❖ The Paris Club, an informal group of creditor nations, will provide financial assurances to the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sri Lanka’s debt.
❖ Sri Lanka needs assurance from the Paris Club and other creditors in order to receive a USD 2.9
billion bailout package from the IMF, following an economic crisis in 2022.
❖ The Paris Club is a group of mostly western creditor countries that grew from a 1956 meeting in
which Argentina agreed to meet its public creditors in Paris.
❖ It describes itself as a forum where official creditors meet to solve payment difficulties faced by debtor
countries.
❖ The members are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel,
Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the
United States.
❖ All 22 are members of the group called Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
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❖ Involved in Debt Agreements: According to its official website, Paris Club has reached 478 agreements
with 102 different debtor countries. Since 1956, the debt treated in the framework of Paris Club
agreements amounts to USD 614 billion.
❖ The Paris group countries dominated bilateral lending in the last century, but their importance has receded
over the last two decades or so with the emergence of China as the world’s biggest bilateral lender.
❖ In Sri Lanka’s case, for instance, India, China, and Japan are the largest bilateral creditors.
❖ Sri Lanka’s debt to China is 52% of its bilateral debt, 19.5% to Japan, and 12% to India.
❖ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka on a 4 year, USD
2.9 billion bailout package which is aimed at restoring economic stability and debt sustainability for the
crisis-ridden south Asian nation.
❖ The IMF has set a target of 2.4% primary budget surplus by 2025.
❖ Out of $51 Billion loan $2 billion is default in 2022
❖ The Economic Crisis of Sri Lanka with USD 51 billion debt which was caused due to various reasons:
❖ The Easter bomb blasts of April 2019 in churches in Colombo
❖ The government policy of lower tax rates and wide-ranging subsidies for farmers during their campaign.
❖ The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 which impacted exports of tea, rubber, spices, garments and the tourism
sector.
❖ The IMF package is to be paid in tranches over the next 4 years, which is less than what India provided to
Sri Lanka over four months.
❖ The package must be approved by the IMF’s board of directors.
❖ The approval is contingent on Sri Lanka’s international creditors - commercial lenders such as banks and
asset managers, multilateral agencies, as well as bilateral creditors including China, Japan, and India
agreeing to restructure its debt.
❖ Wickremesinghe presented a slew of measures in the country's budget aimed at increasing revenue to 15%
of GDP by 2025 from the 8.2% at the end of 2021,
❖ reduce public debt, and a surplus of more than 2% of GDP.
❖ An increase in VAT from 12 to 15 per cent
❖ Compulsory tax registration for everyone aged 18 years and older
❖ Some 50 state-owned enterprises are up for privatization, apart from the big three - Ceylon Electricity Board,
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and Sri Lankan Airlines
❖ The restructuring could yield up to $3 bn.
❖ The age of retirement in govt. and semi-govt. organization has been brought down to 60 and 62
respectively.
❖ In banking sector, staff and depositors are to be offered 20% shareholding in state banks to address
recapitalization requirements arising out of non-payment of loans
❖ As per the world bank China-$7 billion, Japan-$3.5 billion and India-$1 billion has lent to Sri Lanka
International Monetary Fund
❖ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that promotes global economic
growth and financial stability, encourages international trade, and reduces poverty.
❖ Formed in 1944, started on 27 December 1945, at the Bretton Woods Conference primarily by the ideas of
Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes, it came into formal existence in 1945 with 29 member
countries and the goal of reconstructing the international monetary system.
❖ HQ- Washington DC
❖ Managing Director- Kristalina Georgieva
❖ First Deputy Managing Director- Geeta Gopinath
❖ IMF and World Bank are also known as Bretton Woods Twins
QS World University Ranking by Subject 2023

❖ QS World University Ranking 2023 by Subject was released.
❖ Earlier in 2022, QS World University Ranking 2023 was released.
❖ The rankings cover 54 academic disciplines, the India universities perform well in the fields of Computer
Science, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Business Studies, and Physics.
❖ Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of US is ranked first followed by University of Cambridge of
UK, Stanford University of US respectively.
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❖ Led by its Institutes of Eminence (IoE), India has improved its position in the QS World University Rankings
by Subject, with 44 courses, in their respective subject categories, offered in the country’s higher
educational institutes ranked among the global top 100.
❖ Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science (in dentistry programme) - best performer among
Indian institutes obtaining the 13th rank globally
❖ IIT-Kanpur (Electrical engineering, ranked 87th), featuring in the top 100 categories for the first time ❖ IIT-
Madras (in Petroleum Engineering, ranked 21st )
❖ IIT-Bombay (Mathematic, ranked 92nd)

❖ IIT-Delhi (Electrical engineering, ranked 49th)
❖ Jawaharlal Nehru University (Sociology, ranked 68th)
❖ India is the second-most improved nation in Asia with its overall performance improving by 17.2% year on
year, after Mainland China which improved by 21.9%.
QS World University Ranking 2023
❖ Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the US is the top university for the 11th consecutive year.
❖ The second place went to the University of Cambridge, followed by Stanford University
❖ The Indian Institute Science (IISC) was ranked highest followed by IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. The total
number of Indian institutes among the top 1,000 globally has risen to 27 from 22.
❖ IISc Bengaluru is the world’s top research university, achieving a perfect score of 100/100 for this metric.
❖ Furthermore, IISc Bengaluru is the fastest rising South Asian university among the QS World University
Rankings top-200.
❖ Overall, Indian education institutes, 41 of which made it to the rankings, have performed poorly across
many key metrics.
❖ Apart from IISc, eight IITs (Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati, Indore) are
ranked among the top 500 globally.
QS World University
❖ Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) a leading global career and education network for ambitious professionals
looking to further their personal and professional development.
❖ QS develops and successfully implements methods of comparative data collection and analysis used to
highlight institutions’ strengths.
❖ The ‘QS World University Rankings’ is an annual publication of university rankings which comprises the
global overall and subject rankings.
❖ Six parameters and their weightage for the evaluation: Academic Reputation (40%), Employer Reputation
(10%), Faculty/Student Ratio (20%), Citations per faculty (20%), International Faculty Ratio (5%) &
International Student Ratio (5%)
Multilateral Security Dialogue on Afghanistan

❖ National Security Advisor(Ajit Doval) addressed a Multilateral Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in
Moscow.
❖ The discussion revolved around issues related to Afghanistan, including security and humanitarian
challenges and was attended by representatives from various countries including Russia, China, and Iran.
❖ NSG emphasized that no country should be allowed to use Afghan territory for exporting terrorism and
that India will always support the people of Afghanistan in their time of need.
❖ NSG also spoke about the importance of UN Security Council resolution 2593 that calls for denying
sanctuary to terror outfits in the region
❖ India and Afghanistan have had close historical, cultural, and economic ties for centuries.
❖ The relationship between the two countries has undergone significant changes in the post-9/11 era, with
India playing an increasingly active role in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
❖ But India is still yet to recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been advocating for the
formation of an inclusive government in Kabul. Also, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul
in June 2022.
❖ India has been providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including 40,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 60
tonnes of medicines, 5,00,000 Covid vaccines, winter clothing, and 28 tonnes of disaster relief.
❖ India has also granted scholarships to 2,260 Afghan students, including 300 girls, over the past two years.
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❖ Economic Relations: From 2002 to 2021, India spent USD 4 billion in development assistance in
Afghanistan, building high-visibility projects such as highways, hospitals, the parliament building, rural
schools, and electricity transmission lines
Chabahar Port
❖ It is located on the Gulf of Oman and is only 72 km away from the Gwadar port in Pakistan which has been
developed by China.
❖ It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian ocean and consists of two separate ports named
Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.
❖ Afghanistan, Iran and India signed a tripartite agreement on developing Chabahar port and setting up a
trilateral transport and transit corridor in 2016.
❖ It is a key part of India’s plans to enhance connectivity to Afghanistan and the Central Asian states.
❖ India expressed its intent to include Chabahar port in the 13-nation International North South Transport
Corridor (INSTC)
❖ It is a multi-modal transportation established on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia
and India for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States.
❖ The INSTC was expanded to include eleven new members, namely: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Oman, Syria, Bulgaria (Observer).
❖ It envisions a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail and road route for transporting freight,
aimed at reducing the carriage cost between India and Russia by about 30% and bringing down the transit
time from 40 days by more than half.
❖ This corridor connects India Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via the Islamic Republic of Iran
and then is connected to St. Petersburg and North Europe via the Russian Federation.
ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting

rd
❖ The 3 ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting was held recently .
❖ The theme of the meeting was "Synergy Towards a Sustainable Digital Future”.
❖ The meeting focused on enhancing the relationship between India and ASEAN (Association of Southeast
Asian Nations) in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) .
❖ India emphasised its reforms to promote fair competition, and increase broadband and telecom
connectivity.
❖ The significance of digital transformation was also highlighted as a means of creating an inclusive and
equitable society, promoting sustainable development, and empowering citizens through digital means.
❖ India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023 was approved, which includes initiatives for capacity building and
knowledge sharing in areas such as Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity, IoT and AI in Next
Generation Smart Cities, and the role of ICTs in implementing digital health and security.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
❖ Formed in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand by the Bangkok Declaration
❖ ASEAN Day is 8th August and 54th ASEAN day was recently celebrated
❖ HQ: Jakarta, Indonesia
❖ 10 members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar and
Vietnam
❖ Founding members: Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand (PMIST)
❖ Preceded by Association of South Asia formed in 1961
❖ Cambodia latest member, joined in 1999
❖ Cambodia holds the current rotating chair which rotates in alphabetical order.
❖ ASEAN Vision: One Vision, One Identity, One Commodity
❖ ASEAN countries have a total population of 650 million people and a combined GDP of $2.8 trillion.
❖ Commodity trade between India and ASEAN region has reached $98.39 billion in the period April 2021-
February 2022. India’s main trading ties are with Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
❖ ASEAN is India’s 4th largest trading partner.
❖ The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement has been completed.
❖ ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in 2003 to bring key private sector players from India and
the ASEAN countries on a single platform.
❖ Financial assistance has been provided to ASEAN countries from the following Funds:
o ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund
o ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund
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o ASEAN-India Green Fund
❖ Delhi Declaration identifies cooperation in the Maritime Domain.
❖ Delhi Dialogue: Annual dialogue for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and
India.
❖ ASEAN-India Centre (AIC): To undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with
organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN.
❖ Political Security Cooperation: India places ASEAN at the centre of its Indo-Pacific vision of Security and
Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)
MonkeyPox
❖ According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 85,765 confirmed and 1,382 probable
cases of mpox (monkeypox) were reported from 110 countries since 1 st January, 2022. The United States
was the most affected, recording 29,948 confirmed cases
❖ WHO assessed the global risk as ‘Moderate’ and also announced that it would prefer to refer to the
disease as mpox rather than monkeypox.
❖ It is a viral zoonotic disease (transmission from animals to humans) and is identified as a pox-like disease
among monkeys hence it is named Monkeypox. It is endemic to Nigeria.
❖ member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
❖ It was first reported in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in humans in
1970, also in the DRC.
❖ In 2017, Nigeria experienced the largest documented outbreak, 40 years after the last confirmed case.
❖ Primary infection is through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of
an infected animal. Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animals is also a risk factor.
Related Static GK
❖ The Union Government has formed a task force headed by Dr VK Paul a member of NITI Aayog in the wake
of Monkeypox cases in India.
❖ In 2019, the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), approved the JYNNEOS vaccine
for the prevention of smallpox, monkeypox and other diseases caused by orthopoxviruses.
❖ A com 2000 and vacinavirus are the 2 other vaccines and Tecovirimat (antiviral Drug) for monkey fox
❖ On July 23, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared
monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern and recommended governments take
certain steps to strengthen and coordinate the global response to the outbreak.
REAIM 2023
❖ The world’s First International Summit on the Responsible Use of Artificial intelligence in the Military
(REAIM 2023) was held in the Hague, Netherlands.
❖ Themes: Mythbusting AI: Breaking Down the Characteristics of AI, Responsible deployment and use of AI,
Governance frameworks
❖ Putting the topic of ‘responsible AI in the military domain’ higher on the political agenda;
❖ Mobilising and activating a wide group of stakeholders to contribute to concrete next steps;
❖ Fostering and increasing knowledge by sharing experiences, best practices and solutions.
❖ The conference, co-hosted by South Korea, hosted 80 government delegations (including those from
the US and China), and over 100s of researchers and defense contractors.
❖ India was not a participant in the summit.
❖ REAIM 2023 brought together governments, corporations, academia, startups, and civil societies to raise
awareness, discuss issues, and possibly, agree on common principles in deploying and using AI in armed
conflicts.
❖ Appealed to the multi-stakeholder community to build common standards to mitigate risks arising from
the use of AI.
❖ The US called for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military domain and proposed a
declaration which would include ‘human accountability’.
❖ The proposal said AI-weapons systems should involve “appropriate levels of human judgment”.
❖ The US and China signed the declaration alongside more than 60 nations.
26th India-China Meeting
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❖ For the first time since the India-China border stand-off began in 2020, India visited Beijing for the
26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs
(WMCC). This was the first in-person WMCC meeting since the 14th meeting held in July 2019.
❖ The WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for
management of India - China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication
and cooperation, including between the border security personnel of the two sides.
❖ The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-
China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and
constructive manner, which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western
Sector and create conditions for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.
India-China Disengagement at Hot Springs & Gogra Post
❖ The Indian and Chinese troops have begun disengaging at Patrolling Pillar-15 (PP-15) in the Gogra-
Hotspring region of Eastern Ladakh.
❖ Forces of the two countries have been locked in a confrontational position in the area since April 2020
❖ The 6-day process had 5 components:
o stopping of "forward deployments"; return of troops of both sides to their respective areas
o Dismantling temporary structures and other allied infrastructure"
o Restoring "landforms in the area" to pre-standoff positions by both sides
o stopping of forward deployment in a "phased, coordinated and verified manner",
o Ensuring structures are "dismantled and mutually verified".
❖ PP-15 is one of the 65 patrolling points in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
❖ The consensus about the disengagement was reached in the 16th round of India China Corps Commander
Level Meeting.
❖ The 16th round of talks was held on July 17, 2022, at the Chushul border personnel meeting point on the
Indian side.
❖ With Disengagement at PP-5, Forces of the two countries have disengaged at all friction points in the
region which included the North and South banks of the Pangong Tso, PP-14, PP-15, PP-17A.
❖ The friction points that remain now are Demchok and Depsang (972-sq Km plateau), which China has
constantly refused to accept, maintaining that they are not a part of the current stand-off.
❖ Hot Springs is just north of the Chang Chenmo river and Gogra Post is east of the point where the river
takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest.
❖ The area is north of the Karakoram Range of mountains, which lies north of the Pangong Tso lake, and
south east of Galwan Valley.
❖ The area lies close to Kongka Pass, one of the main passes, which, according to China, marks the boundary
between India and China.
❖ India’s claim of the international boundary lies significantly east, as it includes the entire Aksai Chin area as
well.
❖ Hot Springs and Gogra Post are close to the boundary between two of the most historically disturbed
provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet) of China.
❖ The Special Representatives (SRs) on the Boundary Question was established in 2003. It provided
important guidance for ensuring peace and tranquillity in border areas in a challenging situation.
❖ China Recently renamed 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh, Also China is constructing a bridge on the
Pangong Tso Lake
❖ Pangong Lake is located in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
❖ It is situated at a height of almost 4,350m and is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
o Largest fresh water lake by Volume is Lake Baikal in Russia
o Ojos Del Salado worlds highest volcano and Fresh water lake in Argentina
❖ Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.
New START Treaty

❖ Russia suspended its participation in the New START Treaty, the last remaining major military agreement
with the united States.
❖ It is difficult for Russia to carry out inspections on American soil due to Western sanctions including the
closure of air space for Russian planes and visa restrictions.
❖ It also pointed to a new spike in coronavirus cases in the United States.
❖ The name START comes from the original “Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty”, known as START-I, which was
signed between the US and the erstwhile USSR in 1991, and came into force in 1994.
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❖ New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was the last remaining arms reduction pact between the
former Cold War rivals and caps to 1,550 the number of nuclear warheads that can be deployed by Russia
and United States of America.
❖ The New START, officially, the “Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation
on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms”, entered into force on
February 5, 2011, and placed new verifiable limits on intercontinental-range nuclear weapons.
❖ It continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by
limiting both sides to:-
o 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic
missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments;
o 1,550 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped
for nuclear armaments (each such heavy bomber is counted as one warhead toward this limit);
o 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for
nuclear armaments.
❖ Its duration was for ten years that is till 2021, but it was extended by five more years till 2026.
Treaties signed Between USA & Russia:
❖ Strategic Arms Limitation Talks-1(SALT): It began in 1969, Under the Interim Agreement, both sides
pledged not to construct new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos, not to increase the size of
existing ICBM silos significantly, and capped the number of Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)
launch tubes and SLBM-carrying submarines.
❖ Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-1 (START): Signed in 1991, the agreement required the destruction of
excess delivery vehicles which was verified using an intrusive verification regime that involved on-site
inspections, the regular exchange of information (including telemetry), and the use of national technical
means (i.e., satellites).
❖ Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-2: Signed in 1993, called for reducing deployed strategic arsenals to
3,000-3,500 warheads and banned the deployment of destabilizing multiple-warhead land-based missiles.
❖ Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT): Signed in 2004, under which the United States and Russia
reduced their strategic arsenals to 1,700-2,200 warheads each.
Mad Cow Disease

❖ Brazil has halted its beef exports to China after a case of Mad Cow Disease was confirmed in the northern
state of Para.
❖ Also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is degenerative, transmissible, slowly
progressive, and a fatal infection that affects the central nervous system of adult cattle.
❖ BSE is caused by a protein called a prion normally found on cell surfaces, the normal prion protein changes
into an abnormal prion protein that is harmful.
❖ After getting altered, these proteins destroy the nervous system tissue- the brain and spinal cord.
❖ The body of a sick cow does not even know the abnormal prion is there. Without knowing it is there,
the cow’s body cannot fight off the disease.
❖ A cow gets BSE by eating feed contaminated with parts that came from another cow that was sick with
BSE.
❖ Symptoms: A common sign of BSE in cows is incoordination. A sick cow has trouble walking and getting
up and may also act very nervous or violent.
❖ It usually takes four to six years from the time a cow is infected with the abnormal prion to when it first
shows symptoms of BSE. This is called the incubation period. During the incubation period, there is no
way to tell that a cow has BSE by looking at it.
❖ Treatment: There is no treatment for BSE and no vaccine to prevent it.
International Intellectual Property Index 2023

nd
❖ India ranks 42 among 55 leading global economies on the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index
2023 released by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, according to which India is ripe to become a leader for
emerging markets seeking to transform their economy through IP-driven innovation.
❖ US topped the International IP Index followed by United Kingdom and France.
❖ The Index evaluates the IP framework in each economy across 50 unique indicators which industry
believes represent economies with the most effective IP systems.
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❖ The indicators create a snapshot of an economy overall IP ecosystem and span nine categories of
protection: Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Design Rights, Trade Secrets, Commercialization of IP
Assets, Enforcement, Systemic Efficiency, Membership and Ratification of International Treaties.
❖ Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works,
symbols, names, and images used in commerce.
❖ It is a form of legal protection in the form of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) given to individuals or
companies for their creative and innovative works.
❖ These rights are outlined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
❖ The main types of IP include patents for inventions, trademarks for branding, copyrights for artistic and
literary works, trade secrets for confidential business information, and industrial designs for product
appearance.
❖ India is a member of the World Trade Organisation and committed to the Agreement on Trade Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS Agreement).
❖ The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016 was adopted in May 2016 as a vision
document to guide future development of IPRs in the country.
❖ Its clarion call is “Creative India; Innovative India”.
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
❖ WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation.
❖ It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states.
❖ Its aim is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables
innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.
❖ Its mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO
in 1967
❖ Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland
❖ Director General: Daren Tang
World Trade Organisation
❖ The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates
international trade. Pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948. The WTO is the world's largest international
economic organization, with 164 member states representing over 98% of global trade and global GDP.
❖ Formed: 1 January 1995
❖ Director General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
❖ Official Languages: English, French, Spanish
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

❖ India has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assured
support over five years with guaranteed funding of USD 100 million (over Rs 800 crore).
❖ The proposed International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) will work towards the protection and conservation of
the seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah. Membership to
the alliance will be open to 97 “range” countries, which contain the natural habitat of these big cats, as well
as other interested nations, international organisations, etc. The alliance was inspired by the arrival of
cheetahs in 2022 from Namibia.
❖ India is the only country in the world to have tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards and cheetahs in the
wild except for the pumas and jaguars. So, it is only befitting that India takes the lead to bring together all
big cat range countries under an UN-like organisation.
❖ The IBCA’s governance structure will comprise a General Assembly consisting of all member countries, a
council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by the General Assembly for a
term of 5 years, and a Secretariat. Upon the recommendation of the Council, the General Assembly will
appoint the IBCA Secretary General for a specific term.
Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CATS) accreditation
❖ 14 tiger reserves have received the Global CATS accreditation
❖ Launched in 2013
❖ CATS is being implemented across 125 sites in 7 countries, India having the highest (94)
❖ Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu won TX2 award by CAITS as its tiger population doubled to
80 since 2010
❖ International Tiger Day- 29th July, first celebrated in 2010(St. Petersburg Declaration)
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❖ Theme: "India launches Project Tiger to Revamp their tiger population”
❖ 54 tiger reserves in India
o Latest addition is Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (4th from Uttar Pradesh)
o Guru Ghasidas reserve in Chhattisgarh is 53rd(4th from Chhattisgarh)
❖ UN World Wildlife Day- 3rd March
❖ Theme- Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration
❖ MP has highest number of tigers reserves(6) and population (given tiger state tag in 2018 for being home
to the biggest population of tigers.....526)
❖ India has about 70% of the world's tiger population
❖ Ken-Betwa link project will affect Panna Tiger Reserve
❖ 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation held recently hosted By Malaysia and Global Tiger
Forum, (1993 - 14 member)
❖ NatWest award to Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and Pobitora National Park in Assam
❖ India has 7 natural World Heritage Sites, 53 tiger reserves, 75 Ramsar sites and 18 Biosphere Reserves
❖ 2022 Global Tiger Summit Will be Held in Vladivostok, Russia
❖ As per the State of india forest report 2021, Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh has the highest
forest cover and the report covered tiger reserves for the first time
❖ Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Program (ITHCP)
❖ Project Tiger launched in 1973 by Indira Gandhi
❖ Avg Cheetah Speed 80-130 kmph
UN Treaty on the High Seas

❖ The UN (United Nations) members agreed on a High Seas Treaty to ensure the protection and sustainable
use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
❖ It was agreed during talks led by the UN during the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on
Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) in New York, the US.
❖ The treaty is yet to be formally adopted as members are yet to ratify it. Once adopted, the treaty will
be legally binding.
❖ According to the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas, parts of the sea that are not included in the
territorial waters or the internal waters of a country are known as the high seas.
❖ It is the area beyond a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (that extends up to 200 nautical miles (370 km)
from the coastline) and till where a nation has jurisdiction over living and non-living resources.
❖ No country is responsible for the management and protection of resources on the high seas.
❖ The high seas account for more than 60% of the world’s ocean area and cover about half of the Earth’s
surface, which makes them a hub of marine life.
❖ They are home to around 2.7 lakh known species, many of which are yet to be discovered.
❖ They regulate the climate by playing a fundamental role in planetary stability by mitigating the effects of
climate change through its absorption of carbon and by storing solar radiation and distributing heat around
the globe.
❖ In 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), was adopted, which delineated
rules to govern the oceans and the use of its resources. However, there was no comprehensive legal
framework that covered the high seas.
❖ Members: 167 Countries
❖ Effective: 16 November 1994
❖ The UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) decided in 2015 to develop a legally binding instrument
within the framework of UNCLOS. Subsequently, the IGC was convened to frame a legal instrument on
BBNJ.
❖ There were several hold-ups due to the Covid-19 pandemic, hampering a timely global response. In 2022,
the European Union launched the High Ambition Coalition on BBNJ to finalize the agreement at the
earliest.
Other Conventions Related to Seas
❖ Convention on Continental Shelf 1964: It defines and delimits the rights of States to explore and
exploit the natural resources of the continental shelf.
❖ Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas 1966: It was designed to
solve the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that
because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being
overexploited.
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❖ London convention 1972: Its objective is to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution
and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matters.
❖ MARPOL Convention (1973): It covers pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or
accidental causes.
Nuclear Submarines & AUKUS

❖ The United States, Australia and Britain unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-
powered attack submarines from the early 2030s to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
❖ The agreement is included under the 2021 AUKUS partnership as part of a shared commitment to a free-
and-open Indo-Pacific region.
❖ In September 2021, the US announced a new trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific, between
Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS). The major highlight of this arrangement is the sharing of US nuclear
submarine technology to Australia. Its Indo-pacific orientation makes it an alliance against China’s
assertive actions in the South China Sea.
Cyclone Gebrielle
❖ New Zealand stepped up recovery efforts after Cyclone Gabrielle left at least five people dead and
displaced 9,000.
❖ Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a low-pressure area. The air circulates in an anticlockwise
direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere. There are two types of
cyclones: Tropical cyclones and Extra-Tropical cyclones.
❖ New Zealand comprises two main islands—the North and the South Islands and a number of small
islands. The country also has a unique array of vegetation and animal life. It was the first country to allow
women to vote in 1893. New Zealand's wetapunga, one of the heaviest insects in the world, can weigh
more than a sparrow.
Doha Political Declaration on LCDs

th
❖ The 5 United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) concluded with adoption of
the ‘Doha Political Declaration’ by the world leaders.
❖ The declaration is a key outcome of the second part of LDC5 conference held under the theme “From
Potential to Prosperity” in Qatar.
❖ Doha Programme of Action: It focuses on implementing the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA), the 10-
year plan to put the world’s 46 most vulnerable countries back on track to achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG).
❖ DPoA for the Decade (2022-2031) was agreed upon during the first part of the LDC5 conference in March
2022 in New York, the US.
❖ DPoA (2022-2031) consisted of Six Key Focus Areas,
➢ Eradicating Poverty
➢ Leveraging the potential of science and technology to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities
and to achieve the SDGs
➢ Addressing Climate Change
➢ Environmental Degradation
➢ Recovering from Covid-19 and building resilience against future shocks for risk-informed sustainable
development.
❖ The 46 LDCs are being hit the hardest by multiple crises including the Covid-19 Pandemic, Climate
Crisis, growing Inequalities, rising Debt Burdens and economic shocks.
❖ They have contributed minimally to Carbon Dioxide Emissions, but disproportionately bear the burden of
climate change impacts.
❖ These countries, which include 33 African nations, face the challenge of high debt costs while having
inadequate liquidity to provide essential services.
❖ The LDCs are the worst performers on the progress made towards achieving SDGs, according to
the Sustainable Development Report 2022.
Least Developed Countries (LCDs)
❖ LDCs are a group of countries identified by the United Nations as having the lowest indicators of
socioeconomic development. These countries are characterized by high levels of poverty, low levels of
human capital, and limited access to basic services, such as healthcare and education.
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❖ The list of LDCs is reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a group of
independent experts that report to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
❖ Following a triennial review of the list, the CDP may recommend, in its report to ECOSOC, countries for
addition to the list or graduation from LDC status.
❖ Currently, there are 46 countries on the United Nations' list of LDCs.: Africa (33); Asia (9); Caribbean (1):
Haiti; Pacific (3): Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
Bhutan rectified BIMSTEC Charter

❖ Bhutan along standing member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC), has recently taken a significant step forward by ratifying the BIMSTEC charter.
❖ This crucial development paves the way for the country to fully reap the benefits of the organisation’s
Initiatives. The unanimous vote in favour of the charter by all 44 members of the National Assembly on
June 23 signals Bhutan’s Commitment to BIMSTEC’s Goals and objectives
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Technological Economic
Corporation (BIMSTEC)
❖ The BIMSTEC is a regional organisation comprising 7 Member States: five deriving from South Asia,
including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar
and Thailand.
❖ This sub-regional organisation came into being on 6th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
❖ The BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people which constitute around 22% of the global
population with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 2.7 trillion economy.
❖ The BIMSTEC Secretariat is in Dhaka.
❖ Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2004
❖ Challenge: The formation of another sub-regional initiative, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM)
Forum, with the proactive membership of China, has created more doubts about the exclusive potential of
BIMSTEC.
World Air Quality Report

❖ According to the World Air Quality Report prepared by IQAir, Delhi ranked 4th out of 50 of the world’s
most polluted cities in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2022.
❖ Out of 131 countries, India ranked 8th with a population weighted average PM2.5 level of 53.3 μg/m3 in
2022.
❖ IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, prepares the annual world air quality reports based on data
from monitoring stations operated by governments and other institutions and organisations across the
world.
❖ Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh are the 5 most polluted countries in 2022.
❖ Delhi had an average PM2.5 level of 92.6 μg/m3 in 2022, a little below the average of 96.4 μg/m3 in 2021.
The report makes a distinction between New Delhi and Delhi, with New Delhi having an annual average
PM2.5 level of 89.1 μg/m3.
❖ The WHO guideline for annual PM2.5 levels is 5 μg/m3.
❖ Lahore was the most polluted city in the world, followed by Hotan in China, and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.
❖ New Delhi is the second most polluted capital city in the world, with N’Djamena in Chad topping the list.
❖ A total of 39 Indian cities (including ‘Delhi’ and ‘New Delhi’) are on the list of 50 of the world’s most
polluted cities based on annual average PM2.5 levels in 2022.
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❖ PM 2.5 is an atmospheric particulate matter of diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometres, which is around
3% the diameter of a human hair.
❖ PM 2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, and
long-term exposure to PM 2.5 can lead to lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic health
conditions.
❖ Initiatives taken by India for Controlling Air Pollution: System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and
Research (SAFAR) Portal, Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Machine
❖ Bio Enzyme-PUSA: A bio-enzyme called PUSA has been developed by the Indian Agriculture Research
Institute as a solution to stubble burning.
Nuclear Submarines & AUKUS

❖ The United States, Australia and Britain unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-
powered attack submarines from the early 2030s to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
❖ The agreement is included under the 2021 AUKUS partnership as part of a shared commitment to a free-
and-open Indo-Pacific region.
❖ In September 2021, the US announced a new trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific, between
Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS). The major highlight of this arrangement is the sharing of US nuclear
submarine technology to Australia. Its Indo-pacific orientation makes it an alliance against China’s
assertive actions in the South China Sea.
World Happiness Report 2023

❖ The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network released the World Happiness Report 2023 which
ranks countries on happiness.
❖ Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has been released annually around March 20th as part of the
International Day of Happiness celebration.
❖ The report ranks global happiness basis survey data from people in over 150 countries.
❖ This year, the report ranked 136 countries.
❖ The ranking uses six key factors to measure happiness — social support, income, health, freedom,
generosity, and absence of corruption.
❖ Based on an average data of a 3 year period.
❖ Top Performers: For the sixth year in a row, Finland has been crowned as the happiest nation, Denmark is
at number two, followed by Iceland at number three.
❖ Unlike previous years, where the same countries tend to appear in the top 20, there’s a new entrant this
year — Lithuania (at the 20th spot).
❖ Worst Performers: Afghanistan was ranked as the unhappiest nation, followed by Lebanon, Sierra Leone,
Zimbabwe, respectively.
❖ India’s Performance: India ranks at 126th position out of 136 countries, making it one of the least happy
countries in the world. Scored 4.036
❖ In 2022, India ranked 136th position out of 146 countries.
❖ It even lags behind its neighbouring nations like Nepal (119), China (74), Bangladesh (118) and Sri Lanka
(112).
❖ Ukraine War: Ukraine performance improved despite the War (92nd), Russia ranked 70th.
❖ World Happiness Day is celebrated on 20th March
❖ Theme: Be Mindful, Be Grateful, Be Kind
❖ In 2012, the UN SDSN was launched under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.
❖ SDSN promotes integrated approaches to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the
Paris Agreement on Climate Change, through education, research, policy analysis, and global cooperation.
Arrest Warrant Against Vladimir Putin

❖ The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for war crimes for President Vladimir
Putin and a second Russian official.
❖ This is the first time that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against one of the five permanent members
of the United Nation Security Council.
❖ ICC issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for the alleged war crime of
unlawfully deporting and transferring children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
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❖ On 17 July, 1998 Rome Statute was adopted by 120 States in direction of creating a more just world.
❖ On 1 July, 2002 Rome Statute took effect upon ratification by 60 states, officially establishing the
ICC. Since it has no retroactive jurisdiction, the ICC deals with crimes committed on or after this date.
❖ The Rome Statute, grants the ICC jurisdiction over four main crimes: The crime of Genocide, Crimes
against Humanity, War crimes and Crime of Aggression
❖ The ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court.
❖ Currently, 123 countries are party to the Rome Statute, India is not a party to Rome Statute along with US
and China.
❖ The ICC was established to prosecute the most heinous offenses only when a country’s own legal
machinery fails to act. Unlike the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which deals with countries and inter-
state disputes, the ICC prosecutes individuals.
❖ Unlike the International Court of Justice, the ICC is not part of the United Nations system, with the UN-ICC
relationship being governed by a separate agreement
❖ Does the ICC have the Power to Prosecute Russia: As of March 2023, Russia is not a party to the Rome
Statute, and therefore, the ICC has no jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory. However, the ICC
can investigate and prosecute crimes committed by individuals from other countries who committed the
alleged crimes on the territory of a state party to the Rome Statute.
❖ Ukraine is also not a State Party to the Rome Statute”, but it has twice exercised its options to accept ICC’s
jurisdiction over alleged crimes under the Rome Statute, occurring on its territory, under Article 12(3) of the
Statute.
❖ Article 12(3) states that if the acceptance of a state that is not a party to the statute, the state may accept
the jurisdiction of the court for a crime concerned, by making a declaration to the Registrar and
cooperating without any delay or exception.
❖ It has 6 official languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
❖ ICC has 6 field offices: Kinshasa and Bunia (Democratic Republic of the Congo, "DRC"); Kampala (Uganda);
Bangui (Central African Republic, "CAR"); Nairobi (Kenya), Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).
❖ It has 2 working languages: English and French.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
❖ ICJ was established in 1945 by the United Nations charter and started working in April 1946.
❖ It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, situated at the Peace Palace in The Hague
(Netherlands).
❖ Unlike the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (USA).
❖ It settles legal disputes between States and gives advisory opinions in accordance with international law,
on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.
❖ It has 193 state parties and current President is Joan E. Donoghue (USA) and Vice President is Kirill
Gevorgian (Russia)
❖ Article 33 of the United Nations Charter lists the negotiation, enquiry, mediation etc. methods for the
pacific settlement of disputes between States. Some of these methods involve the services of third parties.
❖ G.H. Hackworth (United States) committee was entrusted with preparing a draft Statute for the future
international court of justice in 1945.
❖ The Hague Peace Conference of 1899, provided for the creation of permanent machinery, known as
the Permanent Court of Arbitration, established in 1900 and began operating in 1902. The Convention also
created a permanent Bureau, located in The Hague.
❖ Before ICJ there was Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) as an integral part of the new
international system set up after the end of the First World War.
❖ In April 1946, the PCIJ was formally dissolved, and the International Court of Justice, meeting for the first
time, elected as its President Judge José Gustavo Guerrero (El Salvador), the last President of the PCIJ.
❖ The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of 9 years by the United Nations
General Assembly and the Security Council. These organs vote simultaneously but separately.
❖ In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies. In order to
ensure a measure of continuity, one third of the Court is elected every three years and Judges are eligible
for re-election.
❖ Its official languages are English and French.
❖ The 15 judges of the Court are distributed in following regions: Three from Africa, Two from Latin America
and Caribbean, Three from Asia, Five from Western Europe and other states and Two from Eastern Europe.
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❖ In order to guarantee his or her independence, no Member of the Court can be dismissed unless, in the
unanimous opinion of the other Members, he/she no longer fulfils the required conditions. This has in fact
never happened.
❖ Opinions provided by the court in advisory proceedings are essentially advisory and not binding.
❖ Indian Judges at the ICJ
❖ Judge Dalveer Bhandari: Member of the Court since 27 April 2012 (term ends 2027)
❖ Raghunandan Swarup Pathak: 1989-1991
❖ Nagendra Singh: 1973-1988 (President of ICJ from 1985 – 1988)
❖ Sir Benegal Rau: 1952-1953
Kulbhushan Jadhav Case
❖ Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan province after
he reportedly entered from Iran.
❖ He was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on the charges of espionage and terrorism in April
2017.
❖ India has always maintained that Kulbhushan Jadhav is not a spy, and that Pakistan should provide
counsellor access to him as his case pertains to abduction from the Iranian territory
❖ In May 9, 2018, ICJ has stayed his death sentence after India had moved a petition before the UN body to
seek justice for him, alleging violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by Pakistan.
❖ ICJ Ruling: In 2019, the ICJ ruled that Pakistan was obliged under international laws to provide by means
of its own choosing “effective review and reconsideration” of Jadhav’s conviction.
❖ Pakistan Violated the Vienna Convention: ICJ upheld that Islamabad had violated Article 36 of the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, by not informing India about Jadhav’s arrest immediately after
Pakistan Army had taken him into custody.
❖ Pakistan’s Response: In the wake of the ICJ order, the Pakistan government promulgated a special
ordinance to allow Jadhav to file a review.
❖ Pakistan's Parliament passed the International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Bill,
2021 aimed to fulfill the obligation under the verdict of the ICJ.
❖ However, India pointed out that the law has several “shortcomings”, and that steps are needed to
implement the ICJ’s order “in letter and spirit”.
Other Cases was India Involved with the ICJ
❖ Right of Passage over Indian Territory (Portugal v. India, culminated 1960).
❖ Appeal Relating to the Jurisdiction of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council (India v.
Pakistan, culminated 1972).
❖ Trial of Pakistani Prisoners of War (Pakistan v. India, culminated 1973).
❖ Aerial Incident of 10 August 1999 (Pakistan v. India, culminated 2000).
❖ Obligations concerning Negotiations relating to Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and to Nuclear
Disarmament (Marshall Islands v. India, culminated 2016).
❖ The jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice is general and thereby differs from that of specialist
international tribunals, such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)

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❖ According to the 4 and final installment Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the
Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), there is increased evidence of maladaptation in various sectors and
regions.
❖ Maladaptation is defined as the changes in natural or human systems that inadvertently increase
vulnerability to climate stimuli. It is an adaptation measure that does not succeed in reducing
vulnerability but increases it instead
❖ The Synthesis Report integrates the main findings of the AR6 cycle based on contributions from the three
Working Groups, and the three Special Reports.
❖ Unprecedented Global Warming: Human-induced global warming of 1.1o Celsius has spurred changes to
the Earth’s climate that are unprecedented in recent human history.
❖ Already, with 1.1 degrees Celsius of global temperature rise, changes to the climate system that are
unparalleled over centuries to millennia are now occurring in every region of the world, from rising sea
levels to more extreme weather events to rapidly disappearing sea ice.
❖ More Widespread Climate Impact: Climate impacts on people and ecosystems are more widespread and
severe than expected, and future risks will escalate rapidly with every fraction of a degree of warming.
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❖ Adaptation Measures: Climate policies in at least 170 countries now consider adaptation, but in many
nations, these efforts have yet to progress from planning to implementation. Measures to build resilience
are still largely small-scale, reactive and incremental, with most focusing on immediate impacts or near-
term risks.
❖ Current global financial flows for adaptation are insufficient for, and constrain implementation of,
adaptation options, especially in developing countries.
❖ Global Temperature may Surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius: There is a more than 50% chance that global
temperature rise will reach or surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius between 2021 and 2040 across studied
scenarios, and under a high-emissions pathway, specifically, the world may hit this threshold even sooner —
between 2018 and 2037.
❖ Recommendations: The world must rapidly shift away from burning fossil fuels — the number one cause of
the climate crisis.
❖ A mix of strategies can help avoid locking in the carbon emissions, including retiring existing fossil fuel
infrastructure, canceling new projects, retrofitting fossil-fueled power plants with carbon capture and
storage (CCS) technologies and scaling up renewable energy sources like solar and wind
❖ There is a need for urgent, systemwide transformations to secure a net-zero, climate-resilient future.
First Report
❖ Title: Climate Change 2021: Physical Science Basis
❖ Net-zero Carbon emissions by 2050 a necessity for keeping temperature rise to 1.5 degree
❖ The average surface temperature of the Earth will cross 1.5 °C (34.7 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels
in the next 20 years (By 2040) and 2°C(35.6 Fahrenheit) by the middle of the century without sharp
reduction of emissions.
❖ In 2018, the IPCC’s Special Report Global Warming of 1.5°C had estimated that two-fifths of the global
population lived in regions with warming above 1.5°C.
❖ The last decade was hotter than any period of time in the past 1,25,000 years. Global surface temperature
was 1.09°C higher in the decade between 2011-2020 than between 1850-1900.
❖ This is the first time that the IPCC has said that the 1.5°C warming was inevitable even in the best case
scenario.
❖ Carbon dioxide (CO2) Concentrations: They are the highest in at least two million years. Humans have
emitted 2,400 billion tonnes of CO2 since the late 1800s.
❖ The world has already depleted 86% of it’s available carbon budget.
❖ Sea-level rise has tripled compared with 1901-1971. The Arctic Sea ice is the lowest it has been in 1,000
years.
❖ About 50% of the sea level rise is due to thermal expansion (when water heats up, it expands, thus warmer
oceans simply occupy more space).
❖ Precipitation & Drought: Every additional 0.5 °C of warming will increase hot extremes, extreme
precipitation and drought. Additional warming will also weaken the Earth’s carbon sinks present in plants,
soils, and the ocean.
❖ Heat Extremes: Heat extremes have increased while cold extremes have decreased, and these trends will
continue over the coming decades over Asia.
❖ Receding Snowline & Melting Glaciers: Retreating snowlines and melting glaciers is a cause for alarm
as this can cause a change in the water cycle, the precipitation patterns, increased floods as well as an
increased scarcity of water in the future in the states across the Himalayas.
❖ The level of temperature rise in the mountains and glacial melt is unprecedented in 2,000 years. The retreat
of glaciers is now attributed to anthropogenic factors and human influence.
❖ Indian Sub-continent Specific Findings: Heatwaves and humid heat stress will be more intense and
frequent during the 21st century over South Asia.
❖ Changes in monsoon precipitation are also expected, with both annual and summer monsoon precipitation
projected to increase.
❖ The South West Monsoon has declined over the past few decades because of the increase
of aerosols, but once this reduces, we will experience heavy monsoon rainfall.
❖ Sea Temperature: The Indian Ocean, which includes the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, has warmed faster
than the global average.
❖ The sea surface temperature over Indian ocean is likely to increase by 1 to 2 °C when there is 1.5°C to 2°C
global warming.
❖ IPCC has informed that a global net-zero by 2050 was the minimum required to keep the temperature rise
to 1.5°C. Without India, this would not be possible.
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❖ Even China, the world’s biggest emitter, has a net-zero goal for 2060.
Second Report
❖ Title: Climate Change Impacts, risks and Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Option
❖ Population at Risk: Noting that over 3.5 billion people, over 45% of the global population were living in
areas highly vulnerable to climate change.
❖ Indian Scenario: The report identifies India as one of the vulnerable hotspots, with several regions
and important cities facing very high risk of climate disasters such as flooding, sea-level rise and heat-
waves.
❖ For example, Mumbai is at high risk of sea-level rise and flooding, while Ahmedabad faces serious danger
of heat-waves.
❖ Near to Long-term Risks: Even if adequate efforts are made to keep the global rise in temperatures
within 1.5 degree Celsius from pre-industrial times.
❖ Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of which will
be irreversible.
❖ Health Impacts of Climate Change: It has found that climate change is increasing vector-borne and water-
borne diseases such as malaria or dengue, particularly in sub-tropical regions of Asia.
❖ Malaria is caused by being bitten by Female Anopheles Mosquito
❖ Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an Aedes aegypti Mosquito
❖ Current Adaptation and its Benefits: Progress in adaptation planning and implementation has been
observed across all sectors and regions, generating multiple benefits.
❖ However, The report also highlights large gaps in the adaptation actions that are being taken and the
efforts that are required. It says these gaps are a result of “lack of funding, political commitment, reliable
information, and sense of urgency”.
❖ Need for Holistic Changes: It is clear now that minor, marginal, reactive or incremental changes won’t be
sufficient
Third Report
❖ In 2019, global net anthropogenic Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were at 59 Gigatonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e), 54% higher than in 1990.
❖ Net emissions refer to emissions accounted for after deducting emissions soaked up by the world’s forests
and oceans.
❖ Anthropogenic emissions refer to emissions that originate from human-driven activities like the burning of
coal for energy or cutting of forests.
❖ This emissions growth has been driven mainly by CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and the
industrial sector, as well as methane emissions.
❖ Emission by the Least Developed Countries: Carbon inequality remains pervasive as ever with Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) emitting only 3.3% of global emissions in 2019.
❖ Their average per capita emissions in the period 1990-2019 were only 1.7 tonnes CO2e, compared to the
global average of 6.9 tCO2e.
❖ LDCs contributed less than 0.4% of total historical CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry in the
period 1850-2019.
❖ Globally, 41% of the world’s population lived in countries emitting less than 3 tCO2e per capita in 2019.
❖ North America (23%) was the largest emitter of Anthropogenic CO2 and Southern Asia Lowest
❖ In its best-case scenario, known as the C1 pathway, the IPCC outlines what the world needs to do to limit
temperatures to 1.5°C, with limited or no ‘overshoot’.
❖ There are Total 8 paths (C1-C8)
❖ Overshoot refers to global temperatures crossing the 1.5°C threshold temporarily, but then being brought
back down using technologies that suck CO2 out of the atmosphere.
❖ To achieve the C1 pathway, global GHG emissions must fall by 43% by 2030.
❖ Widespread ‘system transformations’ are required across the energy, buildings, transport, land and other
sectors, to achieve the 1.5°C target and this will involve adopting low-emission or zero carbon pathways of
development in each sector. And solutions are available at affordable costs.
❖ The costs of low emissions technologies have fallen continuously since 2010. On a unit costs basis, solar
energy has dropped 85%, wind by 55 %, and lithium-ion batteries by 85%.
❖ It also adds that demand-side mitigation, ie, behavioural changes such as adopting plant-based diets, or
shifting to walking and cycling “can reduce global GHG emissions in end use sectors by 40-70% by
2050 compared to baseline scenarios” and improve wellbeing.
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❖ Short Fall of Finances: Financial flows fall short of the levels needed to achieve the ambitious mitigation
goals, however.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
❖ Founded in 1988,
❖ headquarters: Geneva.
❖ Parent org: World Meteorological Organisation & UNEP
❖ Every few years (about 7 years), the IPCC produces assessment reports that are the most comprehensive
scientific evaluations of the state of earth’s climate. First report was published in 1990
❖ IPCC won Nobel Peace Prize along with former US Vice President Al Gore in 2007
❖ Chairman: Hoesung Lee
❖ Previous one was Rajendra K Pachauri, who chaired from 2002-2015 and under whose chairmanship they
won Nobel prize
Global Terrorism Index

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❖ India ranks 13 on The Global Terrorism Index (GTI). The report shows that Afghanistan continues to be
the country most affected by terrorism for the 4th year in a row, even though attacks and deaths
decreased.
❖ The GTI report is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think tank, using data from
Terrorism Tracker and other sources.
❖ Terrorism Tracker provides event records on terrorist attacks since 1 January 2007.
❖ Globally, deaths from terrorism fell by 9% to 6,701 deaths, marking a 38% decrease from its peak in 2015.
❖ Pakistan recorded the second largest surge in terror-related deaths worldwide in 2022, the toll increasing
significantly to 643.
❖ South Asia remains the region with the worst average GTI score. South Asia recorded 1,354 deaths from
terrorism in 2022.
❖ Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates were the deadliest terror group globally for the eighth consecutive
year, recording the most attacks and deaths of any group in 2022.
❖ Challenges: Terror Financing, Politicisation of Countering Terrorism, Use of Emerging Technology
IMF Bailout to Sri Lanka

❖ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week confirmed a $3 billion bailout plan for Sri Lanka’s
struggling economy. IMF officials are also in negotiations with Pakistan for a $1.1 billion bailout plan as
the country faces a severe economic crisis marked by a falling currency and price rise.
❖ The IMF lends money, often in the form of special drawing rights (SDRs), to troubled economies that seek
the lender’s assistance. SDRs simply represent a basket of five currencies, namely the U.S. dollar, the euro,
the Chinese yuan, the Japanese yen, and the British pound.
❖ Sri Lanka is in USD 51 billion debt which was caused due to various reasons:
❖ The Easter bomb blasts of April 2019 in churches in Colombo
❖ The government policy of lower tax rates and wide-ranging subsidies for farmers during their campaign.
❖ The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 which impacted exports of tea, rubber, spices, garments and the tourism
sector.
❖ As per the world bank China-$7 billion, Japan-$3.5 billion and India-$1 billion has lent to Sri Lanka
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
❖ Chief Economist- Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas
Finland Joins NATO
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❖ Finland has officially joined NATO after its application was ratified in record time. This move
was supported by the majority of NATO members, who believed that Finland's membership would enhance
the alliance's strength in the Baltic area.
❖ However, Sweden's path to NATO membership remains blocked by Turkey and Hungary.
❖ Finland has joined NATO due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has made its smaller neighbors feel
the need for the powerful military backing that NATO provides. Finland and Sweden applied for NATO
membership after the invasion.
❖ Finland which shares a 1,340-km border with Russia, has ended more than 70 years of military non-
alignment — in fact, in the Cold War years, a policy of neutrality between the Soviet Union and the West
was known as ‘Finlandisation’, and Finlandisation had been one of the options discussed for Ukraine before
Russia invaded it.
❖ Finland has gained better security, but it is losing out on significant trade and tourism revenue it was
making from Russia, and its status as a confidence-building presence in the Baltic Sea and Europe at large
is being threatened.
❖ However, Russia sees this as a dangerous historical mistake that could escalate the Ukraine conflict and
has said it will strengthen its military capacity in its west and northwest.
OPEC+ Cuts Oil Production

❖ The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+,
announced a surprise reduction of 1.16 million barrels per day (bpd) in their oil production to support
market stability.
❖ Oil prices skyrocketed after the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and have been fluctuating in recent months, with a
drop towards USD 70 per barrel in March 2023 due to concerns of a global banking crisis that could hit
demand.
❖ Countries Involved: Till yet, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Russia and
Gabon announced a voluntary oil output cut. However, not all OPEC+ members are joining the voluntary
cuts, as some are already pumping well below agreed levels due to a lack of production capacity.
❖ Impact on India: India imports nearly 85% of its crude requirement, the oil import bill will rise on account of
the rise in prices due to decreased production.
❖ Previously in 2022 OPEC+ cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day
❖ OPEC+ members are concerned that a faltering global economy would reduce the demand for oil, and the
cuts are seen as a way to protect profits.
❖ India imports nearly 85% of its crude requirement, the oil import bill will rise on account of the rise in
prices.
❖ Russia become the largest Crude Oil Supplier for India in October
❖ It Makes up for 22% of India total oil import, ahead of Iraq’s 20.5% and Saudi Arabia’s 16%
Organisation for Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC)
❖ Established in 1960 by founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela in Baghdad
Iraq, OPEC has since expanded and now has 13 member states
❖ Member countries are: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria,
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela.
❖ Qatar terminated its membership on 1st January 2019.
❖ Gabon terminated its membership in January 1995. However, it rejoined the Organization in July 2016.
❖ In 2016, with the addition of another 10 allied major oil-producing countries, the OPEC is known as OPEC+.
❖ OPEC+ countries include 13 OPEC member countries, and Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan,
Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.
❖ The objective of the organization is to “coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member
Countries and ensure the stabilisation of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular
supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those
investing in the petroleum industry.
❖ Previously controlled by western-dominated multinational oil companies known as the “Seven Sisters,”
OPEC sought to give the oil-producing nations greater influence over the global petroleum market.
❖ HQ: Austria, Vienna
❖ Chairman: Haitham al-Ghais
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❖ They account for roughly 40 % of the world’s crude oil and 80 % of the globe’s oil reserves, according to
estimates from 2018.
UK Signed CPTPP
❖ The U.K. Signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Prime Minister of U.K (Rishi Sunak) cited the agreement's success as an example of "post-Brexit
freedoms". The agreement will now need to be ratified by Westminster and each of the CPTPP countries.
❖ The CPTPP is a Free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan,
Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam.
❖ The CPTPP was signed by the 11 countries on 8 March 2018 in Santiago, Chile.
❖ In 2005, a trade agreement between a small group of Pacific Rim countries comprising Brunei, Chile, New
Zealand, and Singapore led to the formation of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) consisting of 12 nation-
states.
❖ After the withdrawal of the US, the remaining eleven signatories, known as the TPP-11, continued talks
and their efforts led to the formation of CPTPP.
❖ CPTPP removes 99% of tariffs on goods and services, just like the original TPP did, all the member
countries have agreed to cut down on wildlife trafficking. That helps elephants, rhinoceroses, and marine
species the most.
❖ The deal is expected to add GBP 1.8 billion (USD 2.2 billion) annually to the U.K. economy in the long run, a
modest boost of 0.08% to GDP.
❖ The CPTPP is a "gateway" to the Indo-Pacific region, which is expected to account for a majority (54%) of
global economic growth in the future.
❖ As a CPTPP member, the U.K. will have a veto on whether China joins the treaty. U.K. firms will not need to
establish a local office or be resident to provide services and will be able to operate on a par with firms in
host countries.
❖ India did not join CPTPP as it seeks to place greater labor and environmental standards on its other
partners and CPTPP draft includes narrowly detailed qualifications on standards for investment
protection, provisions to protect the host state’s right to regulate, and the imposition of detailed
transparency requirements.
Brexit
❖ Brexit refers to the U.K.'s decision to leave the European Union (EU). The country formally left the EU in
January 2020, after a referendum in 2016.
❖ Britain become the first country to leave the 27-member bloc on 31 January 2020.
❖ It is a notable change for the UK although nothing will change immediately because of the 11-month
transition period negotiated as part of an EU-UK exit deal, 2019.
❖ The UK will be able to work in and trade freely with EU nations and vice versa until December 31,
2020. However, it will no longer be represented in the EU's institutions.
❖ From 2021, the UK and EU will enter a new relationship possibly underpinned by a free trade deal.
❖ EU-UK Exit Deal: This agreement sets out the exact terms of the UK and EU relationship immediately after
exit but it is not clear, on what terms the UK and EU’s future relationship will be.
❖ A key part of the withdrawal agreement was, there would be a transition period, until the end of 2020.
❖ During the transition, the UK will be officially out of the EU and not be represented on EU bodies but would
still have the same obligations as an EU member. That includes remaining in the EU customs union and the
single market, contributing to the EU’s budget and following EU law.
China Taiwan Conflict

❖ China has announced that it is prepared to fight against any attempt to achieve Taiwan's independence or
any foreign interference.
❖ China conducted military exercises simulating a "seal off" of Taiwan, in response to the visit of Taiwan's
President to the United States.
❖ Largely unrecognized by other nations, Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign country. However, China
considers it to be a breakaway state and is determined to bring the island under its control.
❖ Background: Taiwan came under Chinese control during the Qing dynasty but was given to Japan
after China lost the first Sino-Japanese war in 1895.
❖ China regained control of Taiwan in 1945 after Japan lost World War II, but the civil war between the
nationalists and communists led to the nationalists fleeing to Taiwan in 1949.
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❖ The Kuomintang party, led by Chiang Kai-shek, ruled Taiwan for many years and is still a prominent political
party. China claims Taiwan as a Chinese province, but Taiwan argues that it was never part of the People's
Republic of China (PRC).
❖ The US backs Taiwan’s independence, maintains ties with Taipei, and sells weapons to it — but officially
subscribes to PRC’s “One China Policy”, which means there is only one legitimate Chinese government
❖ The 2016 election of President Tsai marked the beginning of a sharp pro-independence phase in Taiwan,
which has been intensified by her re-election in 2020.
❖ The island now has significant economic interests, including investments in China. Pro-independence
groups worry that this economic dependence may hinder their goals, while pro-reunification groups in
Taiwan, as well as China, hope that increasing people-to-people contacts will eventually wear down the pro-
independence lobbies.
❖ US’ Interest in Taiwan: Taiwan anchors a chain of islands which includes a list of US-friendly
territories that the US is planning to use as a place of leverage for countering China’s expansionist plans.
❖ The US does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by US law (Taiwan Relations Act,
1979) to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
❖ It is by far the largest arms dealer for Taiwan and follows a ‘strategic ambiguity’ policy.
❖ India-Taiwan Ties: Despite not having formal diplomatic relations, India and Taiwan have
maintained representative offices in each other's capitals since 1995 that function as de facto
embassies. These offices have facilitated high-level visits and helped deepen the economic and cultural
ties between the two countries.
❖ One China Policy: This means that countries seeking diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of
China (PRC, Mainland China) must break official relations with the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) and
vice versa.
❖ Since 1949, India follows the One China policy which recognizes Taiwan as part of China. However, India
also expects China to recognize India's sovereignty over territories like Jammu and Kashmir.
❖ India has recently stopped mentioning its adherence to the One China policy. Although India's engagement
with Taiwan is restricted due to its ties with China, it sees Taiwan as an important economic partner and
strategic ally.
About Taiwan
❖ Taiwan is situated in a strategically important location in the western Pacific Ocean, adjacent to China,
Japan, and the Philippines. Its location provides a natural gateway to Southeast Asia and the South China
Sea, which are critical for global trade and security.
❖ Taiwan produces over 60% of the world's semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones.
❖ Taiwan has a modern and capable military that is focused on defending its sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
❖ Taiwan has diplomatic relations with 15 countries and has full membership in 38 intergovernmental
organizations and their subsidiary bodies, including the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation, Asian Development Bank and Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
❖ Taiwan Strait (Farmosa) separates China from Taiwan
❖ Taiwan President: Tsai Ing-wen Capital: Taipei Currency: New Taiwan Dollar
Related Static GK
❖ Chinese President Xi Jinping has created history, becoming the first leader of the ruling Communist Party
after party founder Mao Zedong to get re-elected for an unprecedented 3rd term in power with the prospect
of ruling China for life. He was elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party for 3rd five-year
tenure by the new 7-member Standing Committee packed with his supporters who appeared before the
local and foreign media here to herald the new era, widely termed ‘Xi era’.
❖ The Anti-Secession Law is a law of the People's Republic of China, passed by the 3rd Session of the 10th
National People's Congress. It was ratified on March 14, 2005, and went into effect immediately. President
Hu Jintao promulgated the law with Presidential Decree No. 34. Article 8 formalized the long-standing
policy of the PRC to use military means against Taiwan independence in the event peaceful means become
otherwise impossible.
❖ Vice President of China: Wang Qishan Capital: Beijing Largest City: Shanghai Currency: Renminbi
Ghana Approves Oxford’s Malaria Vaccine R21
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❖ Ghana has approved a new malaria vaccine from Oxford University, making it the first country in the
world to do so, and a potential step forward in the fight against the disease.
❖ The vaccine, known as R21, has been approved domestically for children aged between 5 months and 36
months, who are at the highest risk of death from malaria. It is unclear when the vaccine may be rolled out
in Ghana as other regulatory bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), are still assessing its
safety and effectiveness.
❖ The Oxford vaccine is the second malaria vaccine to be approved for use and the first major vaccine to be
approved in an African country ahead of rich nations. The approval is rare as it comes before the
publication of final-stage trial data.
❖ The Serum Institute of India has a deal with Oxford to produce up to 200 million doses of the vaccine
annually. The WHO has said that in the areas where the Mosquirix vaccine has been given, all-cause child
mortality has dropped by 10 percent, a sign of its impact.
❖ Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites. It is
predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.
❖ The parasites spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
❖ There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – Plasmodium
falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat.
❖ Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches,
and tiredness.
Related Static GK
❖ World Malaria Day is observed on 25th April every year to spread awareness of the global effort to control
and ultimately eradicate malaria.
❖ World Malaria Day was first held in 2008. It was developed from Africa Malaria Day, which was an event
that had been observed since 2001 by African governments.
❖ The theme 2022 is "Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.”
G7’s Carbon Free Electricity Production

❖ The Group of Seven (G7) countries' Climate and Energy Ministers and envoys have committed to
ensuring carbon-free electricity production by 2035 and accelerating the phase-out of coal. The
agreement was made at Sapporo, Japan, ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May 2023.
❖ India was also invited in the summit as a ‘guest’, in the context of its G20 presidency.
❖ Recognising the current global energy crisis and economic disruptions, the agreement calls for
accelerating the clean energy transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
❖ The G7 states cited the urgent need to reduce GHG emissions by around 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
❖ The participants agreed to accelerate solar and wind energy investments to produce 1,000 gigawatts of
solar power and 150 gigawatts of wind power from off-shore platforms by 2030 in line with IPCC's AR6
Report that repeats the need to ensure that global temperatures do not increase by more than 1.5°C of pre-
industrial levels by the end of the century.
❖ They reaffirmed that fossil fuel subsidies are inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and
committed to eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
❖ Key Issues that Lacked any Concrete Action: Increasing efforts to assist other countries scale up
their energy transition and energy efficiency.
❖ The funding provided by developed countries continues to fall short of the commitment of USD100 billion
per year made in UNFCCC COP27.
❖ UK and Canada's proposal to phase-out coal by 2030
Group of Seven (G7)
❖ The G7 is an intergovernmental organisation consisting of seven major advanced economies: Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
❖ The G7, originally G8 (In March 2014 Russia was removed following the annexation of Crimea, Russia
Officially left in 2018), was set up in 1975 as an informal forum of leaders from the world’s most advanced
economies.
❖ First Summit was hosted by France in 1975
❖ Canada Joined in 1976
❖ Most Recent and 49th G7 meeting will be hosted by Japan in May 2023
❖ The G7's primary objective is to foster economic growth and stability among its member countries.
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❖ It serves as a forum for leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern, including trade, economic policy, and
international security.
❖ The G7 also works to promote cooperation and coordination on issues such as climate change, poverty
reduction, and global health.
❖ The G7 holds an annual summit where the leaders of its member countries meet to discuss and address
issues of mutual concern. The summit rotates among member countries, with each country hosting the
event in turn.
❖ Economic Powerhouses: The G7 countries are some of the world's largest and most powerful
economies, representing 40% of the world’s economic activity.
❖ They are also among the world's leading trading nations, with significant influence over global trade
policies and regulations.
❖ Build Back Better World (B3W): is an initiative undertaken by the G7. Launched on June 12, 2021, it would
provide an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for infrastructure development of low- and
middle-income countries.
❖ The initiative seeks to address the $40 trillion worth of infrastructure needed by developing countries by
2035. The initiative aims to catalyze funding for quality infrastructure from the private sector and will
encourage private-sector investments that support "climate, health and health security, digital technology,
and gender equity and equality".
❖ The initiative builds on the Blue Dot Network, a co-opted collaboration that aims to build a global network
through lending-based financing to build roads, bridges, airports, ports, power plants
Wagner Mutiny in Russia

❖ Recently, the chief of Russia's Wagner Private Military Company Yevgeny Prigozhin staged a short-lived
Mutiny against the country's defense establishment, pushing Russia into an unprecedented internal
security crisis.
❖ Background: The chief of the Wagner Group (Prigozhin) leveled serious accusations against the leadership
of Russia's Ministry of Defense (Sergei Shoigu) and Chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov claiming
corruption and incompetence.
❖ Wagner Group also released a video accusing the defense leadership of ordering airstrikes on Wagner and
taking control of the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.
❖ In an attempt to address their grievances, Wagner forces embarked on a "march of justice" towards
Moscow, resulting in clashes and significant damage.
❖ Labeled Treason: The Russian President condemned the mutiny, labeling it a "Treason".
❖ He ordered the security services to suppress the rebellion. However, he faced a dilemma due to Wagner’s
past alliance and its effectiveness.
❖ Negotiation: Russian President with the help of President of Belarus negotiated with Prigozhin. As per
negotiation Prigozhin agreeing to retreat and relocate to Belarus.
Wagner Group
❖ The Wagner Group also known as PMC Wagner is a Russian paramilitary organization, founded in 2014.
❖ It was founded by Dmitry Utkin and Yevgeny Prigozhin
❖ Wagner at its peak had about 50,000 mercenary recruits - many of them ex-prisoners - fighting in Ukraine.
❖ The group has operated for years on battlefields in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
❖ Battle of Khasham: When the US launched Operation Inherent Resolve in June 2014, its goal was to
destroy the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). US forces and their allies sought to destroy the
notorious terrorist organization, but the conflict eventually evolved into a proxy war between two
superpowers as Russia committed its military forces to defending the regime of Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad. The US was allied with Kurdish fighters and the Syrian Democratic Forces against the common
enemy of ISIS, but the regional conflict involved an intricate web of disparate factions and objectives.
❖ The Battle of Khasham, also known as the Battle of Conoco Fields, was a military engagement of the Syrian
civil war fought on 7 February 2018 near the towns of Khasham and Al Tabiyeh, Syria. Between US armed
forces and Russian Wagner group and allies.
❖ The 4 hours war resulted in a significant number of casualties on both US forces and Russian Wagner
Group side.
Titan Tragedy
❖ A tourist submersible named Titan went missing with five people on board during a dive to explore the
wreck of the Titanic
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❖ Titan submersible is operated by the privately owned U.S. company OceanGate that organizes underwater
expeditions for both research and tourism.
❖ It was built with “off-the-shelf” components, is lighter and more cost-efficient than other deep
diving submersibles.
❖ Titan is made of carbon fibre and titanium and weighs 10,432 kilograms.
o Carbon Fibre: Carbon fibre is a polymer that is known to be quite strong despite being lightweight. It
can be as much as five times stronger than steel and twice as stiff.
o Titanium: Titanium is as strong as steel but around 45% lighter. It is twice as strong as aluminum but
only 60% heavier, according to the United States Geological Survey.
❖ It is capable of going 4,000 metres undersea and moves as fast as three knots per hour (5.56 kph).
❖ OceanGate Expeditions charges guests $250,000 for eight day trip from St. John’s with 6-8 hour drive
❖ TITAN: Worlds only crewed submersible able to take 5 people as deep as 4,000m
❖ Objective: Titan Submersible was travelling to see the wreckage of RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Titanic, which is
nearly four thousand metres under water in the frigid North Atlantic Ocean.
❖ One hour and forty-five minutes into the journey, contact with Titan was lost.
❖ All expeditions were in line with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Guidelines for
Research Exploration and Salvage of RMS Titanic, as well as the UNESCO guidelines for the preservation of
underwater world heritage sites the company said
❖ Concerns: The submersible's forward viewport was certified for 1,300 meters, but OceanGate aimed to
reach 4,000 meters (2.4 Miles)
❖ The technology and components of the submersible may not have met rigorous safety
standards. Insufficient hull testing raises the risk of failure and endangers occupants.
❖ What Happened to the Titan: The submersible “Titan” experienced a “catastrophic implosion,” according to
the U.S. Coast Guard. The five occupants* on board are presumed to have died during the implosion.
❖ An implosion is the opposite of an explosion. In an explosion, the force acts outwards, but in an implosion
the force acts inwards. When a submersible is deep in the ocean it experiences the force on its surface
due to water pressure.
❖ When this force becomes larger than the force hull can withstand, the vessel implodes violently.
❖ With every descent of 10 meters into the water, the pressure increases by approximately one atmosphere.
❖ One atmosphere is equivalent to the average atmospheric pressure at sea level, which is
approximately 101.325 kilopascals (kPa) or 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).
❖ Titan has 96 hours of life support for a crew of five.
o *The men on board the sub included Stockton Rush, the 61-year-old CEO of OceanGate, British-
Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, and British businessman
Hamish Harding, 58 and Paul-Henry Nargeolet, was a 77-year-old former French navy diver and
renowned explorer.
o Harding is a billionaire adventurer and founder of Action Aviation who holds three Guinness World
Records, including the longest duration at full ocean depth by a crewed vessel. In March 2021, he and
ocean explorer Victor Vescovo dived to the lowest depth of the Mariana Trench. In June 2022, he went
into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
o Mr. Harding also collaborated with the Indian government on a project to reintroduce eight wild
cheetahs from Namibia to India in September last year, under the auspices of the Explorers Club.
o He had arranged a customised Boeing 747-400 aircraft for the mission
❖ Submarine Vs Submersible: A submarine refers to an underwater vehicle that is largely independent and
has power reserves to help it depart from a port or come back to the port after an expedition.
❖ Meanwhile, a submersible is generally smaller in size and has less power, so it needs to work with a ship in
order to be launched and recovered.
❖ The missing submersible Titan was working with a vessel named Polar Prince.
Matsya-6000
❖ Scientists are preparing for a Deep See Dive with the Vehicle Matsya-6000 in late 2024 similar to the Titan
submersible, which recently went missing.
❖ The Matsya-6000 project under India’s Deep Ocean Mission, scheduled for late 2024, aims to explore the
Indian Ocean at a depth of about 6,000 meters.
❖ Matsya-6000 is an indigenous deep-sea dive submersible being developed by the National Institute of
Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai in India. It is designed to explore the depths of the Indian Ocean at
a depth of about 6,000 meters.
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❖ The mission aims to send three Indian navigators to a point approximately 1,500 km away from
Kanyakumari, India.
❖ Objective: The mission's primary objective is to support India's energy requirements and explore ocean
resources.
❖ India aims to conduct exploratory mining for Polymetallic Nodules containing valuable resources such as
copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
❖ This endeavour aligns with the Indian government's Deep Ocean Mission, which aims to develop vehicles
and technology for ocean scanning and mining.
❖ Features of Submersible: The submersible features a spherical titanium hull, which is crucial for
withstanding the immense pressure at great depths.
❖ The titanium hull is manufactured by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as no commercial
fabricators in India were capable of producing such a hull.
❖ Two hemispheres of titanium alloy are fused to create a single hull, which serves as the primary barrier
between the crew and the surrounding water columns.
Deep Ocean Mission
❖ The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) in march 2022
❖ DOM is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
❖ Earlier, the Ministry of Earth Sciences had also rolled out the draft Blue Economy Policy.
❖ Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and
jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.
❖ Major Components of DOM: Development of Manned Submersible Vehicle: A manned submersible will be
developed to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors
and tools.
❖ NIOT & ISRO is jointly developing a Manned Submersible Vehicle.
❖ Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining: An Integrated Mining System will be also developed
for mining polymetallic nodules at those depths in the central Indian Ocean.
❖ Polymetallic nodules are rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt.
❖ Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: It entails developing a suite of observations and
models to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables on seasonal to decadal
time scales.
❖ Technological Innovations for Exploration and Conservation of Deep-sea Biodiversity: Bio-prospecting of
deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes and studies on sustainable utilisation of deep-sea bio-
resources will be the main focus.
❖ Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration: It will explore and identify potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal
Sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
❖ Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean: Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plants are envisaged in this proof of concept
proposal.
❖ OTEC is a technology that uses ocean temperature differences from the surface to depths lower than 1,000
metres, to extract energy.
❖ Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology: It is aimed at the development of human capacity and
enterprise in ocean biology and engineering.
❖ Long Coastline: India has a unique maritime position. Its 7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal
states and 1382 islands.
❖ The Government of India's Vision of New India by 2030 announced in February 2019 highlighted the Blue
Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.
o 10 key dimensions of Center’s Vision 2030: 1. Physical & Social Infrastructure 2. Digital India 3. Energy
Security 4. Expanding rural Industrialisation 5. Clean Rivers 6. Blue Economy 7. Space Programme 8.
Food Self Sufficiency 9. A Healthy India 10. Minimum government, Maximum governance
❖ Technology Expertise: The technology and expertise needed in such missions are now available in only five
countries - the US, Russia, France, Japan and China.
❖ India will now be the sixth country to have it.
❖ O-SMART: Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART)
launched in 2018. It aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.
State of World Population Report
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❖ The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released the State of World Population report 2023,
which states that India will overtake China to become the world’s most populous country by the middle of
2023.
❖ The State of World Population is published annually which covers and analyses developments and trends
in world population and demographics, as well as shedding a light on specific regions, countries and
population groups and the unique challenges they face.
❖ India’s population is pegged to reach 142.86 crore
❖ against China’s 142.57 crore by July 2023. 25%
of India's population is in the age group of 0-14 years,
18% in the 10-19 age group, 26% in the age bracket of
0-24 years, 68% in the 15-64 years age group, and 7%
above 65 years.
❖ The United States is a third populated country, with a
population of 340 million.
❖ Slowing Population: Population growth in both India and China has been slowing, despite accounting for
more than one-third of the estimated global population
❖ Fertility Rate: India’s total Fertility Rate, was estimated at 2, lower than the world average of 2.3. Developed
regions projected a fertility rate of 1.5, less developed regions 2.4 and less developed countries 3.9.
❖ Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy for an Indian male was projected as 71 and 74 for females.
❖ On average, the life expectancy for males globally was projected to be 71 and 76 for females.
❖ For developed regions, the average life expectancy for males was projected at 77 and 83 for females — the
highest of all.
❖ For less developed regions, the ages are 70 for males and 74 for females, while for least developed
countries, it is 63 for males and 68 for females.
❖ Gender Rights: Violence by an intimate partner in the last 12 months was reported by 18% of women, while
66% of women had decision-making on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in India.
❖ A little over 80% of women had some say in decision-making regarding their own healthcare.
❖ Population Growth Concentrations: More than half of the projected increase in global population up to
2050 will be concentrated in eight countries — the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India,
Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
❖ It is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly and works as a sexual and reproductive health agency.
❖ The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) establishes its mandate.
❖ Chairman: Natalia Kanem
❖ Headquarters: New York
❖ It was established as a trust fund in 1967 and began operations in 1969.
❖ In 1987, it was officially renamed the United Nations Population Fund but the original abbreviation, ‘UNFPA’
for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities was retained.
❖ Objective: UNFPA works directly to tackle Sustainable Development Goals on health (SDG3), education
(SDG4) and gender equality (SDG5).
❖ UNFPA is not supported by the UN budget, instead, it is entirely supported by voluntary contributions of
donor governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, foundations and individuals.
ICJ on Myanmar Issue

❖ The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently rejected Myanmar junta's appeal for a 10-month
reprieve to file a counter-memorial in response to the case accusing Myanmar of breaching
the International Genocide Convention.
❖ The case pertains to the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military during the "clearing" operations in
2017 in Rakhine state, resulting in displacement of Rohingya people.
❖ Background - The country gained independence from Britain in 1948. It was ruled by the armed forces
from 1962 until 2011, when a new government began ushering in a return to civilian rule.
❖ In the 2010s, the military regime decided to transition the country towards democracy. Although the
armed forces remained powerful, political opponents were freed and elections were allowed to be held.
❖ The National League for Democracy won the 2015 election under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi (she
won Nobel peace price in 1991), the country’s first free and fair election participated by multiple parties,
and formed the government, raising hopes that the country is on its way to full transition to democracy.
❖ Military Coup: In the November 2020 parliamentary election, NLD secured the majority of the seats.
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❖ In the Myanmars’ Parliament, the military holds 25% of the total seats according to the 2008 military-
drafted constitution and several key ministerial positions are also reserved for military appointees.
❖ When the newly elected Myanmar lawmakers were to hold the first session of Parliament in 2021, the
military imposed a state of emergency for one year citing massive voting fraud in the parliamentary
elections.
❖ Associated Issues Highlighted by UN: Despite clear legal obligations for the military to protect civilians in
the conduct of hostilities, there has been consistent disregard for the related rules of international law.
❖ Myanmar’s economy has collapsed with nearly half of the population now living below the poverty line.
❖ Since the coup was launched, the military has imprisoned the democratically elected leadership of the
country and, in subsequent months, detained over 16,000 others.
❖ The Rohingya Issue: On August 25, 2017, an outbreak of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State forced
hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people to flee their homes.
❖ The Rohingya community has also been cut off from the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar.
❖ Over the years, the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar has faced various challenges,
including restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, arbitrary arrests and detentions, censorship,
and violence.
❖ In January 2020, the UN's top court (ICJ) ordered the Myanmar to take measures to protect members of its
Rohingya community from genocide
❖ India’s Stand: In recent years, India has expressed concerns over the human rights situation in Myanmar,
particularly with regards to the Rohingya crisis.
❖ India has called for peaceful resolution of the issue, respect for human rights, and accountability for those
responsible for human rights violations.
❖ Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, cutting off from the
Myanmar military is not a viable option as India has significant economic and strategic interests in
Myanmar and its neighbourhood.
❖ The International Genocide Convention, also known as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide, is a treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9,
1948. According to this Convention, genocide is a crime that can take place both in time of war as well as in
time of peace.
❖ The definition of the crime of genocide, as set out in the Convention, has been widely adopted at both
national and international levels, including in the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
(ICC).
Myanmar
❖ Myanmar officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma (the official name until
1989), is a country in Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia, and had
a population of about 54 million in 2017. It is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to
its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to
its south and southwest.
❖ Capital: Naypyidaw Largest City: Yangon Currency: Kyat President: Myint Swe
❖ State Administration Council chairman, Army general and Prime Minister: Min Aung Hlaing
❖ India-Myanmar Border Length: 1643 KM
❖ 4 states: Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share border with Myanmar
Yemen Crisis
❖ The warring sides in Yemen are swapping hundreds of prisoners - a move which has built hopes for a
permanent ceasefire between the Saudi-backed government forces and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
❖ The Yemeni Civil War began in 2011 after the ousting of authoritarian president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The new
president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, was unable to stabilize the country due to economic and security
problems.
❖ The Houthis, a Zaidi Shia Muslim minority group, took advantage of this and seized control of the north
and the capital, Sanaa in 2014.
❖ This alarmed Saudi Arabia, which feared that the Houthis would become allies to their rival, Iran. Saudi
Arabia then led a coalition that included other Arab countries and sent troops to Yemen in 2015. However,
they were unable to drive out Houthis from Sana’a as well as from the north of the country.
❖ In April 2022, the UN brokered a ceasefire between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebels, though the
sides failed to renew it six months laters.
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❖ Stockholm Agreement: The warring parties in control of parts of Yemen had signed the Stockholm
Agreement in December 2018, committing to freeing conflict-related detainees. The agreement brokered
by the United Nations had three main components:
❖ The Hudayah agreement: The Hudayah agreement included a ceasefire in the city of Hodeidah and other
clauses like no military reinforcements in the city and strengthened United Nation presence
❖ The Prisoner Exchange Agreement: The agreement was supervised by the Office of the Special Envoy of
the Secretary-General for Yemen, and the International Committee of the Red Cross will oversee and
facilitate the process.
❖ They aim to ensure that fundamental humanitarian principles and procedures that facilitate the release, or
transfer or repatriation of all persons who were deprived of their liberty during the events in Yemen.
❖ Taiz Agreement: The Taiz agreement includes the formation of a joint committee with participation from
civil society and the UN.
Global Buddhist Summit 2023

❖ The Ministry of Culture in partnership with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) has organized the
1st Global Buddhist Summit 2023, which aims to enhance cultural and diplomatic relations with other
countries.
❖ Buddhist monks from various countries took part in the two-day Summit. Eminent scholars, Sangha leaders
and Dharma practitioners from all over the world attended the conference.
❖ There are 173 international participants comprising 84 Sangha member and 151 Indian delegates
comprising 46 Sangha members, 40 nuns and 65 laity from outside Delhi.
❖ Theme: Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis.
❖ Sub Themes:
o Buddha Dhamma and Peace
o Buddha Dhamma: Environmental Crisis, Health and Sustainability
o Preservation of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition
o Buddha Dhamma Pilgrimage, Living heritage and Buddha Relics: a resilient foundation to India’s
centuries-old cultural links to countries in South, Southeast and East Asia.
❖ The summit aims to discuss today’s pressing global issues and look for answers in the Buddha Dhamma
that is based on universal values.
❖ The aim is to set up a forum for the lay Buddhist scholars and Dharma Masters.
❖ It seeks to delve into Buddha’s message for Peace, Compassion and Harmony with the objective of
working towards Universal Peace and Harmony, in accordance with the core values of Dharma and
produce a document for further academic research, to study its viability for use as a tool for the conduct of
international relations on the global stage.
International Buddhist Confederation (IBC)
❖ IBC is the biggest religious Buddhist confederation.
❖ The purpose of this body is to create a role for Buddhism on the global stage so as to help to preserve
heritage, share knowledge, and promote values and to represent a united front for Buddhism to enjoy
meaningful participation in the global discourse.
❖ In November 2011, New Delhi was host to Global Buddhist Congregation (GBC), where the attendees
unanimously adopted a resolution to form an international umbrella body – the International Buddhist
Confederation (IBC).
❖ HQ: Delhi, India.
Global Unicorn Index

❖ According to the Global Unicorn Index 2023 by Hurun, Swiggy, Dream11 and BYJU'S are India's top
unicorns.
❖ A unicorn is any privately owned firm with a market capitalization of more than USD 1 billion. It denotes
new entities dedicated to offering creative solutions and new business models, among other things.
❖ The report indicates that India continues to be the world's third-largest country with the highest number of
unicorns, following the US and China. However, India ranks fifth in the Hurun Global 500 companies, which
is a list of the most valuable non-state-controlled businesses globally.
❖ As per the report, the number of Indian unicorns established outside of India is higher than those located
within India. India has a total of 138 unicorns.
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❖ The report also revealed that India ranks third in terms of the number of gazelles, which are startups
established in the 2000s and valued at over $500 million (not yet listed) which are likely to become
unicorns within three years.
Sudan Crisis & Operation Kaveri

❖ A civil war has broken out between the military and a paramilitary force in Sudan and it has resulted in the
deaths of more than 400 people.
❖ Clashes erupted after weeks of heightened tensions between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a
paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as Hemedti and the military, headed by Lt
Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The two generals disagree over the proposed transition to civilian rule in
Sudan.
❖ Origin of the Conflict: The long-running conflict had its origins in April 2019, when the generals deposed
Sudan's long-serving authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir after a nationwide revolt against him. Civilians
persisted in their protests notwithstanding Bashir's overthrow in their demand for free elections and the
establishment of a civilian government.
❖ Four months later, the military and the protestors reached an agreement as a result of which it was decided
to create the Sovereignty Council, a body with a mix of military and civilian officials that would oversee
elections in Sudan by the end of 2023.
❖ Abdalla Hamdok was appointed Prime Minister for the transitional period, and he took office in August of
that year.
❖ However, the new arrangement was only temporary as Burhan quickly took over as de facto head of the
nation after the military deposed Hamdok's administration in October 2021. Burhan's partner in the military
coup, Dagalo, vice-president of the ruling council, assumed the position of second in command. Burhan
declared that the military would be in charge until the July 2023 elections.
❖ The RSF’s origins are in the notorious Janjaweed militias used by al-Bashir to put down a rebellion in
Darfur in the early 2000s. Hemedti was the leader of one of the largest militias
❖ In 2015, the RSF along with Sudan’s army began sending troops to fight in the war in Yemen alongside
Saudi and Emirati forces.
❖ In addition to the Darfur region, the RSF was deployed to states such as South Kordofan and the Blue
Nile, where it was accused of committing human rights abuses.
❖ In a 2015 report, Human Rights Watch described its forces as “men with no mercy”.
❖ Relations between the military and the RSF, which was founded in 2013 and has been accused of violating
human rights, including the killing of more than 120 protestors in June 2019, worsened shortly after the
2021 coup.
❖ Burhan and Dagalo disagree over how the 10,000-strong RSF should be integrated into the army, and which
authority should oversee that process. Also, Dagalo wanted to delay the integration for 10 years but the
army said it would take place in the next two years.
❖ The army viewed the RSF's recent redeployment across the nation as a provocative act and a danger. On
15th April, a fierce fight broke out between the two groups due to the tension.
Operation Kaveri
❖ Under Operation Kaveri, India has been rescuing its citizens in buses from conflict zones in Khartoum and
other troubled areas to Port Sudan from where they are being taken to Jeddah in Indian Air Force's
transport aircraft and Indian Navy's ships.
❖ As of May 2023 the total number of Indians brought home now stands at 1,360, according to official data.
❖ According to the website of the Indian embassy in Khartoum, there are around 2,800 Indian nationals in
Sudan. Along with this, there is also a settled Indian community of around 1,200 people - which has been in
the country for nearly 150 years.
❖ India is also evacuating Sri Lankan citizens on the request of Sri Lanka.
India-Sudan Relations
❖ India supported Sudan's efforts to form a transitional government and also supported the Juba Peace
Agreement signed by the government in October 2020.
❖ Chad, UAE and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) were the guarantors, while Egypt and
Qatar were witnesses to the peace deal.
❖ The agreement covered various areas such as governance, security, and justice and was important for
future constitutional negotiations.
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❖ Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) India offered 290 scholarships to Sudan
towards capacity building. Besides, India had offered humanitarian assistance including food supplies to
Sudan in 2020.
❖ Over the years, the bilateral trade between India and Sudan has grown from USD 327.27 million in 2005-06
to USD 1663.7 million in 2018-19.
❖ India’s investments in Sudan and South Sudan were roughly USD 3 billion, out of which USD 2.4 billion was
invested in the petroleum sector from ONGC Videsh, a public sector undertaking.
About Sudan
❖ Sudan is Africa’s third-largest country, sitting south of Egypt and bordering the Red Sea.
❖ The country is also neighbours with Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad and
Libya. At 719,000 square miles, it is nearly eight times the size of the UK.
❖ Capital: Khartoum Largest City: Omdurman
❖ Acting Prime Minister: Osman Hussein Currency: Sudanese Pound
❖ Independence from the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Egypt: 1 January 1956
❖ Secession of South Sudan: 9 July 2011
❖ Horn of Africa: The North-Eastern region of the African continent including the countries of Sudan, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia is known as the Horn of Africa since the group of countries form a horn-like
landmass over the peninsula. A good way to remember the group is as S-E-E-D-S.
South Sudan
❖ South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by
Ethiopia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya.
❖ South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011, making it the most recent sovereign state
or country with widespread recognition as of 2023.
❖ Capital: Juda President: Salva Kiir Mayardit Currency: South Sudanese Pound
❖ First Vice President: Riek Machar Chief Justice: Chan Reec Madut
China’s Outreach in Central Asia

❖ China has conducted a meeting of trade ministers of the grouping known as C+C5 — China and the five
Central Asian republics, namely Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
❖ It was the latest in a series of diplomatic engagements by China with the region since the Russian invasion
of Ukraine.
❖ The first C+C5 summit held in Jan 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between
China and Central Asian nations.
❖ China's historical trade and cultural links with the region date back to the ancient Silk Route.
❖ China has been investing heavily in Central Asia through its Belt and Road Initiative, which includes
projects in oil and gas, transportation, digital technology, and green energy.
❖ While China's investments have provided opportunities for economic growth in the region, there has also
been resentment towards China due to its treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang and concerns about its
increasing presence and land acquisitions.
❖ Despite this, Central Asian governments have not joined international campaigns against China's treatment
of its Muslim minority.
One Belt One Road
❖ Also known as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure project by Chinese government
❖ It is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched in 2013.
❖ It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and
sea routes.
❖ European Union launched Global Gateway initiative in 2021 to counter BRI
❖ It is compared to USA Marshal Plan.
❖ They contain the following six economic corridors:
❖ The New Eurasian Land Bridge, which connects Western China to Western Russia
❖ The China-Mongolia-Russia Corridor, which connects North China to Eastern Russia via Mongolia
❖ The China-Central Asia-West Asia Corridor, which connects Western China to Turkey via Central and West
Asia
❖ The China-Indochina Peninsula Corridor, which connects Southern China to Singapore via Indo-China
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❖ The China-Pakistan Corridor, which connects South Western China through Pakistan to Arabia Sea routes
❖ The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor, which connects Southern China to India via Bangladesh
and Myanmar
Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO)
❖ It is an intergovernmental military alliance that was signed on 15th May 1992.
❖ In 1992, six post-Soviet states belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States—Russia, Armenia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—signed the Collective Security Treaty.
❖ This is also referred to as the “Tashkent Pact” or “Tashkent Treaty”.
❖ Three other post-Soviet states—Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Georgia—signed the next year and the treaty took
effect in 1994.
❖ Five years later, six of the nine—all but Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan—agreed to renew the treaty for
five more years, and in 2002 those six agreed to create the CSTO as a military alliance.
❖ After rejoining in 2006, Uzbekistan On 28 June 2012, permanently cancelled its membership in the CSTO
along with Azerbaijan and Georgia.
❖ Imangali Tasmagambetov (Kazakhstan) was appointed secretary-general of the new organization. The
CSTO is an observer organization at the United Nations General Assembly.
❖ Chairman: Nikol Pashinyan (Armenia)
❖ Headquarters: Moscow.
❖ Current members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.
❖ Observer: Serbia
❖ Objectives: To strengthen peace, international and regional security including cybersecurity and stability,
the protection on a collective basis of the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the
member states.
❖ On 4 February 2009, an agreement to create the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (KSOR) was reached by
five of the seven members, with plans finalized on 14 June. The force is intended to be used to repulse
military aggression, conduct anti-terrorist operations, fight transnational crime and drug trafficking, and
neutralize the effects of natural disasters
PRET & The Big Catch-Up Initiatives

❖ In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, two initiatives – PRET and the Big Catch-up – have been launched
to better prepare for future outbreaks of similar scale and devastation, as well as to boost vaccination
rates among children.
❖ The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Initiative was launched by the World
Health Organisation (WHO) and operates under the aegis of the International Health Regulations (IHR),
2005, which is a critical international legal instrument for managing public health emergencies.
❖ The initiative was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held in
Geneva, Switzerland.
❖ Aim: It focuses on improving pandemic preparedness for groups of pathogens based on their mode of
transmission.
❖ Three Tiers of Pandemic Preparedness: It recognizes that there are three tiers of systems and capacities
relevant to pandemic preparedness:
o those that are cross-cutting for all or multi-hazards
o those that are relevant for groups of pathogens (respiratory, arboviruses etc.)
o those that are specific to a pathogen.
❖ Coordinating Efforts: As part of its efforts, the WHO convenes an informal coordination forum known as
the Respiratory Pathogens Partners Engagement Forum (R-PEF) which enables WHO and partners to
exchange information on planned activities and other developments on planned activities.
❖ The Big Catch-Up Initiative: It was launched by the WHO, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation along
with Immunization Agenda 2030 and many other global and national health partners, a targeted global
effort to boost vaccination.
❖ Aim: It aims to protect populations from vaccine-preventable outbreaks like -measles,
diphtheria, polio and yellow fever - save children’s lives and strengthen national health systems.
❖ Main Focus: The initiative will pay special attention to the 20 countries — Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil,
Cameroon, Chad, DPRK, DRC, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia,
Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Tanzania and Vietnam which are home to a majority of the
children who have missed their vaccine doses.
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World Health Organisation (WHO)
❖ World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.
❖ Its headquarters are situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
❖ There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, six regional offices.
❖ Director General: Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia)
❖ It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through
the Ministries of Health.
❖ The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms
and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and
monitoring and assessing health trends.
❖ It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date now being celebrated every year as World Health Day.
❖ World Health Assembly (WHA) is WHO’s decision-making body attended by delegations from all of WHO’s
member states,
❖ It is held yearly at the headquarters of WHO, i.e., Geneva, Switzerland.
❖ Specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board remains the focus of this assembly.
The Black Sea Grain Deal

❖ The Group of Seven (G7) agriculture ministers have issued an official statement calling for the extension,
full implementation, and expansion of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) deal that allows Ukraine to
export over 27 million Tonnes of grain from its Black Sea ports.
❖ The deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 but Russia, which invaded Ukraine in
February 2022, has signaled that it will not allow the deal to continue beyond 18th May 2023 because its
demands to facilitate its own grain and fertilizer exports have not been met.
Black Sea Grain Initiative
❖ The Black Sea Grain initiative endeavours to tackle escalating food prices emanating from supply chain
disruptions because of Russian actions in the world’s ‘breadbasket’.
❖ The deal brokered by the United Nations (UN) and Turkey, was signed in Istanbul in July, 2022.
❖ The signed documents entail the safe navigation for the export of grain and related foodstuffs and
fertilizers, including ammonia from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne
o Port of Odesa is the Largest Port of Ukraine and Novorossiysk Sea Port is the largest port of Russia
❖ Initially stipulated for a period of 120 days, the deal was to provide for a safe maritime humanitarian
corridor for Ukrainian exports (particularly for food grains).
❖ The deal put in place a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), comprising senior representatives from Russia,
Turkey, Ukraine and the UN for oversight and coordination.
❖ All commercial ships are required to register directly with the JCC to ensure appropriate monitoring,
inspection and safe passage. Inbound and outbound ships (to the designated corridor) transit as per a
schedule accorded by the JCC post-inspection.
❖ Ukraine is among the largest exporters of wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil,
globally.
Black Sea
❖ The Black Sea is bordered by Ukraine to the north and northwest, Russia and Georgia to the east, Turkey to
the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.
❖ It links to the Sea of Marmara through the Bosphorus Strait and then to the Aegean Sea through
the Dardanelles strait.
❖ Domination of the Black Sea region is a geostrategic imperative for Russia, both to project Russian power
in the Mediterranean and to secure the economic gateway to key markets in southern Europe.
❖ Black Sea Fleet: The Black Sea Fleet has a long history and is considered to have been founded back in
1783.
❖ It comprises warships of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and the eastern
Mediterranean, and is headquartered at Sevastopol, the major port on the Crimean peninsula.
World Development Report 2023

❖ The World Bank published the World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees & Societies.
❖ The report estimated a 120% income gain for Indians who migrate to another country for work, compared
to a 40% rise in the case of internal migration.
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❖ An Increase in Income: Under-skilled Indian citizens migrating to the US noticed a hike in their income of
nearly 500%, followed by the UAE by almost 300%.
❖ Those migrating to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations other than UAE stand to gain less.
❖ Overview of Global Migration and Refugees: There are currently 184 million migrants globally, which is
2.3% of the population, including 37 million refugees. There are four types of migrants:
➢ Economic migrants with strong skill match (e.g., Indian IT professionals in the US or construction workers
in GCC nations)
➢ Refugees with skills in demand at the destination (e.g., Syrian entrepreneurs in Turkey)
➢ Distressed migrants (e.g., Some poorly skilled migrants at the US southern border)
➢ Refugees (e.g., Rohingya in Bangladesh)
❖ Top Migration Corridors: India-US, India-GCC and Bangladesh-India have been identified to be among the
top migration corridors globally along with Mexico-US, China-US, Philippines-US and Kazakhstan-Russia
❖ Increase in Remittances: The remittances have increased to some of the countries with a large migrant
population, including India, Mexico, China and the Philippines.
❖ India received the highest ever foreign inward remittances of USD 89,127 million in FY 2021-22. In
2021, total global remittances were estimated at USD 781 billion and have further risen to USD 794 billion
in 2022.
❖ A Decline in Working-Age Adults: The share of working-age adults will drop sharply in many countries over
the next few decades. Spain is projected to shrink by more than one-third by 2100.
Ekatha Harbour
❖ India and Maldives marked a major step in their growing defence cooperation by launching the
construction of a harbour- ‘Ekatha Harbour’ for the Coast Guard of the Maldives National Defence Force
(MNDF) at Sifavaru in Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) atoll (a few miles northwest of Male).
❖ The development of the coast guard is one of the biggest grant-in-aid projects of India. The UTF Harbour
Project was announced in 2021.
❖ Maldives is among India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and New Delhi has
been seeking to expand ties with Male including in areas of defence and security amid China’s efforts to
expand its influence in the IOR.
World Press Freedom Index

❖ On the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) (3rd May), the World Press Freedom Index 2023 was published
by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
❖ India ranked 161st among the 180 countries with a score of 36.62. In 2022, India’s rank was 150.
❖ The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s
General Conference in 1991.
❖ The day also marks the 1991 Windhoek Declaration (adopted by UNESCO).
❖ To raise public awareness of the value of press freedom, the importance of protecting journalists' rights,
and the importance of encouraging independent, free media.
❖ Theme for 2023: 'Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights'
❖ Top and Worst Performers: Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions. Vietnam,
China and North Korea were at the bottom on the list.
❖ India’s Neighbours: Sri Lanka ranked 135th this year as against 146th in 2022, Pakistan is ranked at
150th position.
❖ India’s Performance Analysis: India’s position has been consistently falling in the index since 2016 when it
was ranked 133.
❖ The reasons behind the fall in ranking is the increased violence against journalists and a politically
partisan media.
❖ The organisation asserts that many journalists in India are forced to censor themselves due to extreme
pressure.
❖ World Press Freedom Index: It has been published every year since 2002 by Reporters Without Borders or
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF).
❖ RSF is an independent NGO based in Paris that has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO,
the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF). OIF is a 54 French
speaking nations collective.
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❖ The report ranks 180 countries based on their level of press freedom, taking into account factors such as
censorship, media independence, and the safety of journalists. However, it is not an indicator on the quality
of journalism.
❖ Scoring Criteria: The Index’s rankings are based on a score ranging from 0 to 100 that is assigned to each
country or territory, with 100 being the best possible score (the highest possible level of press freedom)
and 0 the worst.
❖ Evaluation Criteria: Each country or territory’s score is evaluated using five contextual indicators: political
context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context and safety.
❖ Freedom of Press in India: The Constitution, the supreme law of the land, guarantees freedom of speech
and expression under Article 19, which deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of
speech, etc.
❖ Freedom of press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected
under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution, which states - "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of
speech and expression".
❖ In 1950, the Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras observed that freedom of the press lay
at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
❖ However, Freedom of press is also not absolute. It faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are
as follows- Matters related to interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court,
defamation or incitement to an offence.
World Press Freedom Index

❖ On the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) (3rd May), the World Press Freedom Index 2023 was published
by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
❖ India ranked 161st among the 180 countries with a score of 36.62. In 2022, India’s rank was 150.
❖ The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s
General Conference in 1991.
❖ The day also marks the 1991 Windhoek Declaration (adopted by UNESCO).
❖ To raise public awareness of the value of press freedom, the importance of protecting journalists' rights,
and the importance of encouraging independent, free media.
❖ Theme for 2023: 'Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights'
❖ Top and Worst Performers: Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions. Vietnam,
China and North Korea were at the bottom on the list.
❖ India’s Neighbours: Sri Lanka ranked 135th this year as against 146th in 2022, Pakistan is ranked at
150th position.
❖ India’s Performance Analysis: India’s position has been consistently falling in the index since 2016 when it
was ranked 133.
❖ The reasons behind the fall in ranking is the increased violence against journalists and a politically
partisan media.
❖ The organisation asserts that many journalists in India are forced to censor themselves due to extreme
pressure.
❖ World Press Freedom Index: It has been published every year since 2002 by Reporters Without Borders or
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF).
❖ RSF is an independent NGO based in Paris that has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO,
the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF). OIF is a 54 French
speaking nations collective.
❖ The report ranks 180 countries based on their level of press freedom, taking into account factors such as
censorship, media independence, and the safety of journalists. However, it is not an indicator on the quality
of journalism.
❖ Scoring Criteria: The Index’s rankings are based on a score ranging from 0 to 100 that is assigned to each
country or territory, with 100 being the best possible score (the highest possible level of press freedom)
and 0 the worst.
❖ Evaluation Criteria: Each country or territory’s score is evaluated using five contextual indicators: political
context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context and safety.
❖ Freedom of Press in India: The Constitution, the supreme law of the land, guarantees freedom of speech
and expression under Article 19, which deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of
speech, etc.
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❖ Freedom of press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected
under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution, which states - "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of
speech and expression".
❖ In 1950, the Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras observed that freedom of the press lay
at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
❖ However, Freedom of press is also not absolute. It faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are
as follows- Matters related to interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court,
defamation or incitement to an offence.
Uganda Passes Anti-LGBTQ Law

❖ The Ugandan parliament has passed one of the world's strictest anti-LGBTQ bills, retaining most of the
harshest measures despite international condemnation. The legislation includes provisions for the death
penalty for so-called "aggravated homosexuality" and a 20-year sentence for promoting homosexuality,
which human rights activists say could criminalize any advocacy for LGBTQ citizens.
❖ The bill also includes measures to "rehabilitate" gay people. The legislation was amended to stipulate that
merely identifying as LGBTQ is not a crime and that people are only obliged to report homosexual activity
when a child is involved. However, activists have dismissed the amendments as "useless". The bill now
awaits the approval of the President.
EU Regulating AI
❖ The European Parliament has reached a preliminary agreement on a new draft of the Artificial Intelligence
Act, which aims to regulate systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
❖ The legislation was drafted in 2021 with the aim of bringing transparency, trust, and accountability to Al and
creating a framework to mitigate risks to the safety, health, Fundamental Rights, and democratic values of
the EU.
❖ It defines AI as software that generates outputs such as content, predictions, recommendations, or
decisions.
❖ It prohibits the use of AI technologies in the highest risk category, including real-time facial and biometric
identification systems in public spaces, social scoring of citizens, subliminal techniques to influence
behavior, and technologies that exploit vulnerable people.
❖ Focus: It focuses on AI systems that have the potential to harm people's health, safety, or fundamental
rights. These include AI in healthcare, education, employment, law enforcement, and access to essential
services.
❖ Before high-risk AI systems can be sold, they will undergo strict reviews to ensure they are
transparent, explainable, and allow human oversight.
❖ AI systems with lower risks, like spam filters or video games, have fewer requirements.
❖ Objective: It aims to address ethical questions and implementation challenges in various sectors ranging
from healthcare and education to finance and energy.
❖ The legislation seeks to strike a balance between promoting “the uptake of AI while mitigating or
preventing harms associated with certain uses of the technology”.
❖ Similar to how the EU’s 2018 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) made it an industry leader in the
global data protection regime, the AI law aims to “strengthen Europe’s position as a global hub of
excellence in AI from the lab to the market” and ensure that AI in Europe respects the 27-country bloc’s
values and rules.
AI Regulations around the world
❖ India: NITI Aayog, has issued some guiding documents on AI Issues such as the National Strategy for
Artificial Intelligence and the Responsible AI for All report.
❖ United Kingdom: Published a white paper outlining five principles companies should follow: safety,
security and robustness; transparency and explainability; fairness; accountability and governance; and
contestability and redress.
❖ US: The US released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights (AIBoR), outlining the harms of AI to economic and
civil rights and lays down five principles for mitigating these harms.
❖ China: In 2022, China came out with some of the world’s first nationally binding regulations targeting
specific types of algorithms and AI. It enacted a law to regulate recommendation algorithms with a focus
on how they disseminate information.
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China’s Anti-Espionage Law
❖ China’s legislature approved sweeping amendments to China’s anti-espionage law, broadening the scope
of what may be defined as activities related to spying and national security.
❖ The recent amendments are to China’s 2014 anti-espionage law.
❖ Article 1 of the law says the idea behind the legislation is “to prevent, stop and punish espionage conduct
and maintain national security.”
❖ China broadened the law’s scope, with one of the changes declaring that “all documents, data, materials,
and items related to national security and interests” will be protected on par with what is deemed state
secrets.
❖ The transfer of any information deemed by authorities to be in the interest of what they define to be
“national security” will now be considered an act of espionage.
❖ The latest change “improves the regulations on cyber espionage” and “clearly defines cyberattacks,
intrusions, interference, control and destruction” as espionage.
❖ Other changes would include “clarifying the responsibility of national security organs in guiding and
arranging publicity as well as provisions to strengthen the protection of personal information in counter-
espionage work.
❖ Objectives: The amendments come amid a string of high-profile cases involving journalists, foreign
executives, as well as international companies in China, who have come under the lens of authorities on
national security grounds.
❖ The expanded law follows the Xi Jinping government’s increasing focus on “security” and a recent policy
shift now emphasises the dual importance of “development and security”, rather than a focus solely on
economic development.
International Religion Freedom Report
❖ The government of India rejected the recommendations of the US Commission on International Religious
Freedom’s (USCIRF) 2023 report, calling it biased and motivated.
❖ Concerns About Certain Laws and Policies: The report highlights concern regarding certain laws and
policies in the country that have been criticized for their potential to discriminate on the basis of religion.
❖ These include laws related to conversion, interfaith relationships, hijab, and cow slaughter, as well as
the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) All of these, it alleges,
have not impacted minorities in a favorable way.
❖ Measures Affecting Freedom of Expression: It raises concerns about alleged measures that may have
impacted critical voices, particularly those belonging to religious minorities.
❖ These include surveillance, harassment, property demolition, and detention under the Unlawful Activities
Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967. Some Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) have also been subject to
scrutiny under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.
❖ India as a CPC: It has criticized the US State Department for not having designated India as a Countries of
Particular Concern (CPC) and has called for sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials.
❖ Recommendations of the Report: For 2023, based on religious freedom conditions in 2022, USCIRF
recommends that the State Department: Redesignate as CPCs: Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran,
Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan;
❖ Designate as Additional CPCs: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Syria, and Vietnam;
❖ Maintain on the Special Watch List (SWL): Algeria and the Central African Republic (CAR);
❖ Include on the SWL: Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and
Uzbekistan;
❖ Redesignate as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs): Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
(HTS), the Houthis, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP
also referred to as ISIS-West Africa), and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).
❖ Criteria for Designation of Countries in Different Categories: CPCs: When the government of the countries
engage in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of the right to freedom of religion or
belief under IRFA 1998.
❖ SWL: It is based on the governments’ perpetration or toleration of severe religious freedom violations.
❖ EPCs: For systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.
❖ Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India.
❖ Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion).
❖ Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs).
❖ Article 27 (Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any religion).
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❖ Article 28 (Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational
institutions).
❖ Further, Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution deal with the protection of interests of minorities.
US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF)
❖ USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan US federal government commission, dedicated to defending the
universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.
❖ It is an advisory body to the US Congress.
❖ It is Headquartered in Washington DC.
❖ Established by the US government after the inaction of the International Religious Freedom Act
(IRFA), 1998 the recommendations of USCIRF are non-binding on the state department. IRFA provides that
US policy includes condemning violations of religious freedom and assisting other governments in the
promotion of this right.
❖ Traditionally, India does not recognize the view of USCIRF.
Arab League
❖ The Arab League has re-admitted Syria into the organization, after a suspension over a decade.
❖ Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 after it violently cracked down on anti-government
protests.
❖ The Arab League accused Syria of not complying with a peace plan that called for a withdrawal of military
forces, the release of political prisoners, and the start of a dialogue with opposition groups.
❖ Despite attempts at peace negotiations and ceasefire agreements, the violence continued, leading to
Syria's suspension.
❖ Readmission: The move signifies softness in relations between Syria and other Arab governments and is
seen as the start of a gradual process to resolve the crisis in Syria.
❖ The Crisis in Syria has resulted in the displacement of roughly half of the pre-war population of 21
million and the deaths of over 300,000 civilians.
❖ A committee involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq will be established to help Syria
achieve these goals.
❖ But the decision does not mean a resumption of relationships between Arab states and Syria as it is up to
each country to decide this individually.
❖ It calls for a resolution of the crisis resulting from Syria's civil war, including the flight of refugees to
neighboring countries and drug smuggling across the region.
Arab League
❖ Arab League, also called League of Arab States (LAS), is an intergovernmental pan-Arab organisation of all
Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa.
❖ It was formed in Cairo, Egypt on 22nd March 1945, following the adoption of the Alexandria Protocol in
1944.
❖ Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt
❖ Secretary General: Ahmed Aboul Gheit
❖ Members: Currently, there are 22 Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
❖ It aims to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its
members and to mediate disputes among them or between them and third parties.
❖ The signing on 13th April 1950, of an agreement on joint defense and economic cooperation
also committed the signatories to coordination of military defense measures.
CPEC Extension to Afghanistan

❖ China and Pakistan have held the 4th round of the Foreign Minister-level Pakistan-China Strategic
Dialogue Islamabad, Pakistan, where they agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) into Afghanistan.
❖ Alongside, the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue was also held where
they agreed to combat terrorism and enhance cooperation in different economic fields.
❖ In 2021, China proposed construction of the Peshawar-Kabul motorway as an extension of CPEC in
Afghanistan.
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❖ Afghanistan has a large amount of Rare Earth Minerals (1.4 million tonnes) that are important for making
electronics and military equipment. However, since the Taliban took over, the country has been facing
economic difficulties because foreign aid has been withdrawn.
❖ Afghan participation in CPEC will allow Islamabad and Beijing to harness energy and other resources, as
well as gain access to Afghanistan’s vast wealth of untapped natural resources, ranging from copper, gold,
uranium, and lithium, which are critical components for a variety of advanced electronic technologies and
high-tech missile guidance systems.
❖ CPEC is a 3,000-km long route of infrastructure projects connecting China’s northwest
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Gwadar Port in the western province of Balochistan in
Pakistan.
❖ It is a bilateral project between Pakistan and China, intended to promote connectivity across Pakistan with
a network of highways, railways, and pipelines accompanied by energy, industrial, and other infrastructure
development projects
❖ It will pave the way for China to access the Middle East and Africa from Gwadar Port, enabling China to
access the Indian Ocean and in return China will support development projects in Pakistan to overcome
the latter’s energy crises and stabilizing its faltering economy.
❖ CPEC is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
❖ The BRI, launched in 2013, aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with
a network of land and sea routes.
❖ Gwadar Port
❖ Gwadar Port is a warm water port located in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province. It is a deep seaport located
on the Arabian Sea in Gwadar. This port is deemed as a link between China’s One Belt One Road project
and its Maritime Silk Road Project. It features majorly in the CPEC.
Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023

❖ The Petersberg Dialogue on Climate Change was hosted in Berlin, Germany from May 2-3, 2023,
by Germany and the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC).
❖ The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual high-level political and international forum held before
the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP).
❖ It was initiated in 2010 by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
❖ The forum aims to prepare for successful negotiations at COP climate change conferences.
❖ The central goal is to strengthen trust in multilateral climate negotiations and between states.
❖ The dialogue focuses on climate adaptation, climate finance, and dealing with loss and damage.
❖ Key Takeaways from the Petersberg Climate Dialogue: Need for Clean Energy Transition: UN Secretary-
General emphasized the need to “break our fossil fuel addiction and drive decarbonization in every
sector” to achieve a 1.5°C global warming pathway.
❖ Global Renewables Target: German Foreign Minister initiated discussions around a potential global target
for renewables at the next climate conference. And stressed the need to make sharp cuts in greenhouse
gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
❖ Fossil Fuel Phaseout: COP28 President called for a tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030 followed
by a doubling in 2040. And urged participants to ramp up renewable energy capacity building and focus on
phasing out fossil fuel emissions while phasing up viable, affordable zero-carbon alternatives.
❖ Status of Climate Finance: The developed countries are “on a good track” to deliver the USD 100 billion per
year they had promised to mobilize by 2020 during COP15 in 2009. However, a recent estimate pegs
climate finance needs at 1 trillion USD annually by 2030 for emerging markets alone, highlighting the
urgent need for financial reparations.
❖ Urgent Global Financial Systems Transformation: The need for an urgent global financial systems
transformation was underlined so that crucial climate finance can be unlocked for the most climate
vulnerable countries in the world.
❖ Global Stocktake: 2023 is the year for the Global Stocktake, which aims to assess whether current efforts
will enable us to reach the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement.
Mpox no Longer a Global Health Emergency

❖ The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that Mpox, formally known as monkeypox, no
longer constitutes a global health emergency
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❖ Additionally, the WHO has recently announced that Covid-19 no longer represents a "global health
emergency".
❖ The emergency committee for mpox recommended that the outbreak no longer represents a public health
emergency of international concern.
❖ The committee's recommendation was based on a decrease in reported cases and a robust response from
countries affected by the virus.
❖ It is a viral zoonotic disease (transmission from animals to humans) and is identified as a pox-like disease
among monkeys hence it is named Monkeypox. It is endemic to Nigeria.
❖ Previously, The Union government had formed a task force headed by Dr VK Paul, a member of NITI Aayog
in the wake of Monkeypox cases in India
❖ Member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
❖ It was first reported in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in humans in
1970, also in the DRC.
❖ Symptoms: Infected people break out in a rash that looks a lot like chicken pox. But the fever, malaise, and
headache from Monkeypox are usually more severe than in chicken pox infection.
❖ In the early stage of the disease, Monkeypox can be distinguished from smallpox because the lymph gland
gets enlarged.
❖ In 2017, Nigeria experienced the largest documented outbreak, 40 years after the last confirmed case.
❖ Primary infection is through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of
an infected animal. Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animals is also a risk factor.
❖ In 2019, the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), approved the JYNNEOS vaccine
for the prevention of smallpox, monkeypox and other diseases caused by orthopoxviruses.
❖ A com 2000 and vacinavirus are the 2 other vaccines and Tecovirimat (antiviral Drug) for monkey fox
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
❖ Definition: A public health emergency is defined as “an extraordinary event which is determined to
constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease; and to potentially
require a coordinated international response”.
❖ Coverage: A PHEIC is not only confined to infectious diseases, and may cover an emergency caused by
exposure to a chemical agent or radioactive material.
❖ Criteria: There are three conditions for declaring a disease a public health emergency. i.e. whether the
disease/event 1) is an extraordinary event, 2) is a public health risk to other States through the international
spread, and 3) potentially requires a coordinated international response.
❖ Implications: Under the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), states have a legal duty to respond
promptly to a PHEIC. Declaring a PHEIC may lead to restrictions on travel and trade for the host country.
❖ Who declares it? The responsibility of declaring an event as an emergency lies with the Director-General of
the World Health Organization (WHO). In order to declare a PHEIC, the WHO Director-General is required to
take advice from an internationally made up committee of experts, the IHR Emergency Committee (EC).
❖ Incidence in Past: In the past decade, WHO has declared public health emergencies for outbreaks including
the 2009 H1N1 (or swine flu) pandemic, the 2013–2016 outbreak of Ebola in Western Africa, the 2014 polio
declaration, the 2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic, the 2018–2020 Kivu Ebola epidemic, the COVID-19
pandemic, and the ongoing 2022–2023 mpox outbreak.
Phase out Methane Emission By 2030

❖ Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the President-Designate of COP28 has called upon the oil and gas industry
to phase out methane emissions by 2030, as Methane have emerged as a critical concern in the fight
against climate change. And align with comprehensive net-zero emission plans by or before 2050.
❖ The significance of inclusivity and the active involvement of developing nations in climate action and
the energy transition, as well as the adoption of technologies for climate mitigation, was strongly
emphasized.
❖ COP28, or the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference is scheduled to be held between November
30 and December 12 in the UAE.
❖ Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH4).
❖ It is flammable and is used as a fuel worldwide.
❖ Methane is powerful greenhouse gas.
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❖ Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years of its lifetime
in the atmosphere.
❖ It has a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide.
❖ The common sources of methane are oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, and
wastes.
❖ Methane is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution.
❖ Initiatives to Tackle Methane Emissions: ‘Harit Dhara’ (HD): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
has developed an anti-methanogenic feed supplement ‘Harit Dhara’ (HD), which can cut down cattle
methane emissions by 17-20% and can also result in higher milk production.
❖ India Greenhouse Gas Program: The India GHG Program led by WRI India (non-profit organization),
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an industry-led
voluntary framework to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
❖ National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): NAPCC was launched in 2008 which aims at creating
awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists,
industry and the communities on the threat posed by climate change and the steps to counter it.
❖ Bharat Stage-VI Norms: India shifted from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission
norms.
❖ Global: Methane Alert and Response System (MARS): MARS will integrate data from a large number of
existing and future satellites that have the ability to detect methane emission events anywhere in the world,
send out notifications to the relevant stakeholders to act on it.
❖ Global Methane Pledge: At the Glasgow climate conference (UNFCCC COP 26) in 2021, nearly 100
countries had come together in a voluntary pledge, referred to as the Global Methane Pledge, to cut
methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 from the 2020 levels. India is not a part of Global Methane
Pledge.
❖ Global Methane Initiative (GMI): It is an international public-private partnership focused on reducing
barriers to the recovery and use of methane as a clean energy source.
Meta’s EU Privacy Case

❖ Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been hit with a record-breaking fine of 1.3
billion USD by the European Union (EU) for violating its privacy law. The fine, imposed by the Irish Data
Protection Commission (DPC), comes after two lengthy investigations that began in 2018. The DPC found
that Meta had breached the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU's flagship privacy law
that grants users greater control over their personal data. Additionally, Meta has been ordered to cease
using standard contractual clauses (SCCs) to transfer data from the EU to the U.S. SCCs are contracts
that ensure companies adhere to EU privacy standards when transferring data across borders.
❖ Meta has been instructed to either delete or relocate the data of European Facebook users that have been
transferred and stored in the U.S. since 2020 by November 2023. This decision could potentially disrupt
Meta's services in Europe and impact millions of users.
Indian Ocean Conference

❖ Improving and enhancing connectivity in the Indian Ocean region emerged as a top priority during
the 6th Indian Ocean Conference held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
❖ The conference, with the theme "Peace Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future," brought together
delegates from over 25 countries to discuss ways to promote economic development while maintaining
peace and stability in the region
❖ Highlights of the Conference: Connectivity: India, being a significant player in the Indian Ocean region,
faces distinct challenges in achieving enhanced connectivity. Establishing a land connection with
Southeast Asia poses unique difficulties for India. Despite the challenges, there is a call for collective
efforts to overcome obstacles and improve connectivity.
❖ Upholding Legal Obligations and Agreements: Disregarding legal obligations or violating long-standing
agreements can undermine trust and confidence among member nations. Taking a long-term view of
cooperation is essential to ensure sustained progress.
❖ Sustainable Projects and Debt: Unsustainable debt generated by unviable projects is a concern for
countries in the region. (Example-Sri Lanka).
❖ Shared Responsibility and Focus: The Indian Ocean region requires shared responsibility and focused
efforts to ensure its stability and prosperity:
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❖ Ensuring maritime security is a collective responsibility that should not be compromised for individual
dominance. Practical action is needed, complementing diplomatic positions.
❖ Indian Ocean Conference is a flagship consultative forum of the Indian Ocean countries to deliberate upon
the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in Region (SAGAR). The first edition
of the Indian Ocean conference was held in Singapore in 2016 and fifth in 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
India-EU Trade and Technology Council

❖ The 1st Ministerial meeting of the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) took place, in
Brussels, Belgium.
❖ The EU-India Trade and Technology Council is the second bilateral forum for the EU and the first one
established with any partner for India. The EU and the US launched a TTC in June 2021.
❖ Highlights of the Meeting: The Meeting involved discussions on roadmaps for future cooperation under
the three working groups:
o Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance, and Digital Connectivity
o Green and Clean Energy Technologies
o Trade, Investment, and Resilient Value Chains
❖ The meeting aimed to provide direction and lay the roadmap for cooperation between the two sides
regarding:
o Addressing mutual market access
o WTO (World Trade Organization) reforms
o The ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
o Cooperation in various areas of mutual interest
❖ India and the EU were also working to resolve a looming issue in their trade relationship — the E.U.’s
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
❖ The E.U. describes the CBAM as a “landmark tool” which places a “fair price” on carbon emitted during the
production of goods that are entering the EU and a mechanism to “encourage cleaner industrial “production
outside the EU.
❖ India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC): The formation of the TTC was announced by the Indian
Prime Minister and President of the European Commission in 2022 with the objective of creating a High-
level coordination platform to tackle strategic challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and
security.
❖ Ministerial meetings of the TTC will be held annually, ensuring regular high-level engagement between
India and the EU.
❖ The TTC consists of three Working Groups (WGs) that report on roadmaps for future cooperation:
o WG on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance, and Digital Connectivity
o WG on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
o WG on Trade, Investment, and Resilient Value Chains
❖ The EU is India’s 2nd-largest trading partner (after the US) and India’s 2nd-largest export market. India is
the EU's 10th largest trading partner, accounting for 2% of EU total trade in goods.
o India Aims to Become a Developed country by 2047
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❖ At the 2017 EU-India Summit, leaders reiterated their intention to strengthen cooperation on the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and agreed to explore the continuation
of the EU-India Development Dialogue
European Union
❖ Formed 1 November 1993, Maastricht Treaty, Netherlands
❖ 27 Countries- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
❖ HQ- Brussels, Belgium
❖ President of European Commission- Ursula von der Leyen
❖ President of European Council- Charles Michel
❖ President of European Parliament- Robert Mersola
❖ 20 Countries use Euro as their Currency and 7 EU members (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary,
Poland, Romania, Sweden) do not use the euro.
❖ Containing 5.8 per cent of the world population in 2020, the EU generated a nominal GDP of around $17.1
trillion in 2021
❖ Treaty of Brussels- 1948 Treaty of Paris- 1951 Treaty of Rome- 1958
❖ Single European Act- 1 July 1987
❖ Treaty of Lisbon (reform Treaty)- 1 December 2009
❖ In 2012, the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for having "contributed to the advancement of peace and
reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe.
❖ European Council: Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalised as an
institution in 2009 upon the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.
❖ European Parliament: It is the only parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU) that is directly
elected by EU citizens aged 18 years or older. Together with the Council of the European Union (also known
as the 'Council'), it exercises the legislative function of the EU.
❖ The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): It interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the
same way in all EU countries, and settles legal disputes between national governments and EU institutions.
Located in Luxembourg
❖ The European Central Bank (ECB): It is the central bank for the euro and administers monetary policy within
the Euro zone, which comprises 19 member states of the European Union. Located in Frankfurt, Germany
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

❖ The European Union (EU) has announced that its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be
introduced in its transitional phase from October 2023, which will levy a carbon tax on imports of products
made from the processes which are not Environmentally sustainable or non-Green.
❖ CBAM will translate into a 20-35 % tax on select imports into the EU starting 1st January 2026.
❖ CBAM is part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package", which is the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels in line with the European Climate Law.
❖ The CBAM is a policy tool aimed at reducing Carbon Emissions by ensuring that imported goods are
subject to the same carbon costs as products produced within the EU.
❖ Implementation: The CBAM will be implemented by requiring importers to declare the quantity of goods
imported into the EU and their embedded Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions on an annual basis.
❖ To offset these emissions, importers will need to surrender a corresponding number of CBAM certificates,
the price of which will be based on the weekly average auction price of EU Emission Trading System (ETS)
allowances in €/tonne of CO2 emitted.
❖ Objectives: CBAM will ensure its climate objectives are not undermined by carbon-intensive imports and
spur cleaner production in the rest of the world.
❖ Impact India’s Export: It will have an adverse impact on India's exports of metals such as Iron, Steel and
aluminum products to the EU, because these will face extra scrutiny under the mechanism.
❖ India's major exports to the EU, such as iron ore and steel, face a significant threat due to the carbon levies
ranging from 19.8% to 52.7%.
❖ From 1st January 2026, the EU will start collecting the carbon tax on each consignment of steel, aluminum,
cement, fertilizer, hydrogen and electricity.
❖ Carbon Intensity and Higher Tariffs: The carbon intensity of Indian products is significantly higher than
that of the EU and many other countries because coal dominates the overall energy consumption.
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❖ The proportion of coal-fired power in India is close to 75%, which is much higher than the EU (15%) and the
global average (36%).
❖ Risk to Export Competitiveness: It will initially affect a few sectors but may expand to other sectors in the
future, such as refined petroleum products, organic chemicals, pharma medicaments, and textiles, which
are among the top 20 goods imported from India by the EU.
❖ Since India has no domestic carbon pricing scheme in place, this poses a greater risk to export
competitiveness, as other countries with a carbon pricing system in place might have to pay less carbon
tax or get exemptions.
Rasht-Astara Railway and INSTC

❖ Russia and Iran have signed a deal to build an Iranian railway line, the Rasht-Astara railway as part of
an International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
❖ The Rasht-Astara railway is seen as an important link in the corridor, intended to connect India, Iran,
Russia, Azerbaijan and other countries via railways and sea – a route that Russia says can rival the Suez
Canal as a major global trade route.
❖ It is a 162-kilometer railway that will connect the city of Rasht (Iran) near the Caspian Sea, to Astara
(Azerbaijan) on the border with Azerbaijan. The new connection will shave four days off that traveling time
frame.
❖ The unique North-South transport artery, of which the Rasht-Astara railway will become a part, will help to
significantly diversify global traffic flows. Transportation along the new corridor will have significant
competitive advantages and will substantially cut travel times and costs and help develop new logistics
chains.
❖ The railway along the Caspian Sea coast would help to connect Russian ports on the Baltic Sea with
Iranian ports in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.
❖ International North–South Transport Corridor: It is a 7,200-kilometer Multi-Mode Transit System that
connects ship, rail, and road routes for moving cargo between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia,
and Europe.
❖ It was launched on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose of
promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States.
❖ Since then, INSTC membership has expanded to include 10 more countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Syria, Belarus, and Oman.
❖ Bulgaria has been included as an observer state. The Baltic countries like Latvia and Estonia have also
expressed willingness to join.
❖ Routes and Modes: Central Corridor: It begins from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai and connects to
the Bandar Abbas port (Iran) on the Strait of Hormuz. It then passes through the Iranian territory via
Nowshahr, Amirabad, and Bandar-e-Anzali, runs along the Caspian Sea to reach the Olya and Astrakhan
Ports in Russia.
❖ Western Corridor: It connects the railway network of Azerbaijan to that of Iran via the cross-border nodal
points of Astara (Azerbaijan) and Astara (Iran) and further to Jawaharlal Nehru port in India via sea route.
❖ Eastern Corridor: It connects Russia to India through the Central Asian countries of
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
3rd FIPIC Summit

rd
❖ The 3 Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit was held in Port Moresby, Papua New
Guinea on May 22, 2023. It was co-chaired by Indian and Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister and attended
by 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
❖ The Indian Prime Minister was honored with the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL)
- the highest civilian award of Papua New Guinea.
❖ PM was also honoured with Palauan tool 'Ebakl' that was gifted to him by President Surangel S. Whipps,
Jr. of the Republic of Palau
❖ India Stands with PICs: India supports the sovereignty and integrity of all countries and emphasised
the shared priority of reforming international institutions to amplify the voice of the Global South.
❖ The Prime Minister mentioned discussions with Australia, the US, and Japan as part of the Quad during
the G7 summit, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region.
❖ In line, leaders from the Quad nations have announced plans to implement Open Radio Access Networks
(RAN) beginning with Palau in the Pacific Region.
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❖ The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea also urged India to be an advocate for the PICs in the G-7 and
the G-20 summits.
❖ 12-Point Formula: India also unveiled a 12-point development programme in areas of healthcare,
cyberspace, clean energy, water and small and medium enterprises in PIC, according to which:
❖ India will establish a super-specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji, introduce dialysis units and sea
ambulances in all 14 PICs, and establish Jan Aushadhi Centres to provide affordable medicines.
❖ India will support the development of the small- and medium-scale enterprise sector in each Pacific Island
nation.
❖ India also pledged to provide desalination units to address water scarcity issues.
❖ 'Thirukkural Book: Also, the Indian Prime Minister along with his Papua New Guinea counterpart also
released the Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' in Tok Pisin (official language of Papua New Guinea) to bring the
Indian thought and culture closer to the people of this southwestern Pacific nation.
❖ FIPIC: India’s engagement with the PICs is part of India’s Act East Policy. A major initiative launched under
the rubric of the Act East Policy for the PICs is the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).
❖ The Pacific Islands is an area geographic region of the Pacific Ocean comprising three ethnogeographic
groupings: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
❖ FIPIC is a multinational grouping developed for cooperation between India and 14 PICs, namely Cook
Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
❖ It was launched in November 2014 and the first FIPIC summit was held in Suva, Fiji in 2014 and the second
one was held in Jaipur, India in 2015.
❖ Objective: To enhance India’s relations with the PICs in various fields such as trade, investment, tourism,
education, health, agriculture, renewable energy, disaster management and climate change.
❖ FIPIC also provides a platform for dialogue and consultation on regional and global issues of mutual
interest.
❖ India – PICs relations: India has been a reliable partner for the PICs especially during the Covid-19
pandemic.
❖ India donated 1.2 million doses of Covishield vaccine to Fiji under its Vaccine Maitri initiative.
❖ Supplied essential medicines and medical equipment worth USD 2 million to Papua New Guinea, 100
metric tonnes of rice to Nauru under its Mission Sagar initiative, line of credit worth USD 75 million to Fiji
for a co-generation power plant project.
❖ India extended a line of credit worth USD 100 million to Samoa for a solar power project.
❖ Economic Relations: Based on 2021-22 data, the total annual trade between India and Pacific Island
countries is valued at USD 570 million, in commodities such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, sugar, mineral
fuel and ores. Among them, Papua New Guinea is the biggest trade partner in terms of value.
❖ Future Prospects: India and the PICs have immense potential to enhance their cooperation in various
sectors such as blue economy, maritime security, digital connectivity, health care, education and skill
development.
Related Static GK
❖ Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and
its offshore islands in Melanesia (a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia).
❖ Its capital, located along its southeastern coast, is Port Moresby. The country is the world's third largest
island country, with an area of 462,840 km2 (Indonesia is the largest Island Country)
❖ Prime Minister: James Marape Monarch: Charles III Governor General: Bob Dadae
❖ Independence from Australia: 16 September 1975 Currency: Kina
❖ Palau is an island country in Oceania, in the western Pacific. The republic consists of approximately 340
islands and connects the western chain of the Caroline Islands with parts of the Federated States of
Micronesia. It has a total area of 466 square kilometers (180 sq mi). The most populous island is Koror,
home to the country's most populous city of the same name.
❖ Capital: Ngerulmud President: Surangel Whipps Jr. Currency: United States Dollar
International Awards won by PM Modi
❖ Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (2016): The highest honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to non-muslim dignitaries.
❖ State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (2016): The highest civilian honour of Afghanistan.
❖ Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award (2018): The highest honour of Palestine awarded to foreign
dignitaries.
❖ Order of Zayed Award (2019): The highest civilian honour of the United Arab Emirates.
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❖ Order of St. Andrew award (2019): The highest civilian honour of Russia
❖ Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin (2019): The highest honour of the Maldives awarded to
foreign dignitaries.
❖ King Hamad Order of the Renaissance - First Class (2019): Bahrain's top honour.
❖ Legion of Merit by the US Government (2020): The United States Armed Forces award given for
exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
❖ Seoul Peace Prize (2018): Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation's biennial award (South Korea) to those
individuals who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation
between nations and world peace.
❖ Champions of The Earth Award (2018): The United Nation’s highest environmental honour
❖ First Philip Kotler Presidential award (2019): Offered to the leader of a nation.
❖ Global Goalkeeper Award: Honour by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan (2019)
❖ Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award (2021): Awarded by the Cambridge Energy Research
Associates CERA for commitment of leadership towards the future of global energy and the environment.
Reforming UNSC & Bretton Woods

❖ At a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, the UN Secretary-General (António Guterres) has called for
reforms in UNSC (United Nations Security Council) and Bretton Woods Institutions, citing that the current
order is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair.
❖ In the face of the economic shocks from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, the said
institutions have failed to fulfil their core function as global safety nets.
❖ The Bretton Woods system was a monetary framework created in 1944 by representatives of 44 nations at
the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire, USA. It aimed to establish stability and cooperation in
international Monetary after World War II.
❖ The Bretton Woods Agreement created two important organizations—the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank.
❖ While the Bretton Woods System was dissolved in the 1970s, both the IMF and World Bank (Bretton Woods
institutions) have remained strong pillars for the exchange of International Currencies.
❖ Need for Reforming Bretton Woods Institutions: While these institutions performed well over their first 50
years – they have been struggling in more recent times as problems of rising inequality, financial
instability and Protectionism have re-emerged.
❖ The threat of Climate Change and ecological stress, rising disasters and a more interconnected world with
new threats like cyber-security and pandemics require a new International Financial Architecture.
❖ There has been biases in fund allocation and unregulated Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the IMF allocated
USD 650 billion in SDRs during the pandemic.
❖ The G7 countries, with a population of 772 million people, received USD 280 billion. The African continent,
with 1.3 billion people, received only USD 34 billion.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
❖ Established in 1945, the Security Council has primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and
security.
❖ Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international
sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions; it is the only UN
body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
❖ Successor of League of Nations
❖ The Security Council has 15 members.
❖ There are five permanent members: the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the
United Kingdom.
❖ The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of 2 years.
❖ Current non-permanent members- Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, UAE (all till 2023) and India, Ireland,
Kenya, Mexico, Norway (till 2022)
❖ Current President- Switzerland (May 2023)
❖ 5S approach of India: Samman – Respect, Samvad – Dialogue, Sahyog – Cooperation, Shanti – Peace &
Samriddhi – Prosperity
US Debt Ceiling Crisis

❖ President Joe Biden recently signed the bill that will raise the U.S. debt limit.
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❖ The debt ceiling is the maximum amount of money that the United States can borrow cumulatively by
issuing bonds. The debt ceiling was created under the Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917 and is also known
as the debt limit or statutory debt limit.
❖ Also, Article 1 Section 8 of the US Constitution states that, “The Congress shall have Power To lay and
collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and ….…To borrow Money on the credit of the
United States;….”
❖ As of now, the current debt limit is set at USD 31.4 trillion. This means that the government cannot exceed
borrowing beyond this amount without congressional approval.
❖ Current Stand-off: The current stand-off involves the Republicans (Members of Opposition party), who
have a majority in the House of Representative and Democrat-run government.
❖ The Republicans are refusing to raise the US debt ceiling unless the government agrees to
include significant spending cuts and other priorities, arguing that the nation's debt is unsustainable.
❖ They want to attach conditions to programs like cash aid, food stamps, and Medicaid to ensure that
government spending is limited.
❖ On the other hand, the President insists on approving the debt ceiling with no conditions, stating that
defaulting on debt is non-negotiable.
❖ This has created a deadlock and a potential risk of default if an agreement is not reached before the
deadline.
❖ What happens if the Government Defaults:
❖ The US government may not be able to meet its financial obligations
❖ A default would lead to a loss of confidence in the US financial system
❖ A default could result in a downgrade of the US government's credit rating
❖ The US economy is closely interconnected with the global economy. A default could have a ripple effect
worldwide
❖ Back-up: Constitution's 14th Amendment: Under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, the President has the
authority to raise the debt ceiling by their own without the support of Legislature.
❖ The Constitution's 14th Amendment states that the validity of the public debt "shall not be questioned."
This would involve asserting that defaulting on the debt is unconstitutional and taking action to prevent it.
❖ Emergency Measures: The Treasury Department has certain emergency measures it can take to continue
paying the government's bills even after hitting the debt ceiling
❖ Bipartisan Agreement: It is possible that negotiations between the government and the opposition could
continue until the last moment, and a bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling could be reached. This
would involve compromises and finding common ground on spending cuts or other fiscal measures.
❖ Similar Happened Earlier: The similar situation occurred in 2011 when Barack Obama was President, but
the House of Representatives was controlled by the members of opposition party.
❖ The crisis was resolved shortly before the deadline by reaching an agreement. In that case, the President
agreed to implement spending cuts totalling more than USD 900 billion in order to resolve the crisis and
raise the debt ceiling.
❖ India’s Borrowing and Debt Obligation: India has a formal debt ceiling mechanism as per FRBM Act but
does not have debt ceiling in terms of absolute amount like the US has. Therefore, Debt Ceiling in the US
can be compared with Fiscal Deficit target in India.
❖ Indian government manages borrowing and debt obligations through various mechanisms and institutions
such as,
❖ Fund raising through Securities and Bonds: It issues government securities, such as treasury bills and
government bonds, in the domestic market.
❖ Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act: It provides a legislative framework for fiscal
discipline and debt management in India. It sets targets for fiscal deficits and debt-to-GDP ratios, aiming to
ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. The government's borrowing decisions are guided by the principles
outlined in the FRBM Act.
❖ Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The RBI plays a significant role in managing the country's borrowing and debt.
It acts as the banker to the central government and facilitates the issuance, auction, and trading of
government securities. The RBI also manages the government's cash flows, ensuring smooth settlement
of debt transactions.
Iran Test Long-range Ballistic Missile

❖ Iran showcased its latest version of the Khorramshahr ballistic missile, unveiling the Khorramshahr-4 with
a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. The
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Khorramshahr-4 derives its name from an Iranian city associated with intense warfare during the Iran-Iraq
War. The missile is also called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th
century. As Iran continues uranium enrichment, nearing weapons-grade levels, and given the missile's
range, it raises concerns about the potential threat to Israel.
❖ Ballistic missiles are rocket-propelled strategic weapons that follow a parabolic trajectory to deliver
payloads to fixed targets. India has developed a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system since
1999, primarily to enhance defense against potential nuclear attacks from Pakistan. The BMD system
aims to incorporate both low-altitude and high-altitude interceptor missiles and involves the collaboration
of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) with public and private firms. Notable
ballistic missiles in India's arsenal include Agni, K-4 (SLBM), Prithvi, and Trishul.
Global Report on Internal Displacement

❖ The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre has released a report titled- The Global Report on Internal
Displacement 2023 (GRID-2023), which cites that the number of people displaced by disasters rose by 40%
in 2022 rather than 2021.
❖ The IDMC is the world's leading source of data and analysis on internal displacement. It provides
highquality data, analysis and expertise on Internal Displacement with the aim of informing policy and
operational decisions that can reduce the risk of future displacement.
❖ Total Number Of Displacements: The number of people living in internal displacement reached a record
high of 71.1 million people across 110 countries and territories. 62.5 million as a result of conflict and
violence, and 8.7 million as a result of disasters.
❖ Disasters displaced 8.7 million people internally in 88 countries and territories as of December 2022.
❖ By 2021, 30.7 million new displacements were due to disasters. In 2022 some 150 countries/territories
reported such displacement.
❖ Country wise Picture: Pakistan had the highest number of disaster displacements in the world in 2022, at
8.16 million
❖ The Philippines was at second rank and reported 5.44 million displacements and China at third rank with
3.63 million.
❖ India recorded the fourth largest disaster displacement, with 2.5 million displacements and Nigeria at fifth
rank with 2.4 million.
❖ Factors for Displacement: Disaster: The increase in disasters, particularly weather-related, is largely the
result of the effects of La Niña which continued for a third consecutive year. The “triple-dip” La Niña
caused widespread disasters across the world.
❖ Russia-Ukraine Induced Displacement: In 2022, the number of people displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war
increased.
❖ Implications: Entrenched conflict, disasters and displacement aggravated Global Food Security in 2022,
which was already a concern as a result of the slow and uneven recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
❖ Scenario of India: India recorded thousand numbers of internal displacement and 631,000 internally
displaced people due to conflict and violence and 2.5 million due to disaster in 2022.
❖ India and Bangladesh started to experience flooding even before the official start of the monsoon season,
which normally runs between mid-July and September.
❖ India’s north-eastern state of Assam was affected by early floods in May 2022 and the same areas were
once again flooded in June. Nearly five million people were affected across the state.
❖ Internal displacement describes the situation of people who have been forced to leave their homes but
have not left their country.
❖ Refugee: According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a “refugee” is a person who has been persecuted and
forced to leave his native country.
❖ A precondition of being considered a refugee is that a person crosses an international border.
❖ Unlike refugees, internally displaced people are not the subject of any international convention.
German Economy Enters Recession

❖ The German economy has suffered an unforeseen setback, plunging the country into
a formal recession, according to newly released data. The Federal Statistical Office's report reveals a 0.3%
decline in Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) during the first quarter of 2023.
❖ This follows a 0.5% contraction in the previous quarter of 2022, marking two consecutive quarters of
decline and meeting the technical definition of a recession.
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❖ A recession is defined as a time when economic activity experiences a downturn. It is important to note
that brief declines are not classified as recessions. Instead, a recession is identified by two consecutive
quarters of decline in a country's real (inflation-adjusted) GDP, which takes inflation into account.
China Sends First Civilian Into Space

❖ China's space program achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching the Shenzhou 16
spacecraft, carrying 3 astronauts using a Long March 2F rocket. This marks the country's first-ever
mission involving a civilian astronaut. With ambitions to catch up with the United States and Russia, China
has invested billions of dollars into its military-run space program.
❖ This milestone marks a departure from the previous practice of only sending astronauts from the People's
Liberation Army. The civilian astronaut, Gui Haichao, a payload expert from Beijing University of
Aeronautics and Astronautics, will be responsible for space science experimental payloads. China's space
dream includes plans for a lunar base and a crewed lunar mission by 2029, while the Tiangong space
station will facilitate scientific experiments and the testing of new technologies.
Tiangong space station
❖ Tiangong is a permanently crewed space station.
❖ It is operated by China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
❖ It operates in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 km above the surface.
❖ Its first module entered orbit in 2021 and two more modules were added to it in the following years.
❖ It is expected to become the sole in-orbit outpost for scientific research after the end of operations for the
International Space Station in 2030.
IPEF Ministerial Meeting

❖ The second Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting took place,
showcasing the significant strides made in fostering economic engagement among partner countries in
the Indo-Pacific region.
❖ Hosted by the United States, this virtual gathering convened high-level officials to delve into discussions
regarding the four pillars of the framework and the ongoing negotiations associated with each pillar.
❖ The meeting announced the substantial conclusion of the negotiations of a first-of-its-kind international
IPEF Supply Chain Agreement under Pillar II of the framework, which aims to increase the resilience,
efficiency, productivity, sustainability, transparency, diversification, security, fairness, and inclusivity of
their supply chains.
❖ The meeting also reported good progress under the other IPEF Pillars, namely Fair and Resilient Trade
(Pillar I), Infrastructure, Clean Energy, and Decarbonization (Pillar III), and Tax and Anti-Corruption (Pillar
IV).
❖ The meeting witnessed the introduction of a regional hydrogen initiative by some IPEF partners to
encourage widespread deployment of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives in the region
under Pillar III.
❖ IPEF: It is a US-led initiative that aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating
countries to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and
competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
❖ IPEF was launched jointly by the USA and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on 23rd May
2022, at Tokyo.
❖ Members: Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.
❖ Pillar: Trade (Pillar I): Focuses on enhancing trade engagement among IPEF partner countries. India had
joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has an observer status in Pillar-I.
❖ Supply-chain resilience (Pillar II): Seeks to make supply chains more resilient, robust, and well-integrated.
Focuses on improving logistics, connectivity, and investments in critical sectors.
❖ Clean Economy (Pillar III): Aims to advance cooperation on clean energy and climate-friendly
technologies. Focuses on research, development, commercialization, and deployment of clean energy.
❖ Fair Economy (Pillar IV): Focuses on implementing effective anti-corruption and tax measures. Highlights
India's strong steps in improving legislative and administrative frameworks to combat corruption.
❖ Reaffirms commitment to implementing UNCAC (United Nations Convention against Corruption) and FATF
(Financial Action Task Force) standards.
Global Slavery Index 2023
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❖ A new report, ‘The Global Slavery Index 2023’, by the Walk Free Foundation, highlights the increasing
prevalence of modern slavery worldwide, with the number of people living in such conditions reaching 50
million—an alarming 25% rise in the past five years.
❖ The report emphasises the significant role played by G20 nations in exacerbating this crisis through their
trade operations and global supply chains.
❖ India, China, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey, and the U.S. are among the top G20 countries with the highest
number of forced labourers.
❖ Modern slavery encompasses various forms of exploitation, including forced labour, forced marriage, debt
bondage, commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and the sale and
exploitation of children.
❖ Key Highlights: According to the Global Slavery Index 2023, an estimated 50 million people were living in
modern slavery on any given day in 2021, an increase of 10 million people since 2016. This means that one
in every 160 people in the world is a victim of modern slavery.
❖ It ranks 160 countries based on their estimated prevalence of modern slavery per 1,000 people.
❖ The countries with the highest prevalence are North Korea (104.6), Eritrea (90.3), and Mauritania (32.0),
where modern slavery is widespread and often state-sponsored.
❖ The countries with the lowest prevalence are Switzerland (0.5), Norway (0.5), and Germany (0.6), where
strong governance and effective responses to modern slavery are evident.
❖ Asia and the Pacific has the largest number of people in modern slavery. (29.3 million)
❖ India has the prevalence of 8. (Estimated proportion of population living in modern slavery per thousand
people).
❖ Contributing Factors: The report identifies climate change, armed conflict, weak governance, and health
emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic as key factors that have contributed to the rise in modern
slavery.
❖ Role of Global Supply Chains: Complex and opaque global supply chains, which involve the sourcing of raw
materials, manufacturing, packaging, and transportation, are deeply entangled with forced labour. The
report highlights the importation of high-risk products, such as electronics, textiles, palm oil, and solar
panels, and their association with forced labor, human trafficking, and child labour.
❖ Assessment Methodology: Factors such as political instability, inequality, lack of basic needs, criminal
justice mechanisms, internal conflicts, and displacement defined a nation's vulnerability to modern
slavery.
❖ The index uses data released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Walk Free, and the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in 2022 to illustrate how “modern slavery is hidden in plain
sight”
❖ Case Study: Textiles Industry: The report highlights the textiles industry as a significant contributor to
forced labour. It describes conditions of forced and unpaid work, health and safety risks, poor wages, lack
of benefits, and debt bondage.
❖ The Sumangali scheme in Tamil Nadu is cited as an example of exploitative conditions trapping women
and girls in spinning mills.
❖ International Efforts and Challenges: Despite the adoption of a goal to end modern slavery, forced labour,
and human trafficking by 2030, the report highlights the significant increase in the number of people living
in modern slavery and the lack of progress in government action.
❖ The report attributes the increase of 10 million people to compounding crises, including armed conflicts,
environmental degradation, assaults on democracy, global rollback of women's rights, and the economic
and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
❖ India’s efforts: India has taken legislative measures to combat modern slavery, including the Bonded
Labour Abolition Act of 1976 (the Act was amended in 1985 to include contract and migrant workers) and
the Central scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour.
❖ The Supreme Court has also ruled that non-payment of minimum wages amounts to “forced labour” under
Article 23 of the Constitution.
Walk Free
❖ Walk Free is an international human rights organisation based in Perth, Western Australia. Walk Free works
towards ending modern slavery in all its forms by taking a multifaceted and global approach.
❖ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7 seeks to end modern slavery by mobilising the international
community. Walk Free's approach to achieving SDG 8.7 involves building a robust knowledge base to
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inform action and driving legislative change in key countries in partnership with faiths, businesses,
academics, NGOs, and governments around the world.
❖ The initiative was founded by Grace Forrest in 2011. Walk Free are best known for their publication of the
Global Slavery Index, now in its fourth edition.
❖ In 2013, Walk Free became a co-founder of the Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery non-profit organisation.
Kosova – Serbia Conflict

❖ Serbian protesters and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) peacekeepers recently clashed in
Kosovo, leading to more than 60 injuries. It is the most serious violence seen in the region in over a decade.
❖ Northern Kosovo experiences frequent tensions stemming from the larger ethnic and political divide
between ethnic Serbs and Albanians.
❖ Ethnic Serbs, who form a majority in northern Kosovo, attempted to block Albanian mayors from taking
charge in local councils.
❖ Serbs boycotted local elections in April 2023, resulting in a low voter turnout of less than 3.5%. The election
results were rejected by Serbs as illegitimate.
❖ Serbia: Serbia is a landlocked country in eastern Europe that
shares borders with Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
❖ Kosovo: Kosovo is a small landlocked region that lies to Serbia’s
southwest, sharing borders with North Macedonia, Albania, and
Montenegro. Many Serbs consider Kosovo the birthplace of their
nation.
❖ Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia
does not recognize Kosovo’s statehood.
❖ Ethnic Background: Kosovo is a region where Serbs and Albanian
s, representing different ethnicities and religious backgrounds,
have been living for centuries. 1.8 million people living in Kosovo,
92% are Albanian and only 6% Serbian. The rest are Bosniaks, Gorans, Turks and Roma.
❖ Serbs are primarily Eastern Orthodox Christians, while Albanians in Kosovo are predominantly Muslim.
Other minority groups include Bosnians and Turks. Serbs form the majority in Serbia, while Albanians are
the majority in Kosovo.
❖ Battle Of Kososvo: Serbian nationalists view the 1389 Battle of Kosovo between the Serbian prince Lazar
Hrebeljanovic and the Ottoman Sultan Murad Hudavendigar as a defining moment in their national
struggle.
❖ Disintegration of Yugoslavia: From 1945 after the end of World War II to 1992, the area in the Balkans
comprising present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia,
was one country, officially known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) with Belgrade as
its capital. Serbia included autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina.
❖ Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia disintegrated, with each republic becoming an
independent country.
❖ Slovenia was the first to secede in 1991.
❖ The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the weakening of the central government in Yugoslavia, accompanied
by resurgent nationalism. Political leaders exploited nationalist rhetoric, eroding the common Yugoslav
identity and fueling fear and mistrust among ethnic groups.
❖ In 1998, ethnic Albanian rebels formed the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to challenge Serbian rule
❖ Intervention of NATO: NATO intervened in 1999 after Serbia's brutal response, leading to a 78-day air
campaign against Kosovo and Serbia.
❖ Serbia agreed to withdraw its forces from Kosovo, resulting in the return of Albanian refugees and the
displacement of many Serbs who feared reprisals.
❖ In June 1999, Kosovo came under international administration, with its final status remaining
unresolved. Several Serbian leaders, including President Milošević, were indicted for war crimes by the UN's
tribunal.
❖ Current Status of Kosovo: While Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Serbia still considers it to be an
integral part of Serbian territory.
❖ Countries such as India, China, and Russia do not recognise Kosovo as a separate country, while the US,
the majority of EU countries, Japan and Australia do so.
❖ A total of 99 out of 193 United Nations (UN) countries now recognize Kosovo's independence.
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❖ India’s Stand on the Staus of Kosovo: India claims that Kosovo does not fulfill the three principles
required for recognition: a defined territory, a duly constituted government accepted by the people, and
effective control over an area of governance.
❖ India has opposed Kosovo's membership in international bodies such as UNESCO, Apostille
Convention, Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, and Egmont Group of Financial
Intelligence Units.
❖ India's non-recognition of Kosovo is based on its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Serbia, with whom it has a long-standing relationship.
Armenian Genocide
❖ April 24, 1915 marks the beginning of what came to be known as the Armenian genocide. It is when
the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) initiated the detainment of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in
Constantinople.
❖ Background: Armenians are an ancient people whose traditional homeland by the beginning of
the 20th century was divided between the Russian and the Ottoman empires.
❖ In the Ottoman Empire, dominated by Muslims, Armenians were a Christian, well-off minority.
❖ On account of their religion, they faced discrimination, which they had been protesting and demanding
greater say in the government. This had led to resentment and attacks against the community.
❖ Role of Young Turks and WW-I: A revolution brought in 1908 by a group called the Young Turks and paved
the way for the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) forming the government which
wanted ‘Turkification’ of the empire and was hard on minorities.
❖ In August 1914, World War I broke out, and the Ottoman Empire joined forces with Germany and Austria-
Hungary against Russia, Great Britain and France.
❖ The war brought antipathy towards Armenians to a boil, especially as some Armenians were sympathetic
to Russia and even willing to help it in the war.
❖ Soon, the Armenians as a whole were seen as a threat.
❖ The crackdown of April 14, 1915 on the community began in earnest with the arrest of prominent citizens
in Constantinople, many of whom were executed.
❖ The government then ordered forcible eviction of Armenians.
❖ In spring 1915 the Ottoman government began the deportation of the Armenian population from
its northeastern border regions.
❖ Recognition as ‘Genocide’: Armenian genocide has been recognized so by 32 countries as of
now, including the US, France, Germany, the Armenian genocide.
❖ India and UK do not recognize the Armenian Genocide. India’s stand can be attributed to its wider foreign
policy decisions and geo-political interests in the region.
❖ Turkey does not recognize the Armenion massacre as genocide and has always claimed that there is no
proof the deaths were planned and targetted.
❖ Current Status of Armenia-Turkey Relations: The modern state of Armenia has in the past sought better
ties with Turkey, although the two are now locked in a tussle over the Nagorno-Karabakh
region an Armenian-dominated part of Azerbaijan where Turkey supports Azerbaijan.
❖ What is Genocide: The word ‘genocide’ was first coined by Polish lawyer Raphäel Lemkin in 1944 in his
book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe.
❖ As per UN, Genocide is the intentional and systematic destruction of a particular ethnic, racial, religious, or
national group.
❖ This destruction can occur through a variety of means, including mass killing, forced relocation, and the
imposition of harsh living conditions that result in widespread death.
❖ Conditions: UN says a crime of genocide includes two main elements: Mental Element: The intent to
destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
❖ Physical Element: It includes the following five acts, enumerated exhaustively:
o Killing members of the group
o Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
o Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life is calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part
o Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
o Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Also, the members of the attacked
group must have been attacked because they are members of the group, and not as individuals, for
the crime to qualify as a genocide
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❖ Genocide Convention: The Genocide Convention, also known as the Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, is an international treaty that was adopted by
the UNGA on December 9, 1948.
❖ The purpose is to prevent and punish the crime of genocide and requires signatory nations to take action to
prevent and punish genocide, including by enacting laws that criminalize the crime of genocide and by
cooperating with other nations in the investigation and prosecution of individuals suspected of committing
genocide.
❖ The Convention also establishes the International Court of Justice as the primary judicial body responsible
for interpreting and enforcing the Convention.
❖ It was the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on 9 December 1948.
Law and Regulations in India for Genocide
❖ India does not have any domestic law on genocide, even though it has ratified the UN Convention on
Genocide.
❖ Indian Penal Code (IPC): The Indian Penal Code (IPC) provides for the punishment of genocide and related
crimes, and sets out the procedures for investigation, prosecution, and punishment.
❖ Genocide has been defined as a crime under IPC Section 153B, which criminalizes acts that promote
enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. with
the intent to cause riots or commit acts of violence.
❖ Constitutional Provisions: The Indian Constitution provides protection against discrimination on the basis
of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
❖ Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on these grounds.
❖ Article 21 guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
Atlantic Declaration
❖ The United States and the United Kingdom have announced the Atlantic Declaration for a Twenty-First
Century U.S.-UK Economic Partnership.
❖ This declaration aims to adapt, reinforce, and reimagine the longstanding alliance between the two nations
to effectively address the challenges of the current era.
❖ With this new declaration, both nations seek to strengthen their collaboration in defence, security, science,
technology, and economic domains.
❖ The Atlantic Declaration is focused on building a resilient, diversified, and secure supply chain, reducing
strategic dependencies.
❖ The partnership aims to leverage the energy transition and technological breakthroughs to drive shared
growth, create employment opportunities, and uplift communities.
❖ Atlantic Declaration Action Plan (ADAPT): The ADAPT sets forth a comprehensive strategy to
enhance economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience while prioritising workers, businesses,
climate, and national security
❖ The plan encompasses five key pillars and involves regular high-level meetings to drive progress and
increase ambition over time.
❖ Five Pillars: Leadership in Critical and Emerging Technologies: Sharing best practices in areas such
as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.
o Cooperation on Economic Security and Technology Protection: This will include sharing information
and best practices on cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, and technology governance.
o Partnering on an Inclusive and Responsible Digital Transformation: Collaborating on digital skills
training and workforce development to ensure the readiness of individuals for the digital economy.
o Building the Clean Energy Economy of the Future.
o Strengthening Alliance across Defense, Health Security, and Space.
❖ Historical Significance of the U.S.-UK Partnership: The partnership between the US and the UK has played
a pivotal role in leading on global issues.
❖ The signing of the Atlantic Charter in 1941 laid the foundation for a rules-based international order.
❖ The New Atlantic Charter signed in 2021 reaffirmed the commitment to shared values and refreshed the
vision of the partnership.
❖ Political Affairs: The two countries are also close allies in NATO and other multilateral organisations such
as the UN, the G7 and the G20.
❖ Economic Ties: The United States is the largest source of direct investment in the United Kingdom, and
the United Kingdom is also the single largest investor in the United States.
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❖ Security and Defense Cooperation: The United States and the United Kingdom have a long history of joint
military operations and intelligence sharing, dating back to World War I and World War II.
❖ The two countries are part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, along with Australia, Canada, and New
Zealand.
❖ Significant steps have been taken to implement AUKUS, including supporting Australia's acquisition of
conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
❖ The U.S.-UK Indo-Pacific Dialogue promotes closer coordination to support a free and open region.
Hiroshima AI Process for Global Governance

❖ The annual G7 Summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, initiated the Hiroshima AI Process (HAP), which is likely
to conclude by December 2023, signaling a significant step towards regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI).
❖ The HAP aims to facilitate international discussions on inclusive AI governance and interoperability to
achieve a common vision and goal of trustworthy AI.
❖ It recognizes the growing prominence of Generative AI (GAI) across countries and sectors and
emphasizes the need to address the opportunities and challenges associated with it.
❖ Working: The HAP will operate in cooperation with international organizations such as the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI).
❖ Objectives: The HAP aims to govern AI in a way that upholds Democratic values, ensures fairness and
accountability, promotes transparency, and prioritizes the safety of AI technologies.
❖ It seeks to establish procedures that encourage openness, inclusivity, and fairness in AI-related
discussions and decision-making processes.
❖ Global AI currently Governed
❖ India: NITI Aayog, has issued some guiding documents on AI Issues such as the National Strategy for
Artificial Intelligence and the Responsible AI for All report. Emphasises social and economic inclusion,
innovation, and trustworthiness.
❖ United States: The US released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights (AIBoR) in 2022, outlining the harms of AI
to economic and civil rights and lays down five principles for mitigating these harms.
❖ China: In 2022, China came out with some of the world’s first nationally binding regulations targeting
specific types of algorithms and AI.
❖ It enacted a law to regulate recommendation algorithms with a focus on how they disseminate information.
❖ EU: In May 2023, the European Parliament reached a Preliminary Agreement on a new draft of the Artificial
Intelligence Act, which aims to regulate systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
SIPRI Yearbook 2023

❖ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2023 revealed that China could
potentially have as many Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) as U.S. or Russia by the end of the
decade.
❖ Russia has the highest number of stored nuclear arsenals followed by US and China while the US has
deployed the highest number of nuclear arsenals followed by Russia and France.
❖ Global Nuclear Arsenals: Modernization and Expansion: The nine nuclear-armed states, including
the United States, Russia, and China, continue to modernize and expand their nuclear arsenals,
deploying new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2022.
❖ Other nuclear-armed countries are UK, France, India, Pakistan, the North Korea and Israel
❖ Total Global Inventory: As of January 2023, the total global inventory of warheads is
estimated at 12,512, with approximately 9,576 warheads held in military stockpiles for potential use.
❖ Dominance of Russia and U.S.: 90% of all Nuclear Weapons: Russia and the United States possess almost
90% of all nuclear weapons, with relatively stable sizes of their respective nuclear arsenals.
❖ Arms Control Concerns: Transparency and dialogue regarding nuclear forces declined between Russia
and the United States following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
❖ The suspension of the strategic stability dialogue and the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction
and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) has halted discussions for a follow-on treaty.
❖ New START Limits Maintained: Despite the strained relations, both Russia and the United States remained
within the limits set by New START for their deployed strategic nuclear forces as of January 2023,
according to SIPRI's assessment.
❖ India's Nuclear Arsenal: Growth in Arsenal: India's nuclear arsenal also expanded, increasing from 160
warheads in 2022 to 164 warheads in 2023 and that of Pakistan from 165 to 170 in the same period.
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❖ Focus on Longer-Range Weapons: India's nuclear deterrent, while primarily focused on Pakistan, is
placing growing emphasis on longer-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China.
❖ Upgrading Ballistic Missiles: India is in the process of upgrading its ballistic missiles, with the
development of a submarine-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile and the imminent induction of
a new generation ballistic missile called 'Agni Prime.'
❖ China's Nuclear Arsenal: Increased Size: China's nuclear arsenal grew from 350 warheads in January 2022
to 410 warheads in January 2023, according to the SIPRI.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
❖ The SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms
control and disarmament.
❖ Established in 1966 at Stockholm, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open
sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.
❖ Director: Dan Smith
❖ Chairman: Stefan Lofven
❖ Founders: Tage Erlander, Alva Myrdal
US to rejoin UNESCO
❖ The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced that the United
States will rejoin it in July.
❖ UNESCO is a UN agency tasked with furthering international cooperation and peace through the promotion
of educational, scientific and cultural causes.
❖ The United States was a founding member of UNESCO in 1945.
❖ It designates locations globally as World Heritage Sites, which means international recognition and
possible funding.
❖ UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in
the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.
❖ It has 195 member states and ten associate members. India is among the founding members of the
Organisation.
❖ Why did the US Exit UNESCO: In 2011, UNESCO inducted Palestine as a member. This led to the US halting
the agency’s funding, worth millions of dollars, under then President Barack Obama.
❖ Palestine is not recognised as a sovereign state by the United Nations. It was included as a non-member
observer State over Israel’s objections in 2012, meaning it could participate in General Assembly
proceedings but lacked voting rights.
❖ US laws, owing to the country’s historical ties with Israel, prohibit funding to any UN agency that implies
recognition of the Palestinians’ demands for their own state. But this was negotiated recently through an
agreement in 2022 that allowed for giving UNESCO funds again.
❖ USA rejoined: The US absence from UNESCO had strengthened China's position. The decision to return
was also due to China filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO policy making, such as in setting standards
for artificial intelligence and technology education around the world.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
❖ Founded on 16th Nov. 1945
❖ HQ: Paris, France
❖ Director General: Audrey Azulay
❖ Successor of League of Nations Committee on Intellectual Co-operation (1927)
❖ India recently elected to UNESCO executive board for 2021-25 term with 164 votes
❖ Vishal V Sharma is India's Permanent Representative to UNESCO
❖ USA and Israel left in 2018
❖ UNESCO MAGAZINE – Courier
Global Gender Gap Report 2023

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❖ 17 edition of the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 has been released by the World Economic Forum (WEF),
evaluating the status of Gender Parity across 146 countries.
❖ About: It benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity in four Key dimensions with
Submatrices.
o Economic Participation and Opportunity
o Educational Attainment
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o Health and Survival
o Political Empowerment
❖ On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index the GGG index provides scores between 0
and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity and 0 is complete imparity.
❖ It is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time since its
inception in 2006.
❖ Global Gender Gap Score: The global gender gap score in 2023 stands at 68.4%, indicating a modest
improvement of 0.3% points compared to the previous year.
❖ At the current rate of progress, it would take 131 years to achieve full gender parity, showing a significant
slowdown in the overall rate of change.
❖ Top-Ranking Countries: Iceland has maintained its position as the most gender-equal country for the
14th consecutive year, with a gender gap score of 91.2%.
❖ It is the only country to have closed over 90% of its gender gap.
❖ Three other Nordic countries—Norway (87.9%), Finland (86.3%), and Sweden (81.5%)—join Iceland in the
top five rankings, highlighting their strong commitment to gender equality.
❖ Health and Survival: The gender gap in health and survival has closed by 96% globally.
❖ Political Empowerment: The political empowerment gender gap remains significant, with a closure rate of
22.1% globally and a projected timeline of 162 years to close the gap.
❖ Educational Attainment: The gender gap in educational attainment has closed by 95.2%, with significant
progress made over the 2006-2023 period.
❖ The gender gap in educational attainment is projected to close in 16 years.
❖ Economic Participation and Opportunity: The gender gap in economic participation and opportunity stands
at 60.1% globally, highlighting the persistent challenges in achieving gender equality in the workforce.
❖ The gender gap in economic participation and opportunity is projected to close in 169 years.
❖ India’s Rank: India has made significant progress, rising from 135th (in 2022) to 127th out of 146 countries
in the report's 2023 edition, indicating an improvement in its ranking.
❖ India’s neighbours Pakistan ranked at 142, Bangladesh at 59, China at 107, Nepal at 116, Sri Lanka at 115
and Bhutan at 103.
❖ The country has improved by 1.4 percentage points and eight positions since the last edition, marking a
partial recovery towards its 2020 parity level. India had closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap.
❖ Gender Parity in Education: India has achieved parity in enrolment across all levels of education, reflecting
a positive development in the country's education system.
❖ Economic Participation and Opportunity: India's progress in economic participation and opportunity
remains a challenge, with only 36.7% gender parity achieved in this domain.
❖ Political Empowerment: India has made strides in political empowerment, achieving 25.3% parity in this
domain. Women represent 15.1% of parliamentarians, which is the highest representation since the
inaugural report in 2006.
❖ Health and Survival: There is a 1.9%-point improvement in India's sex ratio at birth, after more than a
decade of slow progress.
Indian Initiatives to reduce Gender Gap
❖ Economic Participation and Health and Survival: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: It ensures the protection,
survival and education of the girl child.
❖ Mahila Shakti Kendra: Aims to empower rural women with opportunities for skill development and
employment.
❖ Mahila Police Volunteers: It envisages engagement of Mahila Police Volunteers in States/UTs who act as a
link between police and community and facilitates women in distress.
❖ Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: It is an apex micro-finance organization that provides micro-credit at concessional
terms to poor women for various livelihood and income generating activities.
❖ Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna: Under this scheme girls have been economically empowered by opening their
bank accounts.
❖ Female Entrepreneurship: To promote female entrepreneurship, the Government has initiated Programmes
like Stand-Up India and Mahila e-Haat (online marketing platform to support women entrepreneurs/
SHGs/NGOs), Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESSDP).
❖ Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: They have been opened in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs).
❖ Political Reservation: Government has reserved 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women.
❖ Capacity Building of Elected Women Representatives: It is conducted with a view to empowering women
to participate effectively in the governance processes.
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Airlines Greenwashing and Carbon Pollution
❖ A lawsuit has been filed against Delta Air Lines in the US, accusing the company of engaging
in Greenwashing by making false and misleading claims about its Sustainability Efforts and being a "Green"
and carbon-neutral airline.
❖ The airline claimed to be carbon neutral from March 2020 and offered to offset the carbon emissions from
customers' flights.
❖ However, media reports and investigations have highlighted loopholes and inaccuracies in Delta's carbon
offsetting process.
❖ Greenwashing: The term greenwashing was first used in 1986 by Jay Westerveld, an American
environmentalist and researcher.
❖ Greenwashing is the practice in which firms and governments mark all kinds of activities as climate-
friendly, as something that would lead to emissions reduction, or avoidance of emissions.
❖ Many of these claims are unverifiable, misleading, or dubious.
❖ While it helps in boosting the image of the entity, they do nothing in the fight against climate change.
❖ Several multinational corporations, including oil giants like Shell and BP, and Coca Cola have faced
accusations of greenwashing.
❖ Greenwashing is prevalent across a whole range of environmental activities.
❖ Greenwashing is considered an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 in India,
which prohibits misleading claims, but implementation of these regulations remains a challenge.
❖ Concerns Related to Airlines in Carbon Pollution: Major Airlines Indulge in Greenwashing: Investigations
and studies in (Guardian investigation and Greenpeace report) have revealed flaws and deceptiveness in
the carbon offset systems of major airlines, casting doubt on the industry's carbon neutrality assertions.
❖ Other airlines, including KLM (Netherlands-based airline) and Ryanair (Europe), Air Canada and Swiss
Airlines have faced similar allegations of greenwashing and misleading customers with claims of being
environmentally friendly.
❖ These findings raise concerns about the credibility of the International Air Transport Association's net
zero pledge by 2050, which experts criticized as an act of greenwashing.
❖ Airlines Significant Contributors to Carbon Pollution:
❖ Flying is a significant contributor to carbon pollution, in 2021 aviation accounted for over 2% of global
energy-related CO2 emissions according to International Energy Agency (IEA). Aviation emissions could
grow by 300-700% by 2050, per estimates.
❖ A single round trip from Mumbai to L.A. generates 4.8 tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to charging 6,00,000
smartphones).
❖ Blind Spots in Offset System: There is a lack of universally recognized standards and tracking
mechanisms for counting carbon offsets, making it difficult to ensure additionality—the reduction of
emissions that would not have occurred otherwise.
❖ Carbon Credits: Carbon Credits (Carbon offsets) are received by the companies when they invest in offset
projects such as environmental conservation, energy efficiency or renewable energy which reduce, avoid,
or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.
❖ These credits represent the amount of carbon dioxide that would have been removed from the
atmosphere through these initiatives.
❖ Each credit is equivalent to one metric ton of CO2, which contributes to global warming. Companies use
these credits to offset their carbon emissions in one area, like airplane travel, by claiming that they are
reducing emissions somewhere else, such as in distant rainforests.
❖ The voluntary carbon-offset market is expected to grow significantly, from USD 2 billion in 2020 to
approximately USD 250 billion by 2050, according to a report by Morgan Stanley in 2023.
First Arab Women Into Space

❖ Rayyanah Barnawi made history as the first Arab woman to venture into space. The highly anticipated
maiden space mission of Saudi Arabia took place on May 21. Barnawi, along with her co-astronaut Ali al-
Qarni, embarked on their journey aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
❖ Renowned astronauts Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner joined Barnawi and al-Qarni on this significant
mission. Together, they formed a team representing both Saudi Arabia and the United States.
❖ The mission held great importance for Saudi Arabia as it strove to expand its space science education and
reduce its reliance on oil, in alignment with the Vision 2030 reform program. This program aimed to create
new opportunities and jobs for young Saudis while driving economic diversification.
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❖ Saudi Arabia’s involvement in space exploration dated back to 1985 when Prince Sultan bin Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, an esteemed air force pilot, participated in a space voyage organized by the United
States. Since then, the nation had been making steady progress in the sector.
❖ Building on the success of previous Arab astronauts, such as Hazzaa al-Mansoori from the UAE, who
became the first Arab to reach the ISS, Saudi Arabia’s mission signified another significant milestone in the
region’s space endeavors.
International Space Station (ISS)
❖ The International Space Station was the brainchild of former US President Ronald Reagan, who in 1984
proposed building a permanently inhabited spacecraft in cooperation with a few other countries
❖ The ISS is a manmade space station that is habitable for humans in space. It is in the low-earth orbit and
there are astronauts living onboard the space station conducting experiments.
❖ It’s the most expensive man-made object ever created. It cost $100 Billion
❖ The astronauts generally don’t live on the station for more than six months at a time.
❖ The first module, Russia’s Zarya Module was launched in 1998 and other parts and modules were added
and assembled in space at different times.
❖ The first crew arrived on the ISS in 2000 and since then it has always been manned by astronauts.
❖ The ISS was developed and built by five space agencies namely, NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia),
European Space Agency (ESA-Europe), JAXA (Japan) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA-Canada).
❖ The ISS is usually at an altitude between about 200 km and 400 km and weighs more than 400,000 kg. It is
73 m long and 109 m wide.
❖ The ISS orbits the earth at about 5 miles per second or 17,400 miles per hour or 28,000 km/h and makes
15.5 orbits per day. It takes roughly 90-93 minutes for it to make one revolution around the earth.
❖ Astronauts conduct spacewalks (that is, stepping out of the ISS onto space) and conduct maintenance and
repair works on the station. There have been over 200 spacewalks until now.
❖ ISS Program Evolution: It evolved from NASA’s Space Station Freedom, which was conceived in 1984.
However, it was never constructed as per the original design.
❖ Russian space station Mir-2 had started in 1976 and some of the modules built for it have been
incorporated into the ISS.
❖ The ISS happens to be the ninth crewed space station, the other earlier ones being Salyut, Almaz, and Mir
stations of Russia and Skylab of the US.
❖ The first space station crews were three-person teams, though after the tragic Columbia shuttle disaster
the crew size temporarily dropped to two-person teams
❖ ISS will continue its operation until January 2031 and then crash into an uninhabited area in the Pacific
Ocean known as Point Nemo. It will be replaced with three free-flying space stations to continue the work
after ISS’s retirement. NASA also selected Houston-based Axiom Space to provide the ISS’s first
commercial module.
❖ In 2018, NASA’s Cold Atom Lab became the first facility to produce the fifth state of matter, called a Bose-
Einstein condensate, in space. In 2016, a NASA astronaut was able to sequence DNA in space for the first
time.
o A Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) is a state of matter that is typically formed when a gas of bosons
at very low densities is cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero (−273.15 °C or −459.67 °F).
Under such conditions, a large fraction of bosons occupy the lowest quantum state, at which
microscopic quantum mechanical phenomena, particularly wavefunction interference, become
apparent macroscopically.
o This state was first predicted, generally, in 1924–1925 by Albert Einstein, crediting a pioneering paper
by Satyendra Nath Bose on the new field now known as quantum statistics.
o In 1995, the Bose–Einstein condensate was created by Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman using rubidium
atoms; later that year, Wolfgang Ketterle of MIT produced a BEC using sodium atoms.
o In 2001 Cornell, Wieman and Ketterle shared the Nobel Prize in Physics "for the achievement of Bose-
Einstein condensation in dilute gases of alkali atoms, and for early fundamental studies of the
properties of the condensates."
❖ Recent News: Russia announced that it will exit the ISS in 2025. Russia was a vital component of the ISS
with countries depending on its modular space station construction technology to build the station in the
early years. Also, it was Russia’s Soyuz passenger vehicle that transported people to the ISS ever since
2011 when the US retired its space shuttle program.
❖ The ISS has not started relying on private firm SpaceX for this purpose. This has deprived Russia’s
Roscosmos of its funding from NASA.
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❖ Russia is also planning to build its own space station, expected to be launched into orbit by 2030.
❖ China is also building its own space station named Tiangong (meaning heavenly space). Its core module,
the Tianhe was launched in April 2021.
❖ Indian Space Station: India plans to have its own space station by 2035 and its modalities will be
submitted to the government by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the Gaganyaan
Mission. The proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20 tonnes and serve as a facility where
astronauts can stay for 15-20 days, and it would be placed in an orbit 400 km above the earth.
Nord Stream Pipeline

❖ A leaks were found in the pipelines comprising the Nord Stream pipelines (Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream
2) located near Denmark and Sweden.
❖ The leaks happened just before the ceremonial launch of the Baltic Pipe carrying gas from Norway to
Poland, which is an effort by Poland to decrease its dependence on Russia for energy.
❖ Nord Stream consists of two pipelines, which have two lines each.
❖ Nord Stream 1 is a 1,224 km underwater gas pipeline running from Vyborg in northwest Russia to Lubmin
in northeastern Germany via the Baltic Sea. It was completed in 2011.
❖ Nord Stream 2 (1234km) which runs from Ust-Luga in Leningrad to Lubmin was completed in September
2021 and has the capacity to handle 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year once it becomes operational.
Cost-10 billions Euro/ $11 Billions
❖ The twin pipelines together can transport a combined total of 110 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year
to Europe for at least 50 years.
❖ The Nord Stream crosses the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several countries including Russia,
Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, and the territorial waters of Russia, Denmark, and Germany.
❖ In Germany, the pipeline connects to the OPAL (Baltic Sea Pipeline) and NEL (North European Pipeline)
which further connects to the European grid.
❖ Russia had already decreased the supply of gas to Europe after the European Union imposed sanctions on
Moscow for invading Ukraine.
❖ Flows via Nord Stream 1 were reduced to 20% of its capacity in July 2022.
❖ In August 2022, Russia further plugged the supply and stopped Nord Stream 1 completely, citing
maintenance. Gazprom (owner of NS2) had reasoned that an oil leak in a turbine on the Nord Stream 1
pipeline was behind the closure.
❖ The Nord Stream 2, despite being completed, could not become operational after Germany pulled out of
the project after Russia invaded Ukraine.
❖ The stream was supposed to double Russia's energy export to Europe to 110 billion cubic meters.
❖ The short supply of the gas pipeline resulted in a sudden hike in energy prices in Europe. With the shutting
down of the Nord Stream pipeline, Europe faces a tough time ahead with winter approaching.
❖ Europe requires more than 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas each year and around 40% of its
gas comes from Russia.
❖ As for Russia, which has the largest natural gas reserves in the world, around 40% of its budget comes
from sales of gas and oil.
Bonn Climate Meet

❖ Delegates to the Paris Agreement met in Bonn, Germany, paving the way to some key decisions for the UN
Climate Conference (COP 28) in Dubai in 2023.
❖ The Bonn session concluded with the agreement to share "informal notes" that will guide continued work
leading up to COP (Conference of Parties) 28 in Dubai.
❖ Global Stocktake: Technical discussions were held on the Global Stocktake (GST), producing a short
Framework on the elements to be included in the stocktake exercise.
❖ GST is a process mandated by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which is an exercise to assess progress in
combating Climate Change and determines ways to strengthen global efforts to address the gap in
adequacy.
❖ According to the Paris Agreement, the GST should take place every five years, starting in 2023. The actual
meeting on GST would come in at COP28.
❖ Advancing Post-2030 Ambition: Parties and civil society representatives used the meeting to focus on
post-2030 ambition, particularly through advancing the work on the Global Stocktake.
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❖ Funding Arrangements for Loss and Damage: Discussions focused on implementing balanced funding
arrangements to address Loss and Damage (L&D) caused by climate change, particularly for vulnerable
communities.
❖ While progress was made in operationalizing the Santiago Network on loss and damage, the issue of the
network's host remained unresolved.
❖ The Santiago Network aims to catalyze the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies,
networks and experts, for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimizing and
addressing L&D at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly
vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
❖ Climate Finance Alignment: The EU emphasizes the need to align global financial flows with the goals of
the Paris Agreement. This includes examining the pool of donors and ensuring that the scale of financial
support matches the requirements to address the climate crisis.
❖ Post-2025 Climate Finance Goal and Funding Arrangements: Constructive and substantive discussions
took place in the technical expert dialogues regarding the new post-2025 climate finance goal and funding
arrangements, including a fund for loss and damage.
❖ Urgency of Adaptation: Developed countries, including the EU, acknowledge the urgency of addressing
adaptation needs
Conference of the Parties (COP)
❖ COP is the apex decision-making authority of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change). It came into force on 21st March 1994
❖ It has been ratified by 197 countries and is called to have a near-universal membership.
❖ The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin,
Germany in March 1995.
❖ The office of the COP President normally rotates among the five United Nations regional groups which
are - Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and
Others.
❖ The President is usually the environment minister of his or her home country. S/he is elected by
acclamation immediately after the opening of a COP session.
❖ The first global conference on climate change was held in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden.
❖ COP 3 (1997) Kyoto Japan: Adopted Kyoto Protocol, legally binded developed countries to reduce emission
targets
❖ COP 7 (2001) Marrakech, Morocco: Marrakech Accords signed, set stage for ratification of Kyoto Protocol
❖ COP 8 (2002) New Delhi, India: Delhi declaration, development needs of the poorest countries. Technology
Transfer for climate change mitigation.
❖ COP 13 (2007) Bali, Indonesia: Bali Road Map and Bali Action plan, on shared vision, mitigation, adaption,
technology and financing.
❖ COP 14 (2008): Poznan, Poland: Adaption Fund under Kyoto Protocol Launched. Poznan Strategic
programme on Technology Transfer
❖ COP 15 (2009) Copenhagen, Denmark: Developed countries pledged up to $30 Billion in fast-start finance
for 2010-12.
❖ COP 16 (2010) Cancun, Mexico: Cancun Agreements, assist developing nations in dealing with CC.
Established Green Climate Fund
❖ COP 18 (2012) Doha, Qatar: Doha Agreement to Kyoto Protocol reducing GHG emissions by 18% compared
to 1990 levels
❖ COP 19 (2013) Warsaw, Poland: Warsaw Framework for REDD Plus. Warsaw International Mechanism for
Loss and Damage.
❖ COP 21 (2015) Paris, France: Paris Agreement, Global temperature below 2o C above pre-industrial times.
Climate finance by rich countries. Yearly $100 billion funding pledge by rich countries
❖ COP 24 (2018) Katowice, Poland: Rulebook for Paris Agreement, actions to be taken as per NDCs
❖ COP 26 (2021) Glasgow, UK: India announced net zero target 2070. India called for Phase-down of coal
based power. Glasgow breakthrough agenda (by 41 Countries + India)
❖ COP 27 (2022) Sharm-el-sheikh, Egypt: Loss & Damage Fund. USD 3.1 Billion for early warning system. G7-
led ‘Global Shield Financing Facility’ for countries suffering climate disasters. African Carbon Market
Initiative. Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARe) Initiative. Mangrove Alliance (in partnership
with India). India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy
❖ COP 28 (2023) Expo City, Dubai, UAE: Date 30 November- 12 December 2023. President: Sultan Al Jaber
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Estonia Legalizes Same-Sex Meriage
❖ Estonia's parliament approved a law to legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the first central European
country to do so. This move sets Estonia apart from its neighbors in the region, where same-sex marriage
remains illegal
❖ The new law will enter in force on 1 January 2024
❖ Marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognised in 34 other countries. Of these
34, 23 legalised same sex couples to marry through legislation, while 10 through court decisions.
Netherlands was the first ever nation to legalise same-sex marriage in the year 2001.
❖ The Rainbow flag, also known as Pride Flag Originally devised by the artists Gilbert Baker, Lynn
Segerblom, James McNamara and other activists
❖ The Indian legal system currently does not recognize same-sex marriages, and the country's laws define
marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, in November 2018, the Supreme Court
decriminalised homosexuality by striking off parts of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
❖ About Estonia: Capital – Tallinn President – Alar Karis Prime Minister – Kaja Kallas
❖ Legislature – Riigikogu Currency – Euro
St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF)

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❖ The 26 edition of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) showcased Russia's
determination to maintain its economy despite Western sanctions. The war in Ukraine has prompted
Russia to seek alternative economic and geopolitical alliances. This year's SPIEF was less international
due to the absence of high-ranking delegates and CEOs from the West.
❖ SPIEF is an annual Russian business event for the economic sector, which has been held in St. Petersburg
since 1997, and under the Russian President since 2006. The Forum brings together the leaders of major
Russian and international companies, heads of state, political leaders, experts, and civil society
representatives to discuss key issues on the global economic agenda and to exchange best practices and
expertise for sustainable development. The Forum also hosts an exhibition of investment and business
projects and initiatives from various regions and sectors of Russia and other countries.
China Blocks Proposal to Blacklist Terrorist

❖ China's recent move to block a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations (UN) to designate
a Pakistan-based LeT terrorist Sajid Mir as a global terrorist has drawn attention and raised concerns
among the international community.
❖ The blocked proposal, brought forward by India and the United States, aimed to blacklist a wanted
individual for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions
Committee of the UN Security Council.
❖ This is not the first time China has blocked efforts to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists under the UN
Security Council's sanctions committee.
❖ In September 2022, China placed a “hold” on two joint India-US proposals, to designate blacklist Pakistan-
based militant Hafiz Talah Saeed, the son of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, at the United Nations
Security Council’s (UNSC) 1267 list of terrorists affiliated to Al Qaeda and ISIS.
❖ Earlier also China Blocked to designated Shahid Mahmood and LeT senior leader Muhammad Sarwar as
global terrorists.
❖ Mahmood was the Pakistan-based deputy chief of proscribed organisation Falah-i-lnsaniyat Foundation
(FIF), a front of the LeT.
❖ In June this year, China put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to blacklist
Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki. Makki is a US-designated terrorist and brother-in-law of
Hafiz Saeed.
❖ Then in August, China again put a hold to blacklist Abdul Rauf Azhar, the senior leader of Pakistan-based
terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM).
❖ UNSC 1267 Committee: It was first set up in 1999 (updated in 2011 and 2015), and strengthened after the
September, 2001 attacks.
❖ It is now known as the Da’esh and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
❖ In 2011, a separate committee was formed for the Taliban.
❖ It comprises all permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC
❖ The 1267 list of terrorists is a global list, with a UNSC stamp. It is full of Pakistani nationals and residents.
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❖ It is one of the most important and active UN subsidiary bodies working on efforts to
combat terrorism, particularly in relation to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
❖ It discusses UN efforts to limit the movement of terrorists, especially those related to travel bans, the
freezing of assets and arms embargoes for terrorism.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
❖ Established in 1945, the Security Council has primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and
security.
❖ Successor of League of Nations
❖ The Security Council has 15 members.
❖ There are five permanent members: the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the
United Kingdom.
❖ The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of 2 years.
❖ Current non-permanent members- Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, UAE (all till 2023) and India, Ireland,
Kenya, Mexico, Norway (till 2022)
UN’s High Seas Treaty

❖ The United Nations has recently adopted the first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas.
❖ Precursor: The treaty to protect biodiversity in waters outside national boundaries, known as the high seas,
covering nearly half of earth's surface, had been under discussion for more than 20 years as efforts to
reach an agreement had repeatedly stalled.
❖ Approval: Delegates from the 193 member nations approved the treaty with jubilation & there wasn't a
single objection.
❖ Ratification: The new treaty will be opened for signatures on September 20th 2023, during the annual
meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly, and it will take effect once it is ratified by 60 countries.
❖ What will happen after its ratification: Once the treaty becomes international law after ratification by
member countries, it will regulate all human activities in the high seas with the objective of ensuring
that ocean resources, including biodiversity, are utilised in a sustainable manner, and their benefits are
shared equitably among countries.
❖ Once adopted, the treaty will be legally binding.
❖ High Seas: High seas are open ocean areas that are outside the jurisdiction of any country.
❖ The high seas comprise 64 percent of the ocean surface and about 43 percent of the Earth.
❖ These areas are home to about 2.2 million marine species and up to a trillion different kinds of
microorganisms, according to the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), a network of global experts on
oceans.
❖ High Seas Treaty: It is also referred to as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean’.
❖ The agreement was reached during the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on Marine Biodiversity of
Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), which was held in New York.
❖ The High Seas Treaty will work as an implementation agreement under the UNCLOS.
❖ The treaty has four main objectives: Demarcation of marine protected areas (MPAs), rather like there are
protected forests or wildlife areas;
❖ Sustainable use of marine genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from them;
❖ Initiation of the practice of environmental impact assessments for all major activities in the oceans; and
❖ Capacity building and technology transfer.
❖ Marine protected areas (MPAs): MPAs are where ocean systems, including biodiversity, are under stress,
either due to human activities or climate change. These can be called the national parks or wildlife
reserves of the oceans.
❖ Treaty provisions: Activities in these areas will be highly regulated, and conservation efforts similar to what
happens in forest or wildlife zones, will be undertaken.
❖ Only about 1.44 percent of high seas are currently protected, according to the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
❖ Marine genetic resources: Oceans host very diverse life forms, many of which can be useful for human
beings in areas like drug development.
❖ Treaty provisions: The treaty seeks to ensure that any benefits arising out of such efforts, including
monetary gains, are free from strong intellectual property rights controls, and are equitably shared amongst
all. The knowledge generated from such expeditions are also supposed to remain openly accessible to all.
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United Nations Convention on Laws of Sea
❖ It is an international treaty that was adopted and signed in 1982.
❖ It replaced the four Geneva Conventions of April 1958, which respectively concerned the territorial sea and
the contiguous zone, the continental shelf, the high seas, fishing and conservation of living resources on
the high seas.
❖ The Convention has created three new institutions on the international scene:
o The International Tribunal for Laws of the Sea
o The International Seabed Authority
o The Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf
❖ It divides marine areas into five main zones namely-
o Internal Waters, Territorial Sea,
o Contiguous Zone,
o Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the
o High Seas.
❖ It provides a framework for state jurisdiction in maritime spaces. It provides a different legal status to
different maritime zones.
Chashma-V Nuclear Plant

❖ Recently, China inked an agreement with Pakistan to set up a 1,200-megawatt nuclear power plant at
Chashma in the Mianwali district of Punjab.
❖ Under this project, Pakistan is getting an investment of $4.8 billion from China which “sends the message
that Pakistan is a place where Chinese companies and investors continue to show their trust and faith”.
❖ Pakistan's Chashma power plants are considered a key in the production of cheap nuclear power.
❖ The nuclear power plant agreement signing as a token of increasing economic cooperation between
Pakistan and China.
❖ Existing power plants: The installed capacity of the existing four power plants is 1,330 megawatts
❖ Two other nuclear power plants are also operational in Pakistan. Karachi Nuclear Power Plants (KANUPP 2
& 3 have a capacity of 2,290 megawatts)
❖ Impact on Pakistan: Pakistan’s economy has been in a free fall mode for the last many years, bringing
unbridled pressure on the poor masses in the form of unchecked inflation and making it almost impossible
for a vast number of people to make ends meet.
❖ Pakistan is under tremendous financial debt and is not getting multilateral loans or even bilateral
assistance without the support of the IMF.
❖ Only China has stood fast to help Pakistan while Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also been selectively
supportive.
❖ The IMF signed a deal in 2019 to provide $6 billion to Pakistan on fulfillment of certain conditions.
❖ The plan was derailed several times and the full reimbursement is still pending due to insistence by the
donor that Pakistan should complete all formalities.
State of the Global Climate 2022

❖ The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released the State of the Global Climate Report 2022.
❖ The report focuses on key climate indicators – Greenhouse Gasses, Temperatures, Sea level rise, Ocean
Heat and Acidification, Sea ice and Glaciers. It also highlights the impacts of climate change and extreme
weather.
❖ Earlier, the WMO released the provisional State of the Global Climate report, 2022.
❖ Temperature Global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15 °C above the 1850-1900 average. The years 2015
to 2022 were the eight warmest in the instrumental record back to 1850.
❖ This was despite three consecutive years of a cooling La Niña – such a “triple-dip” La Niña has happened
only three times in the past 50 years.
❖ Greenhouse Gasses: Concentrations of the three main GHG, Carbon dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous oxide,
reached record highs in 2021. The annual increase in methane concentration from 2020 to 2021 was the
highest on record.
❖ Sea Level Rise: Global mean sea level (GMSL) continued to rise in 2022, reaching a new record high for the
satellite altimeter record. For the period 2005-2019, total land ice loss from glaciers, Greenland, and
Antarctica contributed 36% to the GMSL rise, and ocean warming contributed 55%.
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❖ Ocean Heat: Ocean heat content reached a new record high in 2022. Around 90% of the energy trapped in
the climate system by greenhouse gases goes into the ocean, somewhat ameliorating even higher
temperature increases but posing risks to marine ecosystems.
❖ Ocean Acidification: CO2 reacts with seawater resulting in a decrease of pH referred to as ‘ocean
acidification’, threatening organisms and ecosystem services. The IPCC Sixth Assessment
Report concluded that “There is very high confidence that open ocean surface pH is now the lowest it has
been for at least 26 [thousand years] and current rates of pH change are unprecedented since at least that
time.
❖ Sea Ice: Sea ice in Antarctica dropped to 1.92 million km2 in February 2022, the lowest level on record and
almost 1 million km2 below the long-term (1991-2020) mean.
❖ Glaciers: Glaciers are losing a lot of ice, with a thickness change of over (-) 1.3 meters on average between
October 2021 and October 2022, which is much larger than the average of the past decade ❖ The
European Alps saw record glacier melt due to a lack of winter snow, dust from the Sahara in March 2022,
and heatwaves from May to early September.
Paris Agreement on Climate change
❖ It is a legally binding global agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) that was adopted in 2015. It was adopted in UNFCCC COP21.
❖ It aims to combat climate change and limit global warming to well below 2o C above pre-industrial levels,
with an ambition to limit warming to 1.5o C.
❖ It replaced the Kyoto Protocol which was an earlier agreement
to deal with climate change.
❖ The Paris Agreement sets out a framework for countries to
work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to
the impacts of climate change, and provide support to
developing countries in their efforts to address climate
change.
❖ Under the Paris Agreement, each country is required to submit and update their NDCs every 5 years,
outlining their plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
❖ NDCs are pledges made by countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the
impacts of climate
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
❖ Established by the UN Charter in 1945, it is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy
dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation
of internationally agreed development goals.
❖ It has 54 members, elected by the UN General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms.
❖ It is the UN's central platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking on sustainable development.
❖ It coordinates the work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, ten functional commissions and five regional
commissions, receives reports from nine UN funds and programmes and issues policy recommendations
to the UN system and to member states.
❖ Headquarters: New York, United States & Geneva, Switzerland
❖ President: Lachezara Stoeva
❖ Founder: Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar
❖ Few Important Bodies under the Purview of ECOSOC: International labour Organization (ILO), Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),
World Health Organization (WHO), Bretton Woods Twins (World Bank Group and International Monetary
Fund), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
❖ Apart from these there are various Functional and Regional Commissions, Standing Committees, Ad Hoc
and Expert Bodies as well.
United Nations
❖ Formed in 1945, 193 member
❖ HQ: New York
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❖ United Nations Conference on International Organization (1945) held in San Francisco (USA), was
attended by representatives of 50 countries and signed the United Nations Charter
Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and UN Secretariat
❖ Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations
from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.
Funds and Programs
❖ United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
❖ United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
❖ United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
❖ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
❖ United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
❖ World Food Programme (WFP).
Specialized Agencies
❖ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
❖ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
❖ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
❖ International Labour Organization (ILO)
❖ International Monetary Fund (IMF)
❖ World Bank
❖ International Maritime Organization (IMO).
❖ International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
❖ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
❖ United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
❖ World Health Organization (WHO)
❖ United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
❖ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
❖ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and
1981.
❖ United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
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Economy & Finance
Central Bank Digital Currency
❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) commence limited pilot launches of e-rupee (e`), or Central Bank Digital
Currency (CBDC) or digital rupee, for specific use cases.
❖ The pilot will initially cover the four cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar.
❖ Four banks will be involved in the controlled launch of the digital currency in these four cities: State Bank of
India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IDFC First Bank.
❖ The digital fiat currency or CBDC can be transacted using wallets backed by blockchain. It has hinted at
two broad categories for the use of e-rupee — retail and wholesale — for various transactions.
❖ Definition: RBI defines the CBDC as the digital form of currency notes issued by a central bank. It is a
sovereign or entirely independent currency issued by the central bank (in this case, RBI), in accordance with
the country’s monetary policy.
❖ Once officially issued, CBDC will be considered as a medium of payment and legal tender by all three
parties - citizens, government bodies, and enterprises. Being government-recognised, it can be freely
converted to any commercial bank’s money or notes.
❖ Difference with Cryptocurrencies: The underlying technology of cryptocurrency (distributed ledger) can
underpin parts of the digital rupee system, but the RBI has not decided on this, yet. However,
cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or ethereum are ‘private’ in nature. Digital rupee on the other hand, will be
issued and controlled by the RBI
❖ Types of CBDC: On the basis of usage and the functions performed by the digital rupee and considering the
different levels of accessibility, CBDC can be demarcated into two broad categories — general purpose
(retail) (CBDC-R) and wholesale (CBDC-W).
❖ Retail CBDC is an electronic version of cash primarily meant for retail transactions. It will be used by all —
private sector, non-financial consumers and businesses.
❖ Wholesale CBDC is designed for restricted access to select financial institutions. It has the potential to
transform the settlement systems for financial transactions undertaken by banks into government
securities (G-Sec) segment.
❖ Recently, the RBI has proposed to allow retail investors to open gilt accounts with the central bank to invest
in Government securities (G-secs) directly and without the help of intermediaries.
❖ Global Scenario: As of July 2022, 105 countries were exploring CBDC. Ten countries have launched CBDC,
the first of which was the Bahamas Sand Dollar in 2020 and the latest was Jamaica’s JAMDEX.
❖ Nigeria is another country to have rolled out eNaira in 2020.
❖ China became the world's first major economy to pilot a digital currency e-CNY in April 2020.
❖ Brazil also legalised Crypto.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
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❖ RBI is an institution of national importance and the pillar of the surging Indian economy formed in 1935. It
is a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
❖ The concept of Reserve Bank of India was based on the strategies formulated by Dr. Ambedkar in his book
named “The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution”.
❖ This central banking institution was established based on the suggestions of the “Royal Commission on
Indian Currency & Finance” in 1926. This commission was also known as Hilton Young Commission. ❖
1935: RBI was established on 1st April in Calcutta, 1937: RBI was moved to Mumbai, 1949: Got Nationalised
❖ RBI is controlled by a central board of directors which consist of: Governor (Head), 4 Deputy Governors 2
Finance Ministry representatives and 4 directors to represent local boards headquartered at Mumbai, Kolkata,
Chennai, and New Delhi
❖ The decisions are taken by majority, in case of conflict RBI governor has the final vote
❖ RBI Governor- Shaktikanta Das
❖ First Governor: Osborne Smith
❖ First Indian: Sir C D Deshmukh
❖ Deputy Governors: T. Rabi Sankar, M. Rajeshwar Rao, M.D. Patra and Shri M.K. Jain
❖ The First woman Deputy Governor: K J Udeshi.
❖ The only Prime Minister who had been the Governor of RBI was Manmohan Singh.
❖ The official emblem of the RBI – a palm tree and a tiger
❖ The RBI also stores a Contingency Fund (CF), which is another provision for tackling unexpected
emergencies. Coming to surplus funds, it is the amount RBI transfers to the government after meeting its
own expenses. This surplus is basically RBI’s income which it earns through interest on securities it holds
❖ The RBI manages currency in India and derives its role in currency management on the basis of the Reserve
Bank of India Act, 1934.
❖ After the Partition of India, the Pakistani rupee came into existence, initially using Indian coins and Indian
currency notes simply overstamped with "Pakistan". Previously the Indian rupee was an official currency of
other countries, including Aden, Oman, Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the Trucial States, Kenya,
Tanganyika, Uganda, the Seychelles and Mauritius.
❖ The Indian government introduced the Gulf rupee as a replacement for the Indian rupee for circulation
outside the country with the Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Act of 1 May 1959
❖ Bank notes are printed at four currency presses, two of which are owned by the Government of India
through its Corporation, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) and two are
owned by the Reserve Bank, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran
Private Ltd.
❖ Historical Monuments printed on Indian currency: 10 Rupees - Sun Temple, Konark : 20 Rupees - Ellora
Caves, Aurangabad : 50 Rupees - Stone Chariot of Hampi, Karnataka : 100 Rupees – Rani ki Vav, Gujarat,
200 Rupees- Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh : 500 Rupees - Red Fort, Delhi : 2000 Rupees- Mangalyaan
Mission
Depreciation of Indian Rupee

❖ The Indian Rupee depreciated by around 10% against the US dollar and the rupee was the worstperforming
Asian currency in 2022.
❖ This decline was mainly on account of appreciation in the US currency on safe haven appeal amid fears
of recession and inflation across many parts of the world and Russia-Ukraine war.
❖ During the year, the rupee fell to a lifetime low of 83.2 against the dollar. Compared to Rupee,
depreciation of other Asian currencies was to a lesser extent.
❖ However, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) heavily intervened in the forex market to defend rupee. Since
the beginning of 2022, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen by USD 70 billion. It stood at
USD 562.81 billion as of 23rd December 2022.
❖ Reason for Capital Outflows: The US Fed aggressively raised interest rates by 425 basis point (bps) in
2022 in its fight against inflation. This led to a higher interest rate differential between the US and India,
and investors pulled out money from the domestic market and started investing in the US market to
take advantage of higher rates.
❖ In 2022, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) pulled out Rs 1.34 lakh crore from the Indian markets – the
highest-ever yearly net outflow.
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❖ Weaker rupee should theoretically give a boost to India’s exports, but in an environment of uncertainty
and weak global demand, a fall in the external value of rupee may not translate into higher exports.
Corporate Tax Collection

❖ Corporate tax collections exceeded 3.01% of the GDP after a gap of two years in 2021-22.
❖ It is reflecting overall improvement in profitability of India Inc propelled by an increase in demand for goods
and services.
❖ In actual terms, the net corporate tax collection in 2021-22 stood at Rs 7.12 lakh crore.
❖ The (GDP) at the current market price was Rs 236.64 lakh crore.
❖ In 2019-20, government cut corporate tax rates for new manufacturing units by almost 10% points as it
looked to pep up investments. The rate of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) too had been reduced to 15 %
from 18.5 % in 2019.
❖ Corporation tax is payable by both public and private companies registered in India under the Companies
Act 1956. Corporation tax is a direct tax placed on a company's net income or profit from its operations.
❖ Corporate tax is a tax imposed on the net income of the company, whereas income tax is a type of tax
imposed on an individual’s income, such as wages and salaries.
❖ The Minimum Alternate Tax is a strategy designed to close the income tax loophole for all businesses. The
MAT makes sure that no business, even one with strong financial standing and significant revenue, may
escape paying income tax, even after claiming exemptions.
❖ Reliance Industries Limited is the largest Corporate Tax Payer in India.
Wildlife Conservation Bond

❖ In 2022, the World Bank has priced the world’s first wildlife bond, raising USD 150 million that will be partly
used for the conservation of black rhinos in South Africa.
❖ The Wildlife Conservation Bond is a first-of-its-kind, outcome-based, financial instrument that channels
investments to achieve conservation outcomes measured in this case by an increase in black rhino
populations. The program could be expanded to protect other wildlife species.
❖ There are five rhino species globally (white and black rhinos in Africa, and the greater one-horned, Javan,
and Sumatran), with most of the animals in South Africa and almost all of them are white rhinos as the
number of black rhinos is decreasing day by day.
Investor risk Reduction Platform

❖ Stock exchanges have been directed by the Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) to set up an
Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform.
❖ The Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform will be jointly developed by the stock exchanges to
enable investors to square off their position or cancel the pending orders if there is a disruption of services
provided by the trading members. Trading members are those who trade on their own account as well as
on the account of their clients
❖ With the growing reliance on technology in the securities market, there is an increase in instances of
glitches in trading members’ systems, some of which resulted in the disruption of trading services. In
these cases, investors with open positions are at risk of the non-availability of avenues to close their
positions, especially at times when the markets are volatile.
❖ The SEBI also called on the stock exchanges to put in place a detailed framework to support the reverse
migration from the IRRA system to the trading member’s trading system when the trading system is revived
and a request is made in this regard.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
❖ SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India under the ownership of Ministry
of Finance (Nirmala Sitharaman). It was established on 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given
statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.
❖ Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
❖ Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch (first women)
❖ First Chairman: Dr S.A. Dave
❖ First Chairman after it became statutory body: G.V. Ramakrishna ❖ SEBI is managed by its members,
which consists of the following:
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o The chairman is nominated by the Union Government of India.
o Two members, i.e., Officers from the Union Finance Ministry.
o One member from the Reserve Bank of India.
o The remaining five members are nominated by the Union Government of India, out of them at least
three shall be whole-time members.
First Advance Estimate of GDP

❖ The National Statistical Office (NSO), recently released the first advance estimates (FAEs) of national
income (GDP) according to which the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7% in FY 22-23 (up from 6.8%
projected by MPC).
❖ The economy grew by 9.7% in the first half of FY 22-23 which is likely to slow down to 4.5 % in the second
half. India will still be one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
❖ The FAE, first introduced in 2016-17, are the “first” official estimates of how GDP is expected to grow in that
FY. FAEs provide some sense of underlying momentum in economic activities and are useful in the context
of the upcoming Union Budget.
❖ The government has decided to merge the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) with the Central
Statistics Office (CSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Rao Inderjit
Singh). The order dated 23rd May 2019 has cleared formation of an overarching body - National Statistical
Office (NSO) through the merger of the NSSO and the CSO.
Forex Reserves
❖ After 3 consecutive years of rise, India’s forex reserves declined by $70 bn in 2022 on account of rising
inflation and interest rates.
❖ This decline can be primarily (about 55-60% of total loss) attributed to the valuation loss of other foreign
currencies (€, £, ¥) against USD (that India held as reserves). Another major cause is the Foreign Portfolio
Investors (FPI) withdrawal. Due to this, the number of months of imports that can be covered through
India’s reserves have also declined (from 13 in 2021-22 to 9.2 in 2022-23).
❖ Holding forex reserves reduces the likelihood of Balance of Payment (BoP) crises and helps preserve
economic and financial stability against disordered market conditions. India's Forex Reserves include-
Foreign Currency Assets, Gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights, Reserve position with the IMF.
❖ The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969. The SDR is neither a currency nor a
claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. SDRs can
be exchanged for these currencies.
❖ The value of the SDR is calculated from a weighted basket of major currencies, including the US dollar, the
euro, the Japanese yen, the Chinese yuan, and the British pound.
Top Investment Destination in India

❖ According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Gujarat has surpassed all other
Indian states in attracting new investments from both domestic and foreign corporations. Fresh investments
worth Rs 3.98 trillion were announced for Gujarat during the financial year (FY) 2022, representing a 273%
increase over the FY 2021 figure of Rs 2.91 trillion.
❖ Rajasthan, on the other hand, emerged as the second most attractive destination for investments in India
in FY 2022. Interestingly, the state witnessed the highest rate of growth during the period, soaring by almost
535% and attracting new investments worth Rs 2.37 trillion.
❖ Gujarat is the second-largest producer of crude oil (First Rajasthan) and the fourth largest producer of
natural gas, and it hosts the world’s largest petroleum refining hub at Jamnagar district.
❖ Gujarat’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) which reached USD260 billion in FY 2022 and showed a
7% year-over-year (y-o-y) growth rate, is anticipated to reach USD280 billion in FY 2023.
❖ There are 21 operational Special Economic Zones (SEZs), with 26 SEZs having formal approvals, eight
notified Special Investment Regions (SIR), and 202 industrial derivatives in Gujarat.
❖ To attract offshore financial market investors, India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)
has been set up in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
❖ Recently, Vedanta and Taiwanese chipmaker Foxconn have signed a MoU to set up a ₹1,54,000 crore
semiconductor plant in Gujarat.
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Davos Summit 2023
rd
❖ The 53 edition of the annual World Economic Forum summit was held in Davos, Switzerland.
❖ Theme: Cooperation in a Fragmented World.
❖ Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate: A new Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate launched, bringing
together over 50 countries to boost international cooperation on climate, trade and sustainable development.
❖ Stakeholders across the world stressed the value of free trade. Even in the current global economic
landscape marked by fragmentation, the free trade system, which has contributed to global economic growth
and enhanced humanity’s freedom remains a global public good that can never be forsaken.
❖ The Chief Economist's Outlook was launched, which struck a cautious tone, with two-thirds of those
surveyed expecting a global recession this year 2023.
❖ A new initiative Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) was launched to leverage philanthropic capital to
unlock funding for the climate crisis.
❖ WEF has announced the rollout of its own metaverse platform, dubbed the Global Collaboration Village. The
digital world, designed to look like the actual town of Davos in which the organization meets once every year,
will supposedly allow for more efficient collaboration between world leaders.
❖ Indian Participation: This year marks 36 years of the Forum’s collaboration with India. At the summit, India
is represented by a high-level delegation which includes Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Business leaders
etc.
❖ India’s focus areas at WEF remained investment opportunities, infrastructural landscape and its inclusive
& sustainable growth story.
❖ Some prominent indicators for India to see robust economic growth include World Bank's latest India
development update, which said India's real GDP growth is expected to be at 6.9 % in FY2223 in comparison
to 8.7 % in FY21-22.
❖ The report, ‘India@100: Realising the potential of a USD 26 trillion economy’, was launched by India, on the
sidelines of the summit.
❖ As per this report, India’s economy will reach USD 26 trillion by 2047, the 100th year of the country’s
independence.
Related Static GK
❖ Situated on the Landwasser River, in the Rhaetian Alps, eastern Switzerland, Davos is a resort town
consisting of two villages, Davos-Platz and Davos-Dorf.
cooperation.
❖ Mission: Committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other
leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
World Economic Outlook

❖ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update, which has
marginally improved the forecast for global growth in 2023.
❖ The global growth, which was estimated at 3.4% in 2022, is now projected to fall to 2.9% in 2023 before
rising to 3.1% in 2024.
❖ The IMF effectively rules out a global recession.
❖ Negative growth in global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) or global GDP per capita—which often happens
when there is a global recession—is not expected.
❖ Instead, it expects global growth to bottom out in 2023 before starting to gather speed in 2024.
❖ Inflation-Disinflation: Inflation is expected to have peaked in 2022 but the disinflation will be slow and take
all of 2023 and 2024.
❖ Headline Inflation: About 84% of countries are expected to have lower headline (consumer price index)
inflation in 2023 than in 2022.
❖ Global Inflation: Global inflation is set to fall from 8.8 % in 2022 (annual average) to 6.6 % in 2023 and 4.3
% in 2024––above pre-pandemic (2017–19) levels of about 3.5 %.
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❖ Price rise is slowing for two main reasons: One, monetary tightening all across the world — higher interest
rates drag down overall demand for goods and services and that, in turn, slows down inflation.
❖ Two, in the wake of a faltering demand, prices of different commodities — both fuel and non-fuel — have
come down from their recent highs.
❖ In 2023, advanced economies are expected to have an inflation of 4.6% while emerging economies will
continue to face an inflation of 8.1%.
❖ India will be the world’s fastest growing economy in 2023 and 2024.
❖ Growth in India is set to decline from 6.8 % in 2022 to 6.1 % in 2023 before picking up to 6.8% in 2024, with
resilient domestic demand despite external headwinds.
International Monetary Fund
❖ The IMF was set up along with the World Bank after the Second World War to assist in the reconstruction
of war-ravaged countries.
❖ Reports: Global Financial Stability Report, World Economic Outlook
Related Static Terms

❖ Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) provides quick financial assistance, which is available to all member
countries facing urgent balance of payments requirements. The RFI was created as part of a broader reform
to make IMF financial support more flexible to meet the diverse needs of member states. The RFI replaces
the IMF's previous emergency assistance policy and can be used in a wide variety of circumstances.
❖ The Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) provides immediate balance of payments (BoP) requirements to low-
income countries (LICs) with no ex-post condition, where a full economic program is neither necessary nor
feasible. RCF was set up as part of a comprehensive reform to make the fund's financial support more
flexible and better suited to suit the diverse needs of LIC including times of crisis.
❖ There are three areas under the RCF: (i) a "regular window" for immediate BoP needs due to a wide range
of sources such as household instability, emergencies and fragility (ii) for immediate BoP needs due to
sudden, exogenous shocks. an “exogenous shock window” and (iii) a “large natural disaster window” for
immediate BoP needs due to natural disasters where the damage is estimated to be equal to or greater
than 20% of the member's GDP.
❖ Reserve tranche is the component of a member country's quota with the IMF that is in the form of gold or
foreign currency. For any member country, out of the total quota, 25% should be paid in the form of foreign
currency or gold. Hence this is called as reserve tranche or gold tranche.
Tech Layoffs
❖ The International Business Machines Corp (IBM) has announced that it would be laying off about 3,900
employees.
❖ It is the latest in the series of Big Tech layoffs in 2022, the tech sector alone shed more than 1,50,000
employees, with several more job cuts being announced since the start of the new year, over 40,000.
❖ The biggest tech companies in the US (Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook-owned Meta) have
accounted for 51,000 of the tech layoffs in recent months.
❖ These companies are apprehensive of potential economic recession, with inflation soaring in most parts of
the world.
❖ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cited forecasts for global GDP (Gross Domestic
Product) growth in both 2022 and 2023 as gloomy, given the pandemic and ongoing Russia-Ukraine
Conflict.
❖ Alphabet had posted lower-than-expected numbers for its third financial quarter, where it fell behind both
revenue and profit expectations.
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❖ Growth has indeed slowed down from pandemic levels, analysts also project that the five big tech
companies, including Apple, are headed to report dismal profits for the October to December (2022)
period.
❖ Cost-cutting is one of the main reasons for lay off because the companies are not making enough profits
to cover their expenses or because they need substantial extra cash to address paying off debt.
❖ Between 30% to 40% of those laid off are Indian IT professionals, a significant number of whom are on H-
1B and L1 visas.
❖ The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in special
occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
❖ Indian Startups have also faced this trouble with media reports saying that more than ten thousand
employees have been laid off by startups in mainly the edtech and ecommerce sectors in 2022.
❖ More than 20,000 workers at the country’s startups in sectors like edtech and e-commerce were handed
pink slips in 2022, as investors who just a year ago had infused large sums of capital in the market pulled
back.
❖ Already in 2023, startups like Swiggy, which in January became a decacorn — a firm with a valuation of USD
10 billion or more — recently laid off 380 employees, and Google-backed ShareChat fired 20% or around
400 of its workforces.
❖ Cab-hailing firm Ola, which had already fired more than 2,000 workers 2022 following a failed bid to scale
up its quick commerce vertical, let go of 200 employees earlier this year.
Angel Tax
❖ The Section 56 (2) (vii b) in the Income Tax Act is referred to as Angel tax. These taxes are imposed on
startups. Say a startup SSS sells one lakh shares to a person X. Selling price of one share is Rs 5000. Now
SSS gains 50 crores. Say the actual market value of the share is Rs 2000 per share. So 20 crore rupees is
the actual market value. SSS made 30 crores of rupees profit. So SSS has to pay angel tax on the 30 crores
rupees!
❖ During Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sita Raman proposed to amend the Angel tax.
Now, the equity amount received by the startups will be subjected to income taxes and not angel taxes.
Meaning, the entire 50 crores of rupees, that is, the total amount the startup received by selling the shares
is subjected to income tax! Earlier, only 30 cores were subjected to taxes.
Decline in Budgetary Allocation for Minority Affairs

❖ Budgetary allocation for the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs (Smriti Irani) decreased by 38% in 2023-
24 compared to 2022-23.
❖ The major decline was in the allocation for pre-matric scholarships, free coaching for minorities, skill
development and livelihoods programmes (including USTTAD scheme, Nai Manzil and Scheme for
Leadership Development of Minority Women) .
❖ Also, allocation for the Umbrella Programme for Development of Minorities, which includes the Pradhan
Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram and Education Scheme for Madrasas and Minorities, fell from ₹1810 crore to
₹610 crore, which is a dip of 66.2% in allocation.
Major Schemes in India for the Welfare of Minorities:-
❖ Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship
Scheme: For educational empowerment of students, through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
❖ Naya Savera- Free Coaching and Allied Scheme: The Scheme aims to provide free coaching to
students/candidates belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities for preparation
of entrance examinations of technical/ professional courses and competitive examinations.
❖ Padho Pardesh: Scheme of interest subsidy to students of economically weaker sections of minority
communities on educational loans for overseas higher studies.
❖ Nai Roshni: Leadership development of women belonging to minority communities.
❖ Seekho Aur Kamao: It is a skill development scheme for youth of 14 - 35 years age group and aiming at
improving the employability of existing workers, school dropouts etc.
❖ Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK): It is a Scheme designed to address the development
deficits of the identified Minority Concentration Areas.
❖ USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development): Launched in May
2015 aims to preserve the rich heritage of traditional skills of indigenous artisans/craftsmen.
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❖ Prime Minister-Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM Vikaas): New PM Vikas has been added to the Ministry of
Minority Affairs' Budget in 2023.
❖ The scheme is intended to be implemented in conjunction with the ‘Skill India Mission’ of the Ministry of
Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Dharmendra Pradhan) and through integration with the Skill India
Portal (SIP).
RBI Hikes Repo Rate

❖ In a move to further increase the lending/deposit rates, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the repo rate
by 25 bps to 6.5% - 6th rate hike in a row.
❖ In the last meeting for the current fiscal (2022-23), the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) projected the
real GDP growth at 6.4% (for FY 23-24).
❖ Repo Rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks.
Monetary Policy
❖ Monetary policy refers to the policy of the central bank with regard to the use of monetary instruments
under its control to achieve the goals specified in the Act.
❖ The primary objective of the RBI’s monetary policy is to maintain price stability while keeping in mind the
objective of growth.
❖ The amended RBI Act, 1934 also provides for the inflation target (4% +-2%) to be set by the Government of
India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, once in every 5 years.
❖ Tools under the Monetary Policy: Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), Bank Rate,
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR).
Monetary Policy Committee
❖ Origin: Under Section 45ZB of the amended (in 2016) RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered
to constitute a 6-member MPC.
❖ Objective: Further, Section 45ZB lays down that “the Monetary Policy Committee shall determine the Policy
Rate required to achieve the inflation target”.
❖ The decision of the Monetary Policy Committee shall be binding on the Bank.
❖ Composition: Section 45ZB says the MPC shall consist of 6 members:
➢ RBI Governor as its ex officio chairperson
➢ Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy
➢ An officer of the Bank to be nominated by the Central Board,
➢ Three persons to be appointed by the central government.
❖ The decisions are taken by majority, in case of conflict RBI governor has the final vote
Primary Agriculture Credit Societies

❖ The Union Budget 2023 has announced Rs 2,516 crore for digitization of 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies (PACS) over the next five years.
❖ It aims at bringing greater transparency and accountability in their operations and enabling them to
diversify their business and undertake more activities.
❖ It aims to help PACS become a nodal centre for providing various services such as Direct Benefit Transfer
(DBT), Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS), Crop Insurance Scheme (PMFBY), and inputs like fertilizers and
seeds.
❖ PACS are village level cooperative credit societies that serve as the last link in a three-tier cooperative
credit structure headed by the State Cooperative Banks (SCB) at the state level.
❖ Credit from the SCBs is transferred to the District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), that operate at the
district level. The DCCBs work with PACS, which deal directly with farmers.
❖ PACSs provide short-term, and medium-term agricultural loans to the farmers for the various agricultural
and farming activities.
❖ The first PACS was formed in 1904.
❖ Status: A report published by the Reserve Bank of India on December 27, 2022 put the number of PACS at
1.02 lakh. At the end of March 2021, only 47,297 of them were in profit.
NAMASTE Scheme
❖ Union Budget 2023-2024 has allocated nearly Rs 100 crore for the National Action for Mechanized
Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the government is looking to enable 100% mechanical desludging
of septic tanks and sewers in all cities and towns.
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❖ The process of extending the Scheme to all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country has been
initiated.
❖ It was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.
❖ The scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Hardeep Singh Puri)
and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Virendra Kumar) and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer
and septic tank cleaning practices.
❖ Objectives: Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
❖ All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers.
❖ No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
❖ Sanitation workers are collectivised into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation
enterprises.
❖ Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at National, State and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels to
ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work.
❖ Increased awareness among sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services
from registered and skilled sanitation workers
❖ Manual Scavenging: Manual scavenging is defined as “the removal of human excrement from public
streets and dry latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers”.
❖ India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR).
❖ The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: Superseding the
1993 Act, the 2013 Act goes beyond prohibitions on dry latrines, and outlaws all manual excrement
cleaning of insanitary latrines, open drains, or pits.
❖ The Building and Maintenance of Insanitary Latrines Act of 2013: It outlaws construction or maintenance
of unsanitary toilets, and the hiring of anybody for their manual scavenging, as well as of hazardous
cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
❖ Prevention of Atrocities Act: In 1989, the Prevention of Atrocities Act became an integrated guard for
sanitation workers, more than 90% people employed as manual scavengers belonged to the Scheduled
Caste. This became an important landmark to free manual scavengers from designated traditional
occupations.
❖ SC Judgment: In 2014, a Supreme Court order made it mandatory for the government to identify all those
who died in sewage work since 1993 and provide Rs. 10 lakh each as compensation to their families.
Global Climate Resilience Fund

❖ Hillary Clinton (former US Secretary of State) was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat attending the 50th-
anniversary celebration of SEWA. SEWA is Self Employed Women Association. It was founded by the late
activist Ela Bhatt. During the function, Mrs Clinton announced 50 million USD for women in the region. The
fund is to be used to fight against climate change.
❖ Global Climate Resilience Fund: The fund will be mainly used to fight heat waves in the region. Sometimes,
the temperature in the region crosses sixty degrees Celsius due to heat waves. It usually occurs during
May-June. The number of heat waves and the intensity of heat waves has been increasing in the country
lately. In 1981-90, the number of heat wave days was 413. Between 2011 and 2020, the heat waves days in
the country were 600. The number of heat wave days is increasing due to climate change.
❖ Self-Employed Women Association (SEWA). It is a trade union promoting self-employed female
entrepreneurs and low-income female labourers. It was founded in 1972.
49th GST Council Meeting

❖ Recently, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in its 49th Meeting has reached consensus on the
constitution of the GST Appellate Tribunal to resolve the rising number of disputes under the old indirect
tax regime.
❖ GST Appellate Tribunal: The council has approved the creation of a national tribunal mechanism with state
benches for the redressal of disputes.
❖ The Tribunal will resolve the rising number of disputes under the GST regime that are now clogging High
Courts and other judicial fora.
❖ This year’s Finance Bill can incorporate the enabling legislative provisions for the Tribunal.
❖ The GST Tribunal will have one principal bench in New Delhi and many benches or boards in states. The
principal bench and state boards would have two technical and two judicial members each, with equal
representation.
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❖ Cleared Pending Compensation Dues: It has cleared the balance of Rs 16,982 crore (for June 2022). It has
finalized GST compensation of Rs 16,524 crore to six states/UTs including, Delhi, Karnataka, Odisha,
Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana
❖ Lower Penal Charges: It approved lower penal charges for delayed filing of annual returns by businesses
with a turnover of up to Rs 20 crore a year.
❖ The council has approved an Amnesty Scheme for taxpayers unable to file three statutory returns, that
entail conditional waivers or reductions in late fees for such filings.
❖ The GST Amnesty Scheme was introduced to encourage non-filers to voluntarily come forward and file
their GST returns by providing a one-time relief from late fees.
❖ Rate Changes: The GST rate on several items has been changed, such as pencil sharpeners, rab (liquid
jaggery).
❖ Plugging Tax Evasion: The Council has decided to switch the compensation cess levied on pan masala and
gutkha commodities from an ad valorem basis to a specific tax-based levy.
❖ The ad valorem tax is levied according to value.
❖ This will boost the first stage collection of the revenue.
❖ The Council also mandated that exports only be allowed against letters of undertaking assuring of GST
compliance.
GST Council
❖ It is a joint forum of the Centre and the states.
❖ It was set up by the President as per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution.
❖ Members: The members of the Council include the Union Finance Minister (chairperson), the Union
Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre.
❖ Each state can nominate a minister in-charge of finance or taxation or any other minister as a member.
❖ According to Article 279 of the Constitution, the council can make recommendations to the Union and the
states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted
from GST, model GST Laws”.
❖ Article 279 as well as Article 279A of the Indian Constitution deal with the financial provisions of the
country.
Goods and Service Tax
❖ In 2003, the Kelkar Task Force on indirect tax had suggested a comprehensive Goods and Services Tax
(GST) subsuming central, state taxes, and interstate taxation based on VAT principle.
❖ It was enacted as Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016, with effect from, 16th September, 2016. It
heralds the first significant step towards the indirect tax reform in India in the last thirty years.
❖ The GST was launched on 1st July 2017.
❖ It is a tax levied when a consumer buys a good or service. It is meant to be a single, comprehensive tax that
will subsume all the other smaller indirect taxes on consumption like service tax, etc.
❖ It is an indirect tax for the whole country on the lines of “One Nation One Tax” to make India a unified
market.
❖ It subsumed 17 large taxes and 13 cesses.
❖ Assam is 1st State to pass the GST bill.
❖ 28% is the highest tax slab of GST
❖ For interstate supply of goods IGST will be applicable
❖ Input Service Distributer (ISD) is related to GST
❖ Asim Dasgupta was appointed as the head of the fist committee to design a GST model
❖ Alcohol is not brought under the purview of GST regime primarily due to two reasons: To ensure that the
State Governments continue to have a strong inflow of revenue. It's estimated that taxes on liquor and beer
fetch the state governments nearly ₹90,000 crores annually
Vostro Accounts
❖ 20 Russian banks have opened Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVA) with partner banks in India for the
settlement of payments in rupee for trade between India and Russia.
❖ In July 2022, the RBI had unveiled a mechanism to settle international transactions in rupee to promote
the growth of global trade, with emphasis on exports from India, as well as pushing rupee as an
international currency.
❖ It is also expected to enable trade with sanction-hit nations such as Russia.
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❖ According to the mechanism finalised by the RBI, banks of partner countries can approach authorised
dealer banks in India for opening special rupee vostro accounts. The authorised dealer bank will then have
to seek approval from the central bank with details of such an arrangement.
❖ Authorized Dealer Banks in India had been permitted to open Rupee Vostro Accounts.
❖ Indian importers undertaking imports via this mechanism will make payment in INR which will be credited
into the Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country, against the invoices for
the supply of goods or services from the overseas seller.
❖ Eligibility Criteria of Banks: Domestic banks are responsible to ensure that the correspondent bank is not
from a country mentioned in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s list of High Risk & Non-Co-operative
jurisdictions.
❖ Authorized banks can open multiple SRV accounts for different banks from the same country.
Background
❖ The RBI has allowed the opening of 9 special vostro accounts in 2 Indian Banks (UCO Bank and IndusInd
Bank) for the settlement of payments in rupee for trade between India and Russia.
❖ Russia’s two largest banks — Sberbank and VTB Bank — are the first foreign lenders to have received
approval from the RBI towards settling international trade transactions in rupee.
❖ A Vostro account is just another name for a Nostro account. It is an account held by a bank that allows the
customers to deposit money on behalf of another bank.
❖ A Nostro account is an account held by a bank in another bank. It allows the customers to deposit money in
the bank's account in another bank. It is often used if a bank has no branches in a foreign country. Nostro
is a Latin word that means “ours”.
❖ Let's presume bank "A" does not have any branches in the Russia, but bank "B" does. Now, to receive the
deposits in the Russia, "A" will open a Nostro account with "B".
❖ Now, if any customers in the Russia want to send money to "A", they can deposit it into A's account in
"B". "B" will transfer the money to "A".
❖ The main difference between a deposit account and a Nostro account is that the former is held by
individual depositors while foreign institutions hold the latter
❖ A Nostro account is a Vostro account for the bank that opens the account.
❖ The word Vostro means ‘yours’ in Latin.
❖ In the above example, the account will be called a Vostro account for bank "B". The Vostro account accepts
the payments on behalf of the account holder's bank.
❖ Nostro and Vostro accounts are held in a foreign denomination.
❖ In July 2022, the RBI had unveiled a mechanism to settle international transactions in rupee to promote the
growth of global trade, with emphasis on exports from India, as well as pushing rupee as an international
currency.
UPI-PayNow Integration
❖ India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Singapore’s PayNow have been integrated to enable
faster Remittances between the two countries.
❖ Singapore has become the first country with which cross-border Person to Person (P2P) payment facilities
have been launched.
❖ The UPI-PayNow partnership marks the world’s first to feature cloud-based infrastructure and
participation by non-bank financial institutions.
❖ UPI is India’s mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock
payments instantly, using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer.
❖ VPA is a unique identifier assigned to an individual to facilitate the transfer of funds through a digital
payments system. It is a user-created identifier that can be used instead of providing sensitive bank
account details while making payments.
❖ It eliminates the risk of sharing bank account details by the remitter. UPI supports both Person-to-Person
(P2P) and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payments and it also enables a user to send or receive money.
❖ PayNow is a fast payment system in Singapore. It enables peer-to-peer funds transfer service, available to
retail customers through participating banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NFIs) in Singapore.
❖ Developed by Association of Banks in Singapore and regulated by Monetary Authority of Singapore.
❖ With this facility, funds held in bank accounts or e-wallets can be transferred to /from India using just the
UPI ID, mobile number, or VPA.
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❖ This facility will eliminate the need for entering the details of beneficiaries, such as bank account
numbers, bank codes etc.
Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
❖ Launched by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) with 21 banks in 2016
❖ During Raghuram Rajan as the RBI governor Tenure
❖ UPI crossed USD100 billion in a month for the first time in October, 2021
❖ India’s digital payments industry is likely to grow from Rs. 2,153 trillion at 27% Compounded Annual
Growth Rate (CAGR) to Rs. 7,092 trillion by 2025.
❖ UPI recently touched 1 Trillion USD in transection values for FY 2022
❖ UPI is currently the biggest among the NPCI operated systems including National Automated Clearing
House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill
Payment System (BBPS), RuPay etc.
❖ NPCI, an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an
initiative of RBI and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement
Systems Act, 2007.
❖ It is a “Not for Profit” Company under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now
Section 8 of Companies Act 2013), with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking
system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.
National Payments Corporation of India

❖ NPCI is an umbrella organisation for all retail payments systems in India. Its primary objective is to
provide safe, secure, and efficient retail payment systems in India.
❖ It aims to promote digital payments and financial inclusion in the country.
❖ NPCI was established in 2008 under the guidance and support of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian
Banks' Association (IBA).
❖ NPCI offers a range of products and services, including Unified Payments Interface (UPI), National
Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Bharat Bill Payment System
(BBPS), RuPay card, and others.
❖ It is a “Not for Profit” Company under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8
of Companies Act 2013), with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for
physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.
❖ The 10 core promoter banks are State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda,
Union Bank of India, Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Citibank and HSBC.
15% Global Growth in India: IMF

❖ According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India will alone contribute 15% of the global growth in
2023 and continues to remain a relative "bright spot" in the world economy
❖ India remains a bright spot at a time when the IMF is projecting 2023 to be difficult with global
growth slowing down from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023.
❖ For FY 2023/24 (April 2023 to March 2024) India’s growth rate is projected at 6.1% a bit slow like the rest of
the world economy, but way above the global average.
❖ And in that way, India is providing about 15% of global growth in 2023.
❖ Digitalisation: According to the IMF, India has turned digitalisation into a driver of overcoming the
pandemic and creating job opportunities, while the country's fiscal policy has been responsive to economic
conditions.
❖ Investment in Green Economy: The country's fiscal responsibility has been translated into a medium-term
framework, with a strong anchor to public finances.
❖ Also, India is investing in the green economy, including renewables with potential to shift the country
towards clean energy.
❖ Capital Spending: The capital spending has increased, which would amount to 3.3% of gross domestic
product, and will be the biggest such jump after an increase of more than 37% between 2020-21 and 2021-
22.
❖ Demographic Dividend: India does have a young population. 15 million people are added to the labour
force every year. Strong investment climate that generates jobs is a great advantage for India. Women can
be a fabulous driver for India’s growth.
Amazon to Join ONDC
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❖ Amazon has announced that it will join the Indian government’s ONDC (Open Network for Digital
Commerce) platform. In 2022, Microsoft became the first big technology company to join the network with
an intention of introducing group buying in the Indian market through social e-commerce.
❖ ONDC is an open e-commerce protocol set up by the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Under ONDC, it is envisaged that a buyer registered on one
participating e-commerce site may purchase goods from a seller on another participating e-commerce site
(for example, Flipkart).
❖ Presently, buyers and sellers have to be on the same app for a transaction which happens through the
same platform.
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
❖ It is an open e-commerce protocol set up by the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
❖ It was incorporated on 31 December 2021 with initial investment from Quality Council of India and Protean
eGov Technologies Limited (formerly NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited)
❖ Under ONDC, it is envisaged that a buyer registered on one participating e-commerce site (for example,
Amazon) may purchase goods from a seller on another participating e-commerce site (for example,
Flipkart).
❖ CEO: Thampy Koshy
❖ Objectives: Democratisation and decentralization of eCommerce, Inclusivity and access for sellers,
especially small and medium enterprises as well as local businesses, Increased choices and independency
for consumers
Social Stock Exchange

❖ National Stock Exchange of India received final approval from SEBI to set up the Social Stock Exchange
(SSE).
❖ The SSE would function as a separate segment within the existing stock exchange and help social
enterprises raise funds from the public through its mechanism.
❖ Retail investors can only invest in securities offered by for-profit social enterprises (SEs) under the Main
Board. In all other cases, only institutional investors and non-institutional investors can invest in securities
issued by SEs.
❖ Any non-profit organisation (NPO) or for-profit social enterprise (FPSEs) that establishes the primacy of
social intent would be recognised as a SE, which will make it eligible to be registered or listed on the SSE.
❖ 17 plausible criteria under SEBI’s ICDR Regulations, 2018 include serving to eradicate hunger,
poverty, malnutrition, promoting education, employability, equality, and environmental sustainability
among others
❖ Ineligibility: Corporate foundations, political or religious organisations, professional or trade associations,
infrastructure and housing companies (except affordable housing) would not be identified as SE. NPOs
would be deemed ineligible if dependent on corporates for more than 50% of its funding.
❖ NPOs can raise money either through issuance of Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) Instruments from
private placement or public issue, or donations from mutual funds.
❖ ZCZP bonds differ from conventional bonds in the sense that it entails zero coupon and no principal
payment at maturity. For ZCZP issuance, the minimum issue size is presently prescribed as Rs 1 crore and
minimum application size for subscription at Rs 2 lakhs.
❖ Also, Development Impact Bonds are available upon completion of a project and delivered on pre-agreed
social metrics at pre-agreed costs/rates.
❖ FPSE Money Raising: FPEs need not register with SSE before raising funds through SSE.
❖ It can raise money through issue of equity shares or issuing equity shares to an Alternative Investment
Fund including Social Impact Fund or issue of debt instruments.
Related Important Terms
❖ Commercial Paper (CP) is an unsecured money market instrument issued in the form of a promissory note
and held in a dematerialized form through any of the depositories approved by and registered with SEBI.
❖ Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a negotiable money market instrument and issued in dematerialised form or
as a Usance Promissory Note, for funds deposited at a bank or other eligible financial institution for a
specified time period. CDs can be issued by (i) scheduled commercial banks excluding Regional Rural
Banks (RRBs) and Local Area Banks (LABs); and (ii) select all-India Financial Institutions (FIs) that have
been permitted by RBI to raise short-term resources within the umbrella limit fixed by RBI.
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❖ Call money is a short-term, interest-paying loan from 1 to 14 days made by a financial institution to another
financial institution.
❖ A zero-coupon bond is a debt security that does not pay interest but instead trades at a deep discount,
rendering a profit at maturity, when the bond is redeemed for its full face value. Hence, statement 4 is not
correct.
8th Raisina Dialogue 2023

❖ Giorgia Meloni (Italian PM) visited India to be the chief guest and keynote speaker at the 8th Raisina
Dialogue
❖ Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, committed to
addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community.
❖ In 2023, it seeks to capture the state of the world through its theme of "Provocation, Uncertainty,
Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?"
❖ It is held annually since 2016 in New Delhi.
❖ It takes its name from the Raisina Hills, It is an area in Delhi where the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Prime
Minister’s Office (PMO) and other important government offices are situated.
❖ It is organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External
Affairs (S. Jaishankar), Government of India.
❖ It is organized on the lines of the Shangri La Dialogue (which takes place annually in Singapore) & the
Munich Security Conference (the 59th edition of which took place in February 2023).
❖ The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion involving heads of state,
cabinet ministers, and local government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private
sector, media, and academia.
❖ The Dialogue, since its inception, has attracted academics, scholars, researchers, students, journalists and
even politicians who are either interested—or are working—in the field of international relations, geopolitics,
security, nuclear issues and Indian foreign policy.
❖ Raisina Dialogue 2023 Pillars
1. Neo Insurgence: Geographies, Domains, Ambitions
2. Amoral Mosaic: Contest, Cooperate, Or Cancel
3. Chaotic Codes: Sovereignty, Security, Society
4. Pernicious Passports: Climate, Commons, Citizens
5. Grey Rhinos: Democracies, Dependencies, And Debt Traps
Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
❖ Established in 1990, the ORF is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that conducts policy research on
good governance, foreign policy, and sustainable economic development for India.
❖ ORF’s work spans a wide range of topics, including climate, energy, cyber issues and media, economic
development, and national security.
❖ It provides non-partisan, independent, well-researched analyses and inputs to diverse decision-makers in
governments, business communities, academia, and to civil society around the world.
❖ It seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and
equitable world
Conference of Global Intelligence Chiefs
❖ India held the second conference of intelligence and security chiefs from 26 countries around the world.
❖ The conference was held for the first time in April 2022, a day before the start of the Raisina Dialogue. It
was addressed by the PM of India and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
❖ As part of Raisina Dialogue, the security conference is organised by the country’s external intelligence
agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) that
reports to NSA.
❖ Objective: To discuss the ongoing geopolitical tensions, provided an opportunity for participants to
exchange views on how to address this crisis and other geopolitical tensions. However, the meeting
focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
❖ It was coincided with the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting and the Raisina Dialogue. India chairs both G20
and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023.
❖ While the U.S. was absent, intelligence chiefs from the U.K., France, Japan and Bahrain were among those
present.
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India’s Economic Growth: World Bank
❖ The World Bank has released a report titled "South Asia Economic Focus: Expanding Opportunities:
Toward Inclusive Growth," which provides an economic forecast for India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
❖ India's growth rate has been downgraded to 6.3% for FY 2023-24 ,and the report cites high borrowing
costs and slower income growth as the primary reasons for this downgrade.
❖ The female labour participation rate and the size and productivity of the informal sector are also concerns
in India.
❖ However, the services sector and the construction sector are the fastest-growing industries in India, with
strong investment growth and high business confidence.
❖ India's growth rate is expected to grow at 6.4% in FY 2024-25, which is an upgrade of 0.3 % points from the
previous forecast.
❖ The South Asia region as whole is expected to grow at 5.6% this calendar year
❖ The outlook for Sri Lanka and Pakistan is bleak, with Sri Lanka experiencing a contraction of -4.3% in 2023
and negotiating a USD 3 billion loan from the IMF, while Pakistan is forecasted to have a growth rate
of 0.4% for the year ending June 30, 2023.
❖ Islamabad is negotiating the release of a $1.1 billion tranche of a larger $6.5 billion bailout package with
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been delayed, as the IMF awaits assurances from
Pakistan that it can finance this year’s balance of payments deficit.
World Bank
❖ The Bretton Woods Conference, officially known as the United Nations Monetary and Financial
Conference, was a gathering of delegates from 44 nations that met from July 1 to 22, 1944 in Bretton
Woods, New Hampshire (USA), to agree upon a series of new rules for international financial and
monetary order after the conclusion of World War II.
❖ The two major accomplishments of the conference were the creation of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
❖ Founded in 1944, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) — soon called the
World Bank — has expanded to a closely associated group of 5 development institutions.
o International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
o International Development Association (IDA)
o International Finance Corporation (IFC)
o Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
o International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (India is not a member)
❖ HQ: Washington DC
❖ 189 Members
❖ President: Ajay Banga
❖ MD: Axel van Trotsenburg
❖ MD & CEO: Anshula Kant
❖ Chief Economist: Indermit Gill
❖ Chief Economist of South Asia: Hans Timmer
❖ Major Reports: Ease of Doing Business, Human Capital Index, World Development Report
Retail Inflation
❖ India's retail inflation rate declined to 5.66%, below the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) upper target of 6% in
March 2023, primarily due to a decrease in food prices, especially for vegetables.
❖ Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel prices, was at 5.95% in March, down from 6.12% in February.
❖ The decrease in retail inflation is a positive development for the economy. It provides some relief to
consumers who have been dealing with rising prices for essential goods and services. Moreover, it could
give the RBI more flexibility in its monetary policy decisions going forward.
❖ Retail inflation, also known as Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, is the rate at which the prices of
goods and services that consumers buy for personal use increase over time.
❖ It measures the change in the cost of a basket of goods and services that are typically purchased by
households, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, and medical care.
❖ Four types of CPI are as follows: CPI for Industrial Workers (IW), CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL), CPI for
Rural Labourer (RL) and CPI for Urban Non-Manual Employees (UNME). Of these, the first three are
compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment (Bhupendra Yadav). Fourth is
compiled by the NSO in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Rao Inderjit Singh)
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❖ Base Year for CPI is 2012. In 2020, the Ministry of Labour and Employment released the new series of
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Worker (CPI-IW) with base year 2016.
❖ The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) uses CPI data to control inflation. In April 2014, the RBI adopted
the CPI as its key measure of inflation.
❖ Wholesale Price Index: It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale
businesses to other businesses.
❖ Published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
❖ It is the most widely used inflation indicator in India. Major criticism for this index is that the general public
does not buy products at wholesale price.
Dabba Trading
❖ National Stock Exchange (NSE) issued a string of notices naming entities involved in “dabba trading”.
❖ Dabba trading is a form of informal trading that takes place outside the purview of the stock exchanges.
❖ In this practice, traders bet on stock price movements without incurring a real transaction to take physical
ownership of a particular stock as is done in an exchange.
❖ This results in gambling centred around stock price movements, which is illegal and unregulated.
❖ For example, an investor places a bet on a stock at a price point, say ₹1,000. If the price point rose to
₹1,500, he/she would make a gain of ₹500. However, if the price point falls to ₹900, the investor would have
to pay the difference to the dabba broker.
❖ Thus, it could be concluded that the broker’s profit equates the investor’s loss and vice-versa. The
equations are particularly consequential during bull runs or bear market.
❖ It is recognised as an offence under Section 23(1) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA),
1956 and upon conviction, can invite imprisonment for a term extending up to 10 years or a fine up to ₹25
crore, or both.
Related Important terms
❖ A ‘bear’ is an investor who believes that a particular security or market is headed downward and attempts
to profit from a decline in stock prices. ‘Bears’ are typically pessimistic about the state of a given market.
❖ Whereas, a ‘bull’ is an investor who thinks the market, a specific security or an industry is poised to rise.
Investors who adopt a ‘bull’ approach purchase securities under the assumption that they can sell them
later at a higher price. ‘Bulls’ are optimistic investors who are attempting to profit from the upward
movement of stocks.
Regulating Virtual Digital Asset

❖ The Ministry of Finance has extended the Anti-money Laundering provisions to Virtual Digital Assets
(VDA) businesses and service providers.
❖ The Ministry has extended the scope of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Act of 2002 by
adding the activities related to VDA and Crypto currency under the Act.
❖ Extended Activities: Exchange between VDA and Fiat Currencies (Legal Tender by the Central
Government).
o Echange between one or more forms of VDAs
o Transfer of VDAs
o Safekeeping or administration of VDAs or instruments enabling control over VDAs
o Participation in and provision of financial services related to an issuer’s offer and sale of a VDA
❖ Now the VDA will have to register as a reporting entity with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).
❖ The FIU-IND performs the same functions as FinCEN in the USA. Under the Finance Ministry (Nirmala
Sithraman), this was set up in 2004 as the nodal agency for receiving, analyzing and disseminating
information relating to suspect financial transactions.
❖ In Line with Global Guidelines: This risk-mitigation measures is in line with global guidelines put forward by
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
❖ FATF has a comprehensive definition of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), an extensive list covering
intermediaries, brokers, exchanges, custodians, hedge funds, and even mining pools.
❖ Such guidelines acknowledge the role VASPs play in regulating and monitoring the virtual digital assets
ecosystem.
Virtual Digital Assets
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❖ The government in the Union Budget for 2022-23 introduced new provisions aimed at taxing and tracking
Virtual Digital Assets. Along with the framework for taxation, the Budget for the first time defined virtual
digital assets.
❖ It has defined virtual digital assets in the newly inserted clause (47A) under Section 2 of the Income Tax
Act, 1961.
❖ VDA has been defined to mean any information or code or number or token (not being Indian currency or
any foreign currency), generated through cryptographic means, with the promise or representation of
having inherent value.
❖ VDAs mean cryptocurrencies, DeFi (decentralised finance) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
❖ From April 2022, India introduced a 30% income tax on gains made from cryptocurrencies.
❖ In July 2022, rules regarding 1% tax deducted at source on cryptocurrency came into effect.
RBI’s Gold Reserves

❖ As per RBI’s Half Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves: October 2022 - March
2023, its gold reserves touched 794.64 metric tonnes in FY 22-23, an increase of nearly 5% over FY 21-
22(760.42 metric tonnes)
❖ Gold reserves along with foreign currency assets, special drawing rights and reserve tranche position in
the International Monetary Fund make up India’s forex reserves.
❖ Total Reserves: As per RBI, 437.22 tonnes of gold are held overseas are held with the Bank of England and
the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), and 301.10 tonnes of gold is held domestically.
❖ As on March 31, 2023, the country’s total forex reserves stood at $578.449 billion, and gold reserves were
pegged at $45.2 billion.
❖ In value terms (USD), the share of gold in the total forex Eserves increased to about 7.81% at the end of
March 2023.
❖ Recent Purchase: The RBI bought 34.22 tonnes of gold in FY 23 (65.11 tonnes of gold in fiscal 2022).
❖ Between FY 2019 – FY 2021, RBI’s gold reserves were 228.41 tonnes.
❖ According to the World Gold Council's regional CEO (India), the RBI is among the top five central banks that
are buying gold.
❖ According to the World Gold Council (WGC), gold is being
bought mainly by central banks of emerging market
economies.
❖ The WGC report said that in 2022, the People’s Bank of
China reported the first increase in its gold reserves
since September 2019.
❖ China has been historically a large buyer of gold.
❖ During 2022, the central banks from the Middle East, including Egypt, Qatar, Iraq, the UAE, and
Oman significantly boosted their gold reserves.
❖ By the end of 2022, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan became a net purchaser of gold, with its gold reserves
rising by 34 tonnes.
❖ In January-March 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore was the largest single buyer of gold after it
added 69 tonnes to its gold reserves
❖ Why is RBI Hoarding the Gold? Counter Strategy against Negative Interest Rate: When the RBI has foreign
currency (USD) in its reserves then it invests these dollars to purchase US Govt. bonds on which it earns
interest. The real interest, however, on these bonds has turned negative due to the rise in inflation in the
US.
❖ The real interest rate is the rate of interest an investor, saver or lender receives (or expects to receive) after
allowing for inflation (real interest = nominal interest minus inflation rate).
❖ At the time of such inflation, the demand for gold has increased and RBI being its holder can earn a good
return even in stressed economic situations.
❖ Good Hedge in Geopolitical Uncertainty: Due to the uncertainties arising amid the Russia-Ukraine
war and US’ conflicts with China, there has been a decline in the acceptance of Dollar by some of the
prominent global supplier of Goods like Russia and China.
❖ Diversify Forex Reserves: Gold is a safer, more secure and more liquid asset and it performs better during
times of crisis, and as a long-term store of value.
❖ Gold has an international price which is transparent, and it can be traded anytime.
India Strengthens PMLA
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❖ India has undertaken changes in the money laundering law, the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act
(PMLA),2002, as part of a series of changes to plug loopholes ahead of the country’s proposed
assessment later in 2023 under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
❖ Changes Made: More disclosures for non-governmental organizations by reporting entities like financial
institutions, banking companies or intermediaries.
❖ Defining "politically exposed persons" (PEPs) as individuals who have been entrusted with prominent
public functions by a foreign country, bringing uniformity with a 2008 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular
for Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and anti-money laundering standards for banks and financial
institutions.
❖ Bringing in practicing chartered accountants, company secretaries, and cost and works accountants
carrying out financial transactions on behalf of their clients into the ambit of the money laundering law.
❖ Financial Transactions Include: Buying and selling of any immovable property - Managing client money,
securities, or other assets. - Management of bank, savings, or securities accounts - Organization of
contributions for the creation, operation, or management of companies. - Creation, operation, or
management of companies, limited liability partnerships, or trusts - Buying and selling of business entities.
❖ The government widened the list of non-banking reporting entities to allow 22 financial entities like
Amazon Pay (India) Pvt. Ltd, Aditya Birla Housing Finance Ltd, and IIFL Finance Ltd. to verify the identity of
their customers via Aadhaar under the ambit of the money laundering law
❖ PMLA, 2002: The PMLA was enacted in response to India’s global commitment (Vienna Convention) to
combat the menace of money laundering. These include: United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic
in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 - Basle Statement of Principles, 1989 - Forty
Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, 1990 - Political Declaration
and Global Program of Action adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990.
❖ It is a criminal law enacted to prevent money laundering and to provide for confiscation of property
derived from, or involved in, money-laundering and related matters.
❖ The provisions of this act are applicable to all financial institutions, banks (Including RBI), mutual
funds, insurance companies, and their financial intermediaries.
❖ Objectives: Confiscate and seize proceeds of crime that are laundered, generated or acquired through
criminal activities.
❖ Establish a legal framework for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
❖ Strengthen and improve the mechanism for investigation and prosecution of money laundering offences.
❖ Enhance international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and related crimes.
❖ Regulating Authorities: Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the
PMLA and investigating money laundering cases.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
❖ The FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets international standards seeking to prevent international
financial crimes that aid terrorism.
❖ The FATF was established in July 1989 by a G-7 Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop
measures to combat money laundering.
❖ After the 9/11 attacks, the FATF in October 2001 expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat
terrorist financing.
❖ In April 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
❖ The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a co-ordinated
global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism
❖ There are currently 39 members of the FATF; 37 jurisdictions and 2 regional organizations (the Gulf
Cooperation Council and the European Commission).
❖ One observer: Indonesia
❖ India has been a member of the FATF since 2010.
❖ India is also a member of its regional partners, the Asia Pacific Group (APG) and the Eurasian Group
(EAG).
❖ The FATF Plenary is the decision-making body of the FATF. It meets 3 times per year.
❖ Headquarters: Paris France
❖ President-T. Raja Kumar
❖ Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in
the FATF grey list. The “grey list” is also known as the “increased monitoring list”.
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❖ Albania, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gibraltar,
Haiti, Jamaica, Jordan, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, South
Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, 24 countries are in grey list
❖ Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These
countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.
❖ Currently, Iran, Myanmar and North Korea are on black list
❖ If a country is on grey list, it signals to the global financial and banking system about increased risks in
transactions with the country in question.
❖ Also, given that major financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank are affiliated with FATF as
observers, a grey-listed country faces complications in accessing international lending instruments.
Greenwashing TechSprint
❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be among 13 international regulators taking part in the Global
Financial Innovation Network's (GFIN) first-ever Greenwashing TechSprint.
❖ The RBI has invited Indian companies to participate in the Greenwashing TechSprint, an international
initiative aimed at tackling greenwashing in the financial services industry.
❖ The Greenwashing TechSprint is organized by the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a
consortium of over 80 international organizations committed to supporting financial innovation for the
benefit of consumers.
❖ The GFIN is currently chaired by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a leading regulatory body in the
United Kingdom.
❖ TechSprint aims to develop a tool or solution that can effectively help regulators and the market tackle the
risks of greenwashing in financial services. The TechSprint will launch on 5th June and will run for 3
months, ending with a showcase day in September 2023.
❖ Global Financial Innovation Network: The GFIN was formally launched in January 2019 by an international
group of financial regulators and related organizations.
❖ It is a network of over 70 organizations committed to supporting financial innovation in the interests of
consumers.
❖ It seeks to provide a more efficient way for innovative firms to interact with regulators, helping them
navigate between countries as they look to scale new ideas.
❖ The GFIN is overseen by the Coordination Group. The Coordination Group is made up of GFIN Members
and sets the overall direction, strategy and annual work programme of the GFIN.
❖ The Coordination Group is currently being chaired by the Financial Conduct Authority (UK). Membership in
the Coordination Group lasts for two years, and members meet twice a year to provide ongoing input and
engagement into the work-streams.
❖ Members from India: International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), Insurance Regulatory
and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority and
Reserve Bank India (RBI)
❖ Greenwashing refers to the practice of making false or exaggerated claims about the environmental
benefits of a product, service, or company in order to present a misleading image of sustainability or eco-
friendliness.
❖ Major Forms of Greenwashing: Vague or Misleading Labels: Companies may use terms like "eco-
friendly," "green," or "natural" without providing specific information or clear standards for what those
terms mean.
❖ Irrelevant Claims: Companies may highlight a minor environmental improvement while ignoring more
significant environmental issues related to their products or operations.
❖ Hidden Trade-offs: This occurs when a product is marketed as environmentally friendly in one aspect but
neglects to mention other negative environmental impacts. For instance, a disposable product might be
labeled as biodegradable, but the production process still has a significant carbon footprint.
RBI Withdrew Circulation of 2000 Notes

❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to withdraw the Rs 2000 denomination banknotes from
circulation.
❖ The notes will continue as legal tender. The RBI has advised banks to stop issuing Rs 2,000
denomination banknotes with immediate effect and all Rs 2,000 currency notes must be exchanged before
September 30, 2023.
❖ The RBI has advised people to approach bank branches for deposit and/or exchange of these banknotes.
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❖ One can exchange Rs 2000 banknotes up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time. A non-account holder of a bank
also can exchange Rs 2000 banknotes up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time at any bank branch.
❖ The Rs 2000 note was introduced in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of The RBI Act, 1934, primarily
with the objective of meeting the currency requirement of the economy after the legal tender status of Rs
500 and Rs 1000 notes was withdrawn.
❖ Why has the RBI withdrawn Rs 2000 notes: Initial Objective has been met: With the fulfillment of the
objective of other adequate stock of banknotes in other denominations to meet currency requirements, the
printing of Rs 2000 notes was stopped in 2018-19.
❖ Clean Note Policy: The ‘Clean Note Policy’ of the Reserve Bank of India, it has been decided to withdraw the
Rs 2000 denomination banknotes from circulation.
❖ The Clean Note Policy seeks to give the public good-quality currency notes and coins with better security
features, while soiled notes are withdrawn out of circulation.
❖ The RBI had earlier decided to withdraw from circulation all banknotes issued prior to 2005 as they have
fewer security features as compared to banknotes printed after 2005.
❖ Concerns of hoarding: The move comes amid concerns of the highest denomination notes being used to
hoard black money.
Annual Forex Spends upto ₹7 Lakh Exempted

❖ India will not impose a 20% tax on spending of up to 7 lakh rupees through international debit and credit
cards in a financial year to eliminate any procedural uncertainties. This decision comes in response to
concerns raised regarding the application of Tax Collection at Source (TCS) to small transactions under
the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) from July 1, 2023.
❖ It clarified that expenditures up to ₹7 lakh per year would neither fall under the LRS nor be subject to
TCS. To facilitate this exemption, the necessary changes to the Foreign Exchange Management (Current
Account Transactions Rules), 2000 would be separately issued.
❖ Additionally, the ministry emphasised that the existing beneficial TCS treatment for education and health
payments would continue, with a TCS rate of 5% for such payments up to ₹7 lakh per year.
❖ Also, the Reserve Bank of India recently introduced a new provision under the LRS, allowing individuals to
make forex remittances of up to USD 2.5 lakh annually.
RBI Surplus Transfer

❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved a significant transfer of surplus funds to the Union
Government, providing a major boost to the fiscal position.
❖ The surplus transfer for the accounting year 2022-23 amounts to Rs 87,416 crore, a 188% increase
compared to the previous year.
❖ Factors Contributed: Higher dividends from public sector banks and oil marketing companies.
❖ Increased earnings on investments, valuation changes on dollar holdings, revaluation of forex assets and
adjustments in reserves as per the Bimal Jalan Committee recommendations and currency printing fees.
❖ Rupee depreciation against the dollar impacting the surplus transfer.
❖ Higher rates on the surplus distribution framework contributing to increased payouts.
❖ Higher earnings on the sale of foreign exchange and investments in US treasuries.
❖ Implications due to Surplus Transfer: Fiscal relief for the government, particularly in managing fiscal
numbers amid uncertainties in the divestment program.
❖ Helps compensate for potential shortfalls in tax buoyancy and other revenue sources.
❖ Provides a fiscal buffer to support the budget targets.
❖ RBI's Income: Interest on holdings of domestic and foreign securities, Fees and commissions from its
services, Profits from foreign exchange transactions, Returns from subsidiaries and associates.
❖ Expenditure of RBI: Printing of currency notes, Payment of interest on deposits and borrowings, Salaries
and pensions of staff, Operational expenses of offices and branches, Provisions for contingencies and
depreciation.
❖ Surplus: RBI transfers the surplus to the government after making provisions for reserves and retained
earnings.
❖ RBI transfers the surplus, in accordance with Section 47 (Allocation of Surplus Profits) of the Reserve Bank
of India Act, 1934.
❖ A technical Committee of the RBI Board headed by Y H Malegam (2013), which reviewed the adequacy of
reserves and surplus distribution policy, recommended a higher transfer to the government.
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RBI Becomes Net Seller of USD
❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) witnessed a significant shift in its foreign exchange transactions during
the fiscal year 2022-23. After being a net buyer of the US dollar for three consecutive years, the RBI turned
into a net seller, selling 25.52 billion USD in the spot market.
❖ The spot exchange is where financial instruments, such as commodities, currencies, and securities, are
traded for immediate delivery.
❖ Stabilisation of the Rupee: The RBI maintains that its intervention in the foreign exchange market is aimed
at stabilising the rupee's movement.
❖ The sale or purchase of dollars by the RBI impacts its profit and is reflected in dividend payouts to the
government. Without the RBI's dollar sales, experts suggest the rupee could have weakened
further, potentially reaching 84-85 levels against the dollar.
❖ Depletion of Forex Reserves and Valuation Losses: The country's foreign exchange reserves decreased
from $606.475 billion to $578.449 billion during FY23. This was primarily due to valuation losses resulting
from the appreciating US dollar and higher US bond yields.
❖ Selling of Dollar: The RBI sold significant amounts of dollars in FY23 to counter the rupee's
depreciation resulting from the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the US Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes.
❖ The rupee depreciated by approximately 8% during FY23, with the RBI's intervention preventing further
weakening.
❖ The rupee declined from around 76 levels on April 1, 2022, to nearly 82 as of March 31, 2023.
❖ Impact: The RBI's dollar sales in FY23 resulted in significant profits, leading to a higher dividend payout to
the government.
❖ The Central Board of the RBI approved a 188% increase in surplus transfer to the government for the
accounting year 2022-23.
Exemption on Angel Tax

❖ The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced a proposal to exempt certain categories of
investors from the levy of angel tax.
❖ The move aims to encourage investments in start-ups and ease the burden of taxation. Additionally,
the CBDT has introduced five new valuation methods for resident investors, expanding the options beyond
the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) and Net Asset Value (NAV) methods.
❖ Expansion to Include Foreign Investors: Under the Finance Act, 2023, a relevant section of the Income-tax
Act was amended to include foreign investors in the ambit of the angel tax provision.
❖ Currently, if a start-up company receives equity investment from a resident that exceeds the face value of
the shares, it is considered as income for the start-up and subject to income tax under the category
of 'Income from other Sources' for that financial year.
❖ The recent amendment extends this rule to include foreign investors as well. This meant that start-ups
raising funds from foreign investors would also be subject to taxation.
❖ However, start-ups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) are
excluded from this provision.
❖ Exemptions for Government and Recognized Investors: The CBDT has outlined several categories of
investors that will be exempted from the angel tax. These include:
❖ Government and government-related investors, such as central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and
international or multilateral organisations, or where ownership of the government is 75% or more.
❖ Banks or entities involved in the insurance business
❖ Entities registered with SEBI as Category I Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI), endowment funds, and
pension funds.
❖ Broad-based pooled investment vehicles or funds where the number of investors is more than 50 and
such fund is not a hedge fund too are exempt.
❖ Hedge funds pool money from investors and invest in securities or other types of investments with
the goal of getting positive returns.
❖ As the name suggests, the fund tries to hedge risks to investor’s capital against market volatility by
employing alternative investment approaches.
❖ Proposed Changes in Valuation Rules: If a non-resident entity notified by the central government
provides consideration to a company for issuing shares, the fair market value (FMV) of the equity shares
may be determined based on the price corresponding to that consideration.
❖ However, this consideration should not exceed the aggregate consideration received from the notified
entity within 90 days of the share issuance.
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❖ Angel Tax: The provision known as the 'angel tax' was initially introduced in 2012 to discourage the
generation and utilisation of unaccounted money through investments in closely held companies.
❖ It is the tax that must be paid on the funds raised by unlisted companies through the issuance of shares in
off-market transactions, if they exceed the fair market value of the company.
❖ Fair market value (FMV) is the price of an asset when buyer and seller have reasonable knowledge of
it and are willing to trade without pressure.
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised banks and other Regulated Entities to move away from
the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and transition to Alternative Reference Rates (ARR).
❖ The transition away from LIBOR is aimed at reducing reliance on a benchmark that is susceptible to
manipulation and ensuring the financial system's stability and integrity.
❖ LIBOR is a widely used global benchmark interest rate. It represents the average interest rate at which
banks estimate they can borrow from each other in the London interbank market for specific time periods.
❖ LIBOR is important because it is used as a reference rate for settling trades in various financial
instruments such as futures, options, swaps, and other Derivatives.
❖ Calculation: To calculate LIBOR, a group of banks submits their estimated borrowing rates to Thomson
Reuters, a news and financial data company, every business day.
❖ The extreme rates are removed, and the remaining rates are averaged to determine the LIBOR rate, which
aims to represent the median borrowing rate.
❖ Previously, LIBOR was calculated for five major currencies and seven different time periods, resulting in 35
rates published each day.
❖ However, the UK Financial Conduct Authority phased out most of these rates, and after 31st December,
2021, only U.S. dollar LIBOR rates were allowed to be published.
❖ The RBI is moving away from LIBOR due to concerns over its reliability and integrity. The central flaw in the
LIBOR mechanism is its heavy reliance on banks to provide honest and accurate reporting of their
borrowing rates, without considering their commercial interests. This creates an opportunity for
manipulation and misconduct.
❖ During the 2008 financial crisis, some banks artificially lowered their LIBOR submissions to project a more
favorable image amid the crisis. Panelists were reporting significantly lower borrowing costs compared to
other market measures.
❖ Issue of Integrity and Fairness: There is a tendency for banks to alter their LIBOR submissions based on
their trading units' derivative positions, aiming to generate higher profits. This raises concerns about
the integrity and fairness of the benchmark.
❖ Alternative to LIBOR: In 2017, the U.S. The Federal Reserve introduced the Secured Overnight Financing
Rate (SOFR) as an alternative to LIBOR.
❖ In India, new transactions were recommended to use SOFR along with the Modified Mumbai Interbank
Forward Outright Rate (MMIFOR), replacing Mumbai Interbank Forward Outright Rate (MIFOR).
❖ SOFR, is based on observable repo rates. These rates reflect the cost of borrowing cash overnight and are
collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities.
❖ Unlike LIBOR, which relied on expert judgment, SOFR is derived from actual transactions, making it less
susceptible to market manipulation.
❖ MMIFOR, on the other hand, incorporates the adjusted SOFR rates, which are compounded
retrospectively for different time periods. These rates are obtained from the Bloomberg Index Services,
among other components.
❖ The introduction of SOFR and MMIFOR aims to provide a more reliable and transaction-based benchmark
for financial contracts, reducing the risks associated with LIBOR.
Society for Worldwide Interbank Telecommunication (SWIFT) System
❖ Sue to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine US and EU had banned Russian banks from SWIFT.
❖ SWIFT provides the trusted messaging platform that enables financial institutions to exchange information
about global monetary transactions such as money transfers.
❖ While SWIFT does not actually move money, it operates as a middleman to verify information of
transactions by providing secure financial messaging services to more than 11,000 banks in over 200
countries.
❖ Most of the world trade takes place with financial messaging passing through SWIFT.
❖ It was established in 1973 and is based in Belgium.
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❖ It is overseen by the central banks from eleven industrial countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, besides Belgium.
❖ India’s financial system has access to the SWIFT.
❖ Prior to SWIFT, the only reliable means of message confirmation for international funds transfer was Telex.
❖ It was discontinued due to a range of issues such as low speed, security concerns, and a free message
format.
❖ The System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) is the Russian equivalent of SWIFT and was
developed by the Central Bank of Russia since 2014, after the United States government threatened to
disconnect Russia from the SWIFT system.
New Tax Rules for online gaming Platforms

❖ The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has recently introduced new tax rules for online gaming
platforms in India. These rules aim to bring clarity and establish guidelines for Tax Deducted at Source
(TDS) on winnings from online gaming.
❖ No TDS on Winnings up to Rs 100: Online gaming platforms will not be required to deduct tax at the
source for a player if the net winning does not exceed Rs 100.
❖ Taxable Deposits: Bonus, referral bonus, and incentives provided by the online gaming company
are considered taxable deposits.
❖ These deposits will be subject to tax under Rule 133 of the Income-tax Act.
❖ Calculation of Net Winnings: Calculation of net winnings in the online gaming industry will consider each
user account separately when a user has multiple accounts.
❖ The deposit, withdrawal, or balance in the user account refers to the total amount across all user accounts
associated with the individual.
❖ Transfers between user accounts under the same online intermediary, belonging to the same user, will not
be treated as withdrawals or deposits.
❖ However, if a withdrawal or deposit occurs between one user's account and another user's account, such
transfers will be considered as withdrawals
❖ Valuation of Winnings: The valuation of winnings in kind will be based on the fair market value, except
when the online gaming intermediary has purchased the winnings before providing them to the user.
❖ If the online gaming intermediary manufactures items as winnings, the fair market value will be considered.
❖ TDS Provision for Online Gaming: To regulate online gaming transactions, the Finance Act 2023
introduced section 194BA in the Income-tax Act, 1961, requiring online gaming platforms to
deduct income tax on net winnings in a user's account.
❖ TDS at a rate of 30% will be applicable on the net winnings from any online gaming platform.
❖ Tax is required to be deducted at the time of withdrawal and at the end of the financial year.
❖ Tax Deduction at Source: A person (deductor) who is liable to make payment of specified nature to any
other person (deductee) shall deduct tax at source and remit the same into the account of the Central
Government.
❖ CBDT: It is a statutory authority that functions under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.
❖ It is a part of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance.
❖ It provides inputs for policy and planning of direct taxes in India and is also responsible for the
administration of direct tax laws through the Income Tax Department.
❖ Direct Taxes include income tax, corporation tax etc.
Declining FDI in India

❖ The fiscal year 2022-23 witnessed a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into India, attributed
to global factors identified by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Despite
India's commitment to liberal FDI policies, the combined effect of the hardening interest rates and
deteriorating geopolitical situation has likely diminished investor confidence and appetite for investing in
the country. This decline has been notable in five crucial sectors, including computer hardware and
software, construction, education, automobiles, and metallurgical industries. These sectors, accounting
for a significant share of 30 billion USD in total FDI in the previous fiscal year, necessitate a comprehensive
analysis to uncover the specific reasons behind the contraction.
❖ The consequences of declining FDI inflows are substantial, as FDI equity inflows experienced a 22%
decline, amounting to USD 46 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. Notably, investments during the January-
March quarter plummeted by a staggering 40.5%, totaling USD 9.28 billion. Such a significant downturn in
FDI inflows poses implications for India's economic growth, employment opportunities, and technological
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advancements. To tackle this situation, policymakers and stakeholders must conduct a comprehensive
analysis of the factors influencing FDI inflows, considering both global and sector-specific challenges.
Fiscal Deficit Target Narrows to 6.4%

❖ In the financial year 2022-23, the Centre's fiscal deficit decreased to 6.4% of the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP), as estimated in the budget announcement made in February. The government aims to further
reduce the fiscal deficit to 5.9% of the GDP in the current financial year 2023-24. During 2022-23, as part
of devolution of taxes, the central government transferred ₹9.48 lakh crore to the State governments,
showing an increase of ₹50,015 crore compared to the previous year (2021-22). In FY2023, the government
witnessed a healthy growth of 15.2% in net tax revenues, despite a 17.8% contraction in non-tax revenues.
❖ Fiscal deficit is the difference between the government's total expenditure and its total revenue (excluding
borrowings). It is an indicator of the extent to which the government must borrow in order to finance its
operations and is expressed as a percentage of the country's GDP.
GDP Expanded 6.1% in 2022-23

❖ India's GDP(Gross Domestic Product) growth accelerated to 6.1% in the January to March 2023 quarter,
lifting the economy’s uptick in 2022-23 to 7.2% from the 7% estimated earlier. India's 6.1% GDP growth was
the fastest among major economies in the fourth quarter.
❖ Gross Value Added (GVA) in the economy is reckoned to have risen 7% in 2022-23, compared to 8.8% in
2021-22, with manufacturing GVA growth sliding to just 1.3% from 11.1% a year ago, despite a 4.5%
rebound in the final quarter after six months of contraction.
❖ Only three of eight broad economic activity segments recorded a higher GVA growth than in 2021-22, with
the agricultural GVA growing 4%, up from 3.5% in the previous year. Consumption remained on lower side
despite positive surprises in several sectors, especially in the last quarter of the year.
❖ The higher-than-expected GDP growth in 2022-23 could temper growth expectations for 2023-24, which
the government and central bank expect to be around 6.5%.
Surplus Liquidity
❖ The net liquidity in the banking system in India increased to Rs 2.59 lakh crore on June 4, 2023. However,
the surplus liquidity in the banking system is likely to decline to around Rs 1.5 lakh crore over the next few
days from the current level of Rs 2.1 lakh crore.
❖ The net liquidity in the banking system is represented by the amount of money absorbed by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) from the system.
❖ Surplus liquidity occurs where cashflows into the banking system persistently exceed withdrawals of
liquidity from the market by the central bank.
❖ Liquidity in the banking system refers to readily available cash that banks need to meet short-term business
and financial needs.
❖ Causes of Increased Liquidity: Advance tax and goods and services tax (GST) payments, The deposit of
withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes, Redemption of government bonds, Higher government spending, The sale of
dollars by the RBI to defend the rupee from depreciation.
❖ Impact of Increased liquidity: It may lead to increased levels of inflation, Interest rates in the market will
remain low.
❖ RBI's Measures: The RBI takes action if liquidity levels deviate from its comfort range. The RBI, under
its Liquidity Adjustment Facility, infuses liquidity in the banking system via repos and sucks it out using
reverse repos after assessing liquidity conditions.
❖ The RBI also uses a 14-day variable rate repo and/or reverse repo operation.
❖ Tools used by RBI to control Money Supply
❖ Repo Rate:The interest rate at which the Reserve Bank provides overnight liquidity to banks against the
collateral of government and other approved securities under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF).
o 1 Basis Point = 0.01%, 100 Basis Points = 1%
❖ Reverse Repo Rate: The interest rate at which the Reserve Bank absorbs liquidity, on an overnight basis,
from banks against the collateral of eligible government securities under the LAF.
❖ Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): The LAF consists of overnight as well as term repo auctions.
❖ The aim of term repo is to help develop the interbank term money market, which in turn can set market
based benchmarks for pricing of loans and deposits, and hence improve transmission of monetary policy.
❖ The RBI also conducts variable interest rate reverse repo auctions, as necessitated under the market
conditions.
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❖ Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): A facility under which scheduled commercial banks can borrow
additional amount of overnight money from the Reserve Bank by dipping into their Statutory Liquidity Ratio
(SLR) portfolio up to a limit at a penal rate of interest.
❖ This provides a safety valve against unanticipated liquidity shocks to the banking system.
❖ Corridor: The MSF rate and reverse repo rate determine the corridor for the daily movement in the weighted
average call money rate.
❖ Bank Rate: It is the rate at which the RBI is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other commercial
papers. The Bank Rate is published under Section 49 of the RBI Act, 1934.
❖ This rate has been aligned to the MSF rate and, therefore, changes automatically as and when the MSF rate
changes alongside policy repo rate changes.
❖ Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): The average daily balance that a bank is required to maintain with the Reserve
Bank as a share of such per cent of its Net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) that the Reserve Bank may
notify from time to time in the Gazette of India.
❖ Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): The share of NDTL that a bank is required to maintain in safe and liquid
assets, such as, unencumbered government securities, cash and gold.
❖ Changes in SLR often influence the availability of resources in the banking system for lending to the private
sector.
❖ Open Market Operations (OMOs): These include both, outright purchase and sale of government securities,
for injection and absorption of durable liquidity, respectively.
❖ Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS): This instrument for monetary management was introduced in 2004.
❖ Surplus liquidity of a more enduring nature arising from large capital inflows is absorbed through sale of
short-dated government securities and treasury bills.
❖ The cash so mobilised is held in a separate government account with the RBI.
World Bank’s Forecast on India’s Economy

❖ The World Bank's latest edition of Global Economic Prospects paints the global growth is projected
to decelerate from 3.1% in 2022 to 2.1% in 2023, and in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies
(EMDEs) other than China, growth is set to slow to 2.9% this year from 4.1% last year. Unemployment in
India declined to 6.8% in the first quarter of 2023, the lowest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,
and labour force participation increased. This revision can be attributed to factors such as high
inflation, rising borrowing costs, and fiscal consolidation impacting private and government consumption.
India will remain the fastest-growing economy (in terms of both aggregate and per capita GDP) of the
largest EMDEs.
❖ Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group flagship report that examines global economic
developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies. The
report is issued twice a year, in January and June, and provides analysis and forecasts of global growth,
trade, inflation, financial markets, and regional outlooks.
Tax Devolution
❖ The Union government has released the 3rd Installment of Tax Devolution to state governments amounting
to Rs 1,18,280 crore in June 2023, as against the normal monthly devolution of Rs 59,140 crore.
❖ It will enable states to speed up capital spending, finance their development/ welfare related expenditure
and also to make available resources for priority projects/ schemes.
❖ Uttar Pradesh received the highest (Rs 21,218 crore) followed by Bihar (Rs 11,897 crore), Madhya Pradesh,
West Bengal and Rajasthan.
❖ Tax devolution refers to the distribution of tax revenues between the central government and the state
governments. It is a constitutional mechanism established to allocate the proceeds of certain taxes
among the Union and the states in a fair and equitable manner.
❖ Article 280(3)(a) of the Constitution of India mandates that the Finance Commission (FC) has the
responsibility to make recommendations regarding the division of the net proceeds of taxes between the
Union and the states.
❖ Key Recommendations of 15th Finance Commission: Share of States in Central Taxes (Vertical
Devolution): The share of states in the central taxes for the 2021-26 period is recommended to be 41%,
same as that for 2020-21.
❖ This is less than the 42% share recommended by the 14th Finance Commission for 2015-20 period.
❖ The adjustment of 1% is to provide for the newly formed union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and
Ladakh from the resources of the centre.
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❖ Horizontal Devolution (Allocation Between the States): For horizontal devolution, it has suggested 12.5%
weightage to demographic performance, 45% to income, 15% each to population and area, 10% to forest
and ecology and 2.5% to tax and fiscal efforts.
❖ Revenue Deficit Grants to States: Revenue Deficit is defined as the difference between revenue or current
expenditure and revenue receipts, that includes tax and non-tax.
❖ It has recommended post-devolution revenue deficit grants amounting to about Rs. 3 trillion over the five-
year period ending FY26.
❖ Performance Based Incentives and Grants to States: These grants revolve around four main themes.
❖ The first is the social sector, where it has focused on health and education.
❖ Second is the rural economy, where it has focused on agriculture and the maintenance of rural roads. The
rural economy plays a significant role in the country as it encompasses two-thirds of the country's
population, 70% of the total workforce and 46% of national income.
❖ Third, governance and administrative reforms under which it has recommended grants for
judiciary, statistics and aspirational districts and blocks.
❖ Fourth, it has developed a performance-based incentive system for the power sector, which is not linked to
grants but provides an important, additional borrowing window for States.
❖ Grants to Local Governments: Along with grants for municipal services and local government bodies, it
includes performance-based grants for incubation of new cities and health grants to local governments.
❖ In grants for Urban local bodies, basic grants are proposed only for cities/towns having a population of less
than a million. For Million-Plus cities, 100% of the grants are performance-linked through the Million-Plus
Cities Challenge Fund (MCF).
15th Finance Commission
❖ The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that determines the method and formula for distributing
the tax proceeds between the Centre and states, and among the states as per the constitutional
arrangement and present requirements.
❖ 15th finance commission was headed by Nand Kishore Singh
❖ Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to constitute a Finance
Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.
❖ The 15th Finance Commission was constituted by the President of India in November 2017, under the
chairmanship of NK Singh.
❖ Its recommendations will cover a period of five years from the year 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Decrease in India’s Remittance

❖ India experienced a significant growth in inward remittances in 2022 at the growth of 24%, reaching USD
111 billion, surpassing the World Bank's estimate of USD100 billion. This accounted for 63% of South
Asia's remittance flows, which amounted to USD176 billion. However, remittance flows to India
are projected to increase by only 0.2% in 2023 as per the latest Migration and Development Brief released
by the World Bank due to a slowdown in OECD economies, particularly impacting employment
opportunities and wages for migrants. The diversion of formal remittances to informal channels is also
expected. High-skilled Indian migrants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore played a
substantial role in India's remittances, benefiting from post-pandemic recovery and wage increases.
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2023-24

❖ The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to issue Sovereign
Gold Bonds (SGBs) in tranches for 2023-24.
❖ The first SGB scheme was launched by the Government in November 2015, under Gold Monetisation
Scheme with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the domestic savings -
used for the purchase of gold - into financial savings.
❖ Main Objectives: To mobilize the gold held by households and institutions in the country.
o To provide a fillip to the gems and jewellery sector in the country by making gold available as raw
material on loan from the banks
o To be able to reduce reliance on import of gold over time to meet the domestic demand.
❖ Key details: Issuance: Issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government of India.
❖ Eligibility: SGBs will be restricted for sale to resident individuals, HUFs (Hindu Undivided Family), Trusts,
Universities and Charitable Institutions.
❖ Tenor: The tenor of the SGB will be for a period of 8 years with an option of premature redemption after 5th
year.
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❖ Minimum size: Minimum permissible investment will be One gram of gold.
❖ Maximum limit: The maximum limit of subscription shall be 4 Kg for individuals, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 Kg for
trusts and similar entities per fiscal year (April-March) notified by the Government from time to time.
❖ Joint holder: In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 Kg will be applied to the first applicant only.
❖ Issue price: Price of SGB will be fixed in Indian Rupees on the basis of simple average of closing price of
gold of 999 purity, published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Limited.
❖ Sales channel: SGBs will be sold through Scheduled Commercial banks (except Small Finance Banks,
Payment Banks and Regional Rural Banks), Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited, Clearing
Corporation of India Limited, designated post offices and National Stock Exchange of India Limited and
Bombay Stock Exchange Limited, either directly or through agents.
❖ Interest rate: The investors will be compensated at a fixed rate of 2.50% per annum payable semi-annually
on the nominal value (face value or stated value).
❖ Collateral: The SGBs can be used as collateral for loans.
❖ Tax treatment: The interest on SGBs shall be taxable as per the provision of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The
capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual is exempted.
❖ Tradability SGBs shall be eligible for trading.
❖ SLR eligibility: SGBs obtained by banks through the pledge process will be considered as part of their
Statutory Liquidity Ratio requirements.
India Bullion and Jewellers Association Ltd. (IBJA)
❖ IBJA was established in 1919 as an association for bullion traders in India.
❖ IBJA is considered the apex association for all bullion and jewellery associations in India.
❖ It publishes daily Gold AM and PM Rates, which are benchmark rates for issuing Sovereign and Bonds.
❖ IBJA is involved in promoting trade through exhibitions and is setting up its own Domestic Gold Spot
exchange, Bullion refinery, and gems & jewellery park.
❖ It assists its members in promoting and regulating bullion trade, resolving disputes, providing a neutral
platform for weighing precious metals, and interacting with government departments.
❖ IBJA owns a building in Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai, where it carries out various business activities for the
bullion and jewellery industry.
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Science & Technology
Blockchain to be used to push farm Export
❖ NITI Aayog has launched a pilot project using blockchain technology, in collaboration with Himachal
Pradesh government, on apple farming that will be replicated for other products such as grapes, mangoes
etc.
❖ India ranks second in fruits and vegetable production in the world, after China, but its share in global fruits
and vegetable market is just 1%.
❖ Lack of quality produce and traceability has hampered India’s food exports apart from disincentivising
growers.
❖ Blockchain will help bridge this gap by removing redundant processes, ensuring quality control and
monitoring produce across entire storage and supply chain.
❖ Internet if Things (IoT) sensors will be used to generate crop data and its storage, distribution of grown
crops to food processing companies, supply of processed food to wholesalers and retailers and its storage.
Lumpi-Pro Vacind
❖ Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed Lumpi-ProVacInd vaccine for Lumpy Skin
Disease (LSD).
❖ Vaccine has been jointly developed by ICAR’s National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) at Hisar,
Haryana and Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Izatnagar, UP.
❖ It is a homologous, live attenuated vaccine to protect cattle against LSD virus.
❖ LSD is a viral disease, caused by Capripoxvirus, that affects cattle. It does not affect humans. It is
genetically related to goatpox and sheeppox virus family.
❖ It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks
Related Static GK
❖ The Agriculture Ministry unveiled India’s first Covid-19 vaccine for animals. Developed by the Hisarbased
National Research Centre on Equines, the vaccine, called Ancovax, can protect animals against the Delta
and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.
❖ The country’s first home-grown mRNA Covid-19 vaccine — GEMCOVAC-19 — developed at Pune’s Gennova
Biopharmaceuticals has got a ‘restricted emergency use’ nod for the 18-and-above age group
Omicron XBB 1.5

❖ Omicron XBB.1.5 is a variant of the Covid-19 virus that has caused concern among experts due to its
immune-evasive and highly contagious nature. It has been linked to a surge in hospitalizations in the US and
UK.
❖ Omicron XBB.1.5 is a recombinant strain that is both more immune-evasive and better at infecting than
other variants. It is also believed to have a tighter bind to the ACE2 receptor, which may explain its higher
level of transmissibility.
❖ The R-value, or reproductive number, of Omicron XBB.1.5 is much worse than previous variants, meaning it
is more contagious. Multiple models show that it is “much worse in transmission R-value and infection rate
than previous variants – faster by LEAPS and BOUNDS,” according to virologist Eric Feigl Ding.
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❖ The first case of XXB.1.5 has been confirmed in Gujarat. Public health authorities in Maharashtra state in
India are focused on preventing the spread of Omicron XBB.1.5 due to its proximity to Gujarat. So far,
XBB.1.5 has not been detected in Maharashtra.
Prithvi-ll Missile
❖ India carried out a successful test launch of tactical ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a test range off the
Odisha coast.
❖ Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed Surface-to-Surface Missile Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM),
which has a range of around 350km and can carry a one tonne payload.
❖ Prithvi II class is a single-stage liquid-fueled missile that has warhead mounting capability of 500 kg-
1000kg. The state-of-the-art missile uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring
trajectory to hit its target.
❖ While the missile was inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command for the first time in 2003, it was the
first missile developed under the IGMDP.
❖ Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under its Integrated
Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
❖ The Prithvi missile system comprises various tactical Surface-to-Surface Short-Range Ballistic Missiles
(SRBM). Its development began in 1983, and it was India’s first indigenous ballistic missile.
❖ It was first test-fired in 1988, from Sriharikota, SHAR Centre. It has a range of from 150 to 300 km.
❖ The naval variant of Prithvi I and Prithvi III class missiles have the code-name Dhanush.
❖ Reportedly, Prahar missiles are replacing with Prithvi I missiles.
Related Static GK
❖ Agni-IV is a nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile of India, with a strike range of 4,000 km. It is a two
stage solid fuelled system that can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead.
❖ Integrated Guided Missile Development Program: It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable
India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology. It was approved by the Government of India in
1983 and completed in March 2012.
❖ The 5 missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under this program are: o Prithvi: Short-range surface-to-surface
ballistic missiles o Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges, i.e., Agni (1,2,3,4,5) o Trishul: Short-range
low-level surface to air missile.
o Nag: 3rd generation anti-tank missile.
o Akash: Medium-range surface-to-air missile.
Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
❖ DRDO is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence (Rajnath Singh) with a vision to empower India with
cutting-edge defence technologies.
❖ It was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Defence Technical Development Establishment
(DTDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the
Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
❖ DRDO is a network of more than 52 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence
technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles,
engineering systems etc.
❖ HQ- New Delhi
❖ Motto- Strength’s Origin is in Science
❖ Executive- Dr Sameer V Kamath
❖ First Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy
❖ DRDO Celebrated its 65th Foundation day on 1st January 2023
❖ DRDO has setup World’s Highest Terrestrial Centre in Ladakh at 17,600 feet above sea level at Changla
near Pangong lake. After its inauguration in 2018 by the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research
(DIHAR), the centre has seen multiple activities related to Life Sciences.
❖ The ‘Sindhu Netra’ satellite developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was
successfully deployed in space on February 28th, 2021. The satellite aims to boost the country’s
surveillance capabilities to monitor the activities of both military warships and merchant shipping in the
Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The satellite was launched using the Indian Space Research Organisation’s
PSLV-C51 which took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
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❖ The Pune-based R&DE Lab of DRDO has developed a smart robust robot to handle land mines and Inert
Explosive Devices (IEDs) which will help the Indian Armed Forces to disarm them from far distances
despite hostile surroundings. This robot, named Mobile Autonomous Robot System (MARS), was
developed by the Electro-Mechanical Systems Group of the R&DE Lab.
Skyglow
❖ Recently, a new study has found that non-natural light had increased the brightness of Skyglow, by 9.210%
every year between 2011 and 2022 with significant ecological, health and cultural implications.
❖ Researchers have analyzed a global database of what the dimmest star visible from a particular location
is; the database had more than 51,000 entries submitted by citizen scientists.
❖ The Skyglow, is an omnipresent sheet of light across the night sky in and around cities that can block all
but the very brightest stars from view.
❖ The brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas because of streetlights, security floodlights and
outdoor ornamental lights cause the Skyglow.
❖ This light floods directly into the eyes of the Nocturnal (active at night) and also into the skies and misleads
their path.
❖ 'Skyglow' is one of the components of light pollution.
❖ The Skyglow had brightened around 6.5% over Europe, 10.4% over North America, and 7.7% over the rest
of the world.
❖ The finding is significant because it disagrees with satellite-based data, which has indicated that the rate
of increase has been around 2% per year.
❖ The discrepancy is probably the result of the satellites being unable to ‘sense’ blue light emitted by LEDs
and to study light that is emitted parallel to the ground.
❖ A 2016 study reported that 19.5% of India’s population – the lowest fraction among G20 countries –
experiences a level of skyglow that would at least keep the Milky Way galaxy out of sight and at most
render “dark adaptation for human eyes” impossible.
❖ The effects include stimulating the cone cells in human eyes, which is possible only when an environment
is considered to be well-lit.
❖ A 2017 study reported that between 2012 and 2016, India’s lit area increased by 1.07-1.09% and the average
radiance of “stably lit areas” – e.g., excluding wildfires – increased by 1.05-1.07%.
iVOFm Technique
❖ In order to tackle the problem of water contamination and enhance access to clean and drinkable water, the
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune has introduced a macro/microporous
ionic organic framework - iVOFm - to clean polluted water.
❖ Viologen-unit grafted organic-framework (iVOFm) is a unique molecular sponge-like material to clean
polluted water by soaking up the contaminants in it.
❖ iVOFm employs amalgamation of electrostatics driven ion-exchange combined with nanometersized
macropores and specific binding sites for the targeted pollutants.
❖ The inherent cationic nature of iVOFm and macroporosity (cavities >75 μm) allows fast diffusion of
pollutants (organic+inorganic, >93% removal in 30 seconds).
❖ Ion Exchange (IX) is a process of deionisation where dissolved impurity ions in water are replaced by
hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, purifying the water.
❖ Water softeners are very similar to IX systems since both systems can remove magnesium and calcium
ions from the water.
Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease

❖ The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has granted fast-track approval to an Alzheimer’s
medicine - Lecanemab (marketed as Leqembi). In its initial tests, it has shown reduction in amyloid beta
protein deposition in the brain (a classic symptom of the disease) in mild cases.
❖ Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurological disorder which causes brain cells to degenerate and die resulting in
memory loss, speaking/writing problems, poor judgement, changes in mood and personality, confusion
with time or place, etc. it is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
DAC Approves VSHORAD Missile System
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❖ The Defence Acquisition Council (headed by Defence Minister) provided Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)
for the procurement of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) (Infrared (IR) Homing) missile
system being designed and developed by DRDO.
❖ DAC also approved the procurement of the (a) HELINA Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, launchers and support
equipment for the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) (for Army) and (b) Brahmos Launcher &
Fire Control System and Next Generation Missile Vessels (for Navy).
❖ The acquisitions have been made under ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category - the highest priority procurement
under DAP-2020.
First Aspirational District Deploying 5G Technology

❖ Vidisha, an aspirational district of Madhya Pradesh became the first-ever district in India for onground
deployment of innovative 5G use cases offered by startups.
❖ It is a joint initiative by Vidisha District Administration and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT),
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the guidance of Additional Secretary (Telecom) &
Administrator Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
❖ These digital solutions will also be powered by BharatNet broadband to provide uninterrupted services to
user communities of Vidisha.
❖ Aspirational District Programme: It was launched in 2018 which aims to transform districts that have
shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas. Aspirational Districts are those districts in India, that
are affected by poor socio-economic indicators.
❖ At the Government of India level, programme is anchored by NITI Aayog. In addition, individual Ministries
have assumed responsibility to drive the progress of districts.
Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming

❖ Software Technology Parks of India (STPI, an autonomous society under MeitY) will facilitate in setting
up India’s first Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming at Shillong by March 2023. This will help to catalyse
startups and entrepreneurs from the entire North East Region to build the Next Generation Online Gaming
Ecosystem.
❖ The Ministry of Electronics and IT (Ashwini Vaishnaw) will also set up a state-of-the-art facility under the
National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) in Shillong to provide training on digital skills. The
government will be re-launching Skill India through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Viaks Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0,
which will train around 50,000 youth in Meghalaya.
Related Information
❖ Skill India Mission was launched by the government in 2015 under which the flagship scheme Pradhan
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is run.
❖ It aims to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022. It aims at vocational training and
certification of Indian youth for a better livelihood and respect in the society.
❖ PMKVY is implemented by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) under the guidance of the
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Dharmendra Pradhan).
Doppler Weather Radar System

❖ On the Occasion of 148th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Ministry of Earth
Science (Jitendra Singh) has inaugurated the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) Systems in Jammu &
Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
❖ The Ministry of Earth Science is also preparing to cover the entire Country the Doppler weather radar
network by 2025 for more accurate forecasts related to extreme weather events.
❖ Based on Doppler principle, the radar is designed to improve precision in long-range weather forecasting
and surveillance using a parabolic dish antenna and a foam sandwich spherical radome.
❖ DWR has the equipment to measure rainfall intensity, wind shear and velocity and locate a storm centre
and the direction of a tornado or gust front.
❖ Doppler Effect: When the source and the signal are in relative motion to each other there is a change in the
frequency observed by the observer. If they are moving closer, frequency increases and vice versa. It does
this by bouncing a microwave signal off a desired target and analyzing how the object’s motion has altered
the frequency of the returned signal.
❖ This variation gives direct and highly accurate measurements of the radial component of a target’s velocity
relative to the radar.
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❖ It is named after Christian Doppler, the physicist who first proposed the concept of the Doppler effect.
❖ Types Of Doppler Radars: Doppler radar can be divided into several different categories according to the
wavelength which are L, S, C, X, K.
❖ X band radars: They operate on a wavelength of 2.5-4 cm and a frequency of 8-12 GHz. Because of the
smaller wavelength, the X band radar is more sensitive and can detect smaller particles. (Used in
Airplanes).
Related Static GK
❖ India Meteorological Department
❖ Formed in 1875 Under- Ministry of Earth Science (Jitendra Singh)
❖ Executive- Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
❖ Formed- 1950, 192 Members

❖ HQ- Geneva, Switzerland
❖ President- Gerhard Adrian (German)
❖ Secretary General- Petteri Taalas (Finland)
❖ Parent Organization- United Nations Economic and Social Council
❖ It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was established after the
1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
❖ International Meteorological Day- 23rd March
❖ Theme- Early Warning and Early Action
Exo Planet & James Web Telescope

❖ The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Web Telescope has discovered its
first new exoplanet named-LHS 475 b
❖ It is roughly the sae size as Earth, its diameter is 99% the same as Earth. It is a terrestrial rocky planet
about 41 light years away from Earth in the constellation Octans.
❖ It differs from Earth in that it completes an orbit in just two days and is hundreds of degrees hotter than
Earth.
❖ It is also closer to its star than any planet in our solar system is to the sun, although its star is less than
half the temperature of the sun.
❖ It orbits very close to a red dwarf star and completes a full orbit in just two days. So far, most of the
discovered exoplanets are similar to Jupiter as Earth-sized planets are much smaller in size and harder to
discover with older telescopes.
❖ Exoplanets are planets that orbit other stars and are beyond our solar system. The first
confirmation of detection of exoplanets occurred in 1992. According to NASA, to date, more
than 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered.
❖ Exoplanets come in a host of different sizes. They can be gas giants bigger than Jupiter or as small and
rocky as Earth. They are also known to have different kinds of temperatures — boiling hot to
freezing cold.
James Webb Telescope
❖ The telescope is the result of an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency
(ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency which was launched in December 2021.
❖ launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana
❖ Named after James Edwin Web who was the administer of NASA from 1961 to 1968 during the Mercury,
Gemini and Apollo Programs
❖ JWST's primary mirror consists of 18 hexagonal mirror segments made of gold-plated beryllium, which
combined create a 6.5-meter-diameter (21 ft) mirror, compared with Hubble's 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in). This gives
JWST a light-collecting area of about 25 square meters, about 6 times that of Hubble.
❖ The James Webb Space Telescope would be observing infrared radiations most primarily covering
between 0.6 to 28 microns
❖ It is currently at a point in space known as the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point, approximately 1.5 million km
beyond Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
❖ Lagrange Point 2 is one of the 5 points in the orbital plane of the Earth-Sun system.
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❖ Named after Italian-French mathematician Josephy-Louis Lagrange, the points are in any revolving two-
body system like Earth and Sun, marking where the gravitational forces of the two large bodies cancel each
other out.
❖ Objects placed at these positions are relatively stable and require minimal external energy or fuel to keep
themselves there, and so many instruments are positioned here.
❖ It's the largest, most powerful infrared space telescope ever built.
❖ It can see backwards in time to just after the Big Bang by looking for galaxies that are so far away that the
light has taken many billions of years to get from those galaxies to our telescopes
❖ The goals for the Webb can be grouped into four themes.
❖ The first is to look back around 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies forming out of the
darkness of the early universe.
❖ Second, to compare the faintest, earliest galaxies to today’s grand spirals and understand how galaxies
assemble over billions of years.
❖ Third, to see where stars and planetary systems are being born.
❖ Fourth, to observe the atmospheres of extrasolar planets (beyond our solar system), and perhaps find the
building blocks of life elsewhere in the universe.
Related Information
❖ Red Dwarf stars are small, low-mass, dim cool stars, they are the most common and smallest in the
universe. As they don’t radiate much light, it’s very tough to detect them with the naked eye from Earth.
❖ However, as red dwarfs are dimmer than other stars, it is easier to find exoplanets that surround them.
Therefore, red dwarfs are a popular target for planet hunting.
❖ The ‘Goldilocks Zone’ refers to the habitable zone around a star where the temperature is just right – not
too hot and not too cold – for liquid water to exist on a planet.
❖ Since liquid water is essential for life as it has potential to accommodate biotic organism, thereby, it is
called ‘habitable zone’.
Shukrayaan I
❖ Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Venus mission, Shukrayaan I may be postponed to 2031.
ISRO’s Venus mission was expected to be launched in December 2024.
❖ Both the U.S. and the European space agencies have Venus missions planned for 2031 — VERITAS and
EnVision, respectively — while China may launch around 2026 or 2027.
❖ ISRO had originally planned to launch Shukrayaan I in mid-2023 but the pandemic pushed the date to
December 2024.
❖ Other ISRO missions, including Aditya L1 and Chandrayaan III, have also been affected by manufacturing
delays and commercial launch commitments.
❖ Optimal launch windows from Earth to Venus occur once around every 19 months. This is why ISRO has
‘backup’ launch dates in 2026 and 2028 should it miss the 2024 opportunity.
❖ But even more optimal windows, which further reduce the amount of fuel required at liftoff, come around
every 8 years. Right now the 2031 window is considered very good by the experts.
❖ The mission is also “waiting for formal approval and money”, which are required before spacecraft
assembly and testing.
❖ Shukrayaan I will be an Orbiter Mission. Its scientific payloads currently include a highresolution Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) and a ground-penetrating radar.
❖ SAR would examine Venus’ surface, despite the clouds around the planet, which lowers visibility. It refers
to a technique for producing high-resolution images. Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate
clouds and darkness, which means that it can collect data day and night in any weather.
❖ Shukrayaan-I will be launched on either GSLV Mk II or GSLV Mk III, the latter allows more instruments or
fuel to be carried, according to ISRO.
❖ Objectives: Investigation of surface process and shallow subsurface stratigraphy. Until now, no prior
observation of the sub-surface of Venus has been done. Study of the structure, composition and dynamics
of the atmosphere. Investigation of Solar wind interaction with Venusian ionosphere
❖ Stratigraphy is a branch of geology in which rock layers and layering are studied.
Related Static GK
❖ Previous Missions Sent on Venus: US: Mariner Series 1962-1974, Pioneer Venus 1 and Pioneer Venus 2 in
1978, Magellan in 1989.
❖ Russia: Venera Series of Space Craft 1967-1983, Vegas 1 and 2 in 1985
❖ Japan: Akatsuki in 2015
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❖ Europe: Venus Express in 2005
Venus
❖ It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. It is the second planet from the Sun and sixth in
the solar system in size and mass.
❖ It is the second brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon.
❖ Unlike the other planets in our solar system, Venus and Uranus spin clockwise on their axis.
❖ It is the hottest planet in the solar system because of the high concentration of carbon dioxide which
works to produce an intense greenhouse effect.
❖ A day on Venus is longer than a year. That’s 243 Earth days to rotate once - the longest rotation of any
planet in the Solar System - and only 224.7 Earth days to complete one orbit of the Sun
❖ No planet approaches closer to Earth than Venus; at its nearest it is the closest large body to Earth other
than the Moon.
❖ Venus has 90 times the atmospheric pressure of Earth.
Related Missions
❖ Cassini-Huygens was sent to study Saturn and its moons. It was a joint collaboration between NASA and
European Space Agency. It was launched in 1997 and entered Saturn’s orbit in 2004. The mission ended in
2017.
❖ Messenger, a spacecraft by NASA was sent to map and investigate Mercury. It was launched in 2004 and
entered Mercury’s orbit in 2011. The mission ended in 2015.
❖ Voyager 1 and 2 were launched by NASA in 1977 to explore the outer solar system. Both the spacecrafts
are still operational.
CHAT GPT
❖ OpenAI (AI research and deployment company) opened its most recent and powerful AI chatbot, ChatGPT,
to users to test its capability.
❖ ChatGPT is a variant of GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) which is a large-scale neural network-
based language model developed by OpenAI.
❖ GPT models are trained on vast amounts of text data to generate human-like text. It can generate responses
to a wide range of topics, such as answering questions, providing explanations, and engaging in
conversations.
❖ In addition to being able to "admit its mistakes, challenge false premises, and refuse unsuitable requests,"
the ChatGPT can also "answer follow-up questions."
❖ The chatbot was also trained using Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF).
❖ Malicious and Dangerous Coding: Some users have been experimenting with the chatbot's potential to carry
out malicious actions. It has been claimed by several users that malicious and dangerous coding is
generated by the Chatbot despite their claims to be amateurs.
❖ Generation of Phishing Email: ChatGPT is set up to reject requests to write phishing emails or malicious
code but in actual sense ChatGPT is producing an outstanding phishing email.
❖ Creation of Biased Data/information: One concern is the potential for bias in the generated code, as the
training data used to create the code generator may contain biases that are reflected in the generated code.
❖ Curtailing the Job Opportunity: There is a concern that the use of code generators could lead to the loss of
jobs for human programmers.
GPT-4
❖ OpenAI has recently launched its ChatGPT Plus subscription for Indian users, providing them with early
access to the latest language model GPT-4.
❖ According to OpenAI, GPT-4 is more advanced than its predecessors when it comes to creativity, visual
comprehension and context.
❖ It also possesses the ability to collaborate with users on various creative projects, including
music, screenplays, technical writing, etc.
❖ It can process up to 25,000 words of text and facilitate extended conversations.
❖ GPT-4 can encompass more than just text – it also accepts images as input.
❖ On the contrary, GPT-3 and GPT-3.5 only operated in one modality, text, allowing users only to ask
questions by typing them out.
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❖ GPT-4 is more multilingual and OpenAI has demonstrated that it outperforms GPT-3.5 and other Large
Language Models (LLMs) by accurately answering thousands of multiple-choice across 26 languages.
❖ It handles English best with an 85.5% accuracy, but Indian languages like Telugu aren’t too far behind
either, at 71.4%
❖ GPT models are trained on vast amounts of text data to generate human-like text.
❖ It can generate responses to a wide range of topics, such as answering questions, providing explanations,
and engaging in conversations.
❖ In addition to being able to "admit its mistakes, challenge false premises, and refuse unsuitable
requests," the ChatGPT can also "answer follow-up questions."
Open AI
❖ OpenAI is an American artificial intelligence (AI) research laboratory consisting of the non-profit OpenAI
Incorporated and its for-profit subsidiary corporation OpenAI Limited Partnership.
❖ OpenAI was founded in 2015 by Ilya Sutskever (CSO), Greg Brockman (Chairman & President), Trevor
Blackwell, Vicki Cheung, Andrej Karpathy, Durk Kingma, Jessica Livingston, John Schulman, Pamela
Vagata, and Wojciech Zaremba, with Sam Altman (CEO) and Elon Musk serving as the initial board
members.
❖ Microsoft provided OpenAI LP with a $1 billion investment in 2019 and a $10 billion investment in 2023.
Aditya L1 Mission
❖ The Visible Line Emission Coronagraph (VLEC), the primary payload on board Aditya-L1, was handed over
to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
❖ ISRO is planning to launch the Aditya-L1 mission, first Indian space mission to observe the Sun by June or
July 2023 to observe the Sun and the solar corona.
❖ Aditya L1 will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with 7 payloads (instruments)
on board.
❖ VELC will be the main payload among seven designed to study various aspects of the sun and is one of the
most precise instruments made in India.
❖ It was conceptualised and designed in 15 years which will help in solving mysteries related to solar
astrophysics.
❖ The 7 payloads include: VELC, Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Solar Low Energy X-ray
Spectrometer (SoLEXS), Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray
Spectrometer (HEL1OS), Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) & Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution
Digital Magnetometers
❖ Aditya L1 will study the Sun’s corona, Sun's photosphere, chromosphere, solar emissions, solar winds and
flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
❖ The mission will be launched by ISRO to the L1 orbit which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. The
orbit allows Aditya-L1 to look at the Sun continuously.
❖ L1 refers to Lagrangian/Lagrange Point 1, one of 5 points in the orbital plane of the Earth-Sun system
❖ Lagrange Points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the Sun
and Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
❖ These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.
❖ A Satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 has the major advantage of continuously viewing the
Sun without any occultation/ eclipses.
❖ The L1 point is home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), an international
collaboration project of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space
Agency (ESA).
❖ Helios 2 Solar Probe: The earlier Helios 2 solar probe, a joint venture between NASA and space agency of
erstwhile West Germany, went within 43 million km of the Sun’s surface in 1976.
❖ Solar Orbiter: A joint mission between the ESA and NASA to collect data that will help answer a central
question of heliophysics like how the Sun creates and controls the constantly changing space environment
throughout the solar system.
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❖ Other Active Spacecraft Monitoring the Sun: Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), Interface Region
Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), WIND, Hinode, the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and Solar Terrestrial Relations
Observatory (STEREO).
Parker Solar Probe
❖ On August 12, 2022, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe completed 4 years in service.
❖ It is part of NASA’s “Living with a Star” program that explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system
❖ NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Mission is the first in history to fly through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known
as the ‘Corona’
❖ Launched in 2018 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
❖ Parker Solar Probe will use Venus’ gravity during 7 flybys over roughly seven years to progressively push
its orbit closer to the sun in order to unravel the mysteries of the sun’s atmosphere
❖ For the first time in history, it shared images of Venus. The American space agency’s Wide-field Imager for
Parker Solar Probe (WISPR) captured images of Venus’s surface, displaying beautiful continents, plains,
plateaus, and even a layer of oxygen
❖ Named after Emeritus Eugene N. Parker. He was an American solar and plasma physicist. In the 1950s he
proposed the existence of the solar wind and that the magnetic field in the outer Solar System would be in
the shape of a Parker spiral, predictions that were later confirmed by spacecraft measurements.
❖ Born- June 10 1927 Died- March 15 2022
❖ The first woman to fly in space was Soviet Valentina Tereshkova, aboard the Vostok 6 space capsule in
1963.
Smiling Sun
❖ NASA captured an image having dark patches on the sun’s surface resembling eyes and a smile.
❖ These patches are called ‘Coronal holes’, which can be seen in ultraviolet light but are typically invisible to
our eyes.
❖ These are regions on the sun’s surface from where fast solar wind gushes out into space.
❖ In these regions, the magnetic field is open to interplanetary space, sending solar material out in a high-
speed stream of solar wind i.e. geomagnetic storm.
❖ They have lower temperatures and appear much darker than their surroundings as they contain little solar
material.
❖ Coronal holes can last between a few weeks to months.
❖ The holes are not a unique phenomenon, appearing throughout the sun’s approximately 11-year solar
cycle.
❖ They can last much longer during solar minimum, a period of time when activity on the Sun is substantially
diminished.
❖ Geomagnetic storm is a solar storm that occurs during the release of magnetic energy associated with
sunspots (‘dark’ regions on the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding photosphere - the lowest layer of
the solar atmosphere), and can last for a few minutes or hours.
❖ Photosphere is a visible surface of the Sun, from which is emitted most of the Sun’s light that reaches
Earth directly.
❖ It is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of
energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth.
❖ The magnetosphere shields our home planet from harmful solar and cosmic particle radiation, as well as
erosion of the atmosphere by the solar wind – the constant flow of charged particles streaming off the Sun.
❖ The largest storms that result from these conditions are associated with solar Coronal Mass Ejections
(CMEs) where a billion tons or so of plasma from the sun, with its embedded magnetic field, arrives at
Earth.
❖ CMEs are large ejections of plasma and magnetic fields that originate from the Sun's corona (outermost
layer).
Solar Cycle
❖ The Sun is a huge ball of electrically-charged hot gas. This charged gas moves, generating a powerful
magnetic field. The Sun's magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle.
❖ Every 11 years or so, the Sun's magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun's north and south
poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back
again.
❖ The solar cycle affects activity on the surface of the Sun, such as sunspots which are caused by the Sun's
magnetic fields. As the magnetic fields change, so does the amount of activity on the Sun's surface.
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❖ Sunspots (some as large as 50,000 km in diameter) are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun
(photosphere). They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface.
❖ One way to track the solar cycle is by counting the number of sunspots. The beginning of a solar cycle is a
solar minimum, or when the Sun has the least sunspots. Over time, solar activity—and the number of
sunspots—increases.
❖ The middle of the solar cycle is the solar maximum, or when the Sun has the most sunspots. As the cycle
ends, it fades back to the solar minimum and then a new cycle begins.
❖ Solar cycle 25 is the current solar cycle, It began in December 2019 with a minimum smoothed sunspot
number of 1.8. It is expected to continue until about 2030.
Solitary Wave around Mars

❖ Recently, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science
and Technology (DST) has found evidence of "solitary waves" in the weak magnetic field around Mars for
the first time.
❖ Scientists used high-resolution electric field data from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft to make the discovery
of solitary waves.
❖ Key Highlights of the Discovery: Unlike Earth, the planet Mars does not have any intrinsic magnetic
field. This allows the high-speed solar wind to interact directly with the Mars atmosphere, like an obstacle
in flow.
❖ It has been suggested that even in a weak and thin magnetosphere as that of Mars, frequent occurrences
of solitary waves can be observed.
❖ However, despite several missions to Mars, the presence of solitary waves in the Martian
magnetosphere has never been reported earlier.
❖ The waves were found mostly in the morning and evening on Mars, at altitudes of 1000-3500 km, and
their exact cause is still unknown.
❖ Solitary Waves: Solitary waves are the distinct electric field fluctuations (bipolar or monopolar) that follow
constant amplitude-phase relations.
❖ Their shape and size are less affected during their propagation.
❖ Solitary waves have been found to play a significant role in the dynamics of various physical systems, such
as in the Earth's magnetosphere and in the Martian magnetosphere.
❖ In the Earth's magnetosphere, they are known to be responsible for the energization and transport of
plasma particles, which can affect the behaviour of satellites and other space-borne equipment.
❖ In the Martian magnetosphere, their significance is not fully understood yet, but it has been suggested
that they may play a role in the loss of atmospheric ions on Mars.
❖ Key Points Related to Mars: Size and Distance: It is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-
smallest planet in the Solar System.
❖ Mars is about half the size of Earth.
❖ Similarity to the Earth (Orbit and Rotation): As Mars orbits the Sun, it completes one rotation every 24.6
hours, which is very similar to one day on Earth (23.9 hours).
❖ Mars' axis of rotation is tilted 25 degrees with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun.
❖ This is similar to Earth, which has an axial tilt of 23.4 degrees.
❖ Mars has distinct seasons like Earth, but they last longer than seasons on Earth.
❖ Various Mars Missions: ExoMars rover (2021) (European Space Agency), Tianwen-1: China's Mars Mission
(2021), UAE’s Hope Mars Mission (UAE’s first-ever interplanetary mission) (2021), India’s Mars Orbiter
Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan (2013)
Measles and Rubella

❖ India had set a target to eliminate Measles and Rubella (MR) by 2023, having missed the earlier deadline of
2020, due to a variety of reasons, exacerbated by disruptions due to the pandemic.
❖ In 2019, India adopted the goal of measles and rubella elimination by 2023, anticipating that the 2020 goal
could not be reached.
❖ Measles: It is a highly contagious viral disease and is a cause of death among young children globally.
❖ It is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype. It is classified as a member of
the genus Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family.
❖ It is particularly dangerous for children from the economically weaker background, as it attacks
malnourished children and those with reduced immunity. It can cause serious complications,
including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia.
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❖ Rubella: It is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in children and young
adults. It is also called German Measles.
❖ It is caused by the rubella virus which is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus.
❖ Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause death or congenital defects known as Congenital Rubella
Syndrome (CRS) which causes irreversible birth defects. Rubella is caused by a different virus than
measles, and rubella isn't as infectious or as severe as measles.
❖ Vaccine: The combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is a two-dose vaccine series that
effectively protects against all three viruses.
❖ The measles virus is one of the world’s most contagious human viruses that kills more than 1,00,000
children every year globally, and rubella is a leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects, according
to the World Health Organization (WHO).
❖ During 2010–2013, India conducted a phased measles catch-up immunisation for children aged 9 months–
10 years in 14 States, vaccinating approximately 119 million children. During 2017–2021, India adopted a
national strategic plan for measles and rubella elimination.
❖ Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to ramp up vaccinating the unvaccinated population.
❖ As of December 2021, five countries have been verified and have sustained measles elimination - Bhutan,
DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste. In addition, Maldives and Sri Lanka have sustained their
rubella elimination status in 2021.
Related Static GK
❖ Viruses are infectious particles that have the ability to infect both eukaryotic and prokaryotic hosts. They
are host specific and mostly pathogenic, and thus considered as the common causative agents of many
diseases. Viruses that infect human hosts can be categorized as adenoviruses and retroviruses.
o Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
o Prokaryotes are organisms whose cells lack a nucleus and other organelles. Prokaryotes are
divided into two distinct groups: the bacteria and the archaea,
❖ Adenovirus is a type of virus that has no envelope whereas retroviruses are characterized as enveloped
viruses. Adenoviruses have double-stranded linear DNA and are associated with two major core proteins.
❖ A retrovirus is a virus that uses RNA as its genetic material. When a retrovirus infects a cell, it makes a DNA
copy of its genome that is inserted into the DNA of the host cell.
❖ Adenoviruses are common viruses that cause a range of illnesses. They can cause cold-like symptoms,
fever, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhoea, and pink eye (conjunctivitis). Whereas, retroviruses can
cause several human diseases such as some forms of cancer and AIDS
Mission Indradhanush
❖ It was launched in 2014 to fully immunize more than 89 lakh children who are either unvaccinated or
partially vaccinated under Universal Immunisation Program (UIP).
❖ It provides vaccination against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) i.e. diphtheria, Whooping cough,
tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type B
infections, Japanese encephalitis (JE), rotavirus vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and
measles-rubella (MR).
❖ Recently, the Ministry of Health virtually launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 4.0.
❖ It will ensure that Routine Immunization (RI) services reach unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children
and pregnant women. Children up to two years will be covered in this drive.
Universal Immunisation Programme
❖ The Immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme of Immunization
(EPI) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Mansukh L Mandaviya).
❖ In 1985, the Programme was modified as ‘Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)’. UIP prevents
mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
BharOS
❖ An IIT Madras-incubated company has developed the BharOS.
❖ It is made from the funds of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System (NM-ICPS)
❖ It is an indigenous mobile operating system (OS), like Android or iOS. It is focused on privacy and security.
❖ A mobile operating system is a software that is the core interface on a smartphone like Android by Google
and iOS by Apple, which help smartphone users interact with their device and access its features, while
ensuring safety.
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❖ BharOS is a contribution towards the idea of a self-reliant India or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by creating a
secure OS environment for India-based users.
❖ BharOS Services are currently being provided to organisations that have stringent privacy and security
requirements and whose users handle sensitive information that requires confidential communications on
restricted apps on mobiles.
❖ Such users require access to private cloud services through private 5G networks.
❖ BharOS would offer Native Over the Air (NOTA) updates, meaning that security updates and bug fixes will
be automatically installed rather than users having to check for updates and implementing them on their
own.
❖ No Default Apps (NDA) setting, means that users do not have to keep or use pre-installed apps in this
mobile operating system.
❖ Going with an NDA design for BharOS was intentional as it will let users have more control over the apps
on their mobile phones based on the user’s trust in the app and the kind of data they store on their phone.
❖ It will use a system known as Private App Store Services (PASS), which will examine and curate the apps
that are safe for the users.
❖ Users will be able to use other apps, as long as they meet BharOS’ PASS standards.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System (NM-ICPS)
❖ The NM-ICPS is a comprehensive Mission which would address technology development, application
development, human resource development & skill enhancement, entrepreneurship and start-up
development in Cyber Physical System (CPS) and associated technologies.
❖ The Mission aims at establishment of 15 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH), six Application Innovation
Hubs (AIH) and four Technology Translation Research Parks (TTRP).
❖ These Hubs & TTRPs will connect to Academics, Industry, Central Ministries and State Government in
developing solutions at reputed academic, R&D and other organizations across the country in a hub and
spoke model.
❖ The Hubs & TTRPs have four focused areas along which the Mission implementation would proceed,
namely: Technology Development - HRD & Skill Development - Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Start-ups
Ecosystem Development, and International Collaborations.
Related Static GK
❖ Bharat Operating System Solutions, commonly referred to as BOSS, is a group of several Open Source
operating system derivatives, all of which are developed by Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing in India (CDAC), Chennai in order to benefit the usage of Free/Open Source Software in India.
❖ BOSS GNU/Linux is a key deliverable of NRCFOSS. It has enhanced Desktop Environment integrated with
Indian language support and other softwares.
❖ Default user Interface: Cinnamon
Cervical Cancer Vaccine

❖ The cervix is the lowermost part of the uterus. Tumour in the cervix is generally referred to as cervical
cancer. A vaccine to cure cervical cancer was recently launched by the Serum Institute of India. The name
of the vaccine is CERVAVAC.
❖ This is the first time India is producing a vaccine for cervical cancer. The vaccine was launched during
National Girl Child Day.
❖ India celebrates National Girl Child Day on January 24.
❖ Department of Biotechnology assisted SII in developing the vaccine. First, the vaccine is to be provided to
girls between the age of 9 to 14 years.
❖ India used the HPV vaccine so far to cure cervical vaccines. It was imported and the vaccine is very
expensive. One dose of the HPV vaccine costs Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000. With the low-cost indigenously
developed CERVAVAC, India can reduce the intensity of the disease to a great extent.
❖ Almost, one–fourth of cancer deaths occur due to cervical cancer. Cancer among women commonly
occurs in the lungs, rectum, breast, and cervix. Of all cancer in women, breast cancer is the most common
followed by lung cancer in the second position. Colorectal cancer is the third most popular cancer in the
world. And cervical cancer is the fourth most common.
❖ More than 1.25 lakh women suffer from cervical cancer all over the world
❖ More than 75,000 Indian women die due to the disease
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❖ According to the International Classification of Diseases WHO, more than 65,978 Indian women suffered
from cervical cancer in 2015. The number increased to 75,209 in 2017. In 2025, it is expected to touch
85,241
Sickle Cell Disease

❖ The Government of India, through the National Health Mission, is supporting the states in their efforts to
prevent and manage sickle cell disease.
❖ In Union Budget 2023-24, the government has announced a mission to eliminate Sickle cell Anaemia by
2047.
❖ Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): SCD is a chronic single gene disorder causing a debilitating systemic syndrome
characterized by chronic anaemia, acute painful episodes, organ infarction and chronic organ damage and
by a significant reduction in life expectancy
❖ Symptoms of sickle cell disease can vary, but some common symptoms include:
➢ Chronic Anaemia: leading to fatigue, weakness, and paleness.
➢ Painful episodes (also known as sickle cell crisis): these can cause sudden and intense pain in the
bones, chest, back, arms, and legs.
➢ Delayed growth and puberty
❖ Blood Transfusions: These can help relieve anaemia and reduce the risk of pain crises.
❖ Hydroxyurea: This is a medication that can help reduce the frequency of painful episodes and prevent
some of the long-term complications of the disease.
❖ It can also be treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
❖ Government Initiatives to Tackle SCD: Government has released technical operational
guidelines for prevention and control of hemoglobinopathies in 2016 including sickle cell anaemia.
❖ Integrated centers have also been established in 22 tribal districts for treatment and diagnosis.
❖ The State Haemoglobinopathy Mission has been established in Madhya Pradesh to address the challenges
in screening and management of the disease.
Lab Grown Diamonds

❖ The Ministry of Finance (MoF) in its 2023-24 Union Budget has put special emphasis on Laboratory-Grown
Diamonds (LGD).
❖ Scientists working at a General Electric research laboratory in New York are credited with the creation of
the world’s first-ever LGD in 1954.
❖ LGD are manufactured in laboratories, as opposed to naturally occurring diamonds. However, the chemical
composition and other physical and optical properties of the two are the same.
❖ Naturally occurring diamonds take millions of years to form; they are created when carbon deposits
buried within the earth are exposed to extreme heat and pressure.
❖ Manufacturing: They are mostly manufactured through two processes, High Pressure,High Temperature
(HPHT) method or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) method.
❖ Both HPHT and CVD methods of growing diamonds artificially begin with a seed, a slice of another
diamond.
❖ In the HPHT method, the seed, along with pure graphite carbon, is exposed to temperatures around 1,500
degrees Celsius and extremely high pressure.
❖ In the CVD method, the seed is heated to around 800 degrees Celsius inside a sealed chamber filled with a
carbon-rich gas. The gas sticks to the seed, gradually building the diamond.
❖ India is the world’s largest cutting and polishing center for diamonds, accounting for over 90% of polished
diamond manufacturing globally. This is attributed to factors such as the easy availability of high skilled
labour, cutting-edge technology, and lower costs involved.
❖ Surat in Gujarat is a global hub for diamond manufacturing.
❖ The US is the biggest market for cut and polished diamonds, with China a close second.
❖ India contributes 19% of the total diamond exports in the world.
❖ The UAE is also the largest export destination for Indian gold jewellery, accounting for over 75% of the
South Asian country’s jewellery exports.
❖ India’s overall exports of gems and jewellery in November 2022 were USD 2.43 billion, up 2.05 % from the
same year-ago period.
ISRO’s SSLV-D2
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❖ In its second attempt, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s smallest vehicle, Small Satellite
Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2), was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh.
❖ The vehicle’s first development flight (SSLV D1) that took place in August 2022 failed to place the
satellites in precise orbit.
❖ This time structural changes have been made to the equipment bay, along with changes in the separation
mechanism for stage 2, and logic changes for the on-board system.
❖ A new vehicle is declared operational by ISRO after it completes two successful development flights.
❖ The last vehicle to be declared operational was the GSLV Mk III, now called LVM 3, when it
carried Chandrayaan-2 in 2019.
❖ SSLV-D2 will place the ISRO’s earth observation satellite EOS-07 and two co-passenger satellites - Janus-
1 and AzaadiSat2.
❖ Janus-1: It is a technology demonstrator satellite built by US-based Antaris and its Indian partners XDLinks
and Ananth Technologies. It is a six-unit cube satellite with five payloads on board — two from Singapore,
and one each from Kenya, Australia, and Indonesia.
❖ AzaadiSat2: It is a Cubesat weighing around 8 kg and carries 75 different payloads. Girl students from rural
regions across the country were provided guidance to build these payloads.
❖ The payloads are integrated by the student team of “Space Kidz India”.
❖ EOS-07: EOS-07 is a 156.3 kg satellite designed and developed by ISRO. Its mission objective is to design
and develop payload instruments compatible with microsatellite buses and new technologies for future
operational satellites.
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
❖ SSLV is a 3 stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and Liquid propulsion-
based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal.
❖ It is 2 m in diameter and 34m in length with a lift off weight of 120 tonnes and is capable of launching a 10
to 500 kg satellite in 500 km planar orbit.
❖ The rocket can be assembled by a small team in only a few days, compared to the 6 months and around
600 people it takes for ISRO’s workhorse PSLV.
Other Launch Vehicle developed by ISRO

❖ Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV): The first rocket developed by ISRO was simply called SLV, or Satellite
Launch Vehicle.
❖ It was followed by the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV): SLV and ASLV both could carry small
satellites, weighing up to 150 kg, to lower earth orbits.
❖ Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): PSLV’s first launch was in 1994, and it has been ISRO’s main rocket
ever since. Today’s PSLV, however, is vastly improved and several times more powerful than the ones used
in the 1990s.
❖ It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
❖ PSLV is the most reliable rocket used by ISRO to date, with 52 of its 54 flights being successful.
❖ It successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 –
that later travelled to Moon and Mars respectively.
❖ Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): GSLV is a much more powerful rocket, meant to carry
heavier satellites much deeper into space. To date, GSLV rockets have carried out 18 missions, of which
four ended in failure.
❖ It can take 10,000 kg of satellites to lower the earth's orbits.
❖ The indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II.
❖ Mk-III versions have made ISRO entirely self-sufficient in launching its satellites.
NISAR Mission
❖ Recently, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) has received a send-off ceremony at the NASA’s
(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, USA.
❖ NISAR will be the first radar of its kind in space to systematically map Earth, using two different radar
frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet's surface less than a centimeter
across.
❖ NISAR has been built by space agencies of the US and India under a partnership agreement signed in 2014.
❖ It is expected to be launched in January 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre into a near-polar orbit.
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❖ The satellite will operate for a minimum of three years.
❖ It is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory.
❖ NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.
❖ It is a 2,800 kilograms satellite consisting of both L-band and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR) instruments, which makes it a dual-frequency imaging radar satellite.
❖ While NASA has provided the L-band radar, GPS, a high-capacity solid-state recorder to store data, and a
payload data subsystem, ISRO has provided the S-band radar, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) launch system and spacecraft.
❖ S band radars operate on a wavelength of 8-15 cm and a frequency of 2-4 GHz. Because of the wavelength
and frequency, they are not easily attenuated. This makes them useful for near and far range weather
observation.
❖ It has a 39-foot stationary antenna reflector, made of a gold-plated wire mesh; the reflector will be used to
focus “the radar signals emitted and received by the upward-facing feed on the instrument structure.
❖ By using SAR, NISAR will produce high-resolution images. SAR is capable of penetrating clouds and can
collect data day and night regardless of the weather conditions.
❖ NASA requires the L-band radar for its global science operations for at least three years. Meanwhile, ISRO
will utilise the S-band radar for a minimum of five years.
ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3 & NGLV

❖ The ISRO heaviest rocket Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3 or GSLV Mark 3) has successfully orbited 36
satellites of U.K.-based OneWeb.
❖ OneWeb is a global communications network powered by a constellation of 648 Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
satellites.
❖ The LVM3-M2 mission is a dedicated commercial mission for a foreign customer OneWeb,
through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
❖ It is the first multi-satellite mission with 36 OneWeb Satellites to the LEO as the heaviest Payload mass of
5,796 kg. of LVM3 till date.
❖ This newest rocket is capable of launching 4,000-kilogram class of satellites into GTO (Geosynchronous
Transfer Orbit) and 8,000 kgs of payloads into LEO.
❖ It is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons on its sides and core
stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.
❖ Features:
➢ First Commercial Mission of LVM3
➢ First launch of LVM3 to LEO
➢ First Indian rocket with six-ton payload
➢ First NSIL Mission with LVM3
➢ First OneWeb Mission with NSIL/Department of Space.
❖ OneWeb Constellation operates in a LEO Polar Orbit Satellites are arranged in 12 rings (Orbital planes) with
49 satellites in each plane.
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❖ The orbital planes are inclined to be near polar (87.9 Deg.)
❖ The orbital planes are 1200 km above the Earth. Each satellite completes a full trip around the earth every
109 minutes.
❖ The earth is rotating underneath satellites, so they will always be flying over new locations on the ground.
❖ Low Earth Orbit= Below 2000 km
❖ Medium Earth Orbit= 2000km to 35,786km
❖ High Earth Orbit= Beyond Medium Earth Orbit
❖ The Kármán line define a boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space, and offers a specific
definition set by the Fédération aéronautique internationale (FAI)
❖ Named after Theodore von Kármán (1881–1963), a Hungarian American engineer and physicist who was
active in aeronautics and astronautics. In 1957, he was the first person to attempt to calculate an altitude
limit for airplanes.
Jupiter’s New Moons

❖ Astronomers recently discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, increasing the total number of moons it
has to 92 - the largest number any planet on our solar system has (Saturn has 83 moons).
❖ The moons were discovered using telescopes in Hawaii and Chile in 2021 and 2022 and have been added
to a list kept by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Centre (size of these moons ranges
from 1-3 kms).
❖ Upcoming missions to Jupiter include - (a) ESA’s spacecraft to Jupiter to study the planet and some of its
biggest, icy moons (in 2023), (b) NASA’s Europa Clipper to explore Jupiter's moon Europa which could
harbour an ocean beneath its frozen crust (in 2024). NASA earlier launched Mission Lucy to explore
the Jupiter Trojan Asteroids.
❖ Apart from Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus has 27 confirmed moons, Neptune 14, Mars 2 and Earth has 1
moon while Venus and Mercury have no moons.
Google’s Bard
❖ Google will soon unveil its new AI chatbot Bard in response to Microsoft’s ChatGPT.
❖ Bard is based on the Language Model for Dialogue Application (LaMDA), Google’s own conversational AI
chatbot.
❖ It will give in-depth, conversational and essay-style answers just like ChatGPT does right now. However, the
model is currently a “lightweight” version of LaMDA, and the one being “requires significantly less
computing power, enabling it to scale to more users.
❖ It is built on Transformer technology, which is also the backbone of ChatGPT and other AI bots.
❖ Transformer technology was pioneered by Google and made open source in 2017.
❖ Transformer technology is a Neural Network Architecture, which is capable of making predictions based
on inputs and is primarily used in natural language processing and computer vision technology.
How is ChatGPT different from Bard
❖ ChatGPT has impressed with its ability to respond to complex queries — though with varying degrees of
accuracy — but its biggest shortcoming perhaps is that it cannot access real-time information from the
Internet.
❖ But Microsoft just unveiled a new version of Bing that's powered by ChatGPT which is a significant
improvement of the version of ChatGPT.
❖ ChatGPT’s language model was trained on a vast dataset to generate text based on the input, and the
dataset, at the moment, only includes information until 2021.
❖ Whereas, for questions where there might not be a clear-cut answer, Bard will synthesise a response that
reflects differing opinions.
❖ For example, the question, “Is it easier to learn the piano or the guitar?” would be met with “Some say the
piano is easier to learn, as the finger and hand movements are more natural. Others say that it’s easier to
learn chords on the guitar.”
ChatGPT Powered BHASHINI

❖ The Ministry of Electronics and IT’s (Ashwini Vaishnaw) BHASHINI is working on a ChatGPT-Powered
WhatsApp Chatbot to help Indian farmers learn about various government schemes.
❖ BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India) is India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) led language translation
platform.
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❖ The launch of the WhatsApp chatbot may take time as ChatGPT currently relies on input in English, and the
support for local languages is limited.
❖ It will let users send a question via voice notes. A user could simply ask a question using voice notes and
receive a voice-based response generated by ChatGPT.
❖ The chatbot has been developing with the view of India’s rural and agrarian population that most depend
on government schemes and subsidies.
❖ These potential users speak a wide range of languages, which makes it important to build a language
model that can successfully identify and understand them.
❖ This will help numerous farmers in India who may not be familiar with typing on smartphones.
❖ The ChatGPT-powered WhatsApp chatbot will support 12 languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu,
Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Odia, and Assamese.
❖ The majority of those who will use this chatbot would not know English, for which the Government's Bhasha
Daan Initiative will be used.
❖ Bhasha Daan is an initiative to crowdsource language inputs for multiple Indian languages as part of
Project BHASHINI. It calls upon citizens to help build an open repository of data to digitally enrich his/her
own language.
ChatGPT
❖ GPT models are trained on vast amounts of text data to generate human-like text.
❖ It can generate responses to a wide range of topics, such as answering questions, providing explanations,
and engaging in conversations.
❖ In addition to being able to "admit its mistakes, challenge false premises, and refuse unsuitable requests,"
the ChatGPT can also "answer follow-up questions."
India’s First Hybrid Rocket

❖ India’s first hybrid-sounding rocket by private players was launched from Chengalpattu, Tamil
Nadu. Martin Foundation, in association with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space
Zone India, launched the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission- 2023.
❖ The organisations mentioned that 5,000 students were involved in the project. The selected students
designed and constructed a student satellite launch vehicle (rocket) and 150 PICO satellites (satellites at
a mass below 1 kg, implemented by use of modern miniaturization techniques) research experiment cubes
that contained different payloads. The rocket can be used for research in weather, atmospheric conditions
and radiation.
❖ Hybrid rocket is a bipropellant rocket engine which uses propellants that are in two different states,
typically liquid and solid, which when reacted, create exhaust gases suitable for rocket propulsion.
❖ In 2022, the Space technology startup Skyroot Aerospace also sent India’s first privately developed rocket
Vikram-S. It is a single-stage spin-stabilised solid propellant rocket with a mass of approximately 545 kgs.
JWT spots 6 Monster Galaxies

❖ The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered six Monster galaxies, formed roughly 500-700
million years after the Big Bang, according to a Study.
❖ Researchers spotted the six monster galaxies using the Cosmic Evolution Early 44 Release Science
programme of JWST.
❖ The programme studies the formation of the earliest galaxies when the universe was less than 5% of its
current age.
❖ Researchers turned the telescope to a patch of the sky close to the Big Dipper, which appears to harbor a
group of stars that form a pattern in the night sky. The Hubble space telescope first observed this region in
the 1990s.
❖ The Big Dipper is an asterism of stars, in the constellation Ursa Major (also known as the Great Bear). It
consists of seven bright stars, four forming a rectangular "bowl" shape and three forming a "handle". It is
often used as a navigational tool, a reference point for stargazing, and as a symbol in popular culture.
❖ Despite having the same mass as the Milky Way, one of the galaxies is 30 times smaller.
❖ This indicates the presence of large and mature but remarkably compact galaxies teeming with stars far
sooner than scientists had considered possible.
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❖ The telescope reveals that six large, mature galaxies are as old as the Milky Way and exist around 540-770
million years after the Big Bang.
❖ The universe was roughly 3 % of its current age at the time.
❖ These galaxies challenge our current understanding of galaxy formation as they should not have existed
so early in their life.
Hubble Space Telescope
❖ It is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble.
❖ Hubble proved that many objects previously thought to be clouds of dust and gas and classified as
"nebulae" were actually galaxies beyond the Milky Way. He used the strong direct relationship between a
classical Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period (discovered in 1908 by Henrietta Swan Leavitt)
for scaling galactic and extragalactic distances
❖ The observatory is the first major optical telescope to be placed in space and has made ground-breaking
discoveries in the field of astronomy since its launch (into Low Earth orbit in 1990).
❖ It is said to be the “most significant advance in astronomy since Galileo’s telescope.”
❖ It is a part of NASA's Great Observatories Program - a family of four space-based observatories, each
observing the Universe in a different kind of light.
❖ The other missions in the program include the visible-light Spitzer Space Telescope, Compton Gamma-Ray
Observatory (CGRO), and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO)
o The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), previously known as the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics
Facility (AXAF), is a Flagship-class space telescope launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia
during STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. Chandra is sensitive to X-ray sources 100 times fainter
than any previous X-ray telescope, enabled by the high angular resolution of its mirrors.
❖ It is larger than a school bus in size (13.3 meters), and has a 7.9 feet mirror.
❖ Expansion of the Universe was accelerating (1990s), this in turn led to a conclusion that most of the
cosmos was made up of mystery "stuff" called dark energy.
❖ Snapshot of Southern Ring Nebula (1995), it showed two stars, a bright white star and a fainter dull star at
the centre of the nebula where the dull star was indeed creating the whole nebula.
❖ Collusion of two dwarf galaxies (1998) one of which is Zwicky 18. This led to the formation of a new Star.
❖ Colourful patterns of gases in a black hole powered galaxy known as the ‘Circinus Galaxy’ (1999).
❖ Collision between two galaxies UGC 06471 and UGC 06472 (2000).
❖ Snapshot of Neptune (2011): The image of the most distant planet revealed the formation of high-altitude
clouds composed of methane ice crystals.
❖ The disc surrounding a star ‘Beta Pictoris’, which was discovered in 1984, was found to be constituted by
two planets, light-scattering dust and debris in 2012.
❖ It captured the 'Galaxy Cluster Abell 2744’ in 2013. It is 3.5 billion light-years away and has several clusters
of small galaxies in it.
❖ Captured an encounter of a comet named C/2013 A1 with Mars in 2014.
o The ‘Comet Siding Spring’ passed with a distance of just 87,000 miles to that of Mars.
❖ The ‘Gum 29’, a vibrant stellar being ground, which is 20,000 light-years away, consisting of a giant cluster
of 3,000 stars was captured in 2014.
o This behemoth cluster of stars is called ‘Westerlund 2’.
❖ Picture of ‘Galaxy ESO 243-49, which had a medium-sized black hole in 2012.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

❖ An old man from Germany, referred to as the Dusseldorf patient, has become at least the third person to
have been “cured of HIV” with the virus not being detectable in his body even four years after stopping the
medicine.
❖ This was achieved with a bone-marrow transplant from people carrying a specific HIV-resistant genetic
mutation.
❖ A Berlin patient became the first person to overcome HIV after receiving two stem cell transplants in 2007
and 2008 for his blood cancer.
❖ The doctors selected a donor with a genetic mutation called CCR5-delta 32 that makes carriers almost
immune to HIV.
❖ In 2019, similar results were replicated in the London patient. Two more cases of successful treatment
were reported in 2022.
❖ HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a virus that attacks the immune system in the
human body.
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❖ It primarily targets and damages CD4 immune cells, which are essential for the body's ability to fight
infections and diseases.
❖ HIV is primarily spread through the exchange of certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids,
and breast milk.
❖ If left untreated, the virus destroys a person’s immune system and they are said to be in the Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome stage (AIDS) where they get several opportunistic infections that may result
in death.
❖ Although there are no cures for the infection at present, the disease can be managed using antiretroviral
therapy. These medicines suppress the replication of the virus within the body, allowing the number of CD4
immune cells to bounce back.
❖ Bone Marrow Transplant1; A bone marrow transplant is a medical treatment that replaces one’s bone
marrow with healthy cells. The replacement cells can either come from the person’s own body or from a
donor.
❖ A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant or, more specifically, a hematopoietic stem
cell transplant.
❖ Transplantation can be used to treat certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma,
and other blood and immune system diseases that affect the bone marrow.
❖ Bone marrow transplants may use cells from the same person (autologous transplant) or from a
donor (allogeneic transplant).
❖ CCR5-delta 32 Mutation: Cysteine-cysteine chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is the main HIV co-
receptor involved in the virus and cell-to-cell spread.
❖ The CCR5 receptors on CD4 cells are used as a doorway by HIV. The CCR5-delta 32 mutation prevents
these receptors from forming on CD4 cells, which effectively removes the doorway.
❖ Only 1% of people worldwide have two copies of the mutation, and 20% carry one copy, mostly those of
European descent. Those with the mutation are almost immune to HIV, although some cases have been
reported.
Related Static GK
❖ Timothy Ray Brown was an American considered to be the first person cured of HIV/AIDS. Brown was
called "The Berlin Patient" at the 2008 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, where his
cure was first announced, in order to preserve his anonymity. He chose to come forward in 2010.
❖ Adam Castillejo, also known as "The London Patient", is the second person known to have been cured of
HIV infection. Castillejo, who lives in London and works as a chef, is of Wayuu indigenous ancestry, and
was born in Venezuela
❖ World AIDS Day is celebrated on 1 December Every year
❖ Theme: Equalize
First Vaccine for Dengue

❖ Researchers at India’s National Centre for Biological Sciences, in collaboration with nine other institutions
in India, Africa, and the US, have developed India’s first and only DNA vaccine candidate for dengue fever.
❖ In preliminary trials on mice, the candidate generated a robust immune response and improved survival
rates after exposure to the disease.
❖ A DNA vaccine is a type of vaccine that uses a small piece of DNA that codes for a specific antigen (a
molecule that triggers an immune response) from a pathogen, such as a virus or bacterium, to stimulate an
immune response
❖ The DNA is injected directly into the body's cells, where it instructs the cells to produce the antigen.
❖ The immune system then recognizes the antigen as foreign and mounts an immune response against
it, which helps to develop immunity to the pathogen.
❖ DNA vaccines are third-generation vaccines.
❖ The ZyCoV-D is the world's first and India's indigenously developed DNA based vaccine for COVID-19.
❖ Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus (Genus Flavivirus), transmitted by
several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally Aedes aegypti.
❖ This mosquito also transmits chikungunya and Zika infection.
❖ There are 4 distinct, but closely related, serotypes (separate groups within a species of microorganisms
that all share a similar characteristic) of the virus that cause dengue (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4).
❖ The dengue vaccine CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2019,
the first dengue vaccine to get the regulatory nod in the US.
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❖ Dengvaxia is basically a live, attenuated dengue virus which has to be administered in people of ages 9 to
16 who have laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and who live in endemic areas.
H5N1- Avian Influenza

❖ Recent reports of H5N1 (subtype of avian influenza) being transmitted between mammals have raised
concerns about its potential to cause a human pandemic.
❖ Scientists are investigating a potential spillover event after a mass mortality event that killed over 700
seals along the Caspian Sea coast where a H5N1 variant was detected in wild birds a few months ago.
Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian influenza Type A viruses.
❖ H5N1, a subtype of avian influenza, has the potential to infect other mammals such as minks, ferrets,
seals, domestic cats, and others through contact with infected birds, their faeces, or infected bird
carcasses.
❖ Symptoms in Humans: Range from mild to severe influenza-like illnesses such as fever, cough, sore throat,
muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting. People can also develop severe respiratory
illness (e.g., difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia) and altered
mental status, seizures etc.
❖ Avian Influenza in India: In 2019, India has been declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1), which has also
been notified to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). However, in December 2020 and early
2021, outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 and H5N8 were reported in poultry in 15 states in India.
❖ Treatment: Evidence suggests that some antiviral drugs can reduce the duration of viral replication and
improve prospects of survival, however ongoing clinical studies are needed.
Types of Influenza Virus
❖ There are four types of influenza viruses: influenza A, B, C, and D
❖ Influenza A and B are the two types of influenza that cause epidemic seasonal infections nearly every year.
❖ Influenza C mainly occurs in humans, but has been known to also occur in dogs and pigs.
❖ Influenza D is found mainly in cattle. It’s not known to infect or cause illness in humans yet.
❖ Type A viruses are classified based on two proteins on their surfaces – Hemagglutinin (HA) and
Neuraminidase (NA). There are about 18 HA subtypes and 11 NA subtypes.
❖ Several combinations of these two proteins are possible e.g., H5N1, H7N2, H9N6, H17N10, H18N11 etc.
❖ All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds, except subtypes H17N10 and H18N11, which
have only been found in bats.
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
❖ Formerly known as Office International Des Epizooties
❖ OIE is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
❖ Established: 1924
❖ It had a total of 182 Member Countries. India is one of the member countries.
❖ OIE develops normative documents relating to rules that Member Countries can use to protect themselves
from the introduction of diseases and pathogens. One of them is the Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
❖ OIE standards are recognised by the World Trade Organization as reference international sanitary rules.
❖ It is headquartered in Paris, France.
❖ Founder: Emmanuel Leclainche
❖ Director General: Monique Eloit
❖ President: Hugo Federico Idoyaga
Megha-Tropiques-1 Satellite
❖ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out the controlled Re-Entry
experiment for the decommissioned Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) Satellite.
❖ An uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude was
identified as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1.
❖ Controlled re-entries involve de-orbiting to very low altitudes to ensure the impact occurs within a targeted
safe zone.
❖ Usually, large satellites or rocket bodies, which are likely to survive aero-thermal fragmentation upon re-
entry, are made to undergo controlled re-entry to limit ground casualty risk.
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❖ Aero-Thermal Fragmentation is a process in which an object traveling through the Earth's atmosphere at
high-speed experiences extreme heat and pressure, causing it to break apart or fragment.
❖ However, all such satellites are specifically designed to undergo controlled re-entry at end-of-life.
❖ MT-1 Satellite: It is an Indo-French Earth Observation Satellite, which was launched in October 2011 for
carrying out tropical weather and climate studies
❖ The main objective of this mission is to understand the life cycle of convective systems that influence the
tropical weather and climate and their role in the associated energy and moisture budget of the
atmosphere in tropical regions.
❖ With its circular orbit inclined 20° to the equator, it is a unique satellite for climate research that aided
scientists seeking to refine prediction models.
❖ Payloads: Microwave Analysis and Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures (MADRAS), an Imaging
Radiometer developed jointly by CNES (Centre National d'études Spatiales), France and ISRO;
❖ Sounder for Probing Vertical Profiles of Humidity (SAPHIR), from CNES;
❖ Scanner for Radiation Budget (ScaRaB), from CNES;
❖ Radio Occultation Sensor for Vertical Profiling of Temperature and Humidity (ROSA), procured from Italy.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
❖ Formed: 15 Aug 1969
❖ Preceding: Indian National Committee for Space research (INCOSPAR)
❖ HQ: Bangalore
❖ Chairman: Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
❖ Launching Pads: Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), Kerala : Satish Dhawan Space
Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh and Kulasekharapatnam SSLV Launching Station (Planned),
Tamil Nadu
❖ First Satellite: Aryabhata launched by Soviet Union in 1975
❖ In 1980, ISRO launched satellite RS-1 (Rohini) onboard its own SLV-3, making India the 7th country to be
capable of undertaking orbital launches
❖ ISRO has the world's largest constellation of remote-sensing satellites and operates the GPS-aided GEO
augmented navigation (GAGAN) and NAVIC satellite navigation systems
❖ ISRO is the 6th largest space agency in the world and holds an exceptional success rate.
❖ India has made a name for itself by successful launch of about 342 (three hundred and forty-two) foreign
satellites from over 34 (thirty-four) countries.
❖ Father of Indian Space Program: Vikram Sarabhai (also first chairman of ISRO)
❖ Longest Serving: Satish Dhawan (12 Years)
❖ Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is a former Indian Air Force Pilot who flew to Space in Soyuz T-11
spacecraft on 3rd April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos Programme becoming the first Indian to go
to Space.
NASA’s Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) Missions

❖ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale
Italiana :ASI) will build and launch the Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) missions before 2024.
❖ The three-year mission will focus on 11 primary target areas including New Delhi from India.
❖ MAIA is a satellite instrument that will collect data to examine the health effects of different types of air
pollution. It will use measurements of sunlight reflecting off airborne particles to determine the
abundance, size, chemical composition, and optical properties of pollutants in the atmosphere. The data
will be collected from sensors on the ground and atmospheric models. These results will then be related to
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, adverse reproductive outcomes, human birth, death and
hospitalisation records to understand impacts of contaminated air we breathe.
❖ The observatory will consist of the PLATiNO-2 satellite, which ASI will provide. The observatory’s science
instrument contains a pointable spectropolarimetric camera, which captures digital images at multiple
angles in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared portions of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
World’s Fastest Single-shot Laser Camera

❖ Scientists from Germany and the US have built the world’s fastest single-shot laser camera – 1,000x faster
than its predecessors at capturing extremely short-lived events. They used the camera to provide the most
precise view yet of how a hydrocarbon flame produces soot.
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❖ The device’s technique is called laser-sheet compressed ultrafast photography (LS-CUP) combining laser
sheet imaging with compressed sensing on a standard streak camera system. It “can resolve a plane of a
three-dimensional object like a flame or spray or any turbid media and can “resolve physical or chemical
processes” in space and time. It can capture images at 12.5 billion frames per second (fps).
❖ Their device can also be used to photograph shockwaves in nuclear reactors, combustion of fine sprays,
and an enigmatic process called sonoluminescence (sometimes, when excited by sound, bubbles in a liquid
implode and release light at a temperature of ~10,000 K), all of which involve processes that happen in a
few nanoseconds. However, the technology can be cost intensive.
LVM-3 OneWeb Launch

❖ In its second commercial launch, ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organisation) heaviest launch
vehicle LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) will launch a fleet of 36 OneWeb satellites, completing the first
generation of the huge broadband constellation.
❖ This will be the 18th launch of OneWeb and will add to the UK-based company's (OneWeb) existing
constellation of 582 satellites.
❖ ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL had signed a contract with OneWeb to launch 72 satellites in two
phases. The first set of 36 satellites was launched in LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 mission on October 23,
2022.
❖ This is the second OneWeb fleet that India is launching. This initiated India’s journey into the commercial
heavy lift-off space.
❖ OneWeb Constellation operates in a LEO Polar Orbit.
❖ Satellites are arranged in 12 rings (Orbital planes) with 49 satellites in each plane.
❖ The orbital planes are inclined to be near polar (87.9 Deg.)
❖ The orbital planes are 1200 km above the Earth. Each satellite completes a full trip around the earth every
109 minutes.
Other Launch Vehicles Developed by ISRO
❖ Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV): The first rocket developed by ISRO was simply called SLV, or Satellite
Launch Vehicle.
❖ It was followed by the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV): SLV and ASLV both could carry small
satellites, weighing up to 150 kg, to lower earth orbits.
❖ Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): PSLV’s first launch was in 1994, and it has been ISRO’s main rocket
ever since. Today’s PSLV, however, is vastly improved and several times more powerful than the ones used
in the 1990s.
❖ It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
❖ PSLV is the most reliable rocket used by ISRO to date, with 52 of its 54 flights being successful.
❖ It successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 –
that later travelled to Moon and Mars respectively.
❖ Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): GSLV is a much more powerful rocket, meant to carry
heavier satellites much deeper into space. To date, GSLV rockets have carried out 18 missions, of which
four ended in failure.
❖ It can take 10,000 kg of satellites to lower the earth's orbits.
❖ The indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II.
❖ Mk-III versions have made ISRO entirely self-sufficient in launching its satellites.
Next Gen Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
❖ ISRO is developing a Next-Gen Launch Vehicle (NGLV) to replace operational systems like the Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
❖ Launch Vehicles are used to carry spacecraft to space. India has two operational launchers, PSLV and
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
❖ In NGLV, ISRO is looking at a cost-efficient, 3-stage to orbit, reusable heavy-lift vehicle with a payload
capability of 10 tonnes to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
❖ Features: It will feature semi-cryogenic propulsion (refined kerosene as fuel with liquid oxygen (LOX) as
oxidiser) for the booster stages
❖ Use: Potential uses will be in launching communication satellites, deep space missions, future human
spaceflight and cargo missions.
Bharat 6G Project
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❖ The Prime Minister has unveiled a Vision Document to roll out high-speed 6G Communication Services by
2030 and also launched Bharat 6G Project to identify and fund research and deployment of the next-
generation technology in India.
❖ The Government has also launched the 'Call Before You Dig (CBuD)’ app to facilitate coordination between
excavation agencies and underground utility owners to prevent damage to utilities due to digging.
❖ India’s 6G project will be implemented in two phases, the first one from 2023 to 2025 and the second one
from 2025 to 2030.
❖ The government has also appointed an apex council to oversee the project and focus on issues such as
standardization, identification of the spectrum for 6G usage, create an ecosystem for devices and
systems, and figure out finances for research and development, among other things.
❖ A key focus of the council will be on new technologies such as Terahertz communication, radio interfaces,
tactile internet, artificial intelligence for connected intelligence, new encoding methods and waveforms
chipsets for 6G devices.
❖ In phase one, support will be provided to explorative ideas, risky pathways and proof-of-concept tests.
❖ Ideas and concepts that show promise and potential for acceptance by the global peer community will be
adequately supported to develop them to completion, establish their use cases and benefits, and create
implementational IPs and testbeds leading to commercialisation as part of phase two.
❖ It aims to enable India to become a leading global supplier of intellectual property, products and solutions
of affordable 6G telecom solutions and identify priority areas for 6G research based on India’s competitive
advantages.
❖ India is the 2nd-largest telecom market globally with 1.2 billion digital subscribers.
❖ The past nine years witnessed an unprecedented digital leap, whereby India's digital economy grew 2.5
times faster than the national economy.
❖ India is the most connected democracy in the world, where 70 million e-authentications are done every
day, and 8 billion UPI (Unified Payment Interface) transactions are made every month.
❖ 6G Technology: 6G (Sixth-Generation Wireless) is the successor to 5G cellular technology.
❖ It will be able to use higher frequencies than 5G networks and provide substantially higher capacity and
much lower latency (delay).
❖ One of the goals of 6G internet will be to support one microsecond-latency communication (delay of one-
microsecond in communication).
❖ This is 1,000 times faster - or 1/1000th the latency - than one millisecond throughput.
❖ It seeks to utilize the terahertz band of frequency which is currently unutilized. Terahertz waves fall
between infrared waves and microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum.
International Liquid Mirror Telescope

❖ India inaugurated the largest International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) in Devasthal, Uttarakhand.
❖ The ILMT has a 4-meter-diameter rotating mirror made up of a thin layer of liquid mercury, which is highly
reflective and designed to survey the strip of the sky passing overhead each night.
❖ The telescope has three components: a bowl containing reflecting liquid mercury metal, an air bearing (or
motor) on which the liquid mirror sits, and a drive system. The mercury is protected from the wind by a
scientific-grade thin transparent film of mylar. The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi-lens
optical corrector that produces sharp images over a wide field of view. A 4k × 4k CCD camera, located
above the mirror at the focus, records 22 arcminute wide strips of the sky.
❖ The Devasthal observatory is equipped with the largest aperture telescope available in India that will use
Big Data and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms to classify objects in the sky. The
data gathered by the telescope will be analyzed quickly using AI and machine learning to catalog the
objects in the sky, including variable and transient stellar sources.
❖ ILMT is designed to detect transient or variable celestial objects such as supernovae, gravitational lenses,
space debris, and asteroids. The data collected from the ILMT, over an operational time of five years, will
be ideally suited to perform a deep photometric and astrometric variability survey.
Geomagnetic Storm
❖ Earth has been hit by a powerful Geomagnetic Storm, having a severity grade of G4 according to the US
National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
❖ Severity grade of G4, which is the second-highest grade possible, can potentially cause widespread voltage
control problems for power grids. It can also cause protection systems to mistakenly trip key electric
assets of the grid.
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❖ Notes: NOAA ranks geomagnetic storms on a scale running from G1, which could cause an increase in
auroral activity around the poles and minor fluctuations in power supplies, up to G5, which includes
extreme cases like the Carrington Event — a colossal solar storm that occurred September 1859, which
disrupted telegraph services all over the world and triggered auroras so bright and powerful that they were
visible as far south as the Bahamas.
❖ A geomagnetic storm refers to the disruptions to the Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar emissions.
❖ When a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a high-speed solar stream reaches our planet, it slams into the
magnetosphere.
❖ The Earth’s magnetosphere is created by its magnetic fields and it usually protects us from the particles
emitted by the Sun.
❖ When a CME or a high-speed stream arrives at Earth, it peels open the planet’s magnetosphere, kind of like
an onion. This allows energetic solar wind particles to stream down and hit our atmosphere over the poles.
❖ Solar weather events like this can also supercharge auroras, sometimes making them visible in places
where they wouldn’t have been otherwise.
❖ Space Weather: Not all solar flares reach Earth, but solar flares/storms, Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs),
high-speed solar winds, and CMEs that come close can impact space weather in near-Earth space and the
upper atmosphere.
❖ Problems for Spacecraft Operations: Solar storms can hit operations of space-dependent services
like Global Positioning Systems (GPS), radio, and satellite communications. Aircraft flights and space
exploration programmes are vulnerable.
❖ Disturbances in the Magnetosphere: It can potentially create disturbances in the magnetosphere, the
protective shield surrounding the Earth.
❖ How are Solar Storms Predicted?: Solar physicists and other scientists use computer models to predict
solar storms and solar activities in general.
❖ Current models are capable of predicting a storm’s time of arrival and its speed. But the storm’s structure
or orientation still cannot be predicted.
India’s First Cloned Female Calf

❖ Due to the government push for increasing milk production, the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI),
Karnal, Haryana has produced the India's first cloned female calf of the desi breed Gir.
❖ Under a project by NDR`I, the state will work on cloning of indigenous cow breeds such as Gir and
Sahiwal. Indigenous cattle breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Red-Sindhi, play a pivotal role in
milk production and the growth of the Indian dairy industry.
❖ Gir cattle are also very popular and have been exported to Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and
Venezuela for the development of zebu cows.
❖ The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically
identical copies of a biological entity. The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the
original, is referred to as a clone.
Reusable Launch Vehicle

❖ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its partners successfully demonstrated a precise landing
experiment for a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga,
Karnataka.
❖ An Indian Air Forces (IAF) Chinook helicopter was used to drop the RLV-TD from a 4.5 km altitude and
ISRO executed the landing experiment of the RLV-TD as planned.
❖ According to ISRO, the series of experiments with the winged Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology
Demonstration (RLV-TD) are part of efforts at “developing essential technologies for a fully reusable
launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space”.
❖ In the future, this vehicle will be scaled up to become the first stage of India’s reusable two-stage orbital
(TSTO) launch vehicle.
❖ ISRO’s RLV-TD looks like an aircraft. It consists of a fuselage, a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin
vertical tails.
❖ The RLV-TD will be used to develop technologies like hypersonic flight (HEX), autonomous landing (LEX),
return flight experiment (REX), powered cruise flight, and Scramjet Propulsion Experiment (SPEX).
❖ Other Previous Experiment: ISRO had earlier demonstrated the re-entry of its winged vehicle RLV-TD in the
HEX mission in May 2016.
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❖ In HEX, the vehicle landed on a hypothetical runway over the Bay of Bengal. Precise landing on a runway
was an aspect not included in the HEX mission.
❖ The LEX mission achieved the final approach phase that coincided with the re-entry return flight path
exhibiting an autonomous, high speed (350 kmph) landing.
El Nino
❖ Many climate models have forecasted an El Nino in May 2023.
❖ A record three-year La Nina event ended in March 2023 and currently, the equatorial Pacific Ocean is at
normal temperatures, known as the neutral phase.
❖ Weak Monsoon for India: The development of an El Nino in May or June 2023 may cause weakening of
the southwest monsoon season, which brings around 70% of the total rainfall India receives and on which
most of its farmers still depend.
❖ However, sub-seasonal factors such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and monsoon low-pressure
systems can temporarily enhance rainfall in some parts as witnessed in the year 2015.
❖ Hot Temperatures: It may also cause heatwaves and droughts in India and other regions around the world.
❖ Heavier Rainfall in the West: It brings heavy rainfall and flooding to other regions such as California in the
United States and could cause bleaching and death of coral reefs.
❖ Rising Global Average Temp: The El Nino in 2023 and going into 2024 may push the global average
temperature towards 1.5°C warmer than the preindustrial average.
❖ In the 2015-2016, there were widespread heatwaves in India that killed around 2,500 people in each of the
years.
❖ The El Nino, along with global warming, had made 2016 the warmest year on record.
❖ El Nino events of 1982-83 and 1997-98 were the most intense of the 20th century.
El Nino and La Nina
❖ El Nino and La Nina are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the
Equatorial Pacific Region. They are opposite phases of what is known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) cycle.
❖ The ENSO cycle describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-
central Equatorial Pacific.
❖ El Nino and La Nina episodes typically last nine to 12 months, but some prolonged events may last for
years.
❖ El Nino is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical
Pacific Ocean.
❖ It is the “warm phase” of a larger phenomenon called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
❖ It occurs more frequently than La Nina.
❖ La Nina, the “cool phase” of ENSO, is a pattern that describes the unusual cooling of the tropical eastern
Pacific.
❖ La Nina events may last between 1 and 3 years, unlike El Nino, which usually lasts no more than a year.
❖ Both phenomena tend to peak during the Northern Hemisphere winter.
❖ El Nino: El Nino was first recognized by Peruvian fishermen off the coast of Peru as the appearance of
unusually warm water. The Spanish immigrants called it El Nino, meaning “the little boy” in Spanish.
❖ The El Nino event is not a regular cycle, they are not predictable and occur irregularly at two- to seven-year
intervals.
❖ The climatologists determined that El Nino occurs simultaneously with the Southern Oscillation. The
Southern Oscillation is a change in air pressure over the tropical Pacific Ocean.
❖ When coastal waters become warmer in the eastern tropical Pacific (El Nino), the atmospheric pressure
above the ocean decreases. Climatologists define these linked phenomena as El Nino-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO).
❖ Monitoring El Nino and La Nina: Scientists, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
collect data about El Nino using a number of technologies such as scientific buoys.
❖ A buoy is a type of an object that floats in water and is used in the middle of the seas as locators or as
warning points for the ships. They are generally bright (fluorescent) in colour.
❖ The Oceanic Nino Index (ONI) is used to measure deviations from normal sea surface temperatures.
❖ ONI is a measure of the departure from normal sea surface temperature in the east-central Pacific Ocean,
is the standard means by which each El Nino episode is determined, gauged, and forecast.
❖ Impact of El Nino: strong trade winds blow westward across the tropical Pacific, the region of the Pacific
Ocean located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
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❖ El Nino also impacts ocean temperatures, the speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal
fisheries, and local weather from Australia to South America and beyond.
❖ It results in increased Rainfall, increase in diseases caused by Floods and Droughts: Diseases thrive in
communities devastated by natural hazards such as flood or drought.
❖ La Nina: La Nina means The Little Girl in Spanish. It is also sometimes called El Viejo, anti-El Nino, or simply
"a cold event."
❖ La Nina events represent periods of below-average sea surface temperatures across the east-central
Equatorial Pacific.
❖ La Nina event is observed when the water temperature in the Eastern Pacific gets comparatively colder
than normal, as a consequence of which, there is a strong high pressure over the eastern equatorial
Pacific.
❖ La Nina is caused by a build-up of cooler-than-normal waters in the tropical Pacific, the area of the Pacific
Ocean between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
❖ La Nina is characterized by lower-than-normal air pressure over the western Pacific. These low-pressure
zones contribute to increased rainfall.
❖ La Nina is also characterized by higher-than-normal pressure over the central and eastern Pacific.
❖ Impact of La Nina: In Europe, El Nino reduces the number of autumnal hurricanes.
❖ In Continental North America where most of these conditions are felt. The wider effects include: Stronger
winds along the equatorial region, Favourable conditions for hurricanes, Greater instances of tornados in
various states of the US.
❖ La Nina causes drought in the South American countries of Peru and Ecuador.
❖ In the western Pacific, La Nina increases the potential for landfall. It also leads to heavy floods in Australia.
❖ The 2010 La Nina event correlates with one of the worst floods in the history of Queensland, Australia.
❖ El Nino and La Nina Effects on India: Since 1950, out of the 13 droughts that India faced, 10 have been
during El Nino years and one in a La Nina year. This is because in general, an El Nino means lesser than
average rains for India. Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on the monsoons and because of this, lesser
rainfall during the monsoons generally translates to below-average crop yields.
❖ The influence of ENSO on India's climate is most pronounced during the monsoon season. During an El
Niño event, India experiences below-average rainfall.
❖ The El Niño also leads to a rise in temperatures, exacerbating heat waves and causing heat-related health
issues.
❖ On the other hand, during a La Niña event, India experiences above-average rainfall.
❖ This can lead to flooding and landslides, damaging crops and infrastructure. However, La Niña also brings
cooler temperatures, which can provide relief from heat waves.
(We strongly recommend you all to Understand this topics with the help of some YouTube Videos also, as many will face difficulty learning it)
Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy

❖ The recent news of a baby born in the UK with three parents' DNA has sparked curiosity and discussions
about the scientific breakthrough behind this remarkable achievement.
❖ Also after the UK, Australia became the second country to allow Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy
(MRT). In 8 years less than 5 children are born using this technique in the UK. In India it has not been
explored much.
❖ This revolutionary technique, known as mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) or three-parent IVF,
aims to prevent the inheritance of mitochondrial diseases.
❖ Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in the cells of most eukaryotic organisms.
❖ They are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of cells because they generate the majority of the cell's
energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
❖ Functions: Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration, a process that converts nutrients into ATP.
❖ Mitochondria convert energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into a usable form for the cell.
❖ They metabolize glucose to produce ATP, which powers various cellular processes.
❖ Mitochondria participate in cell signaling pathways, influencing processes like cell growth, differentiation,
and apoptosis.
❖ Inheritance: Mitochondria have their own DNA, known as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which encodes a
small number of essential proteins.
❖ In most animals, mtDNA is inherited solely from the mother.
❖ Mutations in mtDNA can lead to mitochondrial disorders and various health conditions.
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❖ Mitochondrial Diseases: Certain mutations in mitochondria can lead to mitochondrial diseases, affecting
energy production and impacting various organs, including the brain, nerves, muscles, kidneys, heart, and
liver.
❖ Mitochondrial Donation Treatment (MDT)/MRT: To address the issue of mitochondrial diseases, scientists
and researchers developed an advanced In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique called Mitochondrial
Donation Treatment (MDT) or three-parent IVF.
❖ In-Vitro fertilization (IVF): IVF is the fertilization of a woman's egg and a man's sperm in a laboratory dish.
IVF is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) which are special medical techniques used to help
a woman become pregnant.
Stem Cell-Derived Mitochondrial Transplant
❖ Recently, six children with rare disorders caused by deletion in the genomes of their mitochondria were
successfully treated for the first time by Stem-cell derived Mitochondria Transplantation.
❖ The process involved the mitochondrial transplant from donor mothers into children’s haematopoietic
stem cells, which give rise to all types of blood cells.
❖ It involves the spontaneous mitochondrial transfer of the stem cell to rescue the injured cells or the
injection of stem cell isolated mitochondria into the injured area to repair the damage.
❖ Stem cells are the most primitive cells at the top of the origin of cell lines, and they have a high capacity
for differentiation and self-renewal.
❖ Mitochondria are membrane-bound semi-autonomous cell organelles and are often referred to as the
powerhouses of the cell. Chemical energy produced by the mitochondria is stored in the form of
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).
❖ Mitochondria contain their own Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Generally, mitochondria, and therefore there
DNA, are inherited only from the mother in almost all multicellular organisms. Mitochondria in mammalian
sperm are usually destroyed by the egg cell after fertilization.
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Project

❖ The government approved the construction of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
(LIGO) project after seven years of in-principle approval.
❖ It will be built by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology with
the U.S. National Science Foundation and several national and international research institutions.
❖ The project aims to detect gravitational waves from the universe.
❖ The Indian LIGO would have two perpendicularly placed 4-km long vacuum chambers, that constitute the
most sensitive interferometers in the world.
❖ It is expected to begin scientific runs from 2030.
❖ It will be located in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra, about 450 km east of Mumbai.
❖ Gravitational Waves: Gravitational waves were first postulated (1916) in Albert Einstein's General Theory
of Relativity, which explains how gravity works.
❖ These waves are produced by the movement of massive celestial bodies, such as black holes or neutron
stars, and are the ripples in spacetime that propagate outward.
❖ LIGO is an international network of laboratories that detect gravitational waves.
❖ LIGOs are designed to measure changes in distance that are several orders of magnitude smaller than the
length of the proton. Such high precision Instruments are needed because of the extremely low strength of
gravitational waves that make their detection very difficult.
❖ The LIGO in the US first detected gravitational waves in 2015, which led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in
2017.
o The 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics was jointly awarded to American physicists Barry Barish, Kip
Thorne and Rainer Weiss, who were the first to detect the presence of gravitational waves. The trio
were founders of the LIGO.
❖ These gravitational waves were produced by the merger of two black holes, which were about 29 and 36
times the mass of the Sun, 1.3 billion years ago.
❖ Besides the United States (in Hanford and Livingston), such gravitational wave observatories are
currently operational in Italy (Virgo) and Japan (Kagra).
❖ To detect gravitational waves, four comparable detectors need to be operating simultaneously around the
globe.
❖ Working Mechanism: LIGO consists of two 4-km-long vacuum chambers, set up at right angles to each
other, with mirrors at the end.
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❖ When light rays are released simultaneously in both chambers, they should return at the same time.
❖ However, if a gravitational wave arrives, one chamber gets elongated while the other gets squished,
causing a phase difference in the returning light rays.
❖ Detecting this phase difference confirms the presence of a gravitational wave.
Italy Bans Chat GPT

❖ Italy has recently banned ChatGPT due to concerns over the collection of personal data and the lack of
guardrails to prevent minors from accessing the AI chatbot.
❖ In 2018, NITI Aayog, has issued some guiding documents on AI Issued such as the National Strategy for
Artificial Intelligence and the Responsible AI for All report.
❖ The RAI principles come in the background of a growing call for developing governance and regulatory
frameworks to mitigate potential risks of AI, while maximising its benefits for the largest number of people.
Facial recognition technology (FRT) has been taken as the first use case for examining the RAI principles
and operationalisation mechanisms
❖ European Union: Proposed legislation called the European AI Act to introduce a common regulatory
framework for AI. The AI Act will also work in tandem with other laws such as the General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR).
❖ United Kingdom: Outlined a light-touch approach, asking regulators in different sectors to apply existing
regulations to AI. Published a white paper outlining five principles companies should follow: safety,
security and robustness; transparency and explainability; fairness; accountability and governance; and
contestability and redress.
❖ China: While China hasn’t officially blocked ChatGPT, OpenAI does not allow users to sign up for the
chatbot in the country.
❖ OpenAI also blocks users from other countries with heavy internet censorship such as Russia, North Korea,
Egypt, Iran, Ukraine, and a few more.
Large Hadron Collider

❖ The LHC (Large Hadron Collider) has recently undergone upgrades to make it more accurate and sensitive
and will start collecting data in May 2023.
❖ The LHC has undergone upgrades to increase its sensitivity and accuracy, allowing scientists to study
particles with even higher energy.
❖ Hadron is any member of a class of subatomic particles that are built from quarks and thus react through
the agency of the strong force. The hadrons embrace mesons, baryons (e.g., protons, neutrons, and sigma
particles), and their many resonances.
❖ The LHC is a huge experiment that collides two beams of particles to study physics at very high energies.
It's the largest science experiment in the world and is operated by CERN (European Organisation for
Nuclear Research)
❖ The LHC is a circular pipe that is 27 km long and is located on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva,
Switzerland.
❖ It consists of two D-shaped magnetic fields created by almost 9,600 magnets.
❖ Working Mechanism: Protons, which are subatomic particles made up of quarks and gluons, are
accelerated inside the LHC using these magnets.
❖ Quarks and gluons are subatomic particles that make up protons and neutrons. Quarks come in six
different "flavors": up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom. Gluons are particles that "glue" quarks
together inside protons and neutrons through the strong nuclear force ❖ Protons are not the only particles
accelerated in the LHC.
❖ By switching the direction of the magnetic field rapidly, protons can be accelerated through the beam pipe.
❖ Other components help to focus the particles and keep them from hitting the pipe's walls.
❖ The protons eventually move at 99.999999% of the speed of light.
❖ Supersymmetry: It proposes that every known particle in the universe has a yet-to-be-discovered
"superpartner" particle, which would have opposite spin and different quantum numbers.
❖ This would mean that every particle in the universe would have a partner that has not yet been observed,
and it could help to solve some of the problems with the current standard model of particle physics, such
as the hierarchy problem.
❖ Extra Dimensions: Extra dimensions propose that the universe has more than the three dimensions of
space and one dimension of time that we are familiar with.
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❖ The idea is that there may be additional dimensions that are "curled up" or compactified and are too small
to be detected by our current experiments. The concept of extra dimensions arises in certain theories of
gravity, such as string theory, which suggest that gravity is stronger than expected at small distances
because it "feels" extra dimensions.
NASA’s TEMPO Mission

❖ A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO)
instrument from Florida.
❖ TEMPO is a NASA device that can track air pollution over North America from space. It will allow scientists
to monitor air pollutants and their emission sources down to the neighbourhood level.
❖ The TEMPO instrument is a grating spectrometer, sensitive to visible and ultraviolet wavelengths of light.
❖ TEMPO is hosted on an Intelsat communications satellite in geostationary orbit.
❖ It will be able to measure atmospheric pollution down to a spatial resolution of 4 square miles or
neighbourhood level.
❖ What is a Geostationary Orbit
❖ Geostationary orbit is an orbit around the Earth where a satellite's orbital period matches the Earth's
rotation, allowing the satellite to stay in a fixed position over the same point on the Earth's surface.
❖ The height of a geostationary orbit is approximately 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above the Earth's
equator.
❖ Satellites in geostationary orbit are typically used for communication and weather observation purposes,
as they can provide constant coverage of a specific region without the need for frequent repositioning.
Types of Orbits
❖ Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO): It is also called Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit. It makes satellites
placed in it appear ‘Stationary’. They have an orbital period that is the same as the earth’s rotation period.
Hence, the satellite/spacecraft returns to the same point in the sky at the same time each day.
❖ Communication satellites are often placed in GEO. ISRO’s Indian National Satellite System [INSAT] is
placed in GEO.
❖ Low Earth Orbit (LEO): The altitude from the earth’s surface could be between 160 Km to 2000 Km (1200
miles). It is one of the commonly used orbits. It is used for satellite imaging and remote sensing satellites.
The International Space Station (ISS) uses LEO.
❖ Medium Earth Orbit: Altitude of which is between LEO and GEO. It is also known as Intermediate Circular
Orbit. It shares the similarity with LEO as the MEO satellites too do not have to track the path along the
earth’s equator. Navigation satellites and a number of artificial satellites are placed in MEO. Global
Positioning System (GPS) isp placed in MEO (20200 Km)
❖ Polar Orbit & Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO): The SSO satellites travel past earth from north to south
instead of west to east. These pass roughly over the earth’s poles. The altitude can go as low as 200 K
however, mostly the satellites are placed between 600-800 km. It is used for imaging, spy, and weather
satellites
❖ Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO): The orbits are used by the satellites to travel from one orbit to another.
It is a Hohmann Transfer Orbit between LEO and GSO. GTO provides satellites a halt [intermediate step]
before they can be placed in their destination orbit. This way, it uses relatively less energy from built-in
motors.
European Space Agency’s Juice Mission

❖ The European Space Agency is set to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission to
explore Jupiter and its icy moons, namely Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
❖ Launched from French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher. The mission is set to reach Jupiter in 2031.
❖ The spacecraft was constructed by Airbus Defence and Space, a division of the Airbus group.
❖ The main objective of the mission to create detailed maps of the moons' surfaces and look beneath them
to probe the potential habitable environments by analyzing the water bodies underneath. To create
a comprehensive picture of Jupiter by trying to understand its origin, history, and evolution.
❖ The focus will be on Ganymede (the largest moon in the Solar System, which generates its magnetic field).
❖ The three moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, are believed to hold immense amounts of water,
potentially making them habitable.
Jupiter
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❖ Fifth in line from the Sun, Jupiter is, by far, the largest planet in the solar system – more than twice as
massive as all the other planets combined.
❖ Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called Jovian or Gas Giant Planets. These have thick
atmosphere, mostly of helium and hydrogen.
❖ Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot is a giant storm bigger than Earth that has raged for hundreds of years.
❖ Jupiter rotates once about every 10 hours (a Jovian day), but takes about 12 Earth years to complete one
orbit of the Sun (a Jovian year).
❖ Jupiter has more than 75 moons. The planet Jupiter's four largest moons are called the Galilean
satellites after Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, who first observed them in 1610. These large moons,
named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, are each distinctive world.
❖ In 1979, the Voyager mission discovered Jupiter’s faint ring system.
❖ Nine spacecraft have visited Jupiter. Seven flew by and two have orbited the gas giant.
❖ The Galileo probe (NASA) which orbited the planet between 1995 and 2003.
❖ Juno (NASA) has been circling the planet since 2016.
National Quantum Mission

❖ The union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to aid
scientific and industrial research and development in quantum technology.
❖ It’ll be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science &
Technology.
❖ The mission planned for 2023-2031 aims to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and
create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).
❖ With the launch of this mission, India will be the seventh country to have a dedicated quantum
mission after the US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada and China.
❖ It will target developing intermediate scale quantum computers with 50-100 physical qubits in 5
years and 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years.
❖ Just like bits (1 and 0) are the basic units by which computers process information, ‘qubits’ or ‘quantum
bits’ are the units of process by quantum computers.
❖ The mission will help develop magnetometers with high sensitivity for precision timing (atomic clocks),
communications, and navigation.
❖ It will also support design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel
semiconductor structures and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices.
❖ The mission will also help developing: Satellite based secure quantum communications between ground
stations over a range of 2000 km within India.
❖ Long distance secure quantum communications with other countries
❖ Inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km
❖ Multi-node Quantum network with quantum memories
❖ Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) would be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes on the domains
of Quantum Technology: Quantum computation, Quantum communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology
& Quantum Materials & Devices
❖ Quantum technology is a field of science and engineering that deals with the principles of quantum
mechanics, which is the study of the behaviour of matter and energy at the smallest scale.
❖ Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the
atomic and subatomic level.
PSLV C55 & TeLEOS-2 Satellite

❖ ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) has successfully launched the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle)-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
❖ This is the 57th flight of PSLV and 16th mission using the PSLV Core Alone configuration (PSLV-CA).
❖ It is a dedicated commercial mission through NSIL (NewSpace India Limited) with TeLEOS-2 as primary
satellite and Lumelite-4 as a co-passenger satellite, both belonging to Singapore.
❖ The scientists used PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-2 (POEM-2) as an orbital platform to carry out the
scientific experiments through non-separating payloads carried by it.
❖ TeLEOS-2: It is an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) and will be the primary satellite being carried by the
rocket.
❖ In 2015, ISRO launched TeLEOS-1, which was launched into a low Earth orbit for remote sensing
applications. ISRO has so far launched nine satellites belonging to Singapore.
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❖ TeLEOS-2 carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload capable of imaging at 1m full-polarimetric
resolution. It will be able to provide all-weather day and night coverage.
❖ SAR is a type of active radar imaging technology that uses the motion of the radar antenna to create a
high-resolution 3D image of the target area.
❖ LUMILITE-4: It is an advanced 12U satellite developed for the technological demonstration of the High-
Performance Space-borne VHF Data Exchange System (VDES).
❖ "12U" refers to a standardized form factor for CubeSats, which are small satellites with a modular design.
❖ In the 12U form factor, the CubeSat measures 24 x 24 x 36 cm and has a volume of 20.7 liters.
❖ It aims to augment Singapore’s e-navigation maritime safety and benefit the global shipping community. It
is the co-passenger satellite being sent along with TeLEOS-2
❖ POEM: POEM is an experimental mission by ISRO which performs in-orbit scientific experiments during the
4th stage of the PSLV launch vehicle as an orbital platform.
❖ POEM has a dedicated Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) system for attitude stabilization, which
stands for controlling the orientation of any aerospace vehicle within permitted limits. The NGC will act as
the platform’s brain to stabilize it with specified accuracy.
Digital Highways
❖ The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced its plan to develop around 10,000 km
of Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) infrastructure across the country by the fiscal year 2025.
❖ NHAI's plan aligns with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, which aim at
providing access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030.
❖ Fiber-optic cables are like tubes that hold tiny wires made of glass or plastic. They use light to send
information much faster than regular wires that use electricity.
❖ The optical fiber works on the principle of total internal reflection (TIR).
❖ TIR is the complete reflection of a ray of light within a medium such as water or glass from the
surrounding surfaces back into the medium.
❖ Light rays can be used to transmit a huge amount of data (In case of long straight wire without any bend).
❖ In case of a bend, the optical cables are designed such that they bend all the light rays inwards (using TIR).
❖ The OFC network will be developed by the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a
fully owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) of NHAI
❖ It will implement the network of Digital Highways by developing integrated utility corridors along the
National Highways to develop OFC infrastructure.
❖ NHAI has identified around 1,367 km on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and 512 km on Hyderabad-Bangalore
Corridor as pilot routes for the Digital Highway development. Providing internet connectivity to remote
locations across the country, the OFC network will help to expedite he rollout of new age telecom
technologies like 5G & 6G.
EU new Crypto Regulation

❖ The European Parliament has approved the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation, the world’s first
comprehensive set of rules that aims to bring largely unregulated cryptocurrency markets under
government regulation.
❖ The regulation will come into force after formal approval by member states.
❖ MiCA will bring governance practices to crypto firms. By regulating the crypto industry, MiCA can prevent
financial sector-like routs and contagions that could affect the wider economy.
o "Rout" means when people sell cryptocurrency in a panic, causing prices to fall sharply.
o "Contagion" means the danger of a collapse in one market affecting other markets, financial
institutions, and the overall economy.
❖ The regulation prescribes different sets of requirements for crypto asset service providers (CASPs)
depending on the type of crypto assets.
❖ The MiCA legislation will apply to crypto assets, which are broadly defined as “a digital representation of a
value or a right that uses cryptography for security and is in the form of a coin or a token or any other
digital medium which may be transferred and stored electronically, using distributed ledger technology or
similar technology”.
❖ This definition implies that it will apply not only to traditional cryptocurrencies
like Bitcoin and Ethereum but also to newer ones like stablecoins. MiCA will also establish new rules for
three types of stablecoins.
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❖ Assets Out of MiCA’s Scope: MiCA will not regulate digital assets that would qualify as transferable
securities and function like shares or their equivalent and other crypto assets that already qualify as
financial instruments under existing regulation. It will also exclude nonfungible tokens (NFTs).
❖ MiCA will also not regulate central bank digital currencies issued by the European Central Bank and digital
assets issued by national central banks of EU member countries when acting in their capacity as monetary
authorities, along with crypto assets-related services offered by them.
❖ New Rules under MiCA: Regulation of CASPs: CASPs must be incorporated as a legal entity in the EU.
❖ They can get authorized in any one 1mber country and operate across all 27 countries.
❖ Regulators such as the European Banking Authority will supervise CASPs.
❖ CASPs must demonstrate stability, soundness, and ability to keep user funds safe.
❖ CASPs must be able to defend against market abuse and manipulation.
❖ White Paper Requirements for Stablecoin Service Providers: Stablecoin service providers must provide
a white paper with key information about the crypto product and the main participants in the company, the
terms of the offer to the public, the type of blockchain verification mechanism they use, the rights attached
to the crypto assets in question, the key risks involved for the investors, and a summary to help potential
purchasers make an informed decision regarding their investment.
❖ Reserve Requirements for Stablecoin Issuers: Issuers of stablecoins will be required to maintain sufficient
reserves corresponding to their value to avoid liquidity crises.
❖ Transaction Limits for Stablecoin Firms (Non-Euro Currencies): Stablecoin firms pegged to non-euro
currencies will have to cap their transactions at a daily volume of €200 million ($220 million) in a specified
region.
❖ Anti-money Laundering Measures for Crypto Companies: Crypto companies must send information about
senders and recipients of crypto assets to their local anti-money laundering authority, to prevent money
laundering and terror financing activities. Failure to comply with anti-money laundering requirements can
have significant legal and reputational implications for crypto companies.
India DefSpace Symposium

❖ The Indian Space Association (ISpA) in association with the Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) organized the Indian DefSpace Symposium which focuses on the growing
government and military focus on the space domain and explores ways to enhance India's space
capabilities.
❖ The event was held as part of the deliberations under ‘Mission Def-Space,’ an ambitious effort launched by
Prime Minister of India to develop innovative solutions in the space domain through the Indian industry
and start-ups.
❖ Need for Transformation of Warfare: The nature of warfare is on the fold of major transformation,
and space is being used to enhance combat capabilities in land, sea, and cyber domains.
❖ The symposium discusses the need for developing dual-use platforms with cutting-edge technology and
increasing offensive and defensive capabilities in the space domain. and to explore the field
of miniaturization of satellites and reusable launch platforms to mitigate costs and challenges.
❖ India’s Stand on Militarisation of Space: Changing Polarity in Current Scenarios: In India, historically,
space has remained the sole jurisdiction of its civilian space agency, the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO). India has always maintained a pacifist approach towards space security, opposing
the weaponization and militarisation of space.
❖ For the last decade, India’s approach to outer space has been shifting and is now increasingly driven by
national security concerns. Rather than opting for a morally driven policy, India is focusing on peaceful
uses of outer space.
❖ Though India has still not abandoned its policy of non-weaponization, it has felt that its inaction and
ignoring of contemporary developments in outer space could leave it vulnerable to a range of threats to
its space assets.
❖ Recent Developments: In 2019, India conducted its first ever simulated space warfare exercise
(IndSpaceX) with an eye on Chinese threats and successfully tested an anti-satellite weapon (Mission
Shakti) in the same year.
❖ Also, the launch of the tri-service Defence Space Agency (DSA) has permanently taken the military away
from the shadows of civil space.
❖ India has also set up the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA) to help develop space-based weapons
for the DSA. Space is as much recognised as a military domain as land, water, air and cyber.
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❖ In 2020, the Government of India approved the creation of IN-SPACe- an independent nodal agency under
the Department of Space to encourage private participation in the space domain.
❖ Mission Def-Space: It is an ambitious effort to develop innovative solutions for the three Services (Indian
airforce, Navy, and Army) in the space domain through the Indian industry and start-ups.
❖ 75 challenges are being opened to get innovative solutions, based on the defence requirements in the
space domain.
❖ Startups, innovators and the private sector will be invited to find solutions for the problems that will include
both offensive and defensive capabilities.
❖ It aims to develop a range of military applications for space warfare and to enable the private industries
to offer solutions to the armed forces for future offensive and defensive requirements.
❖ Defense applications in space will not only help the Indian armed forces but can also be extended to
friendly foreign nations.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
❖ The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime
cooperation among navies of the littoral States of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and
inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
❖ It provides a forum to increase maritime security cooperation, and promote friendly relationships among
the member nations.
❖ The inaugural IONS-2008 was held in New Delhi, India in Feburary, 2008. The Chief of the Naval Staff,
Indian Navy was designated as the Chairman of IONS for the
❖ period 2008-10.
Starship Mission Failed

❖ SpaceX launched an uncrewed test flight of its Starship cruise vessel from the Super Heavy rocket.
However, the vehicle exploded when the upper-stage Starship failed to separate from the lower-stage
Super Heavy.
❖ SpaceX is a private company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk.
❖ SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket – collectively referred to as Starship – represent a
fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars
and beyond.
❖ Starship will be able to carry up to 150 metric tonnes fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes expendable.
❖ Starship Super Heavy is powered by an array of Raptor engines, which are fueled by liquid methane (CH4)
and liquid oxygen (LOX). A total of 33 Raptor engines power the first-stage booster.
❖ It leverages tanker vehicles (essentially the Starship spacecraft minus the windows) to refill the Starship
spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.
❖ Development and manufacturing of Starship takes place at Starbase, one of the world’s first commercial
spaceports designed for orbital missions.
❖ Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into
Earth orbit and beyond.
❖ SpaceX claims Falcon Heavy to be the most powerful rocket in the world by a factor of two. It is composed
of three Falcon 9 nine-engine cores whose 27 Merlin engines together generate more than 5 million
pounds of thrust at liftoff.
❖ Merlin engines use a rocket grade kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen as rocket propellants in a gas-
generator power cycle
❖ Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet across the globe. Its high-speed, low-latency
service is made possible via the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a
low orbit around the Earth.
❖ Starshield leverages Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While
Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use.
StarBerrySense
❖ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently launched a Low-cost star sensor
called StarBerrySense, mounted on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), which has performed
well during its first-ever space test. StarBerrySense is a low-cost sensor designed to quickly calculate the
orientation of a spacecraft by identifying stars in its field of view. Developed by the Space Payloads Group
at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), StarBerrySense is built around the Raspberry Pi minicomputer
and is cost-effective and simple to build.
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❖ POEM is a unique initiative by ISRO that utilizes the spent 4th stage of the PSLV as an orbital platform for
carrying out scientific experiments. The initial results of the StarBerrySense test indicate that it withstood
the harsh conditions in space and is functioning as expected, with the imaging equipment and onboard
software capable of accurately calculating the pointing direction.
peraFLOP Supercomputers
❖ India is set to introduce 18 new petaFLOP supercomputers dedicated to weather forecasting, aiming to
enhance the accuracy and resolution of weather predictions.
❖ These state-of-the-art machines will significantly improve forecasting capabilities at the block level, predict
cyclones with greater accuracy and lead time, and provide detailed ocean state forecasts.
❖ FLOPs, or Floating-Point Operations per Second, is a metric used to measure computational performance
and efficiency in high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI).
❖ Floating-point operations involve mathematical calculations with real numbers that have fractional parts.
❖ Using floating-point encoding, extremely long numbers can be handled relatively easily.
❖ FLOPs are not the sole metric to evaluate a computer's performance. Factors like memory bandwidth,
latency, and architectural features also contribute.
❖ However, FLOPs provide a baseline for comparing computational capabilities, particularly in tasks
dominated by floating-point calculations.
❖ Unit of Computing Speed: Teraflops: It is a unit of computing speed equal to one million million (1 trillion)
(10^12) FLOPS.
❖ Petaflops: It is a unit of computing speed equal to 1000 TFLOPS (10^15).
❖ Exaflops: It is a unit of computing speed equal to one billion billion (10^18) FLOPS.
❖ India's Current Usage of petaFLOPs: The National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting
(NCMRWF) houses 'Mihir,' a 2.8 petaFLOP supercomputer, while the Indian Institute of Tropical
Meteorology (IITM) houses 'Pratyush,' a 4.0 petaFLOP supercomputer.
❖ These existing supercomputers, launched in 2018, will be decommissioned once the new petaFLOP
supercomputers are introduced.
❖ As per the agreement, NCMRWF will receive eight PFLOPs of computing power, while the remaining ten
PFLOPs will be allocated to IITM, catering to their specific weather forecasting requirements.
❖ India’s first supercomputer called PARAM 8000 was launched in 1991 where PARAM stands for Parallel
Machine
❖ The world’s fastest computer in terms of PFLOPs is the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Frontier, or OLCF-
5 with the capability to touch a peak performance of 1,685.65.
❖ Airawat PSAI stands as India's largest and fastest AI supercomputing system, with a remarkable speed of
13,170 teraflops. It was ranked 75th in the list of top 500 Supercomputer in the world.
❖ China has the most number of Supercomputers in the World
National Super Computing Mission (NSM)
❖ The National Supercomputing Mission, which was launched in 2015, is being implemented and managed
jointly by the Departments of Science and Technology (DST) and Electronics and Information Technology
(DEET) (DeitY).
❖ The Mission budget is ₹4500 crores
❖ The Mission intends to empower national academic and research institutions across the country by
constructing a massive supercomputing grid comprised of 73 high-performance computing units by 2022.
❖ These supercomputers will also be linked via the National Knowledge Network to the National
Supercomputing Grid (NKN). The NKN is another government program that connects academic institutions
and R&D labs over a high-speed network.
❖ The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and the Indian Institute of Science
(IISc), Bangalore, is in charge of implementing the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
❖ Under NSM’s constructed approach, C-DAC has been tasked with designing, developing, deploying, and
commissioning supercomputing devices.
❖ The mission was planned in three phases:
o Phase I looking at assembling supercomputers,
o Phase II looking at manufacturing certain components within the country.
o Phase III where a supercomputer is designed by India.
❖ An indigenously developed server platform called ‘Rudra’ is being tried out in a pilot system, with an
interconnect for inter node communication called Trinetra also having been developed.
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List of famous supercomputers of India and Places Installed
❖ PARAM Shivay, the first supercomputer assembled indigenously, was installed in IIT (Bhubaneswar)
Name Speed Location
PARAM Shakti 1.66 PE IIT Kharagpur
PARAM Brahma 797 TF Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research in Pune
PARAM Sanganak 1.66 PF IIT Kanpur
PARAM Seva 833 TF IIT Hyderabad
PARAM Yukti 833 TF Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research
PARAM Smriti 833 TF National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI)
PARAM Utkarsh 833 TF C-DAC Bangalore
PARAM Sidhi 5.26 PF National AI Facility CDAC – Pune
PARAM Pravega 3.3 PF Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
PARAM Ganga 1.66 PF IIT Roorkee
Mihir National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast, Noida
Pratyush Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
XPoSat
❖ The chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somanath, addressed students and
scientists during the 'User Meet of XPoSat' at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru.
❖ He emphasised the importance of effectively utilizing data from science-based space missions and
encouraged Indian scientific institutions to identify talented students and motivate them to work with
emerging data technologies like XPoSat.
❖ XPoSat stands for X-ray Polarimeter Satellite.
❖ It is India's pioneering polarimetry mission aimed at studying various dynamics of astronomical sources in
extreme conditions.
❖ It is only the world’s second polarimetry mission using X-Ray after NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry
Explorer (IXPE) that was launched in 2021.
❖ XPoSat is a collaboration between the ISRO and the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
❖ Scientific Payloads of XPoSat: XPoSat will carry two scientific payloads: Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays
(POLIX) and X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (SPECT) in a low Earth orbit.
❖ POLIX payload will enable the measurement of polarimetry parameters such as the degree and angle of
polarization in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons originating from astronomical sources.
❖ SPECT payload will provide valuable timing and spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-
15 keV of X-ray photons.
❖ Importance in Understanding Astronomical Sources: Polarimetry measurements offer an excellent
diagnostic tool for comprehending the emission processes from various astronomical sources.
❖ Astronomical sources, including black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae,
present complex emission mechanisms that challenge the current understanding.
❖ By combining polarimetric observations with spectroscopic and timing measurements, researchers
anticipate overcoming the limitations of the present understanding of astronomical emission processes.
❖ Status of XPoSat: Testing for XPoSat is nearing completion, and the mission is in its advanced stages and
is scheduled to be launched sometime in the year 2023.
ISRO’s NavIC Satellite NVS-01

❖ The NVS-01 satellite was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using
the GSLV-F12, and after a 19-minute flight, it was accurately placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
❖ GSLV-F12 is the 15th flight of India’s GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) and the 9th flight
with indigenous cyro stage. This is the 6th operational flight of GSLV with indigenous cryogenic stage.
❖ NVS-01: This satellite is the first of the second-generation satellites of ISRO’s NVS (Navigational Satellite)
series of payloads.
❖ It weighs 2,232 kg, making it the heaviest in the constellation.
❖ The NVS-01 carried navigation payloads L1, L5 and S bands.
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❖ Its purpose is to provide continuity for the NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation) services, which is an
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (similar to GPS) that offers accurate and real-time navigation
within India and up to a 1,500 km region around the country.
❖ In the First generation, there are seven satellites in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
constellation, operationally named NavIC, weighing much less — around 1,425 kg — at liftoff.
❖ Atomic Clock: The satellite will have a Rubidium atomic clock onboard, a significant technology developed
by India.
❖ L1 signals for better use in wearable devices: It will send signals in a third frequency, L1, besides the L5
and S frequency signals that the existing satellites provide, increasing interoperability with other satellite-
based navigation systems.
❖ The L1 frequency is among the most commonly used in the Global Positioning System (GPS), and will
increase the use of the regional navigation system in wearable devices and personal trackers that use low-
power, single-frequency chips.
❖ Longer Mission Life: It will have a longer mission life of more than 12 years. The existing satellites have
a mission life of 10 years
NavIC
❖ NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation) or the IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) is
designed with a constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24×7.
❖ Indian plans to expand its regional satellite navigation system NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation),
to increase its use in the civilian sector and ships, aircraft travelling far from the country's borders.
❖ Developed by ISRO and its Commercial Wing ANTRIX.
❖ NavIC was originally approved in 2006 at a cost of $174 million. It was expected to be completed by late
2011, but only became operational in 2018.
❖ The NavIC is certified by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) which is responsible for coordinating
mobile telephony standards globally
❖ NavIC or the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is designed with a constellation of 7
satellites and covers the whole of India’s landmass and upto 1,500 km (93 miles) from its boundaries.
❖ There are a total of 8 satellites however only 7 remain active.
❖ 3 satellites in geostationary orbit and 4 satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
❖ The constellations' first satellite (IRNSS-1A) was launched on 1st July 2013 and the 8 satellite IRNSS-
1I was launched in April 2018.
❖ With the seventh launch of the constellation's satellite (IRNSS-1G), IRNSS was renamed NavIC by India’s
Prime Minister in 2016.
❖ It was recognised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a part of the World-Wide Radio
Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region in 2020.
❖ Potential Uses: Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation; Disaster management; Vehicle tracking and fleet
management (especially for mining and transportation sector); Integration with mobile phones; Precise
timing (as for ATMs and power grids); Mapping and geodetic data capture.
❖ It gives real time information for 2 services i.e standard positioning service open for civilian use and
Restricted service which may be encrypted for authorized users like for military.
❖ Signal Reception: NavIC signals reach India at a 90-degree angle, making it easier for the signals to
penetrate congested areas, dense forests, and mountainous terrain. In contrast, GPS signals arrive at an
angle, which can sometimes pose challenges for reception in certain locations.
❖ India became one of the 5 countries having their own navigation system. So, India's dependence on other
countries for navigation purposes reduces.
❖ In April 2019, the government made NavIC-based vehicle trackers mandatory for all commercial
vehicles in the country in accordance with the Nirbhaya case verdict.
❖ Also, Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled mobile chipsets supporting NavIC
❖ Further with extensive coverage, one of the stated future uses of the project includes sharing of the project
with the SAARC nations.
❖ ISRO plans to replace at least five satellites with the improved L-Band, which would enable it to offer
better global positioning services to the public as several satellites of the constellation have outlived their
lives.
❖ 5 more satellites will be launched periodically to replace the defunct satellites
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❖ ISRO also plans to expand the NavIC system by increasing its constellation size from 7 to 11
Navigation Systems operational in the world
❖ The United States Global Positioning System (GPS) – World’s most used GPS system, operational from
1978. Constellation of 32 satellites.
❖ Russian’s Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, or Global Navigation Satellite System
(GLONASS) – It provides global coverage. It has a total of 26 satellites.
❖ European Union Galileo – Became operational in 2016, with a constellation of 30 satellites.
❖ Chinese BeiDou – Currently it provides regional coverage of the Asia- Pacific region, plans to provide global
coverage by 2020. It has a total of 35 satellites.
❖ Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) – It is a regional satellite system covering Japan and the
Asia-Oceania region. It has a total of 4 satellites, 7 are planned.
Foucault Pendulum
❖ India's newly inaugurated Parliament building showcases a remarkable piece of scientific artistry
suspended from its ceiling - a Foucault pendulum.
❖ Foucault’s pendulum in the New Parliament building also represents the spirit of scientific inquiry and
scientific temper which is enshrined in the Article 51A of the Indian Constitution.
❖ A Foucault pendulum, named after the 19th century French physicist Leon Foucault, is a simple experiment
to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation.
❖ It consists of a heavy object hung from a long wire, free to swing in any direction. When set in to-and-fro
motion, the pendulum appears to change its orientation slowly over time, due to the relative motion
between the pendulum and the rotating Earth.
❖ Foucault first performed this experiment publicly in 1851 at the Pantheon in Paris, where he suspended
a 28-kg iron ball from a 67-m wire. It was the first direct visual evidence of the Earth’s rotation.
❖ The experiment concluded that “pendulum does not change its plane of motion, but the ground beneath it
does.”
❖ When aligned along the Earth's axis at the north and south poles, the pendulum’s back-and-forth motion
comes back to its original plane in exactly 24 hours.
❖ At other latitudes, it takes longer for the pendulum to return to its original orientation of swinging. That is
because the pendulum is not aligned with the axis of rotation of the earth.
❖ The rate and direction of the pendulum’s apparent rotation depend on its latitude.
❖ At the North Pole, it would complete one clockwise rotation in 24 hours.
❖ At the equator, it would not rotate at all.
❖ At other latitudes, it would rotate at intermediate rates and directions.
❖ New Parliament Building: The pendulum in the new Parliament building was created by the National
Council of Science Museum (NCSM) in Kolkata.
❖ It is said to be the largest such piece in India, with a height of 22m and a weight of 36 kg.
❖ The pendulum hangs from a skylight at the top of the Constitution Hall, and signifies the “integration of the
idea of India with the idea of the cosmos”.
❖ At the latitude of Parliament, New Delhi (28.6° N), it takes about 49 hours and 59 minutes for the pendulum
to complete one clockwise rotation.
Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan

❖ The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have released the Gaganyaan
Recovery Training Plan at INS Garuda in Kochi.
❖ The document outlines the training plan for recovery of the crew module of the Gaganyaan mission.
❖ The document defines overall requirements with respect to training of various teams participating in
recovery operations including divers, MARCOs (marine commandos), medical specialists, communicators,
technicians and naval aviators.
❖ The recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned
recovery training in harbour and open sea conditions.
❖ About: The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate the capability to launch human beings (three crew
members) to low earth orbit and bring them back safely to earth by landing them in either the Bay of Bengal
or the Arabian Sea.
❖ Low-Earth orbit (often known as LEO) encompasses Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 2,000 km or
less.
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❖ Objective: To demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human space flight mission to LEO.
❖ Launch Vehicles: The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) is the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.
❖ All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicle are reconfigured to meet human rating requirements and
named Human Rated LVM3 (HLVM3).
India’s First Dimethyl Ether Fuelled Tractor

❖ India’s first 100% Dimethyl Ether (DME) fuelled tractor/ vehicle for on- and off-road applications has been
developed by IIT Kanpur that exhibited higher thermal efficiency and lower emissions than the baseline
diesel engine.
❖ The research received support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a part of the
Department of Science and Technology (DST).
❖ The project aligned with the 'Methanol Economy' program of NITI Ayog, aiming to reduce India's oil import
bill and greenhouse gas emissions.
❖ DME is a synthetically produced alternative fuel that can be directly used in specially designed compression
ignition diesel engines for various purposes.
❖ DME is a renewable alternative to crude oil.
❖ Several countries, including Japan, USA, China, Sweden, Denmark, and Korea, are already using DME to
power their vehicles.
❖ Properties: Under normal atmospheric conditions, DME is a colourless gas.
❖ DME exhibits comparable calorific value and similarity of its thermal efficiency to traditional fuels; It is
a clean-burning fuel with low emission and low particulate matter.
❖ Uses: It is used extensively in the chemical industry and as solvent, fuel, and refrigerant.
❖ It has already been used as an ozone-friendly aerosol propellant to replace ozone-destroying
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
❖ It is an essential intermediate for producing valuable chemicals such as lower olefins, dimethyl sulfate, and
methyl acetate.
Transgenic Crops
❖ Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have deferred a proposal, approved by the Centre’s Genetic
Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), to test a new kind of Transgenic Cotton Seed that contains a
gene, Cry2Ai.
❖ Gene Cry2Ai purportedly makes cotton resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest. The conflict shows that
a broad acceptance of genetically modified crops continues to be elusive.
❖ Note: Agriculture being a State subject means that, in most cases, companies interested in testing their
seeds need approvals from the States for conducting such tests. Only Haryana gave permission for such
tests.
❖ Transgenic Crops: Transgenic crops are plants that have been modified through genetic engineering
techniques. These crops have had specific genes inserted into their DNA to give them new characteristics
or traits that are not naturally found in the species through traditional breeding methods.
❖ GMO vs Transgenic Organisms: Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and transgenic organism are two
terms that are used interchangeably.
❖ However, there is a slight difference between GMO and transgenic organism. Although both have altered
genomes, a transgenic organism is a GMO containing a DNA sequence or a gene from a different
species. While a GMO is an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic
engineering techniques.
❖ Thus, all transgenic organisms are GMOs, but not all GMOs are transgenic.
❖ Status in India: In India, only Cotton is currently commercially cultivated as a GM crop. Trials are underway
for other crops like brinjal, tomato, maize, and chickpea using transgenic technology.
❖ The GEAC approved the environmental release of GM mustard hybrid DMH-11, bringing it closer to full
commercial cultivation. However, there is an ongoing legal case in the Supreme Court questioning the
permission for transgenic food crops. They seek a stay on GM mustard, citing concerns about farmers
using banned herbicides.
❖ Previous instances include the GEAC's approval of GM mustard in 2017 with additional tests and the
government's indefinite moratorium on GM brinjal in 2010.
❖ Regulation: In India, the regulation of all activities related to GMOs and products are regulated by the Union
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav) under the provisions of
the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
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❖ Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under MoEFCC is authorised to review, monitor and
approve all activities including import, export, transport, manufacture, use or sale of GMO.
❖ GM foods are also subjected to regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
❖ Acts and Rules that Regulate GM Crops in India: Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA) – Biological
Diversity Act, 2002 – Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 – GM policy under Foreign Trade Policy, Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006 – Drugs and Cosmetics Rule (8th Amendment), 1988.
❖ Process of Regulating Transgenic Crops in India: Developing transgenic crops involves inserting
transgenic genes into plants to achieve a sustained, protective response
❖ The process involves a mix of science and chance.
❖ Safety assessments by committees are conducted before open field tests.
❖ Open field tests are done at agricultural universities or Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)-
controlled plots.
❖ Transgenic plants must be better than non-GM variants and environmentally safe for commercial
clearance.
❖ Open field trials assess suitability across multiple seasons and geographical conditions.
Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR)
❖ Autonomous body responsible for coordinating agricultural education and research in India. It reports to
the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture
❖ The committee to Advise on Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education (Yashpal Committee, 2009)
has recommended setting up of a constitutional body – the National Commission for Higher Education and
Research – which would be a unified supreme body to regulate all branches of higher education including
agricultural education.
❖ Presently, regulation of agricultural education is the mandate of ICAR, Veterinary Council of India
(Veterinary sub-discipline) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (Forestry sub-discipline).
❖ Motto- Agrisearch with a human touch
❖ Type-Registered Society
❖ Director- Himashu Pathak
❖ HQ- Delhi
Chashma-V Nuclear Plant

❖ Recently, China inked an agreement with Pakistan to set up a 1,200-megawatt nuclear power plant at
Chashma in the Mianwali district of Punjab.
❖ Under this project, Pakistan is getting an investment of $4.8 billion from China which “sends the message
that Pakistan is a place where Chinese companies and investors continue to show their trust and faith”.
❖ Pakistan's Chashma power plants are considered a key in the production of cheap nuclear power.
❖ The nuclear power plant agreement signing as a token of increasing economic cooperation between
Pakistan and China.
❖ Existing power plants: The installed capacity of the existing four power plants is 1,330 megawatts
❖ Two other nuclear power plants are also operational in Pakistan. Karachi Nuclear Power Plants (KANUPP 2
& 3 have a capacity of 2,290 megawatts)
❖ Impact on Pakistan: Pakistan’s economy has been in a free fall mode for the last many years, bringing
unbridled pressure on the poor masses in the form of unchecked inflation and making it almost impossible
for a vast number of people to make ends meet.
❖ Pakistan is under tremendous financial debt and is not getting multilateral loans or even bilateral
assistance without the support of the IMF.
❖ Only China has stood fast to help Pakistan while Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also been selectively
supportive.
❖ The IMF signed a deal in 2019 to provide $6 billion to Pakistan on fulfillment of certain conditions.
❖ The plan was derailed several times and the full reimbursement is still pending due to insistence by the
donor that Pakistan should complete all formalities.
Genome India Project

❖ Government aims to sequence 10,000 genomes by the end of the year 2023 under the Genome India
Project (GIP).
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❖ The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology (Jitendra Singh) has sequenced
close to 7,000 genomes and 3,000 of these are already available for public access.
❖ India's population of 1.3 billion is made up of over 4,600 diverse population groups, many of which are
endogamous (Matrimony in Close Ethnic Groups). These groups have unique genetic variations and
disease-causing mutations that cannot be compared to other populations. By creating a database of Indian
genomes, researchers can learn about these unique genetic variants and use the information to create
personalized drugs and therapies.
❖ The United Kingdom, China, and the United States are among the countries that have programmes to
sequence at least 1,00,000 of their genomes.
❖ About: It is a scientific initiative inspired by the Human Genome Project (HGP), an international effort that
successfully decoded the entire human genome between 1990 and 2003.
❖ The project was started in 2020, aiming to better understand the genetic variations and disease-causing
mutations specific to the Indian population, which is one of the most genetically diverse in the world.
❖ By sequencing and analyzing these genomes, researchers hope to gain insights into the underlying genetic
causes of diseases and develop more effective personalized therapies.
❖ The project involves the collaboration of 20 institutions across India and is being led by the Centre for
Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
❖ Genome: The discovery of the structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 marked the
beginning of the study of genetics, which seeks to understand how genes influence traits and diseases.
❖ DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development,
functioning, growth, and reproduction of all living organisms. o DNA was first identified by a Swiss chemist
named Johann Friedrich Miescher in the late 1869.
o At that time, he named it as " nuclein", which was later changed to “ nucleic acids” and eventually to
“ deoxyribonucleic acid”.
❖ The genome of an organism is the complete set of its genetic material, including all of its genes. It contains
all the information required to build and maintain the organism.
❖ In humans, the genome is composed of more than 3 billion DNA base pairs, arranged in a double helix
structure.
❖ Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of
adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G), that make up an organism's DNA
Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope

❖ The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), developed by Pune's Inter-University Center for
Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), has been delivered to the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO).
❖ This unique space telescope will be integrated with ISRO's ADITYA-L1 mission, set to launch in mid-August
2023.
❖ SUIT aims to study the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) emissions and capture high-resolution images of the Sun’s
atmosphere, known as the corona, in various UV wavelengths.
❖ It will operate in the far and near ultraviolet regions, covering wavelengths of 200-400 nanometers.
❖ It will observe the hotter and more dynamic regions of the Sun’s atmosphere, such as the transition region
and the corona.
❖ SUIT will monitor the Sun’s activity and provide early warning of potential solar flares and coronal mass
ejections (CMEs), which can affect satellites, communication systems, power grids and human health on
Earth.
❖ Aditya-L1 Mission: The ADITYA-L1 mission will be dedicated to studying the Sun and will fly
approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth to the Lagrange point 1 (L1), one of the five favorable
spots for observing the Sun.
❖ The mission is expected to be launched using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket.
❖ It will provide regular images and updates on the Sun's surface phenomena and space weather.
❖ Features:
❖ ADITYA-L1 will carry seven different payloads capable of studying various phenomena on the Sun across
the electromagnetic spectrum and solar wind. The 7 payloads include:
o Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
o Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
o Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
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o Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
o High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
o Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)
o Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers
❖ "L1" refers to the Lagrange point 1. Lagrange points are specific points in space where the gravitational
forces of two large bodies, such as the Sun and the Earth, balance the centrifugal force felt by a smaller
body.
❖ They are named in honor of Italian-French mathematician Josephy-Louis Lagrange. These can be used by
spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.
❖ L1 is one of the five Lagrange points in the Sun-Earth system. Of the five Lagrange points, three are
unstable and two are stable.
❖ The unstable Lagrange points - labeled L1, L2 and L3 - lie along the line connecting the two large masses.
❖ The stable Lagrange points - labeled L4 and L5 - form the apex of two equilateral triangles that have the
large masses at their vertices.
❖ L4 leads the orbit of earth and L5 follows.
❖ The L1 point of the Earth-Sun system affords an uninterrupted view of the sun and is currently home to
the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite.
❖ The L2 point of the Earth-Sun system was the home to the WMAP spacecraft, current home of Planck,
and future home of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Eco-Friendly Diamonds
❖ During the Indian Prime Minister's visit to the White House, US, an eco-friendly lab-grown diamond
(LGD) was presented as a gift to US First Lady Jill Biden. Produced in Surat, India, the diamond showcases
the excellence of the country's diamond industry.
❖ LGD are synthetic diamonds produced in laboratories, possessing the same chemical
composition and physical properties as naturally occurring diamonds. They are manufactured
through High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) methods using a
seed diamond, a slice of another diamond. Lab-grown diamonds have applications in industrial tools and
machinery due to their hardness, and pure synthetic diamonds are used as heat spreaders in electronics.
Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)
❖ GJEPC is an organisation set up by the Government of India (GOI) with aim to promote the Indian gem and
jewellery industry and its products.
❖ The GJEPC was established in 1966 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Piyush Goyal), it was one
of several Export Promotion Councils started by the Government.
❖ It has its headquarters in Mumbai and Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Jaipur.
❖ Chairman: Vipul Shah
❖ The GJEPC was granted an autonomous status in 1998, it is the apex body for the gems and jewellery
industry of India and represents almost 7,000 exporters.
GEMCOVAC-OM
❖ India's first indigenously developed and only approved mRNA vaccine, GEMCOVAC-OM developed by
Gennova, targeting the Omicron variant of Covid-19, will be priced at ₹2,292 per dose. The vaccine will
initially be available only as a booster or precaution dose, and individuals who have already received three
doses will be ineligible. The key advantage of GEMCOVAC-OM lies in its stability within a 2-8 degree
Celsius range, making it suitable for storage in ordinary refrigerators. The vaccine can be administered via
the needle-free PharmaJet system, delivering it directly into the skin.
❖ The mRNA vaccine activates the immune system to produce antibodies that help counter an infection. The
vaccine introduces a portion of the spike protein, the key part of the coronavirus, to stimulate an immune
response. mRNA vaccines are fragile and must be wrapped in a layer of oily lipids. DNA is more stable and
flexible in vaccines. Both mRNA and DNA vaccines are expected to be effective, but mRNA vaccines
require stringent freezer conditions that make them expensive. mRNA and DNA vaccines can be quickly
updated to emerging variants and used for a variety of diseases.
Radio Telescope
❖ The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in Pune recently helped detect atomic hydrogen from far-away
galaxy.
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❖ This is the first confirmed detection of strong lensing of 21 cm emission from a galaxy.
❖ The astronomical distance over which such a signal has been picked up is the largest so far.
❖ The research was funded by McGill University in Canada and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
❖ About: A radio telescope is a telescope that helps scientists ‘see’ the universe using radio waves (1 mm to
more than 10,000 km in wavelength).
❖ Functions: These telescopes collect faint radio waves coming from deep space, and with the help of other
equipment focus and amplify them for scientific study.
❖ Radio telescopes can detect radio waves from a number of celestial objects, such as stars, galaxies, and
black holes.
❖ Structure: They are ground-based, and not in orbit, because they are usually quite large. This is because
the size of the antenna – the dish-like structure that detects the waves – is proportional to the wavelength
being tracked.
❖ In fact, the most common radio telescopes have a parabolic dish antenna. Due to its curved shape, the
radio waves hitting the dish bounce to a point called the focus, where a receiver collects them.
❖ Collecting radio wave: Dish antennas collect many different wavelengths at once, so scientists often use
receivers picking up multiple wavelengths at once.
❖ Because of their large wavelength, radio waves can travel long distances without interruption, making them
ideal to catch glimpses of stars behind dust clouds, for example. But the longer they travel, the weaker they
get.
❖ So telescopes often try to maximise their signal collection area and use amplifiers to increase their
strength.
❖ China’s FAST instrument: One of the biggest radio telescopes in the world today is the FAST instrument in
China, with a 500-metre-wide dish.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)
❖ It is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 meter diameter.
❖ It is the largest and most sensitive radio telescope array in the world at low frequencies.
❖ Functions: It functions at the meter wavelength part of the radio spectrum because man-made radio
interference is considerably lower in this part of the spectrum in India and there are many outstanding
astrophysics problems which are best studied at meter wavelengths.
❖ ‘SMART' concept: Its design is based on the `SMART' concept - for Stretch Mesh Attached to Rope Trusses.
❖ Operations: GMRT is Built and operated by National Centre for Radio Astrophysics - Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research, (NCRA-TIFR), Pune.
UTPRERAK
❖ The Ministry of Power established UTPRERAK, to help improve energy efficiency of Indian industry.
❖ UTPRERAK (Unnat Takniki Pradarshan Kendra) also known as Advanced Industrial Technology
Demonstration Centre (AITDC) is the Centre of Excellence to Accelerate Adoption of Energy Efficient
Technologies.
❖ It has been set up by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE),at the Badarpur, New Delhi campus of the
National Power Training Institute(NPTI), Ministry of Power.
❖ Functions: UTPRERAK will act as an exhibition cum information center and knowledge repository to
demonstrate and showcase energy-efficient technologies in key industry sectors.
❖ The Centre envisages to provide key inputs for national energy policy formulation, link education and
research in energy-efficient solutions, and develop innovative applied solutions for energy efficiency.
❖ It is expected to provide intensive training to more than 10,000 energy professionals from the industry and
other potential sectors over the next five years.
❖ Necessity of adoption of advanced technologies: Advanced Technologies are key to becoming
a developed nation for India by 2047.
❖ They are also important to Achieve India's Emission Reduction Targets under Nationally Determined
Contributions(NDCs).
❖ The latest technologies are necessary to manufacture goods at low cost and to compete in the global
market.
Indian Startup Ecosystem

❖ According to “slowdown in India's startup ecosystem" report, new additions in the coveted unicorn list
declined sharply in 2023, indicating a slowdown in the Indian startup ecosystem.
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❖ India added only three unicorns' startups having a valuation of over USD 1 billion in 2023 against 24 in the
year-ago period, as per the ASK Private Wealth Hurun Indian Future Unicorn Index 2023.
❖ India has emerged as the 3rd largest ecosystem for startups globally as of 31st May 2023. India ranks 2nd in
innovation quality with top positions in the quality of scientific publications and the quality of its
universities among middle-income economies.
❖ Indian Startup Ecosystem has seen exponential growth in past few years (2015-2022): 15X increase in the
total funding of startups, 9X increase in the number of investors, 7X increase in the number of incubators
❖ As of May 2023, India is home to 108 Unicorns with a total valuation of USD 340.80 Bn.
❖ Out of the total number of unicorns, 44 unicorns were born in 2021 and 21 unicorns were born in 2022.
❖ Terms Related to Startups: Decacorn: a current valuation of over USD 10 billion.
❖ Unicorns: Start-ups founded after the year 2000 with a valuation of USD 1 billion.
❖ Gazelles: Start-ups that are most likely to go Unicorn in the next three years.
❖ Cheetahs: Start-ups that could go Unicorn in the next five years.
Indian Government initiative for Startups
❖ National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI): NIDHI is an umbrella program
initiated by the Science & Technology department (DST) of the Indian government in 2016 for cultivating
knowledge-based innovations and ideas driven by technology into fruitful start-ups. NIDHI supports start
ups from the ideation stage to the marketing stage. NIDHI has 8 Components-
o NIDHI GCC – Grand Challenges and Competitions for scouting innovations
o NIDHI – PRomoting and accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups (NIDHI-PRAYAS) –
Support from Idea to Prototype
o NIDHI-Entrepreneur In Residence (NIDHI-EIR)-Support system to reduce risk
o Startup-NIDHI
o NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator(TBI)-Converting Innovations to start-ups
o NIDHI-Accelerator-Fast tracking a start-up through focused intervention
o NIDHI-Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)-Providing early-stage investment
o NIDHI Centres of Excellence (NIDHI-CoE)-A World-class facility to help startups go global
❖ Startup India Action Plan (launched in 2016)
❖ Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems (RSSSE)
❖ Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): It aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of
concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.
❖ National Startup Awards: It seeks to recognize and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers
that are contributing to economic dynamism by spurring innovation and injecting competition.
❖ SCO Startup Forum: The first-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum was launched
in October 2020 to develop and improve startup ecosystems collectively.
❖ Prarambh: The ‘Prarambh’ Summit aims to provide a platform to startups and young minds from around
the world to come up with new ideas, innovation and invention.
Deepfakes Technology
❖ Various news sources have focused on the growing concern over deepfakes, which are fabricated media
created using deep learning technology.
❖ Deepfake technology is a method for manipulating videos, images, and audio utilizing powerful computers
and deep learning. Deep learning is a part of Deep synthesis.
❖ Deep synthesis is defined as the use of technologies, including deep learning and augmented reality, to
generate text, images, audio and video to create virtual scenes.
❖ It is used to generate fake news and commit financial fraud among other wrongdoings.
❖ It overlays a digital composite over an already-existing video, picture, or audio; cybercriminals use Artificial
Intelligence technology.
❖ Deepfakes surpass traditional photo editing techniques by leveraging machine learning algorithms.
❖ Deepfakes have been used to create manipulated content, such as fake videos of political figures and
false disaster images.
India’s Stand on Dealing with Deepfakes
❖ India does not have specific laws or regulations that ban or regulate the use of deepfake technology.
❖ Existing laws such as Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act (2000) have provisions that
may be applied to certain aspects of deepfakes, such as defamation and publishing explicit material.
❖ Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (1860) provides punishment for defamation.
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❖ The Personal Data Protection Bill (2022), if passed, could provide some protection against the misuse of
personal data, but it does not explicitly address deepfakes.
❖ India needs to develop a comprehensive legal framework specifically targeting deepfakes, considering the
potential implications for privacy, social stability, national security, and democracy.
❖ Other Countries doing to Combat Deepfakes: European Union: In 2022, the European Union has
updated Code of Practice on Disinformation that was introduced in 2018 to stop the spread of
disinformation through deepfakes.
❖ United States: The U.S. introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) to counter deepfake technology.
❖ China: China introduces comprehensive regulation on deep synthesis, effective from January 2023. Aimed
at curbing disinformation, the regulation requires clear labeling and traceability of deep synthesis
content. Consent from individuals and adherence to laws and public morals are mandated. Service
providers must establish review mechanisms and cooperate with authorities.
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Legal Affairs
SC Verdict on Demonetisation
❖ The Supreme Court has passed a verdict on the Demonetisation of currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000
in a majority 4-1 by a five-judge Constitution Bench.
❖ Majority View: Justice B R Gavai — writing for himself and Justices S Abdul Nazeer, A S Bopanna, and V
Ramasubramanian held that Centre’s notification dated November 8, 2016 is valid and satisfies the test of
proportionality.
❖ The test of proportionality is a commonly employed legal method used by courts around the world,
typically constitutional courts, to decide cases where two or more legitimate rights clash.
❖ The statutory procedure under Section 26(2) of the RBI Act was not violated merely because the Centre
had taken the initiative to “advice” the Central Board to consider recommending demonetisation.
❖ On hasty decision, the court said such measures undisputedly are required to be taken with utmost
confidentiality and speed. If the news of such a measure is leaked out, it is difficult to imagine how
disastrous the consequences would be.
❖ Minority Ruling: Justice B V Nagarathna disagreed with the reasoning and concluded that the government
could have issued a notification under Section 26(2) of the RBI Act only if the RBI had initiated the
proposal to demonetise by way of a recommendation. In cases in which the government initiates
demonetisation, it should take the opinion of the RBI. The opinion of the Board should be “independent
and frank”.
❖ If the Board’s opinion was in the negative, the Centre could still go forward with the demonetisation
exercise, but only by promulgating an ordinance or by enacting a parliamentary legislation.
❖ Demonetisation: On 8th November 2016, the government announced that the largest denomination of Rs
500 and Rs 1000 were demonetised with immediate effect ceasing to be a legal tender.
❖ Demonetisation was done for the “proper purposes” of eliminating fake currency, black money and terror
financing.
❖ The Indian government had demonetised banknotes on two prior occasions—once in 1946 and once in
1978—and in both cases, the goal was to combat tax evasion via "black money" held outside the formal
economic system.
❖ In 1978, the Janata Party coalition government demonetised banknotes of ₹1,000, ₹5,000 and ₹10,000, again
in the hopes of curbing counterfeit money and black money
❖ Operation Clean Money: It was launched by the Income Tax Department (CBDT) for e-verification of large
cash deposits made during the period from 9th November to 30th December 2016. It aimed to verify cash
transaction status (exchange/savings of banned notes) of taxpayers during the demonetisation period and
to take tax enforcement action if transactions do not match the tax status.
Supreme Court Expands Article 19 Ambit

❖ Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that a fundamental right under Article 19/21 can be enforced even
against persons other than the State or its instrumentalities.
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❖ The court took this view while ruling that the right of free speech and expression guaranteed under the
Article 19(1)(a) cannot be curbed by any additional grounds other than those already laid down in Article
19(2).
❖ Article 19 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression, and is
typically invoked against the state.
❖ Article 19(1) in The Constitution Of India 1949, All citizens shall have the right
o to freedom of speech and expression;
o to assemble peaceably and without arms;
o to form associations or unions;
o to move freely throughout the territory of India;
o to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and omittedto practise any profession, or to
carry on any occupation, trade or business.
❖ Article 19(2) in The Constitution Of India 1949: Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the
operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes
reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the
sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public
order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.
❖ Some fundamental rights, such as those prohibiting untouchability, trafficking, and bonded labor, are
explicitly against both the state and other individuals.
❖ Supreme Court's Ruling: this interpretation brings an obligation on the state to ensure that private entities
also abide by Constitutional norms.
❖ It opens up a range of possibilities in Constitutional law, potentially allowing for the enforcement of privacy
rights against a private doctor or the right to free speech against a private social media entity.
❖ The Court referenced the 2017 verdict in Puttaswamy, in which a nine-judge bench unanimously upheld
privacy as a fundamental right.
SC upholds laws Allowing Jallikattu

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld amendments made by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra to the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to allow the traditional bull-taming sports of Jallikattu , Kambala
(Karnataka) and bullock-cart racing.
o Kambala is a traditional buffalo race in paddy fields filled with slush and mud which generally takes
place in coastal Karnataka (Udupi and Dakshina Kannada) from November to March.
❖ The case involves a challenge to the Tamil Nadu amendment allowing jallikattu, based on the argument
that it goes against the central law prohibiting cruelty to animals.
❖ The SC held that the state amendments (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of
2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules of 2017) did not violate the
Constitution and the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling banning Jallikattu.
❖ The court said the Amendment Act “substantially reduced pain and cruelty” to the participating animals.
❖ The judgment holds that the 2017 Amendment Act and Rules on Jallikattu are in time with Entry 17
(prevention of cruelty to animals) of the Concurrent List, Article 51A(g) (compassion to loving creatures) of
the Constitution.
❖ The Supreme Court banned Jallikattu through a judgment in May 2014 in the Animal Welfare Board of India
vs A. Nagaraja case on the grounds of cruelty to animals.
❖ The court said the Act was also not “relatable” to Article 48 of the Constitution which deals with the duty
of the State to “organise agriculture and animal husbandry”.
❖ It also stated that any violation of the law in the name of cultural tradition would be punishable.
❖ The court decided that determining Jallikattu's cultural heritage status is best left to the State's legislative
assembly and not a court of law.
❖ Jallikattu is a traditional sport that is popular in Tamil Nadu. The sport involves releasing a wild bull into a
crowd of people, and the participants attempt to grab the bull's hump and ride it for as long as possible or
attempt to bring it under control.
❖ It is celebrated in the month of January, during the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
❖ The legislative intent of the Act is to “prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals”.
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❖ The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Act.
❖ This Act provides for punishment for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals. The Act
defines animals and different forms of animals.
❖ Discusses different forms of cruelty, exceptions, and killing of a suffering animal in case any cruelty has
been committed against it, so as to relieve it from further suffering.
❖ Provides the guidelines relating to experimentation on animals for scientific purposes.
❖ The Act enshrines the provisions relating to the exhibition of the performing animals, and offences
committed against the performing animals.
❖ This Act provides for the limitation period of 3 months beyond which no prosecution shall lie for any
offences under this Act.
Right to Strike
❖ The Kerala High Court has reiterated that government employees who participate in general strikes,
affecting the normal life of the public and Public Exchequer, are not entitled to be protected under Article
19(1)(c) of the Constitution and are also a violation of the provisions of the Kerala Government Servants’
Conduct Rules, 1960.
❖ Strike is the collective refusal by employees to work under the conditions required by employers. Strikes
arise for a number of reasons, though principally in response to economic conditions (defined as an
economic strike and meant to improve wages and benefits) or labour practices (intended to improve work
conditions).
❖ In India, the right to protest is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
❖ But right to strike is not a fundamental right but a legal right and with this right statutory restriction is
attached in the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947.
❖ In India, unlike America, the right to strike is not expressly recognized by the law. The trade union Act, 1926
for the first time provided limited right to strike by legalizing certain activities of a registered trade union in
furtherance of a trade dispute which otherwise breach of common economic law.
❖ As every other fundamental right is subject to reasonable restrictions, the same is also the case to form
trade unions to give a call to the workers to go on strike and the state can impose reasonable restrictions.
Related Static GK
❖ The Supreme Court in Delhi Police v. Union of India (1986) upheld the restrictions to form association by the
members of the non-gazetted police force after the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966, and the
Rules as amended by Amendment Rules, 1970, came into effect.
❖ In T.K. Rangarajan v. Government of Tamil Nadu (2003), the Supreme Court held that the employees have no
fundamental right to resort to strike. Further, there is prohibition to go on strike under the Tamil Nadu
Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973.
Triple Test Survey

❖ The Allahabad High Court had ordered the Uttar Pradesh Government to conduct urban local body elections
without the OBC reservations as the “triple test” requirement for the quota has not been fulfilled. The state
government has recently constituted a commission to conduct the tripe test survey in the urban local bodies.
❖ The Supreme Court put forth the triple test in the case Vikas Kishanrao Gawali vs. State of
Maharashtra and others on March 2, 2021. It involves the government implementing three tasks to finalize
the reservation to the OBCs in the local bodies. These tasks are:
1. Constitute a dedicated commission to conduct a rigorous empirical study into the nature and implications
of the backwardness in local bodies
2. To specify the proportion of reservation required in local bodies based on the commission’s
recommendations
3. To ensure that the reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs together do not surpass the aggregate of 50
percent of the total seats
Bhopal Gas Tragedy

❖ The Supreme Court of India dismissed the Centre’s curative petition seeking more compensation from the
Union Carbide Company (UCC) for the victims of the gas tragedy that struck Bhopal in 1984.
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❖ The Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) has said that it is not willing to pay any more amount than what was
settled with the Central Government in 1989 following the Bhopal Gas Tragedy as the Centre has sought
additional funds of over ₹7,400 crore from UCC.
❖ The Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the worst industrial accidents in history
❖ On the night of December 2, 1984, harmful Methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas started leaking from a nearby
Union Carbide pesticide plant, eventually resulting in the Bhopal Gas tragedy, where an estimated 3,000
people died within the first few days. Over time, similarly horrifying numbers of those who suffered life-long
health issues would become known.
❖ Causes of Gas Leak: The exact cause of the gas leak is still disputed between corporate negligence or
employee sabotage. However, some of the factors that contributed to the disaster are:
❖ The UCIL plant was storing large quantities of MIC, a highly reactive and volatile chemical, in poorly
maintained tanks.
❖ The plant was operating with reduced staff and safety standards due to financial losses and market
competition.
❖ The plant was located in a densely populated area with no proper emergency plans or warning systems for
the nearby residents.
❖ On the night of the disaster, a large amount of water entered one of the MIC storage tanks (E610), either
due to a faulty valve or a deliberate act of sabotage by a disgruntled worker.
❖ This triggered an exothermic reaction that increased the temperature and pressure inside the tank,
causing it to rupture and release a large cloud of MIC gas into the atmosphere.
❖ Reactions: A case was lodged against Union Carbide. Warren Anderson, the Chairman of UC, was arrested
when he visited India but was shortly released on bail, after which he left the country.
❖ The case was also in a US court for some time but was later transferred to India. By December 1987, the
CBI filed a charge sheet against Anderson. Two years later, a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Warren
Anderson was issued, for repeatedly ignoring summons. Anderson never returned to India and died in
2014.
❖ In February 1989, the Indian government and Union Carbide struck an out-of-court deal and compensation
of $470 million was given by UC. The Supreme Court also upheld it in a judgement.
❖ A 2019 report by the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) said at least 30 tonnes of the poisonous
gas affected more than 600,000 workers and nearby inhabitants.
❖ It added the disaster was among the world’s “major industrial accidents after 1919”.
❖ Laws Passed: Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985 - Gave the Central Govt the
“exclusive right” to represent, and act in place of every person connected with the claims.
❖ Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, - Authorised the central govt to take relevant measures and regulate
industrial activity for environmental and public safety.
❖ Public Liability Insurance Act of 1991 - Provides public liability insurance for providing immediate relief to
the persons affected by an accident occurring while handling any hazardous substance.
❖ Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010- India enacted the CLNDA in 2010 to put in place a speedy
compensation mechanism for victims of a nuclear accident. It provides for strict and no-fault liability on
the operator of the nuclear plant, where it will be held liable for damage regardless of any fault on its part.
❖ The New Petition: The Indian government filed a curative petition in 2010 to seek additional compensation
from Dow Jones (a billion-dollar corporation the new owner of Union Carbide since 1999), of 7000 crore
more than ten times the amount it gave in 1989. However the SC rejected the petition recently.
After-Effects of the Tragedy
❖ The 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the world's worst industrial disasters, continues to cast a long
shadow on the health of future generations, even those who were not directly exposed to the toxic gas.
❖ About: The study reveals that the repercussions of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy extend beyond immediate
mortality and morbidity. It has been observed that the impacts of the disaster are visible in a 100 km
radius around Bhopal, affecting a wider area than previously reported.
❖ Health Issues Faced by Survivors: The survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy have experienced a range of
health problems over the years. These include respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, ophthalmic
(related to eyes), endocrine issues, miscarriages, stillbirths, neonatal mortality, menstrual abnormalities,
and premature menopause.
❖ Investigating Long-Term Health Effects: Researchers from the University of California (UC) conducted a
comprehensive analysis to assess the long-term health consequences and potential intergenerational
effects of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
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❖ They gathered data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) conducted between 2015 and 2016
and the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series from India for the year 1999, including individuals ranging
from ages six to 64 years and those in utero at the time of the disaster.
❖ Disability among Women: Women who were pregnant with male fetuses and resided within 100 km of
Bhopal had a one percentage point higher disability rate that affected their employment 15 years later.
❖ Decline in Male Births: There was a decline in the proportion of male births from 64% (1981-1984) to 60%
(1985) among mothers living within 100 km of Bhopal suggesting a higher vulnerability of male fetuses to
external stress.
❖ No significant change was observed beyond the 100 km radius.
❖ Increased Cancer Risk: Men born in 1985 within 100 km of Bhopal had an eightfold higher risk of cancer
compared to those born in the periods 1976-1984 and 1986-1990. Furthermore, men born in 1985 who
continued to reside within 100 km of Bhopal experienced a 27-fold higher risk of cancer in 2015 compared
to their counterparts born in the reference periods and individuals living more than 100 km away.
❖ Employment Disabilities: People lived within 100 km of Bhopal were one percentage point more likely to
report employment disability compared to older individuals and those residing further from Bhopal
Assisted Reproductive Technology

❖ The Kerala High Court has said that personal choice to build a family is a fundamental right and fixing an
upper age limit for the same was a restriction which needs a relook.
❖ The court passed the directive while disposing of a batch of petitions challenging the age limit of 50 years
for women and 55 years for men prescribed under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
(Regulation) Act, 2021, for undergoing the assisted reproductive technology.
❖ According to the petitioners, prescription of the upper age limit under Section 21 (G) of the ART Act is
irrational, arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of their right to reproduction, which is acknowledged as a
fundamental right.
❖ The High Court has directed the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board to alert
the Union government about the need for having a relook at the upper age limit prescribed for using
assisted reproductive technology.
❖ The Act defines ART to include all techniques that seek to obtain a pregnancy by handling the sperm or
the oocyte (immature egg cell) outside the human body and transferring the gamete or the embryo into the
reproductive system of a woman. These include gamete donation (of sperm or egg), in vitro fertilization
(IVF), and gestational surrogacy.
❖ ART services will be provided through: (i) ART clinics, which offer ART related treatments and procedures,
and (ii) ART banks, which collect, screen and store gametes.
❖ The ART (Regulation) Act 2021 provides a system for the implementation of the law on surrogacy by
setting up of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board.
❖ Eligibility Criteria for Donors: A bank may obtain semen from males between 21 and 55 years of age, and
eggs from females between 23 and 35 years of age. The woman may donate eggs only once in her life and
not more than seven eggs may be retrieved from her. A bank must not supply gamete of a single donor to
more than one commissioning party (i.e., couples or single women seeking services).
❖ Conditions for Offering Services: ART procedures must be conducted only with the written consent of the
commissioning parties and the donor. The commissioning party will be required to provide insurance
coverage in favour of the egg donor (for any loss, damage, or death).
❖ A child born through ART will be deemed to be a biological child of the commissioning couple and will be
entitled to the rights and privileges available to a natural child of the commissioning couple. A donor will
not have any parental rights over the child.
❖ Shortcomings: The Act excludes unmarried men, divorced men, widowed men, unmarried yet cohabiting
heterosexual couples, trans persons and homosexual couples (whether married or cohabiting) from
availing ART services.
Doctrine of Separation of Power

❖ Vice-President of India has rekindled the debate over the doctrine of separation of powers by citing the
Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case, which ruled that Parliament has the authority
to amend the Constitution but not its basic structure.
❖ Separation of powers is the division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government.
❖ Article 50 says that states shall take steps to separate the Judiciary from the Executive.
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❖ The Indian Constitution lays down the structure and defines and determines the role and functions of every
organ of the State and establishes norms for their inter-relationships and checks and balances.
❖ What are the Instruments of Checks & Balances?
❖ Legislature Control o On Judiciary: Impeachment and the removal of the judges. Power to amend laws
declared ultra vires by the Court and revalidating it.
o On Executive: Through a no-confidence vote it can dissolve the Government. Power to assess works
of the executive through the question hour and zero hour.
❖ Executive Control o On Judiciary: Making appointments to the office of Chief Justice and other judges.
o On Legislature: Powers under delegated legislation. Authority to make rules for regulating their
respective procedure and conduct of business subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
❖ Judicial Control o On Executive: Judicial review i.e., the power to review executive action to determine if it
violates the Constitution.On Legislature: Unamendability of the constitution under the basic structure
doctrine pronounced by the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati Case 1973.
❖ What are the Issues with the Separation of Powers?
❖ Weakened Opposition in India: Democracy works on the principle of checks and balances. It is these
checks and balances that prevent democracy from turning into majoritarianism. In a Parliamentary system,
these checks and balances are provided by the opposition party. However, the majority of a single party in
the Lok Sabha has diminished the role of an effective opposition in the Parliament.
❖ Judicial Activism: In many recent judgments, the SC has become hyper-activist in making judgements that
are deemed as laws and rules. This transgresses the domain of legislature and executive.
❖ Executive Excesses: Executive in India is alleged of over-centralisation of power, weakening of public
institutions and passing laws to strengthen law, order & security of the state but curbs freedom of
expression as well.
Related Static GK
❖ The Constitution of India does not define the basic structure, it is a judicial innovation.
❖ In Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala case (1973), the Supreme Court 13 judge bench ruled that the
Parliament could amend any part of the Constitution so long as it did not alter or amend the basic structure
or essential features of the Constitution.
❖ The ‘basic structure’ doctrine has since been interpreted to include the supremacy of the Constitution, the
rule of law, Independence of the judiciary, doctrine of separation of powers, sovereign democratic republic,
the parliamentary system of government, the principle of free and fair elections, welfare state, etc.
Freedom of Speech of Ministers

❖ A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously and rightly ruled out any additional curbs on free
speech by ministers.
❖ The case (Kaushal Kishor v the State of UP), relates to the Bulandshahar rape incident of 2016, in which the
then Minister of the State termed the incident a ‘political conspiracy and nothing else’
❖ A writ petition was filed by the survivors before the SC and the court raised an important question: “Can
restrictions be imposed on a public functionary's freedom of speech and expression?”.
❖ Majority Judgement: Like other citizens, ministers are guaranteed the right to freedom of expression
under Article 19(1) (a), governed by the reasonable restrictions laid out in Article 19(2) — and those are
enough.
❖ Because “The role of the court is to protect fundamental rights limited by lawful restrictions and not to
protect restrictions and make the rights residual privileges.”
❖ A mere statement by a minister that goes against an individual’s fundamental rights may not be
actionable, but becomes actionable if it results in actual harm or loss.
❖ Dissenting Judgement: The minority judgment expresses concern over a hateful public discourse - “hate
speech, whatever its content, denies people dignity”.
❖ It speaks of the special duty of public functionaries and other persons of influence to be more responsible
and restrained in their speech, to “understand and measure their words”.
❖ It holds the view that there should be a proper legal framework to define acts and omissions that amount
to ‘constitutional tort’.
CENTRE vs UNION debate
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❖ The relationship between the Governor of Tamil Nadu R.N Ravi and the Chief Minister of the state M. k.
Stalin has been fraught with tension in recent times, but things came to a head recently when the Governor
walked out of the assembly in a huff. The cause of the altercation was a disagreement over a speech that
had been given by the Governor, which led to the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, tabling a resolution against him.
❖ Since the Tamil Nadu government shunned the usage of the term ‘Central government’ in its official
communications by replacing it with ‘Union government’, it has erupted the Union Vs Centre Debate.
❖ There is no mention of the term ‘Central government’ in the Constitution of India because the Constituent
Assembly did not use the term ‘Centre’ or ‘Central government’ in all of its 395 Articles in 22 Parts and
eight Schedules in the original Constitution.
❖ There are only references of the ‘Union’ and the ‘States’ with the executive powers of the Union wielded by
the President acting on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
❖ Even though there is no reference to the ‘Central government’ in the Constitution, the General Clauses Act,
1897 gives a definition for it. The ‘Central government’ for all practical purposes is the President after the
commencement of the Constitution.
❖ Article 1(1) of the Constitution of India says “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”
❖ On 13th December, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the aims and objectives of the Constituent Assembly
by resolving that India shall be a Union of territories willing to join the “Independent Sovereign Republic”.
❖ While submitting the draft Constitution in 1948, Dr B R Ambedkar, chairman of the drafting committee, had
said that the committee had used the word ‘Union’ because: o (a) the Indian federation was not the result
of an agreement by the units, and o (b) the component units had no freedom to secede from the
federation.
❖ The members of the Constituent Assembly were very cautious of not using the word ‘Centre’ or
‘Central government’ in the Constitution as they intended to keep away the tendency of centralizing of
powers in one unit.
❖ In India, the relationship between the so-called 'Centre' and States, as per the Constitution, is actually a
relationship between the whole and its parts.
❖ Both the Union and the States are created by the Constitution, both derive their respective authority from
the Constitution. The one is not subordinate to the other in its own field and the authority of one is to
coordinate with that of the other.
❖ The judiciary is designed in the Constitution to ensure that the Supreme Court, the tallest court in the
country, has no superintendence over the High Court.
Plea on Google-CCI Issue

❖ The Supreme Court of India has refused to entertain a plea by Google against National Company Law
Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)’s order refusing the interim stay on ₹1,337 crore penalty on Google. The SC has
granted Google 7 days to deposit 10% of the penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India
(CCI). The Indian companies have welcomed the SC’s stance against Google.
❖ Earlier, CCI imposed a penalty on Google for “abusing its dominant position” in markets related to the
Android mobile device ecosystem. Google filed an appeal with the NCLAT against the CCI order which was
declined by NCLAT.
Caste Census in Bihar
❖ The Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the Bihar government’s decision to conduct a caste
survey in the state. Petitioners claimed that it was a census and that the state government had no power to
make any laws regarding it. The subject of a census falls in the Union list and only Parliament can legislate
on it.
❖ The caste census is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs: Registrar General of
India (RGI) and Census Commissioner of India.
❖ The origin of the Census in India goes back to the colonial exercise of 1881. Census has evolved and been
used by the government, policymakers, academics, and others to capture the Indian population, access
resources, map social change, delimitation exercises, etc. The Census provides a portrait of the Indian
population, while the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) is a tool to identify beneficiaries of state
support.
Chargesheet: Not a Public Document
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❖ The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that chargesheets are not ‘public documents’ and enabling their free public
access violates the provisions of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) as it compromises the rights of
the accused, victim, and the investigation agencies.
❖ According to the Court, a chargesheet cannot be made publicly available as it’s not a ‘public
document’ under Sections 74 and 76 of the Evidence Act, 1872.
❖ Section 74: It defines public documents as those which form the acts or records of sovereign authority,
official bodies, tribunals, and of public offices either legislative, judicial or executive in any part of India,
Commonwealth or a foreign country. It also includes public records “kept in any State of private
documents”.
❖ Section 76: Any public officer having custody of such documents must provide a copy upon demand and
payment of a legal fee, along with a certificate of attestation that states the date, seal, name, and
designation of the officer.
❖ The Supreme Court in the Youth Bar Association of India vs Union of India case (2016) directed all police
stations in the country to publish copies of FIRs online within 24 hours of registration, except in cases
where offenses were of sensitive nature. Only FIRs were covered by this ruling, and chargesheets were not
included.
❖ A chargesheet, as defined under Section 173 CrPC, is the final report prepared by a police officer or
investigative agency after completing their investigation of a case.
❖ In the K Veeraswami vs Union of India & Others (1991) case, the SC ruled that the chargesheet is a final
report of the police officer under section 173(2) of the CrPC.
❖ A chargesheet must be filed against the accused within a prescribed period of 60-90 days, otherwise, the
arrest is illegal, and the accused is entitled to bail.
❖ Chargesheet Should Contain: Details of names, the nature of the information, and offences. Whether the
accused is under arrest, in custody, or has been released, whether any action was taken against him, these
are all important questions answered in the chargesheet.
❖ Procedure after Filing the Chargesheet: After preparing the chargesheet, the officer-in-charge of the police
station forwards it to a Magistrate, who is empowered to take notice of the offences mentioned in it so that
the charges can be framed.
❖ How is a Chargesheet Different from an FIR?: The term, ‘chargesheet’ is defined under Section 173 of the
CrPC but First Information Report (FIR), has not been defined in either the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or the
CrPC. Instead, it finds a place under the police regulations/ rules under Section 154 of CrPC, which deals
with ‘Information in Cognizable Cases’.
❖ While the chargesheet is the final report filed towards the end of an investigation, an FIR is filed at the
‘first’ instance’ that the police are informed of a cognizable offense (offence for which one can be arrested
without a warrant; such as rape, murder, kidnapping).
❖ Terms & Conditions: After filing an FIR, the investigation takes place. Under Section 169 of the CrPC,
the police can only forward the case to the Magistrate if they have sufficient evidence, otherwise, the
accused is released from custody.
❖ A chargesheet is filed by the police or law-enforcement/ investigative agency only after they have gathered
sufficient evidence against the accused in respect of the offenses mentioned in the FIR, otherwise, a
‘cancellation report’ or ‘untraced report’ can be filed when due to lack of evidence.
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021

❖ Recently, Bombay HC allowed a married woman to get her 33-week pregnancy medically terminated citing
that the length of the pregnancy does not matter in cases of severe foetal abnormalities.
❖ Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, the maximum gestational age at
which a woman may obtain a medical abortion in India was raised from 20 weeks to 24 weeks (with the
recommendation of two registered medical practitioners). And for beyond 24 weeks of gestational stage,
medical termination of pregnancy is allowed if serious foetal abnormalities are found.
❖ Until the 1960s, abortion was illegal in India and a woman could face 3 years of imprisonment and/or a fine
under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
❖ It was in the mid-1960s that the government set up the Shantilal Shah Committee and asked the group,
headed by Dr Shantilal Shah, to look into the matter of abortions and decide if India needed a law for the
same.
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❖ Based on the report, a medical termination bill was introduced in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and was
passed by Parliament in August 1971.
❖ The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 came into force on 1st of April 1972 and applied to
all of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
❖ Also, Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, criminalizes voluntarily “causing miscarriage” even when
the miscarriage is with the pregnant woman’s consent, except when the miscarriage is caused to save the
woman’s life. This means that the woman herself, or anyone else including a medical practitioner, could be
prosecuted for an abortion.
❖ In 2021, Parliament altered the law to allow for abortions based on the advice of one doctor for pregnancies
up to 20 weeks.
❖ The modified law needs the opinion of two doctors for pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks.
❖ Further, for pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, rules specified 7 categories of women who would be
eligible for seeking termination under section 3B of rules prescribed under the MTP Act.
❖ 1.Survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest, 2.Minors, 3.Change of marital status during the ongoing
pregnancy (widowhood and divorce), 4.Women with physical disabilities, 5.Mentally ill women including
mental retardation, 6.The fetus malformation that has a substantial risk of being incompatible with life or if
the child is born it may suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped, and
7.Women with pregnancy in humanitarian settings or disasters or emergencies may be declared by the
Government.
US landmark Judgments on Abortion
❖ Roe Vs Wade (1973): Jane Roe knocked on the door of the judiciary. Roe demanded abortion for her third
pregnancy when the Texas constitution revoked her choice. But after winning in the district court, Roe
appealed to Supreme Court. On Jan 22, 1973, the Supreme Court with a dominant majority of 7-2 amended
the constitution. Following the due process of law under the “right to privacy’’, abortion was now legalized in
the US.
❖ Planned Parenthood Vs Casey (1992): The judgment of Roe Vs Wade was upheld in this landmark case.
Pennsylvanian State Abortion Act consisted of five rules for abortion and was challenged by Casey. With the
5-4 majority, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the central holding of the Roe Case.
❖ Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022): Women Health Organisation, an abortion clinic
challenged the law of Mississippi. They considered the Mississippi abortion law to be regressive and
authoritative as it allows the option of abortion only up to 15 weeks. Supreme Court analyzed the case and
did several rounds of debate and discussions only to deliver the most appalling decision.w It overturned its
precedent and seized the constitutional right of abortion from American women.
Indianisation of the Judiciary
❖ During the inauguration of online e-inspection software the Chief Justice of India (CJI) stated that the
judgments delivered by the Supreme Court will now be translated into four languages —Hindi, Tamil,
Gujarati and Odia.
❖ This initiative will result in the Indianisation of Judiciary which is the need of the hour.
❖ India has the oldest judiciary system in the world dating back to 5000 years.
❖ Malimath Committee Report (2000): suggested that a Schedule to the Code be brought out in all regional
languages so that the accused knows his/her rights, as well as how to enforce them and whom to approach
when there is a denial of those rights.
❖ Law Commission, 1958: The All India Judicial Services (AIJS) was first proposed by the 14th report of the
Law Commission in 1958.
❖ A Law Commission report (1987) recommended that India should have 50 judges per million population as
against 10.50 judges (then).
❖ SUPACE Portal: In May 2020, the Supreme Court launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based
portal Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court’s Efficiency (SUPACE) in the judicial system aimed at
assisting judges with legal research.
❖ National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms: The Mission has been pursuing a coordinated
approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration, which, inter-alia, involves
better infrastructure for courts, including computerization, an increase in strength of subordinate judiciary,
policy and legislative measures.
❖ Leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT): The Government has been implementing
the e-Courts Mission Mode Project throughout the country for information and communication technology
enablement of district and subordinate courts.
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SC Eases Norms for Passive Euthanasia
❖ The Supreme Court in India has made changes to the rules for passive euthanasia with the primary objective
to make the process less difficult and less time-consuming.
❖ The Supreme Court tweaked the previous judgement to do away with the necessity of a judicial magistrate to
attest or countersign a living will.
❖ SC held that an attestation by a notary or a gazetted officer would be sufficient for a person to make a valid
living will.
❖ Instead of the living being in the custody of the district court concerned, SC said that the document will be a
part of the National Health Digital Record which can be accessed by hospitals and doctors from any part of
the country.
❖ If the hospital’s medical board denies permission to withdraw medical treatment, the family members of the
patient can approach the relevant high court, which forms a fresh board of medical experts to enable the
court to take a final call.
❖ Passive euthanasia is the act of withholding or withdrawing medical treatment, such as withholding or
withdrawing life support, with the intention of allowing a person to die.
❖ This is in contrast to active euthanasia, which involves an active intervention to end a person’s life with
substances or external force, such as administering a lethal injection.
❖ In a landmark judgement Common Cause vs. Union of India & Anr, the Supreme Court of India legalised
passive euthanasia in 2018, stating that it was a matter of ‘living will’.
❖ According to the judgement, an adult in his conscious mind is permitted to refuse medical treatment or
voluntarily decide not to take medical treatment to embrace death in a natural way, under certain conditions.
❖ Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug vs. Union of India (2011) case stood as a landmark judgement as it discussed
the long-drawn issue of passive euthanasia and eventually supported the legalization of passive euthanasia.
❖ Different Countries with Euthanasia: Netherland, Luxembourg, Belgium allows both euthanasia and assisted
suicide for anyone who faces “unbearable suffering” that has no chance of improvement.
❖ Switzerland bans euthanasia but allows assisted dying in the presence of a doctor or physician.
❖ Canada had announced that euthanasia and assisted dying would be allowed for mentally ill patients by
March 2023; however, the decision has been widely criticised, and the move may be delayed.
❖ United States has different laws in different states. Euthanasia is allowed in some states like Washington,
Oregon, and Montana.
No Bar on Contesting Two Seats in One Poll

❖ The Supreme Court has rejected a petition to bar candidates from contesting from more than one
constituency in the general or assembly elections, calling it a matter of “parliamentary sovereignty” and
“political democracy”.
❖ The plea had challenged the constitutionality of Section 33(7) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951,
citing that it is unreasonable for creating extra burden on the public exchequer as by-elections will
invariably follow because candidates have to give up one seat in case, they win on both the seats.
❖ There is no relevant provision in the Representation of People Act (RPA) that may warrant an intervention
by the court in this matter and this matter falls “squarely within the legislative domain” and “realm of
policy”.
❖ It is parliament’s will that determines whether political democracy is furthered by granting such a choice.
❖ Contesting from multiple seats can be due to multiple reasons and there would be reasons which weigh in
the balance and whether it furthers parliamentary democracy is something which is in the legislative
domain.
❖ This issue lies in the domain of parliamentary sovereignty.
❖ It highlighted that parliament did amend the law in 1996 to restrict the number of constituencies to
two whereas earlier, a candidate could contest from any number of seats.
❖ The parliament has already intervened in the past. The parliament can certainly step in again. At the
relevant time when the parliament deems it appropriate to do it, they will do it. There is no question of
inaction on anybody’s part.
❖ As per Section 33(7) of the RPA (Representation of the People Act), 1951, one candidate can contest from
a maximum of two constituencies.
❖ More constituencies were allowed until 1996 when the RPA was amended to set the cap at two
constituencies.
❖ Since 1951, many politicians have used this factor to contest from more than one seat – sometimes to
divide the opponent’s vote, sometimes to profess their party’s power across the country, sometimes to
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cause a ripple effect in the region surrounding the constituencies in favor of the candidate’s party and all
parties have exploited Section 33(7).
e- Courts Integrated Mission Mode Project

❖ The Government of India has launched the e-Courts Integrated Mission Mode Project in the country for
computerization of District and subordinate courts with the objective of improving access to justice using
technology.
❖ As part of the National e-Governance Plan, the project is under implementation since 2007 for Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) development of the Indian Judiciary
❖ e-Courts project is being implemented in association with e-Committee Supreme Court of India and the
Department of Justice.
❖ Phase I: It was implemented during 2011-2015.
❖ Phase II: It was started in 2015 under which various District & Subordinate courts have been computerised.
❖ Improvisation of Network: Under the Wide Area Network (WAN) Project, connectivity has been provided to
99.4% of total Court Complexes across India with an improved bandwidth speed.
❖ Open-Source Software: Case Information Software (CIS) is based on Free and Open-Source Software
(FOSS) which has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
❖ NJDG Database: National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) is a database of orders, judgments, and cases, created
as an online platform under the eCourts Project. It provides information relating to judicial
proceedings/decisions of all computerized district and subordinate courts.
❖ Access to Case Status Information: Open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have been
introduced in 2020 to allow Central and State Governments and institutional litigants including local bodies
to access NJDG data to improve pendency monitoring and compliance.
❖ 7 platforms have been created to provide real-time information on case status, cause lists, judgements,
etc. to lawyers/Litigants.
❖ In addition, Electronic Case Management Tools (ECMT) have been created with Mobile Apps for lawyers
and judges.
❖ Virtual Courts: 21 Virtual Courts in 17 States/UTs have been operationalized to handle traffic challan
cases.
❖ Video-Conferencing (VC): Video-conferencing (VC) facilities have also been enabled between court
complexes and corresponding jails.
❖ E-filing: New e-filing system has been rolled out for the electronic filing of legal papers with upgraded
features. As of 2022, a total of 19 High Courts have adopted the model rules of e-Filing.
❖ Regarding Summons: National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes (NSTEP) has been launched
for technology enabled process serving and issuing of summons.
❖ User-friendly Portal: A new “Judgment Search” portal has been started with several user-friendly features.
This facility is being provided free of cost to everyone.
❖ Creating Awareness: Towards creating widespread awareness and familiarization of eFiling and eCourts
services, manuals and brochures have been made available in English, Hindi and 11 regional languages for
the use of lawyers.
❖ Phase III of the e-Courts Project: Draft Vision Document for e-Courts Project Phase III has been finalized
and approved by eCommittee, Supreme Court of India.
❖ It mentions a judicial system that is more affordable, accessible, cost-effective, predictable, reliable, and
transparent for every individual who seeks justice or is part of the delivery of justice in India.
Armed Forces and Adultery

❖ The Supreme Court has ruled that armed forces can take action against their officers for adulterous acts,
while stating the decriminalization of adultery does not apply to Armed Forces.
❖ In September 2018 Joseph Shine Judgment, the SC struck down Section 497 of the IPC that criminalised
adultery, ruling that it was unconstitutional and violated women's right to equality in treating them as
inferior to their husbands.
❖ The SC clarified that in the 2018 judgment, the SC was concerned only with the validity of Section 497 of
the IPC and Section 198(2) of the CrPC dealing with adultery, and had “no occasion whatsoever to consider
the effect” with respect to the Army, Navy and Air Force Acts.
❖ Defence personnel of the three wings — the Army, Navy and the Air Force were governed by special
legislation, the Army Act, the Navy Act and the Air Force Act.
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❖ These special laws impose restrictions on the fundamental rights of the personnel, who function in
peculiar situation requiring utmost discipline.
❖ The three laws are protected by Article 33 of the Constitution, which allow the government to modify
the fundamental rights of the armed forces personnel
❖ The Bench delivered the final Order in the case, clarifying that the Joseph Shine Judgment did not apply to
members of the armed forces who are accused of ‘conduct unbecoming’ and dismissed the application.
❖ Adultery: The act of adultery is a voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone
other than that person's current spouse or partner.
❖ Section 497 of the IPC: It mandates that whoever has sexual intercourse with the wife of another
man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting the offence of
rape is guilty of the offence of adultery and shall be punished.
❖ The law does not punish his wife, since it presumes that only a man can seduce a woman into a sexual act,
and that it is the husband who has suffered due to the sexual relationship of his wife, carried out without
his consent. At the same time, the wife is not protected from similar behaviour committed by her husband.
Armed Forces of India
❖ Chief of Naval Staff- R. Hari Kumar (25th)
o First: Sir William Edward perry
o First Indian: Ram Das Katari
o Theme: May the lord od water be Auspicious unto Us
❖ Chief of Army Staff- Manoj Pande (29th)
o First: KM Cariappa
o Moto: Service Before Self
❖ Chief of Air Staff- VR Chaudhury (27th)
o First: Subroto Mukherjee
o Moto: Touch the Sky with Glory
❖ Army Day- 15th Jan in recognition of KM Cariappa taking over as the first Commander in Chief of Army
(74th Army Day)
❖ Navy Day- 4 December to celebrate Operation Trident in 1971 Indo-Pak war
▪ Operation Trident was an offensive operation launched by the Indian Navy on Pakistan's port city
of Karachi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Operation Trident saw the first use of anti-ship
missiles in combat in the region.
❖ Air force Day- 8th October as IAF was established on this date in 1932
Expunging in Parliament
❖ A portion of a speech delivered by the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha on February 7th,
2023 were expunged from the records of Parliament by the Speaker's orders.
❖ The decision of what parts of a speech are to be expunged lies with the Presiding Officer of the House.
❖ Under Article 105(2) of the Indian Constitution , Members of Parliament enjoy immunity from court
proceedings for their statements in Parliament.
❖ However, their speeches are subject to the discipline of the Rules of Parliament, the "good sense" of its
Members, and the control of proceedings by the Speaker.
❖ Rule 380 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha gives the Speaker the discretion
to expunge any words or expressions used in debate that are considered defamatory, indecent,
unparliamentary, or undignified.
❖ The Lok Sabha Secretariat has brought out a bulky volume of ‘Unparliamentary Expressions’.\
❖ This book contains words or expressions that would likely be considered rude or offensive in most
cultures. But it also contains content that would appear to be fairly harmless and innocuous.
❖ The Presiding Officers - Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairperson of Rajya Sabha have the job of keeping
such words out of Parliament’s records.
❖ The decision to expunge a word or portion of a speech is taken by the Speaker under Rule 380, based on
a recommendation from the head of the reporting section, taking into account the context in which the
word or sentence was used.
❖ The context is key in making the decision to expunge a remark. The focus is on removing the minimum
number of words.
❖ Rule 381 says: The portion of the proceedings of the House so expunged shall be marked by asterisks and
an explanatory footnote shall be inserted in the proceedings as follows: ‘Expunged as ordered by the
Chair’.
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❖ The expunged portions cease to exist in the records of Parliament and cannot be reported by media
houses, although they may have been heard during the live telecast of the proceedings.
❖ However, the proliferation of social media has introduced challenges in implementing expunction orders.
Sealed Cover Jurisprudence

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected a “Sealed Cover” suggestion from the Government pertaining to
the Adani-Hindenburg issue.
❖ The Centre Government had earlier proposed the names of members of the committee to assess the
market regulatory framework and recommend measures related to the Adani-Hindenburg issue.
❖ But the SC refused to accept any suggestions on names in Sealed Cover in order to maintain transparency.
❖ Sealed Cover Jurisprudence (SCJ) is a legal concept that refers to the practice of presenting sensitive or
confidential information to a court or tribunal in a sealed envelope or cover, to be opened and
reviewed only by the judge or judges in charge of the case.
❖ Even though there is no specific law to define the idea of sealed cover, the SC derives its power to use it
from Rule 7 of order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules 2013 and Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of
1872.
❖ The Court can ask for information in a sealed cover in broadly two circumstances:
❖ When information is connected to an ongoing investigation,
❖ When it involves personal or confidential information whose disclosure may result in violation of an
individual’s privacy or breach of trust.
❖ Rule 7 of order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules: If the Chief Justice or the Court directs certain information
to be kept under sealed cover or considers it of confidential nature, no party would be allowed access to
the contents of such information, except if the Chief Justice himself orders that the opposite party be
allowed to access it.
❖ The information can be kept confidential if its publication is not considered to be in the interest of the
public.
❖ Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872: Official unpublished documents relating to state affairs
are protected and a public officer cannot be compelled to disclose such documents.
❖ Other instances where information may be sought in secrecy or confidence are when its publication
impedes an ongoing investigation, such as details which are part of a police case diary.
❖ P. Gopalakrishnan vs The State of Kerala case (2019): The SC held that disclosure of documents to the
accused is constitutionally mandated, even if the investigation is ongoing and documents may lead to a
breakthrough in the investigation.
❖ INX Media case (2019): The Supreme Court had criticised the Delhi High Court for basing its decision to
deny bail to a former Union Minister on documents submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a
sealed cover. It held the action as against the concept of fair trial.
❖ Cdr Amit Kumar Sharma v Union of India case (2022): The SC said, “the non-disclosure of relevant material
to the affected party and its disclosure in a sealed cover to the adjudicating authority…sets a dangerous
precedent. The disclosure of relevant material to the adjudicating authority in a sealed cover makes the
process of adjudication vague and opaque”.
Foreigners Cannot be Legal Guardians: Delhi HC

❖ The Delhi High Court has ruled that a foreigner cannot claim the right to be appointed as the legal guardian
of a person with disabilities or the protection guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution, as available to
Indian citizens.
❖ The concerned foreigner challenged the validity of certain rules and regulations prescribed by the National
Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities
Rules, 2001, allow only Indian citizens to be guardian of a person
❖ The High Court ruled that the Act does not specify the essential qualifications that a guardian must
possess, leaving it to be determined by rules and regulations that may be framed.
❖ However, the High Court directed the Local Level Committee to examine and evaluate the circumstances.
❖ The Committee may consider the appointment of an Indian citizen as a statutory guardian.
Fundamental Rights Available for Only Indian Citizens
❖ Article 15: This article prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of
birth.
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❖ Article 16: This article guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. It ensures
that no citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of
birth, or residence.
❖ Article 19: This article provides for six freedoms, namely, freedom of speech and expression, assembly,
association, movement, residence, and profession.
❖ Article 29: This article protects the interests of minority groups by ensuring that they have the right to
conserve their distinct language, script, and culture.
❖ Article 30: This article provides minority communities with the right to establish and administer
educational institutions of their choice.
Speaker’s Role in Defection

❖ Hearing a case related to the Maharashtra crisis in 2022 and whether a speaker facing a notice for his
removal can disqualify MLAs in his assembly, the Supreme Court (SC) on February 15, 2023 maintained
that Speakers should be the first authority to decide on disqualification.
❖ Earlier in 2016, the SC in the Nabam Rebia case had held that a Speaker or Deputy Speaker facing notice of
removal cannot decide disqualification proceedings against legislators.
❖ For the past three years, the All India Presiding Officer's Conference, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker, has
been reviewing the Speaker's role as envisaged in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution that deals with
disqualification of MPs and MLAs.
❖ The focus of the discussions is to secure the legislative speaker's dignity in this matter. Many presiding
officers have expressed views that their role should be limited and other mechanisms must evolve to
decide cases of defection.
❖ One proposal being discussed is to leave the issue of disqualification to the respective political parties as
they give tickets to the MLAs.
❖ During a Speaker's Conference in Dehradun in 2021, several participants voiced their concerns and pointed
out loopholes that often cast a shadow on the speaker's role.
❖ The Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, also known as the Anti-Defection Law, was added by
the 52nd Amendment in 1985.
❖ It was a response to the toppling of multiple state governments by party-hopping MLAs after the general
elections of 1967.
❖ It lays down the provisions related to disqualification of members of Parliament (MPs) and State
Legislatures on grounds of defection.
❖ It allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e., merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty
for defection.
❖ And it does not penalise political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators.
❖ As per the 1985 Act, a 'defection' by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a
'merger'.
❖ But the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now at least two-thirds of the
members of a party must be in Favour of a "merger" for it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
❖ The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection are referred to the Chairman or the
Speaker of such House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’.
❖ However, the law does not provide a timeframe within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection
case.
❖ Grounds for Defection:
➢ If an elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party.
➢ If he/she votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political
party.
➢ If any independently elected member joins any political party.
❖ If any nominated member joins any political party after the expiry of six months.
Genetic Information and Privacy

❖ The Supreme Court has ruled that children have the right to protect their genetic information from being
revealed in Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)Tests without their consent.
❖ The judgment came in a petition filed by a man who questioned his second child’s paternity while accusing
his wife of an adulterous relationship.
❖ The apex court concluded on the facts of the case that no adverse inference could be drawn on the ground
that the mother declined to subject the child to a paternity test.
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❖ Genetic information is personal and intimate. It sheds light on a person’s very essence.
❖ It allows individuals to make informed decisions about their health, privacy, and identity.
❖ Children have the right to protect their genetic information from DNA testing in divorce proceedings, as it
is part of their fundamental right to privacy.
❖ This is guaranteed under Article 21 of Indian Constitution.
❖ It is imperative that children do not become the focal point of the battle between spouses.
❖ Rights of privacy, autonomy and identity are recognised under the United Nations’ Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
❖ The Convention acknowledges the control that individuals, including children, have over their own personal
boundaries and the means by which they define who they are in relation to other people.
Corrupt Practice under RPA Act

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has said that providing false information about electoral Candidates Qualification
is not a Corrupt Practice under RPA (Representation of People’s Act) Act 1951.
❖ The SC observed that no one in India votes for a candidate based on their educational qualifications.
❖ The SC was hearing a petition, challenging a 2017 Allahabad High Court ruling, which held that declaration
of false information pertaining to education qualification does not interfere with the free exercise of
electoral rights of the electors.
❖ The petition said that the electoral candidate committed a “corrupt practice" under Section 123(2) by
interfering in the free exercise of electoral rights of the voters by not disclosing his liabilities and correct
educational qualifications in his affidavit of nomination.
❖ It also argued that a “corrupt practice” under Section 123(4) was committed by the candidate in publishing
a false statement of fact about his character and conduct to influence the outcome of his election,
knowingly.
❖ The SC declared the Petition as “null and void”, saying that providing false information about a candidate's
qualifications cannot be considered a “Corrupt Practice” under Sections 123 (2) and Section 123 (4) of the
RPA, 1951.
❖ Section 123 of the Act: It defines ‘corrupt practices’ to include bribery, undue influence, false information,
and promotion or attempted promotion of “feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of the
citizens of India on grounds of religion, race, caste, community, or language” by a candidate for the
furtherance of his prospects in the election.
❖ Section 123 (2): It deals with ‘undue influence’ which it defines as “any direct or indirect interference or
attempt to interfere on the part of the candidate or his agent, or of any other person, with the consent of
the candidate or his election agent, with the free exercise of any electoral right.”
❖ This could also include threats of injury, social ostracism and expulsion from any caste or community.
❖ Section 123 (4): It extends the ambit of “corrupt practices” to the intentional publication of false
statements which can prejudice the outcome of the candidate’s election.
❖ Under the provisions of the Act, an elected representative can be disqualified if convicted of certain
offences; on grounds of corrupt practices; for failing to declare election expenses; and for interests in
government contracts or works.
❖ In 2017, the SC in ‘Abhiram Singh v C.D. Commachen held that an election will be annulled if votes are
sought in the name of a candidate’s religion, race, caste, community, or language, as per Section 123
(3) which prohibits the same.
❖ In 1994, the Supreme Court’s ruling in ‘SR Bommai v. Union of India’, said that the encroachment of religion
into secular activities is strictly prohibited, citing subsection (3) of Section 123 of the RPA Act, 1951.
❖ In 2022, the SC while reconsidering its 2013 judgment in ‘S. Subramaniam Balaji vs State of Tamil Nadu’, it
held that promises of freebies cannot be termed a corrupt practice. However, the matter is still yet to be
decided.
22nd Law Commission of India

nd
❖ The 22 Law Commission report recommends retaining Section 124A of the IPC, pertaining to sedition, but
proposes amendments and procedural safeguards to prevent misuse.
❖ The Home Ministry requested the Law Commission to examine the usage of Section 124A and propose
amendments through a letter in 2016.
❖ The Law Commission's report highlights that the existence of laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act (UAPA) and the National Security Act (NSA) does not cover all aspects of the offence outlined in
Section 124A.
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❖ The report highlighted that the offense of sedition is frequently regarded as a remnant of colonial rule,
established during a time period when it was frequently employed against India's freedom fighters.
❖ The Commission suggested that a provision analogous to Section 196(3) of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) may be incorporated as a proviso to Section 154 of CrPC, which would provide the
requisite procedural safeguard before the filing of an FIR with respect to an offence under Section 124A of
IPC.
❖ They also mentioned that in absence of a provision like Section 124A of IPC, any expression that incites
violence against the government would invariably be tried under the special laws and counter-terror
legislation, which contain much more stringent provisions to deal with the accused.
❖ Sedition Law: This rule originated in India during in the British Empire in 17th century, as Section 113 of
Macaulay's Draft Penal Code of 1837, as part of the First Law Commission report chaired by Thomas
Macaulay in 1834. However, sedition really wasn't part of the IPC when it was adopted in 1860, rather, it
was incorporated into the IPC as Section 124A by the IPC amendment act of 1870.
❖ The Wahabi Movement, an Islamic revivalist movement led by Syed Ahmed Barlvi, created the necessity
for this Section.
❖ Section 124A states: "Whoever, words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or
otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection
towards the Government established by law in India shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which
fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or
with fine."
❖ It is a non-bailable offence. Punishment under Section 124A ranges from imprisonment up to three years
to a life term, to which a fine may be added.
❖ A person charged under this law is barred from a government job.
❖ They have to live without their passport and must appear in court at all times as and when required.
❖ Colonial Legacy: In the 19th and 20th centuries, the law was used primarily to suppress the writings and
speeches of prominent Indian nationalists and freedom fighters.
❖ The first known instance of the application of the law was the trial of newspaper editor Jogendra Chandra
Bose in 1891.
❖ Other major examples of the application of the law include the trials of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma
Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
❖ Trials of Tilak and Gandhi: In 1922, Gandhi was arrested on charges of sedition in Bombay for taking part
in protests against the colonial government and was sentenced to six years in prison. However, he was
released after two years because of medical reasons.
❖ Tilak faced three trials in cases related to sedition and was imprisoned twice. In 1897, he was charged with
sedition for writing an article in his weekly publication called Kesari and was sentenced to 12 months
imprisonment. In 1908, he was tried again for his writings and was represented by Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
❖ Arguments For Section 124A: Section 124A of the IPC has its utility in combating anti-national,
secessionist and terrorist elements.
❖ It protects the elected government from attempts to overthrow the government with violence and illegal
means.
❖ Many districts in different states face a Maoist insurgency and rebel groups virtually run a parallel
administration.
❖ Therefore, there is a need to retain the provision to effectively combat anti-national, secessionist and
terrorist elements.
❖ Arguments Against Section 124A: It is a constraint on the legitimate exercise of constitutionally guaranteed
freedom of speech and expression.
❖ Dissent and criticism of the government are an essential ingredient of robust public debate in a vibrant
democracy.
❖ There is no reason why India should not abolish this section. The sedition law is being misused as a tool to
persecute political dissent. A wide and concentrated executive discretion is inbuilt into it which permits the
blatant abuse.
❖ Courts’ validations of the law since Independence: Punjab and Allahabad High Courts in 1950s struck
down the sedition law as an exception to free speech.
❖ Subsequently, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar (1962) gave
the law a constitutional validity.
❖ But, In 2021, Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha and Kanhaiya Lal Shukla, petitioned the Supreme Court against
the law. The court admitted the case.
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❖ On 11 May 2022, the law has been put on hold by Supreme Court citing re-examination
Related Information
❖ The Union Cabinet extended by one-and-a-half years the term of the 22nd Law Commission which is
mandated to identify laws that are "no longer relevant" and recommend for their repeal. The term of the
panel has been extended up to August 31, 2024. It is also mandated to suggest enactment of new
legislation as may be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out
in the Preamble of the Constitution.
❖ The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to
time. The first Law Commission was established during the British Raj era in 1834 by the Charter Act of
1833 and was chaired by Lord Macaulay. The first Law Commission of independent India was established
in 1955 for a three-year term.
Law Commission of India
❖ Retired Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi has been appointed as the chairperson of the
22nd law commission of India which was constituted in 2020.
❖ The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to
time.
❖ The first Law Commission of independent India was established in 1955 for a 3-year term. Headed by M.C
Setalvad first and Longest serving attorney General of India
❖ The first Law Commission was established during the British Raj era in 1834 by the Charter Act of
1833 and was chaired by Lord Macaulay.
❖ It works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.
❖ The Law Commission undertakes research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms
therein and enacting new legislations on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo-motu.
❖ Apart from having a full-time chairperson, the commission will have 4 full-time members, including a
member-secretary (Current Dr. Niten Chandra)
❖ Law and Legislative Secretaries in the Law Ministry will be the ex-officio members of the commission.
❖ It will also have not more than 5 part-time members.
❖ The 20th Law Commission in its 262nd Report recommended abolition of the death penalty for all crimes
except terrorism-related offences and waging war against the state.
❖ Its report on electoral reforms (1999) had suggested simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly
elections to improve governance and stability.
❖ The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 which replace the Identification of Prisoners
Act,1920 was also proposed by the Law Commission of India.
❖ The 21st Law commission in its recommendation in 2018 said that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is “neither
necessary nor desirable at this stage”.
❖ Headed by Balbir Singh Chauhan
❖ The 14th Finance Commission had recommended the setting up of Fast Track Courts during 2015-20
dealing with cases of heinous crimes; civil cases related to women, children, senior citizens, HIV/AIDS etc.
and property related cases pending for more than 5 years.
❖ The 11th Law Commission in its 125th report in the year 1988 recommended to set up a regional bench of
the Supreme Court of India. The reasons cited for setting up such kinds of courts were the long-distance
covered by the litigant hailing from the northeastern and southern states of India
❖ The 18th Law Commission of India in its 213th report 2008, recommended for triggering up the Alternate
Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for faster disposal of civil cases. Arbitration, mediation, conciliation,
are the ADR mechanism through which the disposal of cases can be done outside the courtroom.
❖ The 20th Law Commission of India in its 244th report in the year 2014 proposed the disqualification of the
candidates based on criminal background and repercussions on filing a false affidavit
SC Verdict in ECI Appointment

❖ A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice KM Joseph unanimously ruled that the
appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners shall be made by the
President on the advice of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition of
the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India (CJI).
❖ In case no leader of Opposition is available, the leader of the largest opposition Party in the Lok Sabha in
terms of numerical strength will be a part of such committee.
❖ The Bench also comprised Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and C T Ravikumar.
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❖ In 2015, a public interest litigation was filed by Anoop Baranwal challenging the constitutional validity of the
practice of the Centre appointing members of the Election Commission.
❖ SC stated that a reading of the debates of the Constituent Assembly (CA) on the appointment of ECI
makes clear that all the members were of the clear view that elections must be conducted by an
independent Commission.
❖ The deliberate addition of the words “subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by
Parliament” further indicates that CA envisaged parliament making norms to govern appointment to ECI.
❖ While ordinarily, the court cannot encroach on a purely legislative power, but in the context of the
Constitution and inertia of the Legislature and the vacuum created by it make it necessary for the court to
intervene.
❖ On the question whether process of removal should be same for CEC and the ECs, SC stated that it cannot
be same as CEC has special position and article 324 becomes inoperable without CEC.
❖ SC left the question of funding the EC, Permanent secretariat and need for expenditure to be charged on
Consolidated Fund of India for the government to decide.
❖ Article 324(2): “The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such
number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time-to-time fix and the
appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the
provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament, be made by the President.”
❖ Government Argument: The government had argued that in the absence of such a law by parliament, the
President has the constitutional power and asked the SC to exhibit Judicial restraint.
❖ Power and Functions of ECI: To determine the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies throughout
the country on the basis of the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.
❖ To prepare and periodically revise electoral rolls and to register all eligible voters.
❖ To grant recognition to political parties and allot election symbols to them.
❖ Election Commission ensures a level playing field for the political parties in election fray, through strict
observance by them of a Model Code of Conduct evolved with the consensus of political parties.
❖ It decides the election schedules for the conduct of elections, whether general elections or bye-elections.
Related Constitutional Provisions
❖ Article 324: Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
❖ Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll-
on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
❖ Article 326: Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be based
on adult suffrage.
❖ Article 327: Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures.
❖ Article 328: Power of Legislature of a State to make provision with respect to elections to such Legislature.
❖ Article 329: Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.
Menstrual Leave
❖ The Supreme Court of India rejected a Public Interest Litigation regarding menstrual leave for workers and
students across the country.
❖ Menstrual leave or period leave refers to all policies that allow employees or students to take time
off when they are experiencing menstrual pain or discomfort.
❖ Countries Promoting Menstrual Leaves: Spain, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea,
Zambia, South Korea and Vietnam.
❖ Spain has become the first European country to grant paid menstrual leave to workers, with the right to
three days of menstrual leave per month, which can be expanded to five days.
❖ Some companies in India have introduced menstrual leave policies, including Zomato, which announced a
10-day paid period leave per year in 2020. Other companies, such as Swiggy and Byjus, have also followed
suit.
❖ Bihar and Kerala are the only Indian states that have introduced menstrual leave policies for women.
❖ Bihar's policy was introduced in 1992, allowing employees two days of paid menstrual leave every month.
❖ Kerala recently announced that the state's higher education department will grant menstrual and
maternity leaves for students in universities under the department, and a Kerala school has also introduced
a similar system.
❖ Parliament has seen attempts to introduce menstrual leave and menstrual health products bills, but they
have not been successful so far.
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❖ Example: The Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017’ and Women’s Sexual, Reproductive and Menstrual Rights
Bill in 2018.
❖ Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products Bill, 2022: The
proposed Bill provides for three days of paid leave for women and transwomen during the period of
menstruation and seeks to extend the benefit for students.
❖ The Bill cites research that indicates that approximately 40% of girls miss school during their periods, and
nearly 65% said it had an impact on their daily activities at school.
One Rank-One Pension

❖ Following the Supreme court’s observations, the defence ministry instructed the Controller General
Defence Accounts (CGDA) to release all One Rank-One Pension (OROP) arrears in a single instalment.
❖ OROP means the payment of the same pension to military officers for the same rank for the same length
of service, irrespective of the date of retirement. Before OROP, ex-servicemen used to get pensions as per
the Pay Commission's recommendations of the time when they had retired. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have
the highest number of OROP beneficiaries.
❖ The implementation of the scheme was based on the recommendation of the Koshiyari committee formed
under the chairmanship of Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.
Right Against Self Incrimination and Constitutional Remedies

❖ The Supreme Court refused to hear a bail plea by the Deputy CM of Delhi (Manish Sisodia) in the excise
policy case, as he had approached the court directly under Article 32 of the Constitution instead of first
seeking remedy in the High Court under Section 482 of the CrPC.
❖ SC argued that though in previous cases petitions were entertained directly under Article 32, those cases
involved free speech issues while this case is about Prevention of Corruption act.
❖ The court had rejected the argument that it was a violation of right against self-incrimination.
❖ Article 20 grants protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment to an accused person, whether
citizen or foreigner or legal person like a company or a corporation. It contains three provisions in that
direction:
❖ It contains provisions related to No ex-post-facto law, No double jeopardy, No self-incrimination.
❖ No self-incrimination: No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against
himself. The protection against self-incrimination extends to both oral evidence and documentary
evidence.
❖ However, it does not extend to
o compulsory production of material objects,
o compulsion to give thumb impression, specimen signature, blood specimens, and
o compulsory exhibition of the body.
o Further, it extends only to criminal proceedings and not to civil proceedings or proceedings which are
not of criminal nature.
❖ No ex-post-facto law: No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at
the time of the commission of the act, nor
❖ No double jeopardy: No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.
❖ In 2019, the SC in its ruling in Ritesh Sinha versus State of Uttar Pradesh broadened the parameters
of handwriting samples to include voice samples, adding that this would not violate the right against self-
incrimination.
❖ Earlier in 2010, in Selvi v State of Karnataka, the SC held that a narcoanalysis test without the consent of
the accused would amount to violation of the right against self-incrimination.
❖ However, obtaining a DNA sample from the accused is permitted. If an accused refuses to give a sample,
the court can draw adverse inferences against him under Section 114 of the Evidence Act.
❖ Article 32 confers the right to approach SC for remedies for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of
an aggrieved citizen. It is a basic feature of the Constitution.
❖ Rights other than Fundamental rights are not entertained under article 32 but are within the scope of HC
under Article 226.
❖ However, the Supreme Court has ruled that where relief through high court is available under Article
226, the aggrieved party should first move the high court.
Article 142
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❖ The Supreme Court (SC) under Article 142 ruled that the lawyers and professionals with 10 years of
experience will be eligible for appointment as President and member of the state consumer commission
and district forums.
❖ The SC upheld the Bombay High Court judgement quashing the provisions of Consumer Protection Rules,
2020, under section 101 of Consumer Protection Act 2019, which prescribe a minimum professional
experience of 20 years and 15 years for adjudicating members to the State consumer commissions and
District forums respectively.
❖ The Central government and the state governments concerned have to come up with an amendment in
the Consumer Protection (Qualification for appointment, method of recruitment, procedure of
appointment, term of office, resignation and removal of President and Members of State Commission and
District Commission) Rules, 2020 to provide for 10 years' experience to become eligible for appointment as
President and member of the state commission and district forums instead of 20 years and 15 years
respectively.
❖ Till suitable amendments are made, the Lawyers and professionals with a bachelor's degree who has 10
years of experience in consumer affairs, law, public affairs, administration, economics, commerce, industry,
finance, management, engineering, technology, public health or medicine will be eligible for appointment as
President and member of the state consumer commission and district forums.
❖ Article 142 provides discretionary power to the Supreme Court as it states that the SC in the exercise of its
jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any
cause or matter pending before it.
Centre Opposes Same-Sex Marriage

❖ The Centre has opposed same-sex marriage in the Supreme Court, stating that marriage between a
biological man and woman is a holy union, a sacrament, and a sanskar in India.
❖ A Bench led by Chief Justice of India refers petitions to legally recognise same-sex marriages to
a Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court
❖ The government argued that the Court had only decriminalised sexual intercourse between same-sex
persons in its 2018 judgement in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, and not legitimised this “conduct”.
❖ The court, while decriminalising homosexuality, did not accept same-sex marriage as part of
the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
❖ The government argues that marriage depends on customs, rituals, practices, cultural ethos, and societal
values. Same-sex marriage cannot be compared to a man and woman living as a family with children born
out of the union.
❖ The Parliament has designed and framed the marriage laws in the country to recognise only the union of a
man and a woman.
❖ The Special Marriage Act of 1954 provides a civil form of marriage for couples who cannot marry under
their personal law.
❖ The government argued that any deviation from this norm can only be made through the legislature, and
not the Supreme Court.
Arguments in Favour of Same Sex Marriage
❖ Equal Rights and Protection Under the Law: All individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, have the
right to marry and form a family.
❖ Same-sex couples should have the same legal rights and protections as opposite-sex couples. Non-
recognition of same-sex marriage amounted to discrimination that struck at the root of the dignity and
self-fulfillment of LBTQIA+ couples.
❖ Strengthening Families and Communities: Marriage provides social and economic benefits to couples and
their families. Allowing same-sex couples to marry strengthens families and communities by promoting
stability and security.
❖ Global Acceptance: Same-sex marriage is legal in many countries around the world, and denying this right
to individuals in a democratic society goes against the global principles.
❖ In 133 countries homosexuality decriminalised, but only in 34 of them same-sex marriage is legal.
Countries legalised same sex marriage: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay
Ban on Conservation Therapy for LGBTQIA+
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❖ The National Medical Commission (NMC), has written to all State Medical Councils, banning conversion
therapy of LGBTQIA+ Community and calling it a “professional misconduct”.
❖ The NMC by following a Madras High Court directive, in case of S Sushma & Anr. Vs Commissioner of
Police & Ors. said that conversion therapy is wrong, under the Indian Medical Council (Professional
Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
❖ The LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual or of any other orientation) are
the people who don’t identify with cisgender (sex assigned at birth) heterosexual “ideals”.
❖ The ‘plus’ is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that letters and words
cannot yet fully describe.
❖ Supreme Court, on 6th September 2018, decriminalised section 377, which titled homosexual relations as
“unnatural offences”.
❖ Conversion therapy is an intervention aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of an
individual with the use of either psychiatric treatment, drugs, exorcism (Evil Ceremonial Practices) and
even violence, with the aim being to make the individual heterosexual (Attraction to Opposite Sex).
❖ Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, issued notices to the Centre and the
Attorney General of India, seeking their response to two petitions filed by gay couples
Supriyo Chakraborty and Abhay Dang to allow solemnization of same-sex marriage under the Special
Marriage Act, (SMA) 1954.
❖ The Netherlands was the first country in 2001 to legalise samesex marriage by amending
one line in its civil marriage law
❖ Saurabh Kirpal is Going to be the first openly Gay Delhi hight Court Judge.
Rulings Safeguarding LGBTQIA+
❖ In S. Khushboo v. Kanniammal in 2010, the Supreme Court held that a live-in relationship comes within the
ambit of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
❖ In 2015, the court ruled in Dhannulal v. Ganeshram that couples living in a live-in relationship will be
presumed legally married if they have been living together for a long period of time. The court also added
that a woman in such a relationship is eligible to inherit the property of her deceased partner. Court rulings
have also held that children born within a live-in relationship will not be considered illegitimate.
❖ In June 2020, a lesbian couple from Mahisagar district, Gujarat filed a petition with the Gujarat High Court
seeking police protection from their families and recognition of their right to cohabitation. The couple had
entered a "friendship agreement" (maitri karar) as a way to legitimise their relationship; "like in case of a
marital union, it had details on property ownership, inheritance and maintenance, in case of separation."
The first maitri karar between a same-sex couple is believed to have occurred in 1987 in Chhota Udaipur
district. A similar custom called Nata Pratha is practiced in parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
❖ On 1 April 2022, MP Supriya Sule from the Nationalist Congress Party introduced a bill to the Lok Sabha to
legalise same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act.
❖ In February 2006, the Supreme Court ruled in Smt. Seema v. Ashwani Kumar that the states and union
territories were obliged to register all marriages performed under the federal laws. The court's ruling was
expected to reduce instances of child marriages, bigamy, cases of domestic violence and unlawful
abandonment.
❖ In March 2018, the Indian Supreme Court, in the case of Shakti Vahini v. Union of India, held that an adult
has the fundamental right to marry a person of their choice.
❖ Sultana Mirza & Anr. v. State Of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. (2020) is a decision of the Allahabad High Court. The
Court noted that the Constitutional Court has a duty to monitor and observe the constitutional morality as
well as the rights of the citizens which are under threat only on account of the sexual orientation.
❖ Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: An Act to provide for protection of rights of
transgender persons and their welfare and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
❖ Supreme Court of India in Shafin Jahan vs Asokan K.M. and Others, 2018 (Hadiya case), wherein the right to
choose and marry a partner was considered to be a constitutionally guaranteed freedom
❖ in 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed
to same-sex couples. The case of Obergefell vs Hodges ushered in a landmark shift in the American
position and allowing same-sex marriages to be recognised and treated on a par with opposite-sex
marriages
SCO Chief Justices Meet

❖ The Chief Justice of India (CJI) recently addressed the 18th meeting of the Chief Justices/Chairpersons of
the Supreme Courts of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.
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❖ The conference provided an opportunity for member and observer states to reflect upon the challenges that
are common to their jurisdictions and emphasised the need for mutual cooperation and sharing of
experiences and wisdom gathered.
❖ The CJI highlighted the need for judicial cooperation and adoption of new mechanisms to simplify
and make the court processes more smart and accessible to the common people.
❖ The CJI also stressed the importance of technology in bridging the gap between citizens and the justice
system.
❖ The CJI shared recent endeavours made by the Supreme Court of India, such as launching an e-version of
Supreme Court reports, artificial intelligence-based live transcription of court proceedings, and translation
of judgments in multiple regional languages, among others.
❖ Also, various issues such as the overly populated prisons, access to quality legal representation, modern
public judicial services, court work overload, limited judicial resources, high pendency of cases, and the
need for adequate infrastructure facilities were highlighted.
Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO)
❖ It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation. It was created in 15 June 2001
❖ The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.
❖ It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability
in the region
❖ It is seen as a counterweight to NATO, It is a 9-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as
one of the largest transregional international organisations.
❖ Official Languages: Russian and Chinese.
❖ SCO Secretariat in Beijing.
❖ Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
❖ Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members
of the Shanghai Five.
❖ Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the 4
former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders.
❖ Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organisation in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the
SCO.
❖ India was Made observer in 2005 but fully join in 2017 along with Pakistan.
❖ Current Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan and Iran
(Turkmenistan is not a member)
❖ Observer states: Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia
❖ Dialogue Partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
❖ Secretary General: Zhang Ming
❖ The SCO summit 2022 was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
❖ The 8 Wonders of the SCO are:
o India — the Statue of Unity.
o Kazakhstan — the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly.
o China — The Daming imperial palace complex.
o Kyrgyzstan — Lake Issyk-Kul.
o Pakistan — The Great Mughals' heritage at Lahore.
o Russia — The Golden Ring cities.
o Tajikistan — The Palace of Nowruz
Committee to Oversee import/export of wild Animals

❖ The Supreme Court has increased the jurisdiction and powers of a high-powered committee led by its
former judge, Justice Deepak Verma, to conduct necessary checks concerning the import, transfer,
procurement, rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals, including those in captivity, across India.
❖ Before, the committee's powers were only limited to Tripura and Gujarat, but now it has been extended to
cover the whole of India.
❖ State Chief Wildlife Wardens will also be part of the committee, and it will handle all present and future
complaints regarding the issue.
❖ The committee can also consider requests for approval, dispute, or grievance regarding the welfare of wild
animals by rescue centres or zoos across India.
❖ The Supreme court ordered Central and State authorities to report the seizure of wild animals or
abandonment of captive wild animals to the committee.
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Governor’s Power to Call for Floor Test
❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has said that the Governor cannot call for a Floor Test on the basis of internal
differences in the Party Members.
❖ The SC while hearing a case about a dispute between two factions in a political party, discussed the
powers and role of the Governor in calling for a trust vote.
❖ Article 174 of the Constitution authorizes the Governor to summon, dissolve and prorogue the state
legislative assembly.
❖ According to Article 175(2), the Governor can summon the House and call for a floor test to prove whether
the government has the numbers.
❖ However, the Governor can exercise the above only as per Article 163 of the Constitution which says that
the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
❖ When the House is in session, it is the Speaker who can call for a floor test. But when the Assembly is not in
session, the Governor’s residuary powers under Article 163 allow him to call for a floor test.
❖ Article 163 (1) essentially limits any discretionary power of the Governor only to cases where the
Constitution expressly specifies that the Governor must act on his own and apply an independent mind.
❖ The Governor can exercise his discretionary power under Article 174, when the chief minister has lost the
support of the House and his strength is debatable.
❖ Generally, when doubts are cast on the chief minister that he has lost the majority, the opposition and the
Governor would rally for a floor test.
❖ On numerous occasions, the courts have also clarified that when the majority of the ruling party is in
question, a floor test must be conducted at the earliest available opportunity.
❖ In 2016, the SC in Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix vs Deputy Speaker case (the Arunachal Pradesh
Assembly case) said that the power to summon the House is not solely vested in the Governor and should
be exercised with aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and not at his own.
❖ The Court highlighted the facts that the Governor is not an elected authority and is a mere nominee of the
President, such a nominee cannot have an overriding authority over the representatives of the people, who
constitute the House or Houses of the State Legislature.
❖ In 2020, the Supreme Court, in Shivraj Singh Chouhan & Ors versus Speaker, Madhya Pradesh Legislative
Assembly & Ors, upheld the powers of the Speaker to call for a floor test if there is a prima facie view that
the government has lost its majority.
❖ Floor Test: It is a term used for the test of the majority. If there are doubts against the Chief Minister (CM)
of a State, he/she can be asked to prove the majority in the House.
❖ In the case of a coalition government, the CM may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win a
majority.
❖ In the absence of a clear majority, when there is more than one individual stake to form the
government, the Governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority to form the
government.
❖ Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. The numbers are then considered based only on
those MLAs who were present to vote.
BCI Allows Foreign Lawyers

❖ The Bar Council of India (BCI) has notified Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and
Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022, allowing foreign lawyers and law firms to practice in India.
❖ However, it did not allow them to appear before courts, tribunals or other statutory or regulatory
authorities.
❖ For over a decade, BCI was opposed to allowing foreign law firms in India.
❖ Now, the BCI has reasoned that its move will address concerns about the flow of Foreign Direct
Investment in the country and make India a hub of International Commercial Arbitration.
❖ The rules bring legal clarity to foreign law firms that currently operate in a very limited way in India.
❖ The BCI said it “resolves to implement these Rules enabling the foreign lawyers and Foreign Law Firms to
practice foreign law and diverse international law and international arbitration matters in India on the
principle of reciprocity in a well-defined, regulated and controlled manner.
❖ The notification allows foreign lawyers and law firms to register with BCI to practice in India if they are
entitled to practice law in their home countries. However, they cannot practice Indian law.
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❖ According to the Advocates Act 1961, advocates enrolled with the Bar Council alone are entitled to
practise law in India. All others, such as a litigant, can appear only with the permission of the court,
authority or person before whom the proceedings are pending.
❖ They shall be allowed to practice transactional work /corporate work (Non-Litigious Practice) such as joint
ventures, mergers and acquisitions, Intellectual Property matters, drafting of contracts and other related
matters on a reciprocal basis.
❖ They shall not be involved or permitted to do any work pertaining to the conveyancing of property, title
investigation or other similar works.
❖ Indian lawyers working with foreign law firms will also be subject to the same restriction of engaging only
in “Non-Litigious Practice.”
Bar Council of India
❖ The Bar Council of India is a statutory body created by Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961 to
regulate and represent the Indian bar.
❖ Headquarter: New Delhi
❖ Chairman: Manan Kumar Mishra
❖ Vice-Chairman: S. Prabakaran
❖ It performs the regulatory function by prescribing standards of professional conduct and etiquette and by
exercising disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar.
❖ It also sets standards for legal education and grants recognition to universities whose degree in law will
serve as qualification for enrolment as an advocate.
❖ In addition, it performs certain representative functions by protecting the rights, privileges and interests of
advocates and through the creation of funds for providing financial assistance to organize welfare
schemes for them.
Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case

❖ Lok Sabha MP (Member of Parliament) Rahul Gandhi was sentenced by Chief Judicial Magistrate H.H.
Varma of Surat court to two years in prison for criminal defamation in a complaint filed by BJP MLA
Purnesh Modi who objected to Gandhi’s remarks about thieves with the Modi surname.
❖ The conviction may disqualify an MP if the offense for which he is convicted is listed in Section 8(1) of
the Representation of the People (RPA) Act of 1951.
❖ This section includes offences such as section 153A (offence of promoting enmity between different
groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to
maintenance of harmony) or section 171E (offence of bribery) or section 171F (offence of undue influence
or personation at an election) and a few others.
❖ Section 8(3) of the RPA mandates that an MP can be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to at least 2
years of imprisonment.
❖ However, the section also states that the disqualification takes effect only “after three months have
elapsed” from the date of conviction.
❖ Within that period, the convicted MP can file an appeal against the sentence before the High Court.
❖ The case was filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, dealing with defamation.
❖ Section 499 of the IPC elaborates on how defamation could be through words – spoken or intended to be
read, through signs, and also through visible representations.
❖ These can either be published or spoken about a person with the intention of damaging the reputation of
that person, or with the knowledge or reason to believe that the imputation will harm his reputation.
❖ Section 500 stipulates imprisonment of up to two years, with or without a fine, for someone held guilty of
criminal defamation.
❖ Defamation is the act of communicating false statements about a person that injure the reputation of that
person when observed through the eyes of an ordinary man.
❖ Any false and unprivileged statement published or spoken deliberately, intentionally, knowingly with the
intention to damage someone's reputation is defamation.
❖ Article 19 of the Constitution grants freedom of speech to its citizens. However, Article 19(2) has imposed
certain reasonable exemptions to this freedom such as - Contempt of Court, defamation and incitement to
an offense.
❖ In India, defamation can both be a civil wrong and a criminal offense, depending on the objective they seek
to achieve.
❖ A Civil Wrong sees a wrong being redressed with monetary compensation, while a criminal law seeks to
punish a wrongdoer and send a message to others not to commit such acts, with a jail term.
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❖ In a Criminal Offense, defamation has to be established beyond reasonable doubt but in a civil defamation
suit, damages can be awarded based on probabilities.
❖ Free Speech v/s Defamation laws: It is argued that the defamation laws are a violation of Fundamental
Rights guaranteed under Article 19 of the constitution.
❖ The Supreme Court has ruled that the criminal provisions of defamation are constitutionally valid and are
not in conflict with the right to free speech.
❖ The Court relied on the judgments of other countries and reaffirmed the right to reputation as a part of
the right to life under Article 21.
❖ Mahendra Ram Vs. Harnandan Prasad (1958): A letter written in Urdu was sent to the plaintiff. Therefore, he
needed another person to read it to him. It was held that since the defendant knew the plaintiff does not
know Urdu and he needs assistance, the act of the defendant amounted to defamation.
❖ Ram Jethmalani Vs. Subramanian Swamy (2006): The High Court of Delhi held Dr. Swamy for defaming Ram
Jetmalani by saying that he received money from a banned organization to protect the then Chief Minister
of Tamil Nadu from the case of assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
❖ Shreya Singhal Vs. Union of India (2015): It is a landmark judgment regarding internet defamation. It held
unconstitutional Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 which punishes for sending
offensive messages through communication services.
Disqualification of convicted representatives in India
❖ Lalu Prasad Yadav: The RJD supremo was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction in the
fodder scam case in September 2013. He was an MP from Saran in Bihar.
❖ J Jayalalithaa: AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa was disqualified from the Tamil Nadu Assembly in
September 2014 after she was sentenced to four years in jail in a disproportionate assets case. She was
the chief minister of Tamil Nadu at the time of her disqualification and had to resign from the post.
❖ P P Mohammed Faizal: Lakshadweep MP P P Mohammed Faisal of the Nationalist Congress Party stood
automatically disqualified after he was sentenced to 10 years in jail in January 2023 in connection with an
attempt to murder case. However, the Kerala High Court later suspended his conviction and sentence.
According to the MP, the Lok Sabha Secretariat is yet to issue a notification revoking his disqualification.
❖ Azam Khan: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in
October 2022 after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a 2019 hate speech case. He represented
Rampur Sadar in the Assembly.
❖ Anil Kumar Sahni: RJD MLA Anil Kumar Sahni was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in October 2022
after he was sentenced to three years in jail in a case of fraud. He represented the Kurhani assembly seat.
He was held guilty of attempting to avail travel allowance in 2012 using forged Air India e-tickets without
having undertaken the journeys. Sahni, who was a JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP at the time of the attempted
fraud, had submitted claims of ₹23.71 lakh.
❖ Vikram Singh Saini: BJP MLA Vikram Singh Saini was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative
Assembly with effect from October 2022 after he was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a 2013
Muzaffarnagar riots case. Saini was an MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar.
❖ Pradeep Chaudhary: Congress MLA Pradeep Chaudhary was disqualified from the Haryana Assembly in
January 2021 after he was sentenced to a three-year jail term in an assault case. He was an MLA from
Kalka.
❖ Kuldeep Singh Sengar: Kuldeep Singh Sengar was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in
February 2020 following his conviction in a rape case. Sengar, who was elected from the Bangarmau
constituency in Unnao, was earlier expelled by the BJP.
❖ Abdullah Azam Khan: Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh
Assembly in February 2023, days after a court sentenced him to two-year imprisonment in a 15-year-old
case. He represented Suar in Rampur district in the Assembly. The case against Abdullah Azam Khan, the
son of Azam Khan, pertained to a dharna on a highway after his cavalcade was stopped by police for
checking following an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007.
❖ Anant Singh: RJD MLA Anant Singh was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in July 2022 after being
convicted in a case related to the recovery of arms and ammunition from his residence. Singh was an MLA
from Mokama in Patna district.
Right to Health
❖ The Rajasthan Government has passed the Right to Health Bill, which gives every resident of the state the
right to avail free services at all public health facilities.
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❖ Free healthcare services, including consultation, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport, procedure and
emergency care, will be provided at all public health institutions and select private facilities subject to
conditions specified in the rules.
❖ The Bill makes it mandatory for the hospitals to provide treatment in emergency cases without waiting for
medico-legal formalities and give medicines and transport facilities without charging money.
❖ Right to health refers to and means the most attainable levels of health that every human being is entitled
to.
❖ The origin of the right to health dates as far back as 1946 when the first international organization, World
Health Organisation (WHO) came into existence to formulate health terms as human rights.
❖ Part IV of the Constitution under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) ensures social and
economic justice to its citizens. Therefore, Part IV of the Constitution directly or indirectly relates to public
policy in terms of health.
❖ International Conventions: India is a signatory of the Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948) by the United Nations that grants the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being to humans including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.
❖ Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees a fundamental right to life & personal liberty. The right to
health is inherent to a life with dignity.
❖ DPSP: Articles 38, 39, 42, 43, & 47 put the obligation on the state in order to ensure the effective realization
of the right to health.
❖ Supreme Court in Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity case (1996) held that in a welfare state, the primary
duty of the government is to secure the welfare of the people and moreover it is the obligation of the
government to provide adequate medical facilities for its people.
❖ Also, in its landmark judgment in Parmanand Katara Vs Union of India (1989), Supreme Court had ruled that
every doctor whether at a government hospital or otherwise has the professional obligation to extend his
services with due expertise for protecting life.
❖ Challenges Related to Right: Despite recent improvements, India's healthcare infrastructure remains
inadequate, particularly in rural areas.
❖ India has 1.4 beds per 1,000 people, 1 doctor per 1,445 people, and 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people. Over 75%
of the healthcare infrastructure is concentrated in metro cities, where only 27% of the total population
resides—the rest 73% of the Indian population lack even basic medical facilities.
❖ India has a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases,
including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and diabetes.
❖ The per capita out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on infectious diseases is INR 7.28 and INR 29.38
in inpatient and outpatient care, respectively.
❖ Government of India spent 2.1% of GDP on healthcare in FY23. This is much lower than the average health
spending share of the GDP — at around 5.2% — of the Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).
Derecognition & Deregistration of Parties

❖ Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) a state party of Telangana has asked the Election Commission of India
(ECI) not to derecognise the party in Andhra Pradesh.
o 21 year years after its formation the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party changed its name to
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in December 2022.
❖ Derecognition refers to the withdrawal of recognition of a political party by the ECI. Such parties are simply
declared as registered-unrecognized parties.
❖ The ECI has the power to derecognize a political party if it violates the provisions of the Indian Constitution
or the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
❖ Grounds for Derecognition of a Political Party as National party (as per ECI): If the party fails to secure at
least 6% of the total votes polled in the general election to the LS or the legislative assembly of the state
concerned, and if it fails to have at least 4 MPs elected in the last LS polls (also, it doesn't win 1 seat in the
LS from the same state.); or
❖ If it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the LS from at least 3 states.
❖ If it fails to secure 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the LS from the
state or to the State LA.
❖ If the party fails to submit its audited accounts to the ECI on time.
❖ If the party fails to hold its organizational elections on time.
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❖ Deregistration: Deregistration refers to the cancellation of the registration of a political party. However, the
ECI is not empowered to de-register parties. Once a political party is deregistered, it cannot contest
elections.
❖ Grounds for Deregistration of a Political Party: A party can only be de-registered if: Its registration was
obtained by fraud; It is declared illegal by the Central Government; or A party amends its internal
Constitution and notifies the ECI that it can no longer abide by the Indian Constitution.
Representation of People Act 1951
❖ It regulates the actual conduct of elections and by-elections, provides administrative machinery for
conducting elections, deals with the registration of political parties, specifies the qualifications and
disqualifications for membership of the Houses, provides provisions to curb corrupt practices and other
offences.
❖ Every association or body in order to become a political party must be registered with the ECI whose
decision regarding registration will be final.
❖ The current rulebook allows EC to register parties but does not allow for deregistration.
❖ No provision in the RPA 1951 provides any mechanism for de-registration of a political party.
❖ The Parliament may have deliberately omitted vesting the ECI with this power to ensure its independence
and unbiasedness in terms of organising free and fair elections.
❖ The ECI, however, has been demanding the power to regulate both registration and deregistration of
political parties.
India Justice Report 2022

❖ According to the India Justice Report (IJR) 2022, Karnataka has achieved the top rank among the 18 large
and mid-sized states in delivery of justice with populations over one crore.
❖ Tamil Nadu has ranked in the second position; Telangana third; and Uttar Pradesh is at rank 18 which is the
lowest.
❖ The IJR is an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause and
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative among others.
❖ It was first published in 2019.
❖ It assesses the performance of states in terms of justice delivery, by considering several parameters such
as police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid to assess the overall performance of each state.
❖ The list of 7 Small States with a population less than one crore each, was topped by Sikkim which was
ranked second in 2020. Followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. The State of Goa is at rank Seven
which is the lowest.
❖ The Indian judiciary is facing a severe shortage of judges and infrastructure, leading to rising pendency,
increasing caseloads, and declining case clearance rates (CCR) in lower courts. The High Courts were
functioning with only 778 judges against a sanctioned strength of 1,108 judges.
❖ The average pendency in High Courts is highest in Uttar Pradesh (11.34 years) and West Bengal (9.9
years), while it is lowest in Tripura (1 year), Sikkim (1.9 years), and Meghalaya (2.1 years).
❖ Case Clearance Rate: The CCR in High Courts improved by six percentage points (88.5% to 94.6%) between
2018-19 and 2022 but declined by 3.6 points in lower courts (93% to 89.4%).
❖ Among the 18 large and mid-sized states, only Kerala could achieve case clearance rates of 100 per cent
and more at both High Court and subordinate court levels
❖ High Courts are increasingly clearing more cases annually than subordinate courts.
❖ Court Halls: Nationally, the number of court halls appears sufficient for the number of actual judges, but
space will become a problem if all the sanctioned posts are filled. In August 2022, there were 21,014 court
halls for the 24,631 sanctioned judges' posts, a shortfall of 14.7%.
❖ Judge vacancy: No court works with a full complement of judges except the High Court of Sikkim and the
district courts in Chandigarh
❖ SC/ST/OBC: At the district court level no state/UT could fully meet all its Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes and Other Backward Classes quotas. Data on SC/ST/ OBC judges is not available for High Courts
Ranganath Report and Dalit Quota

❖ The Supreme Court revisited a 2007 report by the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission for Religious
and Linguistic Minorities, which recommended Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation for Dalit converts to
Christianity and Islam.
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❖ The Centre had discredited the report, but the apex court believes it contains valuable information that
could help determine if excluding Dalit converts from the SC category is unconstitutional according to
the Constitution Order of 1950.
❖ Note: Rejecting the Mishra report, the government had recently constituted a new Commission headed by
a former CJI K.G. Balakrishnan, giving it two years to prepare a report on the question of granting SC status
to “new persons who have historically belonged to the Scheduled Castes but have converted to religions
other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism”.
❖ For rejecting the report, the Centre has argued that “Dalits who converted to Christianity or Islam to
overcome the burdens of caste cannot claim reservation benefits enjoyed by those who chose to stay back
in the Hindu religious system”.
❖ Ranganath Report: The recommendation of Scheduled Caste reservation for Dalit converts to Christianity
and Islam was made in the 2007 report of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission for Religious and
Linguistic Minorities.
❖ Dalit Christians and Muslims face discrimination not only from upper-caste members of their own religion
but also from the broader Hindu-dominated society.
❖ The exclusion of Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam from the SC category violates the constitutional
guarantee of equality and is against the basic tenets of these religions, which reject caste discrimination.
❖ The denial of SC status to Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam has led to their socio-economic and
educational backwardness and has deprived them of access to reservations in education and employment
opportunities (as provided under article 16).
❖ Constitution Order of 1950: When enacted, the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order of 1950, initially
provided for recognizing only Hindus as SCs, to address the social disability arising out of the practice of
untouchability.
❖ The Order was amended in 1956 to include Dalits who had converted to Sikhism and once more in 1990 to
include Dalits who had converted to Buddhism.
❖ Both amendments were aided by the reports of the Kaka Kalelkar Commission in 1955 and the High-
Powered Panel (HPP) on Minorities, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes in 1983 respectively.
❖ The 1950 Order (post amendments in 1956 and 1990), mandates that anybody who is not a Hindu, Sikh or
Buddhist cannot be granted SC status.
❖ Why are Dalit Christians and Muslims Excluded?: The Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) had
cautioned the government that SC status is meant for communities suffering from social disabilities
arising out of the practice of untouchability, which it noted was prevalent in Hindu and Sikh communities.
❖ In 2001, RGI stated that Dalits who converted to Islam or Christianity are not a single ethnic group as they
belong to different caste groups. Therefore, they cannot be included in the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) as
per Clause (2) of Article 341, which requires a single ethnic group for inclusion
❖ The RGI further opined that since the practice of “untouchability” was a feature of the Hindu religion and
its branches, allowing the inclusion of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians as SCs could result in being
“misunderstood internationally” as India trying to “impose its caste system” upon Christians and Muslims.
❖ The 2001 note also stated that Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin had lost their caste identity by way
of their conversion and that in their new religious community, the practice of untouchability is not
prevalent.
Registrar General of India
❖ The Registrar General of India was founded in 1961 by the Government of India under the Ministry of
Home Affairs (Amit Shah)
❖ It arranges, conducts, and analyses the results of the demographic surveys of India including the Census
of India and Linguistic Survey of India.
❖ Registrar general & census commissioner of India: Mritunjay Kumar Narayan
Agnipath Scheme & Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel

❖ The Supreme Court has recently dismissed petitions challenging the Delhi HC’s judgement that upheld
the Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces.
❖ An argument on Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel was floated in the Supreme Court related to petitions of
shortlisted candidates in the earlier recruitment process to Army and Air Force which was cancelled when
Agnipath scheme was notified.
❖ Promissory estoppel is a concept developed in contractual laws. It prevents a “promisor” from backing out
of an agreement on the grounds that there is no “consideration.”
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❖ The doctrine is invoked in court by a plaintiff (the party moving court in a civil action) against the
defendant to ensure the execution of a contract or seek compensation for failure to perform the contract.
❖ In the Chhaganlal Keshavalal Mehta v. Patel Narandas Haribhai (1981) case, the Supreme Court listed out a
checklist for when the doctrine can be applied.
➢ Firstly, there must be a clear and unambiguous promise.
➢ Secondly, the plaintiff must have acted relying reasonably on that promise.
➢ Thirdly, the plaintiff must have suffered a loss.
❖ Current Stance of SC over Agnipath Petition: The Supreme Court pointed out that “promissory estoppel is
always subject to overarching public interest”.
❖ It also added that “this is not a contract matter where promissory estoppel in public law was applied, it is a
public employment” and that “the question of applying this principle will not arise in this case”.
❖ Agnipath Scheme: It allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four
years. The youth joining the army will be called Agniveer.
❖ Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually.
❖ However, after four years, only 25% of the batch will be recruited back into their respective services, for a
period of 15 years.
❖ It is expected to bring down the average age profile of the Indian Armed Forces by about 4 to 5 years. The
scheme envisions that the average age in the forces is 32 years today, which will go down to 26 in six to
seven years.
❖ Eligibility Criteria: It is only for personnel below officer ranks (those who do not join the forces as
commissioned officers).
❖ Commissioned officers are the army's highest ranked officers. They hold an exclusive rank in the Indian
armed forces. They often hold a commission under the president's sovereign power and are officially
instructed to protect the country.
❖ Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years will be eligible to apply.
❖ Upon the completion of the 4-years of service, a one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs 11.71 lakhs will be
paid to the Agniveers that will include their accrued interest thereon. They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life
insurance cover for the four years.
❖ In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1 crore, including pay for the unserved tenure. The government
will help rehabilitate soldiers who leave the services after four years. They will be provided with skill
certificates and bridge courses.
Public Interest Immunity Proceeding

❖ The Supreme Court of India ruled on the use of sealed cover proceedings in courts and the telecast ban of
a Malayalam channel.
❖ The Court criticised the government for silencing voices in the media and reducing constitutional
rights and procedural guarantees of a fair hearing.
❖ The Court also devised an alternative procedure for Public Interest Immunity claims proceedings to
replace the use of sealed covers.
❖ The sealed cover proceedings are often used in cases involving sensitive or confidential information, such
as national security matters, or cases where the disclosure of the evidence may compromise the privacy of
individuals involved.
❖ The Supreme Court evolved the “less restrictive” Public Interest Immunity (PII) claims proceedings as
an “alternative” to the sealed cover proceedings while dealing with state requests for confidentiality.
❖ The PII proceedings would be a “closed sitting,” but a reasoned order allowing or dismissing the PII
claim of the state should be pronounced in open court.
❖ Procedure – Role of Amicus Curiae: The court will appoint an amicus curiae, which means "friend of the
court", to act as a bridge between the parties involved in public interest immunity claims.
❖ The amicus curiae will not interact with the applicant or their counsel after the public interest immunity
proceeding has begun and the counsel has viewed the document sought to be withheld.
❖ The amicus “shall to the best of their ability represent the interests of the applicant” and would be bound
by oath to not disclose or discuss the material with any other person.
❖ Drawback: Since, Article 145 of the Constitution specifically mandates that all judgments of the Supreme
Court be delivered in open court, closed sitting proceedings as per PII might fall against this constitutional
mandate.
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❖ SC’s Response: While the court recognised that public interest immunity proceedings will take place in a
closed setting, it stated clearly that the court is required to pass a reasoned order for allowing or
dismissing the claim in open court.
Parliamentary Committees
❖ Parliamentary committees are constituted to delve deeper into matters of public concern and develop
expert opinions.
❖ The structured committee system was established in 1993, but individual committees have been formed
since independence.
❖ For instance, five of the many crucial committees of the Constituent Assembly are
❖ The Ad Hoc Committee on the Citizenship Clause was formed to discuss the nature and scope of Indian
citizenship.
❖ The Northeast Frontier (Assam) Tribal and Excluded Areas Sub-Committee and the Excluded and Partially
Excluded Areas (Other than Assam) Sub-Committee were significant committees during independence.
❖ The Expert Committee on Financial Provisions of the Union Constitution and the Advisory Committee on
the Subject of Political Safeguards for Minorities were formed to give recommendations on taxation and
abolition of reservations for religious minorities, respectively.
➢ A parliamentary committee means a committee that:
➢ Is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker / Chairman.
➢ Works under the direction of the Speaker / Chairman.
➢ Presents its report to the House or to the Speaker /Chairman.
➢ Has a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha.
➢ The consultative committees, which also consist of members of Parliament, are not parliamentary
committees as they do not fulfill the above four conditions.
❖ Types: Standing Committees: Permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous
basis.
❖ Standing Committees can be classified into the following six categories:
o Financial Committees
o Departmental Standing Committees
o Committees to Enquire
o Committees to Scrutinise and Control
o Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House
o House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees
❖ Ad Hoc Committees: Temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them. E.g. Joint
Parliamentary Committee, Inquiry Committees, Advisory Committees
❖ Constitutional Provisions: Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of
Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its
procedure and conduct of business).
❖ During the course of the 17th Lok Sabha, only 14 Bills have been referred for further examination so far.
❖ As per data from PRS, as little as 25% of the Bills introduced were referred to committees in the 16th Lok
Sabha, as compared to 71% and 60% in the 15th and 14th Lok Sabha, respectively.
Trademark
❖ The Delhi High Court has restrained Khadi Designing Council of India and Miss India Khadi Foundation from
using the 'KHADI' Trademark after the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) filed a Trademark
Infringement Lawsuit.
❖ The court held that the defendants had infringed KVIC's trademark and engaged in passing it off.
❖ A trademark infringement lawsuit is a legal action taken by a trademark owner to stop others from using
their trademark without permission, or in a way that could cause confusion or dilute the value of the
trademark.
❖ A trademark is a symbol, word, phrase, design, or combination of these elements that is used to identify
and distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of another.
❖ Trademarks are protected by Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
❖ Trademarks can be registered with government agencies to provide legal protection against
unauthorized use by others.
❖ In India, trademarks are protected under the Trade Marks Act 1999 and its subsequent amendments.
❖ The Act provides for the registration of trademarks and establishes a system of penalties for infringement.
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❖ Trademark infringement occurs when someone uses a mark that is identical or deceptively similar to a
registered trademark without the owner's permission. Infringement can result in legal action, including
damages, injunctions, and criminal sanctions.
❖ To maintain legal protection for a trademark, the owner must make regular use of it in connection with the
goods or services for which it is registered. Failure to use a mark for an extended period of time may result
in the mark being cancelled or invalidated.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

❖ In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court expressed concerns about the implementation of the Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) (PoSH) Act, 2013.
❖ The court emphasized the serious lapses and uncertainties surrounding the Act, leading to many working
women feeling compelled to leave their jobs.
❖ Concern: There were serious lapses and uncertainties in the implementation of the PoSH Act, for
example only 16 out of 30 national sports federations had constituted Internal Complaints Committees
(ICCs) as mandated.
❖ These lapses also have a negative impact on women's self-esteem, emotional well-being, and physical
health. Also, it makes women reluctant to report instances of sexual harassment due to uncertainty and
lack of confidence in the process.
❖ Recommendation: If the working environment remains hostile, insensitive, and unresponsive, the Act will
remain a mere formality. The Act must be enforced diligently to ensure the dignity and respect that women
deserve at the workplace.
❖ There is a need to undertake a time-bound exercise to verify whether relevant bodies have
constituted ICCs, Local Committees (LCs), and Internal Committees (ICs) under the Act.
❖ Instructed bodies to publish details of their respective committees on their websites.
❖ SC has given eight weeks for government Ministries, bodies to comply with mandates of the 2013 Act.
❖ PoSH Act, 2013: The POSH Act is a legislation enacted by the Government of India in 2013 to address the
issue of sexual harassment faced by women in the workplace.
❖ The Act aims to create a safe and conducive work environment for women and provide protection against
sexual harassment.
❖ The PoSH Act defines sexual harassment to include unwelcome acts such as physical contact and sexual
advances, a demand or request for sexual favours, making sexually coloured remarks, showing
pornography, and any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
❖ Background: The Supreme Court in a landmark judgment in the Vishakha and others v State of Rajasthan
1997 case gave ‘Vishakha guidelines’.
❖ These guidelines formed the basis for the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention,
Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
❖ The SC also drew its strength from several provisions of the Constitution including Article 15 (against
discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth), also drawing from relevant
International Conventions and norms such as the General Recommendations of the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which India ratified in 1993.
❖ Key Provisions: Prevention and Prohibition: The Act places a legal obligation on employers to prevent and
prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace.
❖ Internal Complaints Committee (ICC): Employers are required to constitute an ICC at each workplace with
10 or more employees to receive and address complaints of sexual harassment.
❖ The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.
❖ Duties of Employers: Employers must undertake awareness programs, provide a safe working environment,
and display information about the POSH Act at the workplace.
❖ Complaint Mechanism: The Act lays down a procedure for filing complaints, conducting inquiries, and
providing a fair opportunity to the parties involved.
❖ Penalties: Non-compliance with the Act's provisions can result in penalties, including fines and cancellation
of business licenses.
Justice Verma Committee on Sexual Harassment at Workplace
❖ Domestic workers should be included within the purview of the PoSH Act.
❖ It proposes a conciliation process where the complainant and the respondent are initially encouraged to
resolve the issue through negotiation and agreement.
❖ The employer should pay compensation to the woman who has suffered sexual harassment.
❖ Setting up of an Employment tribunal instead of an internal complaints committee (ICC) in the PoSH Act.
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❖ Initiatives Related to Women’s Safety: One Stop Centre Scheme, UJJAWALA: A Comprehensive Scheme
for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and
Commercial Sexual Exploitation, SWADHAR Greh (A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances),
Narihakti Puruskar
Extra Judicial Killing

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has expressed its views on Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) in India, after an
Encounter in Uttar Pradesh, stating that the right to life as a Fundamental Right enshrined in the
Constitution and EJKs are a violation of this right.
❖ Extra judicial killing refers to the killing of a person by the state or its agents, without any judicial or legal
proceedings.
❖ This means that the person is killed without a trial, due process, or any legal justification.
❖ Extra judicial killing can take various forms, such as extrajudicial executions, summary executions, and
enforced disappearances. These acts are illegal and violate human rights and the rule of law.
❖ They are often carried out by law enforcement agencies or security forces in the name of maintaining law
and order or Combating Terrorism.
❖ The Constitution intends that India should be governed by the rule of law, according to which the
Constitution is the supreme power and the legislative and the executive derive their authority from it.
❖ The Constitution guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21, which is non-negotiable
and applicable to everyone. It is the responsibility of the police to follow the Constitution and protect
the Right to Life of every individual, regardless of innocence or guilt.
❖ Rights of Police: The police can use force, including lethal force, in self-defense or to maintain peace and
order. Every person has the right to self-defense under Section-96 of the Indian Penal Code.
❖ Section-46 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the police to use force, including lethal force, to arrest
someone accused of a serious crime.
❖ Status of EJKs in India: While India has seen a 15% decline in encounter killing cases registered in the six
years between 2016-’17 and 2021-’22 – till March 2022 – the cases shot up by 69.5% in the last two years.
❖ India has registered 813 cases of encounter killings in the last six years.
❖ In the six years since April 2016, Chhattisgarh recorded the most extrajudicial killing cases at 259, followed
by Uttar Pradesh at 110 and Assam with 79.
❖ In September 2014, the SC issued guidelines for investigating police encounters in cases of death, in the
case of "People's Union for Civil Liberties v State of Maharashtra". The guidelines included the following,
❖ Registration of a First Information Report (FIR) as mandatory, along with provisions for a magisterial
inquiry.
❖ Involving the next of kin of the deceased in the inquiry.
❖ Keeping written records of intelligence inputs.
❖ Investigation to be carried out by an independent agency, such as the CID, to ensure a fair and impartial
investigation.
❖ Information about the incident must be sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) or the
State Human Rights Commission, although involvement of the NHRC is not necessary unless there is
serious doubt about independent and impartial investigation.
❖ These requirements/norms must be strictly observed in all cases of death and grievous injury in police
encounters and should be treated as law declared under Article 141 of the Constitution of India.
❖ National Human Rights Commission: In 1997, the NHRC provided guidelines for police to register
information about encounter deaths, allow independent investigation by the State CID (Central
Investigation Department), and grant compensation to the deceased's dependents in case of police
officers being convicted.
❖ In 2010, these guidelines were amended to include registering an FIR, conducting a magisterial inquiry, and
reporting all death cases to the NHRC within 48 hours by the Senior Superintendent of Police or
Superintendent of Police. After three months, a second report must be sent with the postmortem report,
inquest report, and enquiry findings.
Ninth Schedule of Constitution

❖ The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (Bhupesh Baghal) wrote to the Prime Minister seeking the inclusion of two
amendment Bills allowing for a higher quota of reservation in jobs and educational institutions, in
the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
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❖ In Chhattisgarh, the State Assembly unanimously approved the two amendment bills, creating a 76% quota
for members of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
❖ The Governor has not yet approved the bills.
❖ Chhattisgarh government argues that including the amended provisions in the Ninth Schedule is crucial for
providing justice to the backward and deprived classes in the State.
❖ Previously, the Chhattisgarh High Court had struck down a government order allowing 58% quota, stating
that the reservation cannot exceed 50% as it unconstitutional.
❖ The Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts and was added
by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
❖ The first Amendment added 13 laws to the Schedule. Subsequent amendments in various years have taken
the number of protected laws to 284 currently.
❖ It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with Article 31A was brought in by the government to
protect laws related to agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system.
❖ While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of laws, Article 31B shields specific laws or enactments.
❖ While most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern agriculture/land issues, the list includes
other subjects.
❖ Article 31B also has a retrospective operation which means that if laws are inserted in the Ninth Schedule
after they are declared unconstitutional, they are considered to have been in the Schedule since their
commencement, and thus valid.
❖ Although Article 31B excludes judicial review, the Supreme court has said in the past that even laws under
the Ninth Schedule would be open to scrutiny if they violated Fundamental Rights or the basic structure of
the Constitution.
❖ Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): The Supreme court upheld the judgement in Golaknath
and introduced a new concept of “Basic structure of the Indian Constitution” and stated that, “all
provisions of the constitution can be amended but those amendments which will abrogate or take away the
essence or basic structure of constitution which included Fundamental Rights are fit to be struck down by
the court”.
❖ Waman Rao v. Union of India (1981): In this important judgement, the SC ruled that, “those amendments
which were made in the constitution before 24th April 1973 (date on which judgement in Keshavananda
Bharati was delivered) are valid and constitutional but those which were made after the stated date are
open to being challenged on the ground of constitutionality.
❖ I R Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007): It was held that every law must be tested under Article 14, 19 and
21 if it came into force after 24th April 1973. In addition, the court upheld its previous rulings and declared
that any act can be challenged and is open to scrutiny by the judiciary if it is not in consonance with the
basic structure of the constitution.
Civil Union and Marriage

❖ The Centre has contested the hearing of petitions seeking legal recognition of same sex marriage by
the Supreme Court on the grounds of judiciary’s right to confer legal recognition on the “socio-legal
institution” of marriage.
❖ In his response to the Centre’s objections, the CJI clarified that the hearing’s scope would be limited to
developing a notion of a “civil union” that finds legal recognition under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
❖ A "civil union" is a legal status that grants same-sex couples certain rights and responsibilities that are
normally given to married couples.
❖ Although a civil union resembles a marriage and brings with it employment, inheritance, property, and
parental rights, there are some differences between the two.
❖ Civil Union is a marriage like legal sanction provided to two individuals generally of same sex.
❖ Marriage is a religious institution recognized by law that allows two individuals (a man and woman) to
marry.
❖ Since same sex marriage is outside the scope of religion-based definition of marriage, Civil Union is a tool
devised to grant similar legal protection to the couples who opt for the same sex marriage.
Important SC Judgement on LGBTQ Rights
❖ KS Puttaswamy v Union of India, 2017: In this judgement on Right to privacy, the Supreme Court held
that Sexual Orientation of any individual comes under his/her Right to Privacy.
❖ Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India, 2018: The Supreme Court struck down the Sec 377 of IPC to the
extent it criminalized homosexuality. It was also opined that there cannot be discrimination in law based on
sexual orientation and gender.
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❖ Deepika Singh vs Central Administrative Services, 2022: In this case, the SC expanded the definition of a
family and observed that familial relationships may also include unmarried partnerships or queer
relationships and these atypical families should enjoy equal protection and benefits under the law.
❖ Moreover, the Supreme Court in various judgements such as Lata Singh vs State of UP (2006), Safin
Jahan vs Ashokan (2018), Shakti Vahini vs Union of India (2018) and Laxmibai Chandarangi vs State of
Karnataka (2021) has held that choosing a life partner is a Fundamental Right under Article 21.
Doctrine of Basic Structure Turns 50

❖ The doctrine of the basic structure turns 50 this year and is considered a landmark in India's constitutional
history. The Doctrine of Basic Structure refers to a constitutional principle that was established by
the Constitutional Bench in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973. The bench ruled that Parliament could
amend any part of the Constitution as long as it did not alter or amend the basic structure or essential
features of the Constitution. While the court did not define the term ‘basic structure’, it listed several
principles that form its part. The basic structure doctrine has been interpreted to include the supremacy of
the Constitution, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, the doctrine of separation of powers,
sovereign democratic republic, the parliamentary system of government, the principle of free and fair
elections, welfare state, etc.
❖ The significance of the basic structure doctrine lies in limiting political power, the wise exercise of the
judicial review process and power, and the last word resting with the Supreme Court. Judicial
independence is crucial for the essence of the rule of law, and respect for constitutional conventions and
practices is vital to maintain the integrity of the Constitution. The application of the basic structure doctrine
can be seen in the SR Bommai case (1994), where the Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of BJP
governments by the President, invoking a threat to secularism by these governments.
Mandal Commission
❖ The second phase of the caste survey beginning in Bihar and several other political debates have brought
Mandal Politics once again in news.
❖ Mandal politics refers to a political movement that emerged in the 1980s, advocating for the inclusion of
socially and economically disadvantaged communities, particularly the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), in
government jobs and educational institutions. The movement was named after the Mandal Commission.
❖ The Mandal Commission or the second Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, was
established in India in 1979 by the Janata Party government under 4th Prime Minister Morarji Desai with a
mandate to "identify the socially or educationally backward classes" of India.
❖ It was headed by Babu Bindheshwari Prasad Mandal, an Indian parliamentarian
o Served as the 7th CM of Bihar for just 30 days
❖ The Commission reported that 52% of the country’s population was comprised of OBCs. Initially, the
commission argued that the percentage of reservations in government service should match this
percentage.
❖ However, this would have gone against the Supreme Court ruling in M.R. Balaji vs State of Mysore case
(1963) which had laid down a limit of 50% on. There was already a 22.5% reservation for SCs and STs.
❖ Therefore, Implemented 27% reservation for OBC community, thus making the total number of reservation
for SC, ST, OBC to 49%.
❖ The reserved quota, if unfilled, should be carried forward for a period of 3 years.
❖ The report had been completed in 1980 , the V.P. Singh government declared its intent to implement the
report in August 1990, leading to widespread student protests
❖ Mandal Commission created a report using the data of 1931 census which was last caste wise census and
extrapolating same with some sample studies
❖ In 1992 Indira Sawney challenged the Mandal Commission and Govt decision to implement it in the
Supreme Court in front of a 9 Judge bench. After hearing both sides the bench passed the Act with a
provision that maximum reservation can be 50% of the educational seats or job vacancies and creamy
layer of income will be applicable.
❖ Rohini Commission: Headed by Justice (Retd.) Gorla Rohini, the commission was constituted under Article
340 of the Constitution with the approval of the President on 2nd October 2017.
o She was first Female Chief Justice of Delhi high Court
❖ Article 340 deals with the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.
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❖ It had been constituted to complete the task of sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central OBC
list so as to ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities in central government jobs and
educational institutions.
❖ Historical Background of OBC reservation: In January 1953, the JL Nehru government had set up the First
Backward Class Commission under the chairmanship of social reformer Kaka Kalelkar.
Landmark Cases and Judgement Regarding Reservation
Governor’s Power over State Bills

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) have observed that bills sent to the governor for assent must be returned "as soon
as possible" and not sit over them, causing Gubernatorial Procrastination and making state Legislative
Assemblies wait indefinitely.
❖ The SC observed as a part of judicial order in a petition filed by the State of Telangana complaining that the
Governor has kept pending several important Bills sent.
❖ While referring to the first proviso to Article 200 of the Constitution, the SC mandated that Governors
should not delay over Bills sent to them for assent after they had been passed by Legislative Assemblies.
❖ They should be returned "as soon as possible" and not sit over them. The expression "as soon as possible"
in this article has significant constitutional intent and that constitutional authorities should keep this in
mind.
❖ Also Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the President of India, among other things, to fix a
timeline for assent to be given to Bills passed by the Assembly.
❖ For instance, in the TN Governor forwarded the Bill for exemption from the National Eligibility cum
Entrance Test (NEET) to the President after considerable delay.
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❖ In Kerala, the situation has become a bit curious with the Governor publicly announcing that he would not
give assent to the Lokayukta Amendment Bill and the Kerala University Amendment Bill.
❖ States’ Constitutional Obligation: The Governor's inaction on bills passed by the Assembly creates a
situation where the state government is unable to function in accordance with the Constitution.
❖ If the Governor continues to fail to act in accordance with the Constitution, the State government has
a constitutional obligation to invoke Article 355 and notify the President, requesting that appropriate
instructions be issued to the Governor to ensure that the process of government is conducted in
accordance with the Constitution.
❖ SC Ruling: Under Article 361 of the Constitution, the Governor has complete immunity from court
proceedings for any act done in the exercise of their powers. This provision poses a unique situation when
a government may need to challenge a Governor's action of withholding assent to a Bill.
❖ If the grounds for refusal disclose mala fide or extraneous considerations or ultra vires, the
Governor’s action of refusal could be struck down as unconstitutional.
❖ This point has been settled by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court in Rameshwar Prasad and Ors. vs
Union Of India and Anr. The Court held: “the immunity granted by Article 361(1) does not, however, take
away the power of the Court to examine the validity of the action including on the ground of malafides”.
Governor’s Power over State Bills
❖ Article 200: Article 200 of the Indian Constitution outlines the process for a Bill passed by the Legislative
Assembly of a State to be presented to the Governor for assent, who may either assent, withhold assent or
reserve the Bill for consideration by the President. The Governor may also return the Bill with a
message requesting reconsideration by the House or Houses.
❖ Article 201: It states that when a Bill is reserved for the consideration of the President, the President may
assent to or withhold assent from the Bill.
❖ The President may also direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or Houses of the Legislature of
the State for reconsideration.
❖ Options Available with the Governor: He may give assent, or he can send it back to the Assembly
requesting it to reconsider some provisions of the Bill, or the Bill itself.
❖ He may reserve the bill for the consideration of the president. The reservation is obligatory where the bill
passed by the state legislature endangers the position of the state high court. However, the governor can
also reserve the bill if it is of the following nature:
o Against the provisions of the Constitution
o Opposed to the DPSP
o Against the larger interest of the country
o Of grave national importance
o Deals with compulsory acquisition of property under Article 31A of the Constitution.
❖ Another option is to withhold the assent, but this is not normally done by any Governor because it would be
an extremely unpopular action.
National Securities Act 1980

❖ The Supreme Court heard a plea by an accused for clubbing the FIRs against him in Bihar with those
in Tamil Nadu.
❖ The accused (youtuber Manish Kashyap) was allegedly spreading fake news about laborer from Bihar
getting attacked in Tamil Nadu, under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), 1980
❖ The NSA is a preventive detention law enacted in 1980 to maintain public order and national security.
❖ Preventive Detention involves the detainment (containment) of a person in order to keep him/her from
committing future crimes and/or from escaping future prosecution.
❖ Article 22 (3) (b) of the Constitution allows for preventive detention and restriction on personal liberty for
reasons of state security and public order.
❖ Article 22(4) states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorize the detention of a person
for a longer period than three months.
❖ Powers to the Government: The NSA empowers the Centre or a State government to detain a person to
prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security.
❖ The government can also detain a person to prevent him from disrupting public order or for maintenance
of supplies and services essential to the community.
❖ Period of Confinement: The maximum period for which one may be detained is 12 months.
❖ The act also provides for the constitution of a National Security Council, which advises the Prime Minister
on matters relating to national security.
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National Security Council (NSC)
❖ The NSC in India is a high-level body that advises the Prime Minister of India on matters related to national
security, strategic policy, and defense.
❖ It is a three-tiered organization that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic
concern.
❖ The NSC is chaired by the Prime Minister.
❖ It was formed in 1998, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon.
❖ Members: National Security Advisor (Ajit Doval), Chief of Defence Staff (Lt. General Anil Chauhan), Deputy
National Security Advisors (Pankaj Kumar Singh), Ministers of Defence (Rajnath Singh), Ministers of
External Affairs (S. Jaishankar), Ministers of Home Affairs (Amit Shah), Minister of Finance (Nirmala
Sitharaman) and Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog (Suman Bery)
❖ Functions: NSC advises the PM on issues of national security, strategic policy, and defense, providing
strategic direction to the country's security and defense policies and ensuring their implementation.
❖ It also conducts regular reviews of the country's security situation and makes recommendations to the PM
on policy changes, if needed.
❖ It coordinates the activities of various agencies involved in the country's security, including the armed
forces, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement agencies.
❖ It analyses emerging security threats and provides early warning to the govt and preparing contingency
plans for various security scenarios.
Sports Governance
❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has decided to examine the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling
Federation of India’s (WFI) President (Brij bhushan Sharan Singh) by women wrestlers, raising concerns
over Sports Governance in India.
❖ The court has decided to examine the petition filed by the wrestlers regarding the non-registration of First
Information Report (FIR) and has listed the case for hearing further.
❖ The court pointed out that the petitioners have a remedy under Section 156 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure under which a Magistrate could order an investigation.
❖ Current Model of Sports Governance in India: The existing model of governance of sports in India has two
wings: One - controlled by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Anurag Thakur) and has institutions like
the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and other institutions working towards promoting sports training under
SAI.
❖ Other - headed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) having under it, State Olympic Associations (SOAs)
and national and state Sports Federations (NSFs and SFs).
❖ MYAS provides financial and infrastructural support to the NSF and SFs and indirectly controls these
federations through political representations.
❖ IOA is the umbrella body under which the NSF, SFs and SOAs conduct various sporting events in the
country
❖ Sports Code 2011: The Code was notified by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2011, with an aim
of bringing together all notifications and instructions pertaining to good governance of National Sports
Federations.
❖ It is a set of regulations, which enunciate the ‘basic universal principles of good governance, ethics and
fair play.’
❖ It seeks to put restrictions on the age and tenure of the office-bearers of federations apart from
envisaging transparent functioning along with free and fair elections.
❖ Draft National Code for Good Governance: The draft National Code for Good Governance in Sports 2017 is
a proposed set of guidelines for the management and administration of sports bodies in India.
❖ It includes measures such as age and tenure restrictions for office-bearers, the presence of independent
directors on the governing board, transparent and fair elections, and other measures aimed at improving
transparency and accountability in sports bodies.
About Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
❖ Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (born 8 January 1957) is an Indian politician who is currently serving as Member
of Parliament from Kaiserganj (Gonda District) as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has been
accused of several crimes, including sexual harassment allegations by Indian wrestlers
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❖ Legal issues: In 1992 he was involved in Babri Masjid Demolition Case, due to which he was arrested by
CBI along with 39 other people. He was the prime suspect but was later acquitted by the Supreme Court of
India in 2020.
❖ He was charged with the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in 1993 for allegedly helping
associates of Dawood Ibrahim who allegedly organized the J.J Hospital Shootout in Mumbai. He was later
acquitted after spending several months in jail.
❖ Admitting to committing murder: In a video interview with the web portal The Lallantop in 2022, Brij
Bhushan stated, "I have committed a murder in the past. Whatever people may say, I did commit a murder. I
immediately shot and killed the person who had shot Ravinder dead". Ravinder Singh was his close friend.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
❖ Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was established in 1927 as a Non-Profit Organisation under Societies
Registration Act, 1860.
❖ It is an autonomous body recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
❖ President: P.T. Usha
❖ Secretary General: Rajeev Mehta
❖ The creation of the Indian Olympic Association was related to India's participation in the 1920 and 1924
Olympics.
❖ In 1923–24, a provisional All India Olympic Committee was formed, and the All India Olympic Games (that
later became the National Games of India) were held in Feb 1924.
❖ This gave impetus to the development and institutionalization of sports in India, and, in 1927, the Indian
Olympic Association (IOA), was created.
❖ And so the Indian Olympic Association was formed in 1927,and since that year it was officially recognised
by the International Olympic Committee as India's national Olympic organisation.
❖ Functions: Responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and
other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at these events.
❖ It also acts as the Indian Commonwealth Games Association, responsible for selecting athletes to
represent India at the Commonwealth Games.
❖ In September 2022, The Supreme Court appointed a former Judge L. Nageswara Rao, to take over the
process of amending the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) 's constitution, preparing its electoral rolls, and
conducting elections to its executive body after the final warning Issued by International Olympic
Committee.
Laureus World Sports Awards
❖ The Laureus World Sports Awards is the premier global sporting awards. First held in 2000, the annual
event honours the greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs of the year and showcases the work
of Laureus Sport for Good.
❖ American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
❖ The award has been received mostly by Men’s Football Team (6 times) players so far.
❖ Roger Federer (5 times) has received this award, the maximum number of times compared to others
followed by Usain Bolt (4 times) and Novak Djokovic (4 times)
FIR Provisions
❖ The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Delhi Police on a petition filed by wrestlers seeking
an FIR against the President of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on allegations of sexual harassment.
❖ The Solicitor General submitted to the court that the Delhi Police feels there is a need to conduct a
‘preliminary inquiry’ before registering the FIR.
❖ Sections pertaining to sexual harassment and sexual assault of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) fall within the
category of cognizable offences.
❖ Since the complainants include a minor, the FIR provisions under Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 are applicable.
❖ First Information Report (FIR) is a written document prepared by the police when they receive information
about the commission of a cognizable offence.
❖ The registration of an FIR is the first step towards the probe.
❖ It sets into motion the investigation and the police may: Seek custodial interrogation of the accused, File a
chargesheet based on the evidence, or File a closure report if the probe reveals no merit in the allegations
made in the FIR.
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❖ Registration of FIR in Cognizable Offences: Section 154 (1), CrPC enables the police to register an FIR
after information is received about a cognizable offence.
❖ A cognizable offence/case is one in which a police officer may make an arrest without a warrant.
❖ The law also has provision for the registration of a ‘Zero FIR’. Where even if the alleged offence has not
been committed within the jurisdiction of the police station approached, the police can file an FIR and
transfer it to the police station concerned.
❖ Failure to Register an FIR: Based on Justice JS Verma committee’s (2013) recommendation, section 166A
was inserted to IPC. The section states that if a public servant knowingly disobeys any direction of law
including failing to record any information given to him in relation to a cognizable offence, he can be
punished with imprisonment for a term of up to two years and fined.
❖ FIR Provisions under POCSO Act 2012: Section 19 of the Act states that any person who has an
apprehension that an offence under POCSO Act has been committed shall provide such information to the
Special Juvenile Police Unit or the local police.
❖ The section also requires the registration of an FIR in writing.
❖ Section 21 of the Act even states that not reporting or recording an offense can result in up to six months
of imprisonment, a fine, or both. The Act, therefore, also makes it mandatory for a report to be filed on
receiving a complaint, including from a child.
❖ Can a Preliminary Inquiry be Conducted Before Registration of an FIR?: Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari vs
Govt of UP and ors (2013) case said that registration of an FIR under section 154 CrPC is mandatory if
information of a cognizable offence is received.
❖ Other considerations are not relevant at the stage of registration of FIR, such as, whether the information is
falsely given, whether the information is genuine, whether the information is credible etc.
❖ Remedies: Section 154 (3), CrPC says that a person who has been aggrieved after a police in-charge
refused to file an FIR can send the information to the Superintendent of Police.
❖ Section 156, CrPC says if a person is aggrieved by the police’s refusal to file an FIR, a complaint can be
made before a magistrate. The magistrate can then order registration of a case at the police station.
❖ SC’s View: The supreme court has said that the complaint before the magistrate would be treated as an FIR
and the police can initiate its investigation. This also permits the police to investigate a criminal
offence without any formal FIR.
SC Modifies Order on ESZ

❖ The Supreme Court modified its previous judgment regarding Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) around protected
forests, stating that ESZs cannot be uniform across the entire country, and instead need to be tailored to
the specific protected area.
❖ Previous Judgement: In June 2022, the SC ordered that ESZs of a minimum of one kilometer should be
declared around protected forests, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries across the country.
❖ The court had said that ESZs would act as a "shock absorber" for the protected areas and prevent
encroachment, illegal mining, construction, and other activities that could harm the environment and
wildlife.
❖ The court had also directed the Centre and the States to notify the ESZs within 6 months and file
compliance reports.
❖ The June 2022 order affected hundreds of villages in the peripheries of forests. ESZs cannot be uniform
across the country and have to be decided on a case-by-case basis. Geographical features, population
density, land use patterns, and other factors of each protected area need to be taken into account.
❖ The bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai agreed with the submissions of the Centre and the States and modified
its previous order by saying that: The purpose of declaring ESZs is not to hamper the day-to-day activities
of the citizens but to protect the environment and wildlife.
❖ A stringent observance of the June 2022 order would cause more harm than good, as it would
increase man-animal conflict, prevent basic amenities and infrastructure for the villagers, and hinder eco-
development activities around protected areas.
❖ The Centre and the States should notify ESZs as per their own proposals or as per recommendations of
expert committees within 6 months. However, mining within the national parks/wildlife sanctuaries and
within an area of 1 km from their boundary shall not be permissible.
❖ Eco-Sensitive Zones: The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the MoEFCC stipulated that state
governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental (Protection) Act,
1986.
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❖ While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general principle, the extent of its application can vary. Areas
beyond 10 km can also be notified by the Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically
important “sensitive corridors”.
❖ Prohibited Activities within ESZs Include: Commercial mining, Sawmills, Industries causing pollution, Major
hydroelectric projects & Commercial use of wood
❖ Permitted Activities: Agricultural or horticultural practices, Rainwater harvesting, Organic farming, Use
of renewable energy sources & Adoption of green technology
SC Allows Divorce on Irretrievable Breakdown

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that under its power to do ‘complete justice’ granted via Article 142, it
can dissolve a marriage on the ground that it had broken down irretrievably, without referring the parties to
a family court where they must wait 6-18 months for a decree of divorce by mutual consent.
❖ The five-judge Constitution Bench led by Justice S K Kaul, however, said that the “grant of divorce on the
ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage… (is) not a matter of right, but a discretion which is to be
exercised with great care and caution, keeping in mind several factors ensuring that ‘complete justice’ is
done to both parties”.
❖ In the case of Shilpa Sailesh vs. Varun Sreenivasan (2023), the SC has ruled that it has the power to
dissolve a marriage if it is irretrievably broken down.
❖ The court can waive the mandatory six-month waiting period for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act
(HMA), 1955, and allow the dissolution of the marriage on grounds of an irretrievable breakdown even if
one of the parties was not willing.
❖ Factors to Establish Breakdown: Time the parties lived together after Marriage, When the parties last
cohabited, Allegations made by parties against each other, their families, orders passed in legal
proceedings, attempts made to settle disputes by court intervention & mediation, The separation period
should be above 6 years.
❖ Amit Kumar vs Suman Beniwal (2021): The SC said, “Where there is a chance of reconciliation, however
slight, the cooling period of six months from the date of filing of the divorce petition should be enforced.
However, if there is no possibility of reconciliation, it would be meaningless to prolong the agony of the
parties to the marriage.”
❖ Bhagwat Pitambar Borse vs. Anusayabai Bhagwat Borse (2018): The Bombay HC held that desertion by the
wife for more than seven years without any reasonable cause and without any intention to return is a valid
ground for divorce. In June 2016, a two-judge bench referred to the larger bench of 5 judges the matter
regarding the court’s exercise of powers under Article 142 to grant a divorce without sending the parties
to a family court.
❖ The smaller bench had in 2016 appointed senior advocates Indira Jaising, Dushyant Dave, V Giri, and
Meenakshi Arora as amici curiae (friends of court)to assist the Constitution bench.
❖ Article 142 (1) of the Constitution: Subsection 1 of Article 142 confers sweeping power on the Supreme
Court to pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing ‘complete justice’ in any cause or
matter.
❖ Divorce Rate and Trends in India: A 2018 survey of 160,000 households revealed that 93% married Indians
had ‘an arranged marriage’, as against the global average of about 55%.
❖ India has a low annual divorce rate of 1.1 per 1,000 people, with only 13 out of every 1,000
marriages resulting in divorce, and men are usually the initiators.
❖ Women’s Economic Dependency: Indian women’s low labor-force participation rate translates to high
levels of financial dependency, forcing them to ‘adjust’ to bad marriages.
❖ Women’s Socio-Economic Challenges after Divorce: The dissolution of a marital union disproportionately
affects women, who suffer from chronic strains of divorce, including disproportionate losses in
household income, higher risk of losing homeownership, lower chances of re-partnering, and greater
responsibilities of single parenting.
Related Information
❖ The Law Commission of India, in its reports in 1978 and 2009 recommended adding irretrievable
breakdown as an additional ground of divorce.
❖ The Law Commission in its 71st report (1978), dealt with the concept of irretrievable breakdown of
marriage.
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❖ The Report also mentions that as far back as 1920, New Zealand was the first of the Commonwealth
countries to introduce the provision that a three-year or more separation agreement was grounds for filing
a petition in the courts for divorce.
❖ HMA 1955: The Hindu Marriage Act 1955 (HMA) is an act of the Parliament of India that codifies and
amends the law relating to marriage among Hindus and others.
❖ It applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and anyone who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jew by
religion.
❖ Section 13B of the HMA provides for “divorce by mutual consent” under which both parties to the
marriage must together file a petition to the district court.
❖ This will be done on the grounds that they have been living separately for a period of one year or more, that
they have not been able to live together and have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved.
❖ The parties must move a second motion before the court at least 6 months after the date of the
presentation of the first petition and not later than 18 months after the said date (provided, the petition is
not withdrawn in the meantime).
❖ The mandatory six-month wait is intended to give the parties time to withdraw their plea.
❖ A petition for divorce by mutual consent can be moved only after a year of the marriage.
❖ However, section 14 of the HMA allows a divorce petition sooner in case of “exceptional hardship to the
petitioner or of exceptional depravity on the part of the respondent”.
❖ A waiver of the six-month waiting period under Section 13 B (2) can be sought in an exemption application
filed before the family court.
Freedom of Religion
❖ The Tamil Nadu (TN) Government has stated that the Article 25 (Freedom of Religion) of the Indian
Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to propagate his religion, while replying to a petition in
the Supreme Court (SC).
❖ The petitioner complained about the instances of forceful conversion in TN, violating the Fundamental
Rights.
❖ The petitioner sought an NIA (National Investigation Agency)/CBI (Central Bureau of
Investigation) investigation into the “root cause” of the death of a 17-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu amidst
a swirl of accusations that she had been forced to convert to Christianity. The petition argued that forcible
or deceitful conversion was a violation of fundamental rights.
❖ TN govt has replied that the acts of missionaries to spread Christianity by themselves cannot be seen as
illegal, since the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to propagate his religion under Article 25.
❖ However, if their act of spreading their religion is against public order, morality and health and against other
provisions of Part III of the Constitution, it has to be viewed seriously.
❖ Freedom of Religion: Every citizen is entitled with this right and liberty to preach, practice and propagate
the religion of his choice. An opportunity is also provided by this right to spread it among everyone without
any fear of government intervention.
❖ Secularism: The 42nd Constitutional amendment in 1976 added the word ‘secular’ to the preamble of the
Constitution. India being a secular state, is a no state religion which means that it follows no particular
religion.
❖ In Ahmedabad St. Xavier’s College v. State of Gujarat (1975), the SC held that Secularism neither means
anti-god nor pro-god. It just ensures that no one is differentiated on the basis of religion eliminating the
concept of God in matters of the state.
❖ Article 25: It imparts freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
❖ Article 26: It gives freedom to manage religious affairs.
❖ Article 27: It sets freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion.
❖ Article 28: It gives freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain
educational institutions.
❖ Bijoe Emmanuel and Ors. v. State of Kerala (1986): In this case, three children of Jehovah’s Witnesses sect
were suspended from the school as they refused to sing the national anthem claiming that it is against the
tenets of their faith. The court held that expulsion is violative of fundamental rights and the right to freedom
of religion.
❖ Acharya Jagdishwaranand v. Commissioner of Police, Calcutta (1983): The Court held that Ananda Marga
is not a separate religion but a religious denomination. And the performance of Tandava on public streets
is not an essential practice of Ananda Marga.
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❖ M. Ismail Faruqui v. Union of India (1994): The apex court held that the mosque is not an essential practice
of Islam, and a Muslim can offer namaz (prayer) anywhere even in the open.
❖ Raja Birakishore v. State of Orissa (1964.): The validity of the Jagannath Temple Act, 1954 was challenged
as it enacted provisions to manage the affairs of Puri temple on the grounds that it is violating Article 26.
The court held that the Act only regulated the secular aspect of seva puja, therefore, it is not violative of
Article 26.
❖ Note: States like Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have passed laws restricting religious
conversion.
❖ In March 2022, Haryana State Assembly passed the Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of
Religion Bill, 2022, against religious conversion by allurement, coercion or fraudulent means.
❖ In August 2022, the Himachal Pradesh government also passed the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion
(Amendment) bill 2022, seeking to criminalise mass religious conversions.
Sedition Law
❖ The government in the Supreme Court (SC) has said it has initiated the "Process of Re-examination"
of Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and consultations are in its "final stage".
❖ In May 2022, the court, in an interim order, had suspended the use of Section 124A, stalling pending
criminal trials and court proceedings under Section 124A across the country.
❖ Sedition laws were enacted in 17th century England when lawmakers believed that only good opinions of
the government should survive, as bad opinions were detrimental to the government and monarchy.
❖ The law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas Macaulay, the British historian-politician, but was
inexplicably omitted when the IPC was enacted in 1860.
❖ Section 124A was inserted to IPC in 1870 by an amendment introduced by Sir James Stephen when it felt
the need for a specific section to deal with the offence.
❖ Today the Sedition is a crime under Section 124A of the IPC.
❖ Section 124A IPC: It defines sedition as an offence committed when "any person by words, either spoken
or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or
contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India".
❖ Disaffection includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. However, comments without exciting or
attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, will not constitute an offence under this section.
❖ The SC in Balwant Singh v. State of Punjab (1995), reiterated that the real intent of the speech must be
taken into account before labelling it seditious.
❖ Punishment: It is a Non-Bailable Offence. Punishment under Section 124A ranges from imprisonment up
to three years to a life term, to which a fine may be added.
❖ A person charged under this law is barred from a government job.
❖ They have to live without their passport and must produce themselves in the court at all times as and when
required.
❖ Many leaders of the Indian freedom movement, such as Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal
Nehru, Bhagat Singh, etc were convicted and imprisoned for their speeches, writings, and activities under
this Law.
❖ As early as 1950, the SC in Romesh Thapar v State of Madras held that “criticism of the government
exciting disaffection or bad feelings towards it, is not to be regarded as a justifying ground for restricting
the freedom of expression and of the press, unless it is such as to undermine the security of or tend to
overthrow the state.”
❖ Subsequently, two high courts — the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Tara Singh Gopi Chand v. The State
(1951), and the Allahabad High Court in Ram Nandan v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1959) — declared
that Section 124A of the IPC was primarily a tool for colonial masters to quell discontent in the country
and declared the provision unconstitutional.
❖ In the Kedarnath Singh v State of Bihar (1962) ruling on sedition the SC overruled the earlier rulings of the
high courts and upheld the constitutional validity of IPC Section 124A. However, the court attempted to
restrict its scope for misuse.
Power Distribution Between Delhi Government and Centre

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled in favor of the Delhi government on the issue of who controls
the Bureaucracy in the National Capital where it ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and
executive powers over services except for public order, police and land.
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❖ A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud held that the legislature has control
over bureaucrats in administration of services, except in areas outside the legislative powers of the
National Capital Territory (NCT).
❖ The issue in the case is whether the Government of NCT (National Capital Territory) of Delhi has legislative
and executive powers in relation to 'services' under Schedule VII, List II, and Entry 41 of the Constitution of
India and whether the officers of the various 'services' such as IAS, IPS, DANICS, and DANIPS, who have
been allocated to Delhi by the Union of India, come under the administrative control of the Government of
NCT of Delhi.
❖ The Issues of distribution of Power between Delhi government and Centre first arose from a reference
made by a two-judge Bench of the SC in 2019, which left the question of who will have control over the
administrative services for consideration by a larger Bench.
❖ The Delhi government challenged the constitutional validity of the Government of National Capital Territory
of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2021, which provided that the term “government” referred to in any law made by
the Legislative Assembly of Delhi will imply the Lieutenant Governor (L-G).
❖ Verdict of the SC: Ruling in Delhi govt’s favour, the SC held that the Lt. Governor (Vinai Kumar Saxena) shall
be bound by the decision of Delhi government over services, apart from public order, police and land.
❖ Disagreeing with the Centre which argued that the Constitution is a federal Constitution with a strong
unitary bias as far as UTs are concerned, the SC said, it is not unitary.
❖ “The principles of democracy and federalism are essential features of our Constitution and form a part of
the basic structure,” it said.
❖ Federalism “is a means to reconcile the desire of commonality along with the desire for autonomy and
accommodate diverse needs in a pluralistic society”.
❖ The SC stated that Article 239AA establishes a legislative assembly for NCT of Delhi. Members of
the legislative assembly are elected by the Delhi electorate.
❖ If a democratically elected government is not given the power to control the officers, the principle of triple
chain of accountability will be redundant.
❖ The principle of collective responsibility extends to the responsibility of officers, who in turn report to the
ministers. If the officers stop reporting to the ministers or do not abide by their directions, the entire
principle of collective responsibility is affected.
❖ The Delhi government, much like other States, represents the representative form of government and any
further expansion of the Union's power will be contrary to the Constitutional scheme.
❖ Article 239 AA was inserted in the Constitution by The Constitution (69th Amendment) Act, 1991 to
give Special Status to Delhi following the recommendations of the S Balakrishnan Committee that was set
up to look into demands for statehood for Delhi.
❖ It says that the NCT of Delhi will have an Administrator and a Legislative Assembly.
❖ Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the Legislative Assembly “shall have power to make laws for
the whole or any part of the NCT with respect to any of the matters in the State List or Concurrent List in so
far as any such matter is applicable to Union territories” except on the subject of police, public order, and
land.
❖ Further, the Article 239AA also notes that L-G has to either act on the aid and advice of the Council of
Ministers, or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by
him.
❖ Also, Article 239AA, empowers the L-G to refer a difference of opinion on ‘any matter’ with the Council of
Ministers to the President.
❖ Thus, this dual control between L-G and the elected government leads to a power tussle.
Union Territories in India
❖ The UTs were introduced in the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The concept of the UT was added by the
Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
❖ India currently has 8 Union Territories (UTs) – Delhi (New Delhi), Andaman and Nicobar (Port Blair),
Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Daman), Jammu and Kashmir (Srinagar
(summer) Jammu (Winter)), Ladakh (Leh (summer) Kargil (winter)), Lakshadweep (Kavaratti), and
Puducherry (Puducherry).
❖ Andaman and Nicobar Island: Admiral D K Joshi (Lieutenant Governor)
o First: M L Kampani
❖ Chandigarh: Shri Banwarilal Purohit (Administrator)
o First: Bhairab Dutt Pandey
❖ Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: Shri Praful Patel (Administrator)
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❖ Delhi (NCT): Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena (Lieutenant Governor)
o First: Aditya Nath Jha
❖ Jammu and Kashmir (UT): Shri Manoj Sinha (Lieutenant Governor)
o First: Girish Chandra Murmu
❖ Lakshadweep (UT): Shri Praful Patel (Administrator)
o First: U.R. Panicker
❖ Puducherry (UT): Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan (Addl. Charge) (Lieutenant Governor)
o First: Sayaji Laxman Silam
❖ Ladakh (UT): Brig. (Dr.) Shri B.D. Mishra (Retd.) (Lieutenant Governor)
o First: R.K Mathur
❖ In 2019, Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 was passed by the Indian Parliament and it
reconstituted the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — UT of Jammu and Kashmir and
UT of Ladakh. Read more on the former status of Jammu & Kashmir in the link.
❖ In 2020, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu were merged into a single Union Territory known as
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
❖ The UTs of Daman and Diu was under the rule of the Portuguese, while Puducherry was under the rule of
the French.
❖ In 1961, amidst Indian preparation for the invasion of Goa, Daman, and Diu, K.G. Badlani, an officer of the
Indian Administrative Service was, for one day, designated the Prime Minister of Dadra and Nagar Haveli,
so that, as Head of State, he could sign an agreement with the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru,
and formally merge Dadra and Nagar Haveli with the Republic of India. The Tenth Amendment of the
Constitution of India was passed to incorporate Dadra and Nagar Haveli as a union territory, effective 11
August 1961.
❖ The UTs of Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh and
Lakshadweep do not have any legislature while the UTs of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry do
have an elected legislature and government.
❖ The Union Territories have no separate representation in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) except for Delhi,
Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry.
❖ The Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah) at the Centre is the nodal ministry for all matters related to Union
Territories relating to legislation, finance and budget, services and appointment of Administrators.
UTs Administered in India
❖ Part VIII (Articles 239 to 241) of the Constitution deals with the Union Territories.
❖ UTs in India are administered by the President through an administrator appointed by him/her. The
administrator is not elected but rather a representative of the President.
❖ In some UTs, such as Delhi and Puducherry, the administrator holds significant powers, including the ability
to make laws and regulations for the UT.
❖ In other UTs, such as Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the administrator's powers are limited to
providing advice to the elected government.
❖ The judiciary in UTs is also governed by the Constitution and the laws made by the Parliament. However, in
some UTs, such as Delhi, the High Court has wider powers than in other UTs, such as Lakshadweep.
❖ Special Provisions for Delhi and Puducherry: The Union Territories of Puducherry (in 1963), Delhi (in 1992)
and Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 (yet to be constituted) are provided with a legislative assembly and a
Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister.
❖ The Legislative assembly of the UT of Puducherry may make laws with respect to matters enumerated in
List II or List III in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution in so far as these matters are applicable in
relation to the Union Territory.
❖ The legislative assembly of National Capital Territory of Delhi also has these powers with the exception
that Entries 1, 2 and 18 of the List II are not within the legislative competence of the legislative assembly.
About Delhi
❖ Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), is a city and a Union Territory of India
containing New Delhi, the capital of India.
❖ New Delhi is an urban district located in the city of Delhi. New Delhi serves as the capital of India and the
seat of all three branches of the Government of India.
❖ The British originally ruled India from Calcutta, but moved the capital to the newly built district of New Delhi
in 1911 because of the city’s symbolic value in India.
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❖ Union Territory of Delhi has 9 districts and New Delhi is one of them. New Delhi is the National Capital of
India.
❖ The foundation stone of New Delhi was laid by Emperor George V during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. It was
designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. The new capital was inaugurated
on 13 February 1931, by Viceroy and Governor-General of India Lord Irwin.
❖ The first LG of Delhi was Aditya Jha (1966-1972)
❖ First Chief Minister: Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav
❖ Current CM: Arvind Kejriwal
❖ Sushma Swaraj was the first women Chief minister of Delhi. She was the 5th CM for merely 2 months in
1998, Vijai Kapoor was the LG of Delhi at that time.
❖ Sheila Dikshit is the longest Serving women CM in India. She was the 6th CM of Delhi for 15 years, 25 days,
dated from 3 December 1998 to 28 December 2013.
SC on Maharashtra Governor’s Call for Floor Test

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) has held that the decision of the (former) Governor of Maharashtra to call for
a Floor Test, asking the then Chief Minister to prove his majority in the house, was not justified. However,
the SC cannot restore his government as he did not face the floor test.
❖ Background: In 2022, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government was toppled and replaced by another
government, comprising a faction of the Shiv Sena. The leader of the breakaway Sena faction, Eknath
Shinde, became the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
❖ Thereafter, petitions were filed by the Thackeray group challenging the then Maharashtra Governor’s
decision to call for a trust vote before his resignation.
❖ SC’s Ruling: The floor test should not be used to solve problems within a political party and that party
disagreements should be resolved according to the party's constitution or other methods.
❖ Appointing a Whip: The Speaker must only recognize the Whip duly authorised by the political party with
reference to the provisions of the party constitution. The appointment of both the whip and the leader of the
party in the House should only be done by the political party and not the legislature party.
❖ In parliamentary parlance, a whip may refer to both a written order to members of a party in the House to
abide by a certain direction, and to a designated official of the party who is authorised to issue such a
direction. The concept of the whip was inherited from colonial British rule.
❖ Disqualification on the Ground of Defection: The Speaker is the authority to adjudicate petitions for
disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
❖ The Court cannot ordinarily adjudicate petitions for disqualification under the 10th Schedule.
❖ Notices were issued by the then Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, against 40 rebel MLAs
under the 10th Schedule which deals with disqualification on the grounds of Defection.
❖ Anti Defection Law: The 10th schedule of the Indian Constitution, also known as the "Anti-Defection
Law," was added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985.
❖ It lays down the provisions related to the disqualification of members of Parliament (MPs) and state
legislatures on the grounds of defection.
❖ It seeks to promote political stability and discipline among political parties by preventing elected members
from changing parties after they have been elected
❖ Disqualification: According to it, a member of Parliament or a state legislature is disqualified if he/she
voluntarily gives up the membership of the political party on whose ticket he/she was elected, or if he/she
votes or abstains from voting in the House against the directives of the political party.
❖ However, a member is not disqualified if he/she leaves the party due to a merger of two or more political
parties or if the party itself merges with another party.
❖ As per the 52nd amendment, a 'defection' by 1/3rd of the elected members of a political party was
considered a 'merger'. But the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now at
least 2/3rd of the members of a party must be in Favour of a "merger" for it to have validity in the eyes of
the law.
Floor Test
❖ It is a term used for the test of the majority. If there are doubts against the Chief Minister (CM) of a
State, he/she can be asked to prove the majority in the House.
❖ In the case of a coalition government, the CM may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win a
majority.
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❖ In the absence of a clear majority, when there is more than an individual’s stake to form the
government, the Governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority to form the
government.
❖ Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. The numbers are then considered based only on
those MLAs who were present to vote.
❖ Article 174 of the Constitution authorizes the Governor to summon, dissolve and prorogue the state
legislative assembly.
❖ According to Article 175(2), the Governor can summon the House and call for a floor test to prove whether
the government has the numbers.
❖ However, the Governor can exercise the above only as per Article 163 of the Constitution which says that
the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister (when the
assembly is not in session). However, when the House is in session, it is the Speaker of the Assembly who
can call for a floor test.
❖ Governor’s Discretionary Power: According to Article 163 (1), there will be a group of Ministers, led by the
Chief Minister, who will assist and advise the Governor in carrying out his functions. However, the
Governor will have the final say in any matters where he is required to exercise his discretion as per the
constitution.
❖ The Constitution makes it clear that if any question arises whether a matter falls within the governor’s
discretion or not, the decision of the governor is final and the validity of anything done by him cannot be
called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.
❖ The Governor can exercise his discretionary power under Article 174, when the chief minister has lost the
support of the House and his strength is debatable.
❖ Generally, when doubts are cast on the chief minister that he has lost the majority, the opposition and
the Governor would rally for a floor test.
❖ Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix vs Deputy Speaker case (2016): The SC said that the power to summon the
House is not solely vested in the Governor and should be exercised with aid and advice of the Council of
Ministers and not at his own.
❖ Shivraj Singh Chouhan & Ors vs Speaker (2020): The SC upheld the powers of the Speaker to call for a floor
test if there is a prima facie view that the government has lost its majority.
Carbon Dating & Gyanvapi Dispute

❖ The Allahabad High Court allowed the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct Carbon Dating of a
'Shivling' inside the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
❖ The petitioners have claimed the object inside the Gyanvapi mosque to be a "Shivling". The claim was
disputed by the Muslim side, which said the object was part of a "fountain".
❖ It set aside an order of the Varanasi District Court that rejected a plea for scientific investigation, including
carbon dating, of the structure.
❖ Carbon dating is a widely used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once
living.
❖ Living things have carbon in them in various forms.
❖ The dating method is based on the fact that Carbon-14 (C-14) is radioactive, and decays at a well-known
rate.
❖ C-14 is an isotope of carbon with an atomic mass of 14. The most abundant isotope of carbon in the
atmosphere is C-12. A very small amount of C-14 is also present. The ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the
atmosphere is almost static and is known.
❖ Half Life: Plants get their carbon through photosynthesis; animals get it mainly through food. Because
plants and animals get their carbon from the atmosphere, they too acquire C-12 and C-14 in roughly the
same proportion as is available in the atmosphere.
❖ When they die, their interactions with the atmosphere stop. While C-12 is stable, the radioactive C-14
reduces to one half of itself in about 5,730 years — known as its ‘half-life’.
❖ The changing ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the remains of a plant or animal after it dies can be measured
and can be used to deduce the approximate time when the organism died.
❖ Age Determination of Inanimate Things: Carbon dating cannot be applied in all circumstances. It cannot
be used to determine the age of non-living things like rocks, for example.
❖ Also, the age of things that are more than 40,000-50,000 years old cannot be arrived at through carbon
dating. This is because after 8-10 cycles of half-lives, the amount of C-14 becomes almost very small and
is almost undetectable.
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❖ For determining the age of inanimate things, instead of carbon, decays of other radioactive elements that
might be present in the material become the basis for the dating method.
❖ These are known as Radiometric Dating Methods. Many of these involve elements with half-lives of
billions of years, which enable scientists to reliably estimate the age of very old objects.
❖ Radiometric Methods for Age Determination of Non-living Things: Potassium-Argon and Uranium-
Thorium-Lead: Two commonly employed methods for dating rocks are Potassium-Argon
dating and Uranium-Thorium-Lead dating.
❖ The radioactive isotope of potassium decays into argon, and their ratios can give a clue about the age of
rocks.
❖ Uranium and thorium have several radioactive isotopes, and all of them decay into the stable lead
atom. The ratios of these elements present in the material can be measured and used to make estimates
about age.
❖ Exposure to Sunlight: There are also methods to determine how long an object has remained exposed to
sunlight. These apply different techniques but are again based on radioactive decay and are particularly
useful in studying buried objects or changes in topology.
❖ Indirect Carbon Dating: In some situations, carbon dating can be used indirectly as well. A way in which
the age of ice cores in glaciers and polar regions is determined by studying carbon dioxide molecules
trapped inside large ice sheets.
Gyanvapi Dispute
❖ The Gyanvapi dispute revolves around the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi. Hindu petitioners claim
that the mosque was built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple. They argue that the presence of
a "Shivling" serves as evidence of the temple's existence. The Petitioners have sought the right to worship
Maa Shringar Gauri on the outer wall of the mosque complex.
❖ The management committee of the mosque, however, maintains that the land is Waqf property and argues
that The Places of Worship Act of 1991 prohibits any changes to the character of the mosque.
❖ Historically, the Gyanvapi Mosque was built in 1669 during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It was
constructed after the demolition of the existing Vishweshwar temple. The plinth of the temple was left
intact and served as the courtyard of the mosque, while one wall was preserved as the qibla wall facing
Mecca. The present Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was later built adjacent to the
mosque by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.
❖ Various claims have been made over the years, with some asserting that the mosque remains the original
sacred place of Hindu worship.
The Places of Worship Act, 1991
❖ It is described as “An Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the
maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947,
and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
❖ The disputed site at Ayodhya was exempted from the Act. Due to this exemption, the trial in the Ayodhya
case proceeded even after the enforcement of this law.
❖ The Act also exempted: Any place of worship which is an ancient and historical monument, or an
archaeological site covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
❖ Section 6 of the Act prescribes a punishment of a maximum of 3 years imprisonment along with a fine for
contravening the provisions of the Act.
❖ Section 3: This section of the Act bars the conversion, in full or part, of a place of worship of any religious
denomination into a place of worship of a different religious denomination or even a different segment of
the same religious denomination.
❖ Section 4(1): It declares that the religious character of a place of worship “shall continue to be the same as
it existed” on 15th August 1947.
❖ Section 4(2): It says any suit or legal proceeding with respect to the conversion of the religious character of
any place of worship existing on 15th August, 1947, pending before any court, shall abate and no fresh suit
or legal proceedings shall be instituted.
❖ Section 5: It stipulates that the Act shall not apply to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, and to any
suit, appeal, or proceeding relating to it.
Appointment of Judges to the SC

❖ The government recently cleared the appointment of two judges to the Supreme Court.
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❖ The two new apex court judges are Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and K.V. Viswanathan, who is a direct
appointment from the Supreme Court Bar.
❖ With their induction, the court has reached its sanctioned strength of 34 judges (33+1)
❖ According to Article 124(3) of the Constitution, a person can be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court
if he or she:
o A person must be a citizen of India.
o Must have served as a judge of a High Court for at least five years or two such courts in succession.
o Alternatively, must have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years or two or more such
courts in succession.
o Must be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the president.
❖ Appointment of Judges: Collegium system: Judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court are
appointed by the provisions mentioned in Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution of India.
❖ Articles 124 and 217 state that the President shall appoint judges to the Supreme Court and high courts
after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and other judges.
❖ Tenure and Resignation: There is no prescribed minimum age limit for a judge's appointment.
❖ A judge of the Supreme Court serves until they reach the age of 65 years.
❖ However, a judge may resign before reaching the age of 65 years by tendering their resignation to the
President.
❖ As per Article 128 of Indian Constitution, any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called
back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with the prior permission of the
President of India.
❖ Removal: A judge of the Supreme Court can only be removed from office by an order of the President.
❖ The removal process requires an address by each House of Parliament, supported by a special majority
i.e., a majority of the total membership of that House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the
members present and voting.
❖ The grounds for removal are proven misbehaviour or incapacity.
❖ Parliament has the authority to regulate the procedure for presenting the address and investigating and
proving the misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge.
❖ Once appointed, judges can serve until the age of 65 and cannot be removed during their tenure except for
proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
❖ Collegium system Composition: The Supreme Court Collegium consists of the CJI and four senior-most
judges of the apex court.
❖ High Court Collegium consists of the Chief Justice of the High Court and two senior-most judges of that
particular court.
❖ Recommendations: Crucially, recommendations made by the Collegium are binding: while the government
can flag concerns and ask the Collegium to reconsider, if the Collegium chooses to reiterate its
recommendations, they become binding.
❖ First Judges Case (1981): It declared that the “primacy” of the CJI’s (Chief Justice of India)
recommendation on judicial appointments and transfers can be refused for “cogent reasons.” The ruling
gave the Executive primacy over the Judiciary in judicial appointments for the next 12 years.
❖ Second Judges Case (1993): SC introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant
“concurrence”. It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in
consultation with the two senior-most judges in the SC.
❖ Third Judges Case (1998): SC on the President's reference (Article 143) expanded the Collegium to a five-
member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.
❖ Fourth Judges Case (2015): The 99th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2014 and the National Judicial
Appointments Commission Act of 2014 has replaced the collegium system of appointing judges to the
Supreme Court and High Courts with a new body called the National Judicial Appointments Commission
(NJAC). However, in 2015, the Supreme Court declared both the 99th Constitutional Amendment as well as
the NJAC Act as unconstitutional and void in the fourth judge case. Consequently, the earlier collegium
system became operative again.
❖ Significance of the system: The collegium system was created to maintain the basic structure of the
Constitution by keeping the judiciary independent.
❖ It was also to ensure that the Chief Justice of India does not impose his or her individual opinion regarding
the appointment of judges, but rather it is a collective opinion of the entire body.
National Judicial Commission (NJAC)
❖ The NJAC was proposed via the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014.
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❖ In order to have a more transparent system, the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act was
enacted.
❖ The commission was established by the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014.
❖ The Act proposed that the members of NJAC would be composed of members from the legislative, judicial,
and civil society.
❖ Apex Court’s action: In a collective order, in 2015, the Supreme Court by a majority of 4:1 struck down the
NJAC Act, 2014.
❖ The NJAC Act was termed unconstitutional citing it as having affected the independence of the judiciary.
Related Static GK
❖ First CJI- Hiralal Jekisundas Kania
❖ Kamal Narain Singh 22nd CJI was the shortest Serving CJI ( 17 days)
❖ Bombey High Court has given the most 9 CJI more then any other high court
❖ Justice Mohammaad Hidayatullah (11th) was the first Muslim CJI, He is also the only CJI who has served
as the President and Vice President of India
❖ Amal Kumar Sarkar was the longest Lived CJI he died at the Age of 100.
❖ There are 25 High Courts in India, 6 having control over more than one State/UT. Delhi has a High Court of
its own among the Union Territories.
❖ Soumitra Sen is a former judge of the Calcutta High Court. He was the first judge in independent India
whose removal motion was passed in Rajya Sabha for misappropriation of funds.
❖ Justice P.D. Dinakaran, Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, against whom the Rajya Sabha Chairman
had set up a judicial panel to look into allegations of corruption, resigned in July 2011, before impeachment
proceedings could be initiated against him.
❖ In 2015, a group of 58 Rajya Sabha MPs moved an impeachment notice against Justice J.B. Pardiwala of
the Gujarat High Court for his “objectionable remarks on the issue of reservation.”
❖ Justice V. Ramaswami has the dubious distinction of being the first judge against whom impeachment
proceedings were initiated. In 1993, the motion was brought up in Lok Sabha, but it failed to secure the
required two-thirds majority.
Forum Shopping
❖ The Chief Justice of India (DY Chandrachud) has condemned the practice of Forum Shopping after
a litigant mentioned the hearing before CJI although he had mentioned the same case a day before another
Judge.
❖ Forum shopping refers to the practice of deliberately choosing a specific court for a legal case in the hope
of getting a favorable outcome.
❖ Litigants and lawyers often consider this strategy as part of their litigation plan.
❖ For example, they might opt for a higher court like the Supreme Court (SC) to gain more attention for their
case. However, if someone is clearly trying to manipulate the system or avoid a particular judge, it is seen
as unfair.
❖ Similarly, “Bench Hunting” refers to petitioners managing to get their cases heard by a particular judge or
bench to ensure a favourable order.
❖ Advantages: It can allow plaintiffs to seek justice and compensation in a court that is more sympathetic to
their claims or interests.
❖ It can encourage competition and innovation among courts and judges to improve their efficiency and
quality of service.
❖ Disadvantages: Forum shopping has been criticized by judges because it can lead to injustice for the
opposing party and create an imbalance in the workload of different courts.
❖ Dr. Khair-Un-Nisa and Ors vs. UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Ors 2023: The Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh
High Court imposed costs worth one lakh rupees on the petitioners for indulging in forum shopping by filing
multiple petitions before different wings of the court, despite having the same cause of action.
❖ Vijay Kumar Ghai vs. State of W.B. 2022: The SC termed forum shopping as a “disreputable practice by the
courts” that “has no sanction and paramountcy in law”.
❖ Dhanwantri Institute of Medical Science vs. The State of Rajasthan 2022: The Rajasthan High Court upheld
an order imposing costs worth 10 lakh rupees on a party for engaging in forum shopping.
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❖ Union of India & Ors. vs. Cipla Ltd. 2017: The SC laid down a “functional test” to be adopted for Forum
Shopping. The "functional test" laid down by the Supreme Court was to determine whether a litigant
is genuinely seeking justice or engaging in manipulative tactics through forum shopping.
❖ Rosmerta HSRP Ventures Pvt. Ltd. vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Anr 2017: The Delhi High Court
imposed costs on a private company that it found was indulging in forum hunting in an arbitration matter.
❖ Kamini Jaiswal vs. Union of India 2017: The SC said that “unscrupulous elements” are always on the hunt to
find a court or forum of their choice but are not permitted to do so by law.
❖ Chetak Construction Ltd. vs. Om Prakash 1988: The Supreme Court of India' emphasized that litigants
should not have the freedom to choose the court for their convenience. The court stated that any attempt
at forum shopping should be strongly discouraged.
Ordinances
❖ An Ordinance was promulgated by the Indian President, giving the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi power over
services in the National Capital Territory (NCT).
❖ Article 123 of the Constitution of India grants the President certain law-making powers to promulgate
ordinances when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session, in urgent situations.
❖ Hence, it is not possible for the ordinances to be issued by Parliament.
❖ When an ordinance is promulgated but the legislative session is yet to commence, the ordinance remains
in effect as law. It has the same force and effect as an Act of the legislature.
❖ But it requires subsequent ratification by Parliament within six weeks of its reassembly.
❖ An ordinance promulgated by the President has a maximum validity of six months and six weeks from the
date of its promulgation.
❖ The Governor of a state can also issue ordinances under Article 213 of the Constitution of India, when
the state legislative assembly is not in session.
❖ If the two Houses start their sessions on different dates, the later date is considered (Articles 123 and
213).
❖ Enactment: In the process of enacting an ordinance, the decision to bring forth the ordinance lies with the
government, as the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
❖ If the President deems it necessary, s/he may return the Cabinet's recommendation for reconsideration.
❖ However, if it is sent back (with or without reconsideration), the President must promulgate it.
❖ Withdrawal: The President can withdraw an Ordinance, and both Houses of Parliament can pass
resolutions to disapprove it, potentially leading to its lapse. Rejection of an ordinance would, however,
imply the government has lost majority.
❖ However, If an Ordinance enacts a law that falls outside the purview of Parliament's competence, it is
considered void.
❖ Repromulgation of Ordinance: When an Ordinance lapses, the government can choose to re-promulgate it
if necessary.
❖ In a 2017 case, the Supreme Court ruled that repeated re-promulgations without legislative consideration
would be unconstitutional and a violation of the legislature's role.
❖ The court emphasised that the power to issue an Ordinance should be treated as an emergency
measure and not as a means to bypass the legislature.
❖ Note: An ordinance like any other legislation can be retrospective i.e., it may come into force from a back
date. It may also modify or repeal any act of Parliament or another ordinance.
❖ R.C. Cooper v. Union of India (1970): This case challenged the Banking Companies (Acquisition and
Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1969, which nationalised 14 major banks in India.
❖ The Supreme Court held that the President’s satisfaction regarding the necessity of an ordinance is not
immune from judicial review and can be challenged.
❖ The Court also held that an ordinance is subject to the same constitutional limitations as an Act of
Parliament and cannot violate any fundamental rights or other provisions of the Constitution.
❖ A.K. Roy v. Union of India (1982): This case challenged the National Security Ordinance, 1980, which
provided for preventive detention of persons for up to one year without trial.
❖ The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the ordinance but laid down some safeguards for its
operation, such as periodic review by an advisory board, communication of grounds of detention to the
detenu, and opportunity for representation against detention.
❖ The Court also observed that an ordinance should not be used as a substitute for parliamentary
legislation and should be resorted to only in cases of extreme urgency or unforeseen emergency.
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❖ D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar (1987): This case challenged a series of ordinances issued by the Governor
of Bihar between 1967 and 1981 on various subjects, some of which were promulgated several times
without being placed before the state legislature.
❖ The Supreme Court struck down all the ordinances as unconstitutional and held that re-promulgation of
ordinances is a fraud on the Constitution and a subversion of the democratic legislative process.
❖ The Court also held that an ordinance lapses automatically if it is not approved by the legislature within
six weeks of its reassembly and cannot be continued by repromulgation.
Article 299: Government Contracts

❖ The Supreme Court (SC) of India recently clarified the legal provisions surrounding government contracts
made under the President's name.
❖ In a case involving Glock Asia-Pacific Limited and the Centre, the court ruled that contracts entered into in
the name of the President of India cannot grant immunity from statutory prescriptions.
❖ Government contracts are contracts undertaken by the government for various purposes such as
construction, management, maintenance, repairs, manpower supply, IT-related projects, etc.
❖ Government contracts involve the central government or a state government, or a government body as one
party and a private individual or entity as the other party.
❖ Government contracts have to comply with certain formalities and safeguards as prescribed by Article
299 of the Constitution of India.
❖ Government contracts are subject to public scrutiny and accountability and are governed by the principles
of fairness, transparency, competitiveness, and non-discrimination.
❖ Requirements for Government Contracts: The contract must be expressed to be made by the Governor or
the President.
o It must be executed in writing.
o The execution should be done by persons and in a manner directed or authorized by the Governor or
the President.
❖ Article 299: Article 299 of the Constitution deals with the manner and form of contracts made by or on
behalf of the government of India or any state government.
❖ Origin: The Crown Proceedings Act of 1947 played a role in shaping Article 299. The Crown Proceedings
Act specified that the Crown could not be sued in court for a contract it entered.
❖ Purpose and Object: Article 299 outlines the manner in which contracts made in the exercise of the
executive power of the Union or a State shall be expressed and executed.
❖ It aims to establish a specific procedure to safeguard public funds and prevent unauthorized or
illegitimate contracts.
❖ Immunity of the President/Governor: While Article 299(2) states that the President or the Governor cannot
be personally held liable for contracts, it does not grant immunity to the government from the legal
provisions of the contract.
❖ The government (Union or states) in India can be sued for torts (civil wrongs) committed by its officials.
❖ SC Ruling: Case Background: Glock Asia-Pacific Limited filed an application against the Centre regarding
the appointment of an arbitrator in a tender-related dispute.
❖ The government objected to the appointment of a retired Delhi High Court judge as the arbitrator, citing a
tender condition that required an officer from the Law Ministry to act as the arbitrator.
❖ Court's Interpretation: The Supreme Court held that the arbitration clause, allowing a government officer to
resolve the dispute as an arbitrator, conflicted with Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
1996.
❖ Relevance of Article 299: The court emphasized that Article 299 only pertains to the formalities of binding
the government with contractual liability, not the substantive laws governing contractual liability.
❖ Other Judgements Related to Article 299: State of Bihar v Majeed (1954): SC ruled that a Government
Contract has to comply with the provisions of Article 299 in addition to the requirements of the Indian
Contract Act, such as offer, acceptance, and consideration.
❖ The contractual liability of the Central or State Government is the same as that of any individual under the
ordinary law of contract, subject to the formalities prescribed by Article 299.
❖ Mrs. Aliakutty Paul vs The State of Kerala and Ors (1995): A tender of the contract for construction of a
bridge was accepted by the Executive Engineer, but he did not sign it in the name of the Governor, it cannot
be said that there is a valid contract in conformity with Article 299 of the Constitution.
❖ The decision explains the rationale and scope of Article 299 of the Constitution and emphasizes that its
provisions are enacted for safeguarding the government against unauthorized contracts.
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Coal India and CCI
❖ The Supreme Court of India has recently dismissed Coal India Ltd (CIL)’s appeal, which affirmed
the Competition Commission of India (CCI)’s authority to examine CIL’s conduct under the Competition
Act, 2002.
❖ The court found no merit in excluding CIL from the purview of the Competition Act, which was earlier
accused of engaging in abusive practices.
❖ Case About: In 2017, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs. 591 crores on CIL for imposing unfair and
discriminatory conditions in fuel supply agreements (FSAs) with power producers.
❖ The company was found to be supplying lower quality coal at higher prices and placing opaque conditions
in the contract regarding supply parameters and quality.
❖ The CCI argued that Coal India and its subsidiaries operated independent of market forces and
enjoyed market dominance in the production and supply of non-coking coal in India.
❖ Arguments of CIL and CCI: CIL’s Stance: Principles of "Common Good": CIL operates based on the
principles of promoting the "common good" and ensuring equitable distribution of coal, a vital natural
resource.
❖ Monopoly Status: CIL refers to the Nationalization Act of 1973 to assert its position as
a "monopoly" established for efficient coal production and distribution.
❖ Differential Pricing: CIL implements differential pricing to incentivise captive coal production, aiming to
sustain the larger operating ecosystem and pursue welfare objectives.
❖ Implications for National Policies: CIL's coal supply supports national policies, such as promoting growth
in economically disadvantaged regions through increased allocation.
❖ CCI’s Stance: Raghavan Committee Report (2020): The CCI referred to the Raghavan Committee report
(2020), which concluded that state monopolies like CIL are not in the best interests of the nation and
should not operate without competition.
❖ Non-Essential Commodity Classification: The CCI emphasized that coal is no longer classified as
an "essential commodity" since 2007. The Nationalisation Act too was removed from the Ninth
Schedule (laws that cannot be challenged in court) in 2017. This indicates that coal is subject to market
dynamics and should not be exempted from the Competition Act, 2002.
❖ Impact on Consumers: The CCI highlighted the significant impact of irregular prices and supply of coal on
power generation companies, which indirectly affects consumers.
❖ Government Ownership and Supply Allocation: CIL's significant coal supplies to power companies connect
coal supply to the welfare of the nation. The CCI argued that ensuring continuous coal supply, adherence
to contracts, reasonable pricing, and quality serve the common good.
❖ Ruling of the Supreme Court: The SC dismissed CIL's argument for exemption based on the
Nationalization Act of 1973, ruled that it cannot be exempted from the Competition Act.
❖ The court emphasized the need for fair competition and equality among entities, regardless of their sector
and reinforced the principle of "competitive neutrality" and the need for a level playing field.
❖ It highlights the importance of competition in fostering a vibrant and efficient economy.
Coat India Ltd (CIL)
❖ CIL is a public sector undertaking that is the largest coal producer and supplier in India.
❖ It operates under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, of 1973, which gives it a monopoly over coal mining
and distribution in the country.
❖ CIL was a fully government-owned entity until it's disinvestment in 2010. Currently, the government holds a
majority shareholding with a share percentage of 67%.
❖ Headquarters: Kolkata
❖ Chairman & MD: Pramod Agarwal
❖ It is also the largest government owned coal producer in the world
❖ In April 2011, CIL was conferred the Maharatna status by the Government of India
Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, of 1973
❖ The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, of 1973, was enacted by the Indian Parliament to ensure rational,
coordinated, and scientific development of coal resources.
❖ Under this act, coal mining was exclusively reserved for the public sector.
❖ Exceptions were introduced in 1976 for captive mining by private companies in iron and steel production
and sub-leasing in isolated small pockets.
❖ In 1993, amendments allowed private sector participation in captive coal mining for power generation,
coal washing, and other notified end uses.
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❖ Allotment of coal mines for captive use was based on recommendations from a high-powered committee.
❖ Mining of coal for captive use in cement production was permitted by government notification.
❖ The Act established government control over coal mining in India, with limited provisions for private sector
involvement in specific sectors and purposes.
Judgements Related to Market Monopoly in India
❖ Competition Commission of India v. Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) (2010): The SC upheld the CCI’s
order to investigate SAIL for anti-competitive practices in supplying rails to Indian Railways.
❖ SC ruled that SAIL was not exempt from the Competition Act and that its order was not appealable at the
initial stage.
❖ The Court also said that the CCI was a necessary or proper party in any appeal before the COMPAT.
❖ Competition Commission of India v. Google LLC & Ors (2021): CCI appealed against Karnataka HC's order,
investigating alleged anti-competitive practices by Google in India's smart TV and Android app store
markets.
❖ The HC quashed CCI's order due to lack of jurisdiction and the absence of Google's opportunity to present
its case.
❖ The SC stayed CCI's investigation and issued notices to all parties involved.
Right to Change Name

❖ In recent rulings, the High Courts of Allahabad and Delhi emphasized the right to change one's name as an
integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Allahabad High Court stated
that every citizen has the fundamental right to keep or change their name. The courts found that the denial
of name-change requests by the authorities violated the fundamental rights of the petitioners under
Articles 19(1)(a), 21, and 14 of the Constitution.
❖ Similarly, the Delhi High Court, asserted that the right to identity is an intrinsic part of the right to life under
Article 21. Both cases highlight the significance of personal identity and the recognition that individuals
have the right to a name that reflects their self-worth and protects them from social stigmas.
❖ While the right to change one's name is considered a fundamental right, it is not an absolute right and is
subject to reasonable restrictions. The Allahabad High Court clarified that these restrictions must be fair,
just, and reasonable.
Merit Over Caste in Temple Priest Appointment

❖ The Madras High Court has recently made a significant ruling that highlights the importance of meritocracy
and equality in the appointment of temple priests.
❖ The court's decision comes in response to a writ petition filed in 2018, challenging a job announcement for
the post of Archagar/Sthanigar (temple priest) in Sri Sugavaneswarar Swamy Temple, Salem (TN).
❖ The petitioner argued for appointments based on traditional guidelines mentioned in the temple's Agama
scriptures and the hereditary rights of long-serving priests.
❖ The court ruled in favor of merit-based appointments, rejecting the petitioner's claim.
❖ Legal and Historical Aspects of Temple Priest Appointments: Legal Aspects: Article 15 prohibits
discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. It states that the State shall
not discriminate against any citizen on these grounds in matters of employment or access to public
places.
❖ Also, states have the authority to regulate religious institutions and their affairs, including the appointment
of temple priests. State legislation may prescribe qualifications, procedures, and eligibility criteria for such
appointments.
❖ Historical Aspects: In many Hindu temples, the tradition of hereditary appointments has prevailed, where
temple priesthood is passed down within specific families or castes.
❖ Temples often follow Agama scriptures that provide guidelines for temple rituals and practices.
❖ This practice is often based on the belief in ancestral knowledge and purity of lineage.
❖ However, in some regions open competitions or selection based on qualifications are also prevalent.
❖ SC Judgements regarding Temple Priest Appointments: Seshammal & others vs. State of Tamil Nadu
(1972): The SC held that the appointment of an Archaka (temple priest) is a secular function, and
the performance of religious service by the priests is an integral part of the religion.
❖ The court differentiated between the secular and religious aspects and stated that the prescription
provided by the Agamas (scriptures) is significant only for the performance of the religious service.
❖ Any individual, regardless of caste or creed, can be appointed as an Archaka if they are well-versed and
qualified in the Agamas and the rituals required for temple worship.
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❖ Based on this decision of the SC, the Madras HC in this case has held that ancestry based on caste will
have no role to play in the appointment of Archaka if the person so selected otherwise satisfies the
requirements.
❖ N. Adithayan vs. Travancore Devaswom Board (2002): The SC rejected the customary claim that only
Brahmins (in this case Malayala Brahmins) can perform rituals in temples.
❖ The court ruled that trained individuals qualified to perform the puja in an appropriate manner can carry
out the rituals. The SC emphasised that the restriction of only Brahmins performing rituals in certain
temples was due to historical reasons, such as limited access to Vedic literature and sacred initiation.
❖ Agama Shastra: Agama Shastra is a manual for worship, rituals and construction of temples in Hinduism.
In Sanskrit, agama means “handed down by tradition” and shastra refers to a commentary or treatise.
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Sporting Affairs
Ranji Trophy
❖ Ranji Trophy 2022-23 started from 13 December, 2022 and will end on 20th February, 2023.
th
❖ The Ranji Trophy founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was named after one of
India’s first test cricketer, Ranjitsinhji, who played for England and Sussex.
❖ Ranjitsinhji known as ‘Father of Indian cricket’, never actually played for India.
❖ Largely regional in nature, the Ranji Trophy can be summed up as a domestic firstclass cricket series
played by various regional teams against one another.
❖ The series was announced in 1934, and the initial fixtures took place in 1934-35. Maharaja Bhupinder
Singh of Patiala donated the trophy.
❖ Madhya Pradesh won the 2021–22 Ranji Trophy.
Related Static GK
❖ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the national governing body of cricket in India. Its
headquarters are situated at Cricket centre, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
❖ Grant Govan was the first BCCI president and Anthony De Mello was its first secretary. Roger Binny is the
incumbent BCCI president and Jay Shah is secretary.
❖ Other Domestic Cricket Tournaments: Duleep Trophy (named after Shri Duleepsinhji), Vijay Hazare Trophy
(Vijay Hazare), Deodhar Trophy (Dinkar Balwant Deodhar), Irani Cup (Zal R. Irani) and Syed Mushtaq Ali
Trophy
Hockey World Cup

❖ Ahead of Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023, Odisha Chief Minister has inaugurated Birsa Munda Hockey
Stadium, one of the largest hockey stadiums in Rourkela.
❖ The 15th edition International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World Cup 2023 was held in Bhubaneswar
and Rourkela from January 13 to 29.
❖ While the initial editions were held every two years, since 1982 the tournament has been held every four
years, bisecting the Olympic cycle.
❖ Pakistan was the inaugural world Cup winner, defeating Spain in 1971.
❖ The last world Cup hockey was played in 2018, where Belgium was the winner by defeating the
Netherlands.
❖ International Hockey Federation (FIH), founded in 1924, is responsible for field hockey’s major
international tournaments, notably the World Cup. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
❖ The FIH is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the sole ultimate governing body for the
sport of Hockey throughout the world.
❖ Hockey India launched the hockey anthem, Jai Ho Hindustan Ki for the world cup. This was composed by
Prem Anand and sung by Sukhwinder Singh.
❖ Mascot: Olly
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❖ Germany won their third title after defeating the defending champions Belgium in the final 5–4. The
Netherlands captured the bronze medal by winning 3–1 against Australia.
❖ India coach Graham Reid resigns after Hockey World Cup
❖ India, which lost to New Zealand in a crossover match finished at 9th place and stayed at sixth rank in
International ranking.
❖ Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh
India Football’s Vision 2047

❖ The All India Football Federation unveiled its strategic roadmap with ‘Vision 2047’, hoping that in the
country’s centenary year of independence, India will emerge as a new powerhouse of Asian football.
❖ AIFF has broken down ‘Vision 2047’ into six four-year strategic plans. The first of these will look to cover
the period till 2026.
❖ National Football Philosophy: The national football philosophy of India would be based on collecting data
from scouting, creating a technical curriculum, focusing on coach and player development and hoping it
would translate into a talent pool for the national team. To create a national playing philosophy, the AIFF
will develop the Coach Education Program to improve the quality of football at all levels of the ecosystem.
❖ Vibrant Footballing Ecosystem. The roadmap envisions India to be among the top four footballing nations
in Asia, host one of the top leagues in Asia, and create a vibrant footballing ecosystem.
❖ Village Grassroots Programmes: AIFF aims to implement village grassroots programmes to reach 35
million children across 100 villages throughout India and also aim to register 1 million registered players
and provide football education to 25 million children through Football for Schools.
❖ Enhancement of Women Participation: A four-level league table pyramid will be created for women’s
football by 2026 with the top of the pyramid to be occupied by the Indian Women’s League (featuring 10
teams), followed by the 2nd Division (8 teams). AIFF has also targeted a minimum of 20 states to
implement the new women’s youth structures by 2027.
❖ Infrastructure: The AIFF will improve infrastructure by putting in place policy interventions that will
incentivise government authorities, football clubs, corporates, and private investors to invest in
infrastructure.
All India Football Federation
❖ It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier
domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and teams.
❖ The AIFF was founded in 1937, and gained FIFA affiliation in the year 1948, after India's independence in
1947.
❖ Currently, it has an office in Dwarka, New Delhi. India was one of the founding members of the Asian
Football Confederation in 1954.
❖ President: Kalyan Chaubey General Secretary: Shaji Prabhakaran
Australia Open 2023

❖ Australian Open Tennis Tournament is an annual tennis tournament managed by Tennis Australia.
Australian Open Tennis Tournament founded in 1905.
❖ On January 27, 2023, Sania Mirza ends glorious Grand Slam career after finishing as runner-up in Australian
Open mixed doubles final.
❖ Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna lost to the Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the final of
the mixed doubles.
❖ The Australian Open is a major tennis tournament held annually in Melbourne Park in Melbourne over the
last fortnight of January.
❖ The Australian Open is the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments held each year. The other tournaments
are French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
❖ The tournament is for both men and women.
❖ Australian Open was played on grass courts prior to 1988. Since then, three types of hardcourt surfaces
have been used. Green coloured Rebound Ace up to 2007, blue Plexicushion from 2008 to 2019, and blue
GreenSet since 2020.
❖ AO started on 16 January and ended on 29 January
❖ The men’s singles champions at the Australian Open are awarded the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, while
the women’ singles champions are awarded the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup
❖ Australian Open 2023 Men’s Singles winner – Novak Djokovic
❖ Australian Open 2023 Women’s Singles winner – Aryna Sabalenka
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❖ Australian Open 2023 Men’s Doubles winner – Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler
❖ Australian Open 2023 Women’s Doubles winner – Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
❖ Australian Open 2023 Mixed Doubles winner – Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos
Facts About Australia Open
❖ Australian Open has been held 110 times including the Amateur Era from 1905 to 1968 and the Open Era
from 1969 till date.
❖ While the Australian Open is being held every Year, It did not take place during the two World Wars and also
in 1986 due to change in dates.
❖ In the Amateur Era, Roy Emerson (1963-1967) holds the record for the most titles in the men’s singles
competition, winning Australian Open six times.
❖ In the Open Era, since the inclusion of professional tennis players in 1969, Novak Djokovic (2008, 2011-
2013, 2015, 2016, 2019-2021, 2023) holds the record for the most men’s Singles titles with ten.
❖ While the event only started with the men’s singles competition, the women’s singles and the three doubles
competition were later added to the event. In the Open Era, all the five competitions have been held every
year.
❖ In women’s singles, Margaret Court holds the record for most titles in the Australian Open, with eleven titles
across the Amateur and Open eras. Court has won the title seven times in the Amateur Era and four in the
Open Era.
❖ In the Open Era, Serena Williams has dominated with seven titles
Sania Mirza
❖ India’s former doubles World No. 1 champion, Sania Mirza, has announced that she will retire from
professional tennis in February at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai.
❖ The 36-year-old has had a successful career, winning six Grand Slam doubles titles and becoming the first
Indian to win a WTA singles title when she won the Hyderabad event in 2005. Mirza reached a career-high
ranking of world number 27 and is regarded as her country’s greatest women’s tennis player.
❖ In addition to her success in women’s doubles, Mirza has also had a successful career in mixed doubles.
She won her first mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in 2009, partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi. The
pair earned a second victory at the 2012 French Open. Mirza’s third mixed doubles title came at the 2014
US Open, where she partnered with Brazilian player Bruno Soares. In 2015, she partnered with Swiss legend
Martina Hingis and won three back-to-back Grand Slam doubles titles.
Portugal’s New Manager

❖ Former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has been named the new manager of Portugal's national squad,
the country's football federation (FPF) said on Monday.
❖ Martinez, from Spain, stepped down as Belgium's coach following his side's World Cup group stage exit,
saying he had made the decision to end his six-year tenure some time ago and would have left even if they
had been crowned champions.
❖ Martinez, 49, is replacing former Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who also left his job after the team
suffered a shock defeat by Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Football Retirement
❖ France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris announced his retirement from international football at the
age of 36. "I have always said over and over again that the French team doesn't belong to anyone, and we all
have to make sure that's the case, me first," Lloris told L'Equipe in an interview.
❖ Gareth Bale who played for Welsh announced his retirement from club and international football, bringing
to an end one of the most decorated careers in British football history. Bale inspired Wales to qualify for
two European Championships and a first World Cup since 1958 and won five CL titles in nine years at Real
Madrid between 2013 and 2022.
1st Indian Women to Win Olympic Medal

❖ The First Indian Woman to Win an Olympic Medal was Karnam Malleswari. She is a retired Indian weightlifter
who won a bronze medal on September 19, 2000, in Sydney Olympics. In 1994 in Istanbul, she also became
the first Indian woman to win a weightlifting world championship. She was given the Arjuna Award in 1994,
and in 1999, she was given the civilian Padma Shri award and India’s highest sports honor, the Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna Award.
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❖ Karnam Malleswari earned several medals at the World Championships. This includes the bronze medal in
1993 in Melbourne, the Gold medal in 1994 and 1995 in Istanbul and Guangzhou, respectively, and a bronze
medal in 1996 in Guangzhou. Over the years, several Indian women have competed in the Olympics. So far,
seven Indian women have taken home Olympic medals. They are Karnam Malleswari, Mary Kom, Saina
Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu (twice), Sakshi Malik, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain.
❖ Sakshi Malik – She is a freestyle wrestler from India. In the 58 kg category, she took home the bronze
medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She was the first female wrestler from India to take home Olympic
gold.
❖ P V Sindhu – She is the first Indian to win the world championship in badminton. She is the first Indian
woman to earn a silver medal at an Olympics. In 2020, she received the Padma Bhushan award as well.
❖ Saina Nehwal – She is the first shuttler from India to win two gold medals in singles at the Commonwealth
Games (2010 and 2018). In 2016, she was also given the Padma Bhushan award.
5th Khelo India youth Games

❖ The Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs (Anurag Thakur) inaugurated the 5th edition of Khelo India
Youth Games 2022 in Madhya Pradesh at the Tatya Tope Nagar Stadium (Bhopal).
❖ Around 6000 players from across the country will try their sports skills for more than 900 medals in 27
sports events of these games. For the first time sports like kayaking, canoeing, canoe slalom and fencing
will be part of the Khelo India Youth Games.
❖ The theme for this edition is - 'Hindustan Ka Dil Dhadka Do'.
❖ The Khelo India Youth Games was started in 2018 under the name Khelo India School Games. The aim of
these games is to find and groom sports talents at the local level and train them for national and
international sports events.
❖ India’s sports budget has also been increased to Rs. 2000 crores and in the next 5 years, a budget of Rs.
3200 crores will be given for Khelo India.
Indian Won U19 Women’s T20 World Cup

❖ The Indian Under-19 women's cricket team created a new history on 29th January, 2023 by becoming
the first champions of the ICC U-19 T20 Women’s World Cup. The team was led by Shafali Verma.
❖ This victory is significant because it is the first time that the Indian women’s team has won the World Cup
title. In the past, the senior Indian women's team has reached the finals of the T20 and 50 over World Cups.
With 36 balls to spare, the Indian team defeated the England women's team by 7 wickets in the final.
The BCCI General Secretary announced a reward of Rs. 5,00,00,000.
❖ Host: South Africa
❖ Runners-up: England
❖ Player of the Series: Grace Scrivens
❖ Most Runs: Shweta Sehrawat (297)
❖ Most Wickets: Maggie Clark (12)
World Athletics Bans Transgender Womens

❖ World Athletics, the governing body for athletics, has announced a ban on transgender women from
competing in elite female competitions if they have gone through male puberty.
❖ The council has also imposed stricter regulations on athletes with Differences in Sex Development
(DSD) by reducing the maximum amount of plasma testosterone for athletes in half, from 5 to 2.5
nanomoles per litre.
❖ According to World Athletics, the ban on transgender women competing in elite female competitions is
based on the need to protect the female category.
❖ The tighter rules will impact DSD athletes such as Caster Semenya, Christine Mboma, and Francine
Niyonsaba.
❖ At the 2020 Olympics, Semenya and Niyonsaba were both barred from the 800m race and turned their
attention to the 5,000m, while Mboma won silver in the 200m.
❖ Swimming's world governing body, World Aquatics, has also banned transgender women from elite
competition if they have experienced any part of male puberty.
❖ DSD is a condition in which an individual's physical sex characteristics do not align with typical male or
female development.
❖ This can include various genetic, hormonal, or anatomical differences, leading to conditions such
as intersex or ambiguous genitalia.
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❖ In the context of athletics, DSD athletes may have naturally high levels of testosterone, which has been a
subject of controversy and regulation in sports.
❖ For instance, DSD athletes have male testes but do not produce enough of the
hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that is necessary for the formation of male external genitalia.
World Athletics
❖ World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International
Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, covering
track and field, cross country running, road running, race walking, mountain running, and ultra running.
❖ Headquarter: Monaco
❖ Founded: 17 July 1912, Stockholm, Sweden
❖ President: Sebastian Coe
❖ First President: Sigfrid Edstrom
Women’s World Boxing Championship

❖ Nikhat Zareen (2 world title) and Lovlina Borgohain (1st world title) won two gold medals for India in the
nd
Women’s World Boxing Championship.

❖ held in New Delhi, India from 15 to 26 March 2023. India topped the medal tally for the first time after
2006.
❖ The Women's World Boxing Championship was organised by the International Boxing Association
(IBA). The mission of IBA is to promote, support and govern the sport of boxing worldwide in accordance
with the requirements and spirit of the Olympic Charter.
❖ The Olympic Charter is the codification of the fundamental principles of Olympism, and the rules and bye-
laws (a set of rules or laws established by an organization or community so as to regulate itself) adopted
by the International Olympic Committee.
Laureus World Sports Awards 2023

❖ Recently, the winners of the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards were announced. The Awards were held in
person in Paris for the first time since 2020.
❖ The awards are conferred annually to honour the greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs of the
year and showcases the work of Laureus Sport for Good.
❖ The first Laureus World Sports Award ceremony took place on May 25, 2000.
❖ American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
❖ It is often referred to as the sporting equivalent of the Oscars.
❖ Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Winner of 2023: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
o Lionel Messi became the first footballer to be awarded the Sportsman of the Year (in 2020)
❖ Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Winner of 2023: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)
❖ Laureus World Team of the Year: Winner of 2023: Argentina Men's Football Team
❖ Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Winner of 2023: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
❖ Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Winner of 2023: Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
❖ Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Winner of 2023: Eileen Gu (China)
❖ Laureus Sport for Good: Winner of 2023: TEAMUP (Global)
o TeamUp is a psycho-social support intervention developed by War Child, Save the Children
and UNICEF Netherlands, which helps children in difficult situations to relieve stress and tension.
❖ Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year With a Disability: Winner of 2023: Catherine Debrunner
(Switzerland)
❖ The shortlist for World Athlete of the Year with a Disability is provided by the International Paralympic
Committee.
❖ Important Awardees: Roger Federer holds the record for winning the most awards. The Swiss tennis
player has won six awards, five for Sportsman of the Year and one for Comeback of the Year.
❖ Serena Williams holds the record for winning the most award by a female.
❖ Lionel Messi – who led Argentina to the World Cup in 2022 – became the first athlete to win the Laureus
World Sportsman of the Year and also pick up the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in the same year
i.e, 2023.
❖ Other Categories of Awards: Apart from these regular seven awards, there are some more awards that
were awarded which are discretionary awards. These include: Lifetime Achievement Award, Sport for Good
Award, Spirit of Sport Award, Exceptional Achievement Award & Sporting Inspiration Award
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Men’s World Boxing Championships
❖ Prime Minister of India has conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Deepak Bhoria, Hussamuddin, and
Nishant Dev for their remarkable achievement in the Men's World Boxing Championships held in
Tashkent. They have created history by ensuring India’s best-ever haul of three medals at the prestigious
tournament. Deepak Bhoria (51kg) won silver, Hussamuddin (57kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) won bronze
medals in the semifinals.
❖ The Men's World Boxing Championships, taking place from April 30 to May 14, 2023, in Uzbekistan, is a
prominent event that brings together more than 400 boxers from across the globe, competing in 13 weight
categories to claim victory and honor. Organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and
the Boxing Federation of Uzbekistan, with the support of the Government of Uzbekistan, the tournament
not only showcases top-notch boxing skills but also serves as a platform to celebrate the vibrant culture
and warm hospitality of Uzbekistan.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme

❖ Olympian and World Championship silver medallist archer Atanu Das has been re-introduced in the Target
Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
❖ Other big names to be included in TOPS are rifle shooter Mehuli Ghosh and 15-year-old Tilottama Sen, who
won bronze in 10m air rifle event at International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup 2023 held in Cairo,
Egypt.
❖ A total of 27 new names were inducted in the TOPS Core and Development lists which now takes the total
number of TOPS athletes to 270 (101 in Core, 169 in Development).
❖ Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): To improve India’s performance at Olympics and
Paralympics, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Anurag Thakur) started the Target Olympic Podium
Scheme (TOPS) in September 2014.
❖ This was revamped in April 2018 to establish a technical support team for managing the TOPS athletes
and providing holistic support.
❖ High Priority Sports: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is responsible for appointment of TOPS
members with emphasis on ensuring representation from ‘High-Priority’ sports (Archery, Badminton,
Boxing, Hockey, Shooting and Wrestling).
❖ Recent Success: The TOPS sponsored athletes gained relative success at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the
2018 Commonwealth Games.
❖ P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik captured silver and bronze in Badminton and Wrestling respectively at
the 2016 Rio Olympics.
❖ In the 2016 Paralympic Games, the TOPS Athletes won 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze demonstrating the
effectiveness of the Scheme.
❖ Mission Olympic Cell: The Mission Olympic Cell is a dedicated body created to assist the athletes who are
selected under the TOP Scheme.
❖ The MOC is under the Chairmanship of the Director General, Sports Authority of India (DG, SAI).
❖ National Sports Development Fund (NSDF): The NSDF was established in November, 1998 under
Charitable Endowments Act, 1890 with the aim of promotion of sports and games in the country. NSDF has
been vital in the working of TOPS across disciplines.
❖ Upcoming Olympic Events: Summer Olympics 2024: Paris, France, Winter Olympics 2026: Milan-Cortina
d'Ampezzo, Italy, Summer Olympics 2028: Los Angeles, USA & Summer Olympics 2032: Brisbane,
Australia
ISSF World Cup

❖ Sarabjot Singh and TS Divya emerged as champions in the mixed team 10m air pistol event at the ISSF
World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. They defeated Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic of Serbia to claim
the gold medal.
❖ The ISSF World Cup is an international shooting sport competition organised by the International Shooting
Sport Federation (ISSF). The ISSF is the governing body for the Olympic shooting events and is
responsible for overseeing and promoting the shooting sport on a global scale.
2023 SAFF Championship

❖ The 2023 SAFF Championship is a biennial international men's football tournament for South Asian
countries, organized by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
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❖ The 14th edition of the tournament will be hosted by India in Bengaluru from June 21 to July 3, 2023. India
is the defending champion, having won its eighth title in 2021 by defeating Nepal in the final.
❖ The tournament will feature eight teams, including two guest teams from outside the region: Kuwait and
Lebanon. Sri Lanka was unable to participate due to its suspension by FIFA (Fédération internationale de
Football Association), while Afghanistan withdrew from SAFF and joined the Central Asian Football
Federation. The eight teams are divided into two groups of four each, with the top two teams from each
group advancing to the semi-finals. India is drawn in Group A with Kuwait, Nepal, and Pakistan, while
Lebanon is in Group B with Maldives, Bhutan, and Bangladesh
❖ SAFF was formed in 1997 by founding Member Associations from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and SriLanka. The SAFF motto ‘Unity in Strength’ depicts the power and bond of these seven
Member Associations which is currently epitomized by the leader and President of SAFF. The SAFF
Secretariat currently operates from Dhaka, Bangladesh. The SAFF is a part of the larger Asian Football
Confederation (AFC).
Khelo India University Games 2023

❖ The Prime Minister virtually inaugurated the 3rd edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) in Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh, marking the beginning of a new era for sports in India.
❖ The mascot of the 3rd edition of Khelo India University Games is named Jitu, which represents Swamp
Deer (Barasingha) - the state animal of Uttar Pradesh.
❖ The first edition was Khelo India University Games held in Odisha in 2020, the second edition was held
in Bangalore, Karnataka in 2022 (shifted from 2021 to 2022 due to Covid-19 pandemic).
❖ The games will witness the participation of over 4750 athletes from more than 200 Universities competing
in 21 sports categories. Competitions will take place in Varanasi, Lucknow, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and
Gorakhpur.
❖ Khelo India, which translates to ‘Let’s play India’, was proposed by the government of India
in 2017 to revive India’s sporting culture by engaging with children at the grassroots level.
❖ The initiative also focused on building better sporting infrastructure and academies across the country for
various sports.
❖ It is implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Anurag Thakur)
❖ Competitions Under Khelo India: Under this movement, the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), the Khelo
India University Games (KIUG) and the Khelo India Winter Games were set up as annual national sports
competitions where youngsters, representing their states and universities, respectively, showcased their
skills and competed for medals.
Golden Globe Race

❖ Commander Abhilash Tommy (retd.) created history as the first Indian to complete the Golden Globe Race
on April 29, finishing in second place after a gruelling 236 days alone at sea in his sail boat named Bayanat.
❖ South African sailor Kirsten Neuschafer also scripted her name into maritime history, becoming the first
woman to win the Golden Globe Race (GGR).
❖ The retired Naval Commander, who is also a recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award,
had on March 22, 2022, declared his participation in the Golden Globe Race 2022, one of the most
dangerous and craziest of endeavours.
❖ He also represented India in the Golden Globe Race 2018 (GGR) on an indigenously built sailing vessel
‘Thuriya’ was dismasted and suffered a back injury and ended up With a titanium rod in his spine.
❖ The race started on September 4, 2022 from the French port of Les Sables-d’Olonne, with 16 sailors from
11 countries.
❖ The uniqueness of the race is that as boat designs and technology newer than 1968 are not permitted, the
use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communication and navigational aids are forbidden in
the 30,000 mile journey.
❖ The historic race is being conducted by the U.K.’s Sir Robin Knox Johnston, to commemorate the world’s
first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by him in 1968, onboard the Indian-built boat Suhaili.
Roland – Garros (French Open)

❖ The Stade Roland Garros in Paris is hosting the Roland-Garros tournament also known as the French Open,
which took place from May 28, 2023, until June 11, 2023.
❖ Roland-Garros is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, along with the Australian Open,
Wimbledon and the US Open. It is held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.
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❖ It is the only Grand Slam event played on clay courts, which makes it the most physically demanding and
tactically challenging tournament in the world.
❖ History and Significance of Roland-Garros: The tournament and venue are named after Roland Garros, a
French aviator who was the first person to fly across the Mediterranean Sea in 1913.
❖ He was also a pioneer of aerial warfare during World War I and died in combat in 1918.
❖ The tournament was first held in 1891 as a national championship for French players only.
❖ It became open to international players in 1925 and moved to its current location in 1928.
❖ It was the first Grand Slam tournament to join the “Open” era in 1968, allowing both amateurs and
professionals to compete.
❖ Note: Rafal Nadal has won a record 14 titles at Roland-Garros, including four consecutive ones from 2005
to 2008 and five consecutive ones from 2010 to 2014. He also holds the record for the most match wins
(105) and the highest winning percentage (98.2%) at the tournament. Unfortunately, he is not participating
in the Roland-Garros 2023 tournament.
❖ Major Features: French Fair: Roland-Garros is not only a tennis tournament, but also a cultural and artistic
event that showcases the French flair and elegance. Courts: Roland-Garros has 20 courts, including three
main show courts: Court Philippe-Chatrier, Court Suzanne-Lenglen and Court Simonne-Mathieu.
❖ The courts are made of crushed brick and limestone, which give them their distinctive red colour and slow
down the ball speed.
❖ Major Trophies: The two of the most iconic trophies in the event are: the Coupe des Mousquetaires
(Musketeers’ Trophy) for men and the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen (Suzanne Lenglen Trophy) for women.
❖ The trophies are named after four French tennis legends: René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and
Jacques Brugnon for men, and Suzanne Lenglen for women.
❖ Grand Slam: Grand Slam tournaments, also called majors, are the four most important annual tennis
events.
❖ The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid-January, the French Open from around
late May to early June, Wimbledon in June–July, and the US Open in August–September.
❖ Each tournament is played over a two-week period.
❖ The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts, the French on clay, and
Wimbledon on grass.
❖ Wimbledon is the oldest, founded in 1877, followed by the US in 1881, the French in 1891, and the
Australian in 1905.
❖ Novak Djokovic equalised Rafael Nadal’s (Both 22) record of most grand slam titles by winning the 2023
Australian Open.
❖ Among Women’s Serena Williams (23) has won the most grand slams followed by Steffi Graf (22) and
Martina Navratilova (18).
❖ Djokovic & Swiatek Historic Win
❖ Novak Djokovic made history at the French Open,2023 securing his third title at Roland-Garros and
solidifying his position as the most successful men's singles tennis player. Despite a slow start, the 36-
year-old Serbian overpowered his Norwegian opponent, Casper Ruud, with a straight sets victory of 7-6 (1),
6-3, 6-5.
❖ This win marked Djokovic's 23rd major men's singles crown, surpassing all other players in the history of
the sport. He also equaled Serena Williams' record for the most Grand Slam titles won in the Open Era
❖ Meanwhile, in the women's division, Iga Swiatek, the world number one player, successfully defended her
title at Roland Garros. In a thrilling final against Karolina Muchova, Swiatek emerged victorious with a
score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. This marked Swiatek's third career championship at the French Open and her fourth
Grand Slam title overall.
Squash World Cup 2023

❖ The WSF (World Squash Federation) board has decided the Venue for the 2023 Squash World Cup to be
held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
❖ There are eight teams from four different continents playing in the Chennai Squash World Cup: Australia;
Colombia; Egypt; Hong Kong, China; India; Japan; Malaysia; South Africa.
❖ Squash is a game of agility, strategy, talent, and physical and mental strength.
❖ Squash is typically played by two players for singles matches or four players for doubles matches.
❖ The game is played on a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. The ball should be hit against
the front wall, above the tin (a boundary line near the floor) and below the outline.
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❖ A match consists of the best of either three or five games. Each game is played with 11 points. The first
player to reach 11 points wins the game, unless the score becomes 10-all. In that case, the game continues
until one player leads by two points.
❖ The Squash World Cup is an International Tournament in which national team squads represented by two
men and two women play ties of four matches against each other.
❖ History: The first Squash World Cup took place in 1996 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, with 16 teams
participating.
❖ Australia, the top seeds, defeated England, the second seeds, in the final with a score of 3-0.
❖ In 1999, England became champions in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
❖ In 2011, Egypt lifted the trophy in Chennai. In the following year, an Under 21 World Cup was held in
Chennai.
❖ Changes: 2023's event has introduced some changes. Teams now have gender parity, meaning equal
representation of male and female players.
❖ Additionally, the games are played to seven points, which is a first in the history of the World Squash
Federation.
❖ Rules: Competition Format: The World Cup will consist of two round-robin pools, followed by a knockout
stage.
❖ Team Composition: Ties shall be contested by teams of two men and two women.
❖ Match Scoring: All matches will be played to a best of 5 games to 7 points. At 6-6, the game will still be
played to 7 points.
World Squash Federation (WSF)
❖ Formed in 1967, the WSF is the International Federation for squash, also a member of the General
Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and of the Association of IOC Recognised
International Sports Federations (ARISF).
❖ WSF has a membership of 123 National Squash Federations and a close working alliance with its five
Continental Federations.
❖ Headquarters: Hastings, United Kingdom
❖ President: Zena Wooldridge (England)
❖ Emeritus President: Jahangir Khan
❖ Vice-Presidents: Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Karim Darwish, Debendranath Sarangi (India) and Pablo Serna
❖ CEO: William Louis-Marie
❖ Between 2008 – 2016 Narayana Ramachandran of India was the President of WSF
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Important Days
DRDO Foundation Day
❖ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated the 65th Foundation Day on 1st January
2023.
❖ DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of
the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence
Science Organisation (DSO).
❖ It is a network of more than 50 laboratories that are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies
covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems
etc.
❖ Recent Developments - Extreme Cold Weather Clothing (ECWCS), ‘Pralay’, Controlled Aerial Delivery
System, etc.
World Braille Day

❖ Since 2019, World Braille Day is observed on the 4th January every year. The aim is to raise awareness of the
importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of human rights for blind and
partially sighted people.
❖ Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is a tactile representation of alphabetic
and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical
and scientific symbols. Braille is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and
periodicals as those printed in a visual font.
World War Orphans Day

❖ World Day of War Orphans is observed on 6th January every year to acknowledge the plight of children
orphaned due to war or other conflicts. Wars, invasions, and other military conflicts cause many children to
lose their parents. World Day of War Orphans is an attempt to highlight the problems that such orphaned
children face.
❖ No official theme is set for War Orphans Day. The observation generally revolves around holding discussions
about the plight of orphaned children
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

❖ Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian
community to the development of India.
❖ The Prime Minister inaugurated the 17th three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore, Madhya
Pradesh and a digital exhibition on the contribution of the diaspora in the freedom struggle. He also
released a commemorative stamp, ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen’ on the occasion.
❖ 9th January was chosen as the day to celebrate PBD since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi,
the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives
of Indians forever.
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❖ This day came into effect in 2003, but in 2015 it was revised and was decided to be celebrated every two
years. It was then a theme-based conference that was set up every year during the interim period.
❖ PBD 2023: The theme is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal”.
❖ On this day, the Government also confers Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
❖ It is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO); or an
organisation or institution established and run by NRI OR PIO, who have made significant contributions to a
better understanding of India abroad, support India's causes and concerns in a tangible way.
❖ Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, US-based businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, and DBS Bank
CEO Piyush Gupta are among 21 recipients of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), given by
President Draupadi Murmu.
Classification
❖ Non-Resident Indians (NRI): NRIs are Indians who are residents of foreign countries. A person is considered
NRI if: She/he is not in India for 182 days or more during the financial year Or; If he/she is in India for less
than 365 days during the 4 years preceding that year and less than 60 days in that year.
❖ Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs): PIO refers to a foreign citizen (except a national of Pakistan, Afghanistan
Bangladesh, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal) who: At any time held an Indian passport, or who or
either of their parents/ grandparents/great grandparents was born and permanently resided in India as
defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 or who is a spouse of a citizen of India or a PIO. The PIO
category was abolished in 2015 and merged with the OCI category.
❖ Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs): A separate category of OCI was carved out in 2005. An OCI card was
given to a foreign national: Who was eligible to be a citizen of India on January 26, 1950; Was a citizen of
India on or at any time after January 26, 1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after
August 15, 1947; Minor children of such individuals, except those who were a citizen of Pakistan or
Bangladesh, were also eligible for OCI cards.
Related Static GK
❖ USA has the largest Indian overseas Diaspora followed by UAE and Malaysia
❖ Government Initiative Related to Overseas Indian:-
❖ VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty) Scheme: It formalizes a rotation program wherein top
NRI scientists, engineers, doctors, managers and professionals serve Indian public sector organizations for
a brief period, lending their expertise.
❖ Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY): To institutionalize the process of skill development of emigrant
Indian workers.
Vishwa Hindi Diwas

❖ Vishwa Hindi Diwas (VHD) or World Hindi Day (WHD) is celebrated every year on 10th January to promote the
Hindi language all around the world.
❖ It was first celebrated in 2006 to commemorate the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference which
was held in Nagpur on 10th January, 1975
❖ It marks the day when Hindi was first spoken in the United Nations' General Assembly in 1949. It is also
celebrated by Indian embassies located in various parts of the world.
❖ The World Hindi Secretariat building was inaugurated in Port Louis, Mauritius in 2018.
❖ Hindi Diwas is celebrated on 14th September annually, which focuses largely on recognition of the Hindi
language in India.
❖ Language Included in 8th Schedule: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani,
Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu Bodo, Santhali,
Maithili and Dogri.
❖ Article 351 pertains to ‘Directive for development of the Hindu Language’.
National Youth Day

th
❖ Every year 12 January is celebrated as National Youth Day (NYD) to mark the birth anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda. NYD was declared by GoI in 1984. Theme for 2023 - ‘Viksit Yuva - Viksit Bharat’.
❖ Swami Vivekananda was a key figure in the introduction of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta and Yoga to the
Western world, and he is credited with bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the
late 19th century.
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❖ He was also a strong advocate for social justice and worked to uplift the status of women and lower castes
in Indian society. He was the chief disciple of the 19 th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa and he
established Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
NCRCR Foundation Day

❖ National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which was set up in 2007 under the Commission for
Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on 12th January.
❖ To fully dedicate this occasion to the children, a Quiz was launched by the Commission on the occasion of
National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda Jayanti) to create awareness among children about child rights. It
is a platform to empower children for their rights.
Indian Army Day 2023

❖ The Indian Army commemorated 75th Army Day on 15th January at the Parade Grounds in Hyderabad.
❖ On this day in 1949, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-inChief of the
Indian Army, replacing his British predecessor (General Sir Francis Butcher). General Cariappa was second
of the only two Army officers to have held the five-star rank of Field Marshal (first being Sam
Manekshaw).
❖ The day honours the soldiers of the country, who have set the greatest example of selfless service and
brotherhood and more than anything the love for the country.
Veterans Day
❖ Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated every year on January 14. On this day, in 1953, the First Indian
Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Field Marshal KM Cariappa formally retired from the Services.
❖ He led the Indian Forces to Victory in the 1947 war against Pakistan.
❖ The day was first observed in 2016
National Startup Day

❖ On the occasion of National Startup Day (16th January), Startup India Innovation week culminated along with
National Start up Awards 2022.
❖ National Startup Awards 2022 given by Ministry of Commerce and Industry acknowledges startups and
enablers who have been instrumental in revolutionizing the development story of India.
❖ Startup India organized industry-focused webinars on the topic "Championing the billion-dollar dream".
❖ The Start-up ecosystem in India ranks third after that of the United States (US) and China. According to the
India Venture Capital Report 2021 published by Bain and Company, the number of cumulative start-ups has
grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17% since 2012.
❖ There are currently 105 unicorns, out of which 44 were born in 2021 and 19 in 2022. Majority of the startups
are from IT Sector
❖ Bengaluru, in particular, has been dubbed the "Silicon Valley of India" due to the large number of technology
companies based in the city.
NDRF Raising Day

❖ The Union Minister of Home Affairs recently greeted the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on its 18th
Raising Day (January 19). NDRF is the world’s largest rapid reaction force dedicated to disaster response.
❖ After a series of natural calamities including, the Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001)
and Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), among many others, the concerned authorities took necessary steps
towards designing a systematic disaster management plan. This led to the enactment of the Disaster
Management Act on December 26, 2005.
❖ NDRF was formed in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with the purpose of a specialised
response to natural and man-made disasters. The Kosi Floods in 2008 were NDRF’s first such mission.
❖ Can a Civilian join NDRF?: No, civilians do not have direct entry into NDRF. NDRF consists of personnel on
deputation from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Security
Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
❖ International Operations Performed by NDRF: Nepal Earthquake – April 2015, Japan Tsunami – March 2011
❖ Comes Under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Amit Shah), Government of India.
❖ Director General: Atul Karwal
❖ Moto: "आपदा सेवा सदै व"
❖ Currently, NDRF is made up of 12 Battalions.
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Parakram Diwas 2023
❖ On the Occasion of Parakram Diwas (23rd January) 2023, 21 unnamed islands of Andaman and
Nicobar have been named after Param Veer Chakra awardees.
❖ Netaji’s Memorial, a National Memorial dedicated to Netaji will be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Dweep.
❖ Parakram Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the 126th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Subhas
Chandra Bose.
❖ The islands named after Param Vir Chakra awardees will be the site of inspiration for generations to come.
People are now visiting Andamans to learn India’s history.
❖ Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour
during wartime whether on land, at sea or in the air.
❖ The islands have been named after Major Somnath Sharma, Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik)
Karam Singh, Nayak Jadunath Singh, etc.
❖ Besides renaming Ross Islands as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep in 2018, Neil Island and Havelock
Island were also renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep respectively.
❖ Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa
Division, Bengal Province, to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose.
❖ In 1919, he had cleared the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination. Bose,
however, resigned later.
❖ He was highly influenced by Vivekananda's teachings and considered him as
his spiritual Guru.
❖ His political mentor was Chittaranjan Das.
❖ He stood for unqualified swaraj (independence), and opposed the Motilal
Nehru Report which spoke for dominion status for India.
❖ He actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 and vehemently
opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement and signing of the
Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931.
❖ In the 1930s, he was closely associated with left politics in congress along
with Jawaharlal Nehru and M.N. Roy
❖ Bose won the congress presidential elections at Haripura in 1938. Again in 1939 at Tripuri, he won the
presidential elections against Gandhi's candidate Pattabhi Sitarammayya. Due to ideological differences
with Gandhi, Bose resigned and left congress. Rajendra Prasad was appointed in his place.
❖ He founded a new party, 'the Forward Bloc'. The purpose was to consolidate the political left and major
support base in his home state Bengal.
❖ He reached Japanese-controlled Singapore from Germany in July 1943, issued from there his famous
call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National
Army on 21st October 1943.
❖ The INA was first formed under Mohan Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara and comprised Indian
prisoners of war of the British-Indian Army captured by Japan in the Malayan (present-day Malaysia)
campaign and at Singapore.
❖ The INA fought allied forces in 1944 inside the borders of India in Imphal and in Burma.
❖ In November 1945, a British move to put the INA men on trial immediately sparked massive
demonstrations all over the country.
Related Static GK
❖ Prem Kumar Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were the second-tier commanders of
the Indian National Army (INA). They underwent court-martial procedure by the British at Red Fort in 1945
and were sentenced to death. However, following the widespread protests and unrest in India, they had to be
released.
❖ The Free Indian Legion was an infantry regiment formed by Indian volunteers. The legion was made up of
Indian prisoners of wars and expatriates in Europe.
❖ The Indian Independence leader, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose formed this legion with the help of
German Government to fight against the British.
❖ The legion is also known as “Tiger Legion“.
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National Girl Child Day
❖ On January 24, India celebrates National Girl Child Day with the objective of highlighting the prejudice and
injustice that girl children face. This day also encourages awareness of women's rights in our country. The
day was established in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
❖ Theme: ‘Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow’
❖ The government of India has taken many initiatives for the betterment of the girls. 'Beti Bachao and Beti
Padhao (BBBP)' is one such initiative. BBBP was recently revised.
National Voters’ Day

❖ Election Commission of India is celebrating 13th National Voters’ Day (NVD) on 25th January 2023.
❖ Theme: Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure.
❖ Awards 2023: National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices were presented to State and District level
officers for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections during 2022.
❖ The main objective behind the celebration is to encourage, facilitate, and maximize enrolment, especially
for new voters.
❖ The day has been celebrated every year since 2011 across the country to mark the foundation of the
Election Commission of India (25th January 1950).
Election Commission of India
❖ ECI is a Autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and state election Parties
❖ The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State legislative Assemblies in india
and the offices of President and Vice President
❖ Part 15 of the Constitution deals with ECI
❖ Established on 25th January 1950 also celebrated as Voters Day
❖ Article 324 to 329 deals with powers, Function, tenure, eligibility, etc of the ECI
❖ The commission consists of one chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners
❖ Recently President appointed Rajiv Kumar as 25th CEC and the other Election Commissioners are Anup
Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.
❖ Sukumar Sen was the First Chief Election Commissioner of india
❖ V.S Ramadevi was the first female Election Commissioner of india
❖ Kalyan Sundaram Longest Serving for 8 years 284 days.
❖ The secretariat of the commission is located in New Delhi.
❖ Tenure of 6 years or upto 65 years of age
❖ Judges of High Courts and Supreme Court, CEC, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) may be Removed
from office through a motion adopted by Parliament on grounds of ‘Proven misbehaviour or incapacity’.
❖ Removal requires special majority of 2/3rd members present and voting supported by more than 50% of the
total strength of the house.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day

❖ Holocaust means destruction on a large scale. International Holocaust Day is marked to commemorate the
Jewish people killed or massacred by Hitler and his army. More than six million Jews were killed during this
period. The day is marked on January 27. The United Nations passed a resolution in 2004 to mark this day.
❖ Theme: Home and Belonging
❖ The day reminds the world about the killing of more than two – thirds the Jewish population
❖ Hitler considered them inferior and wanted to eradicate the Jewish race from planet earth
❖ Human Rights activists and supporters consider the day a condemnation of religious harassment,
intolerance, violence, and unreasonable incitement.
National Tourism Day

❖ National Tourism Day is celebrated every year on January 25 to recognize India's natural beauty and raise
awareness about the importance of tourism for the Indian economy.
❖ The theme of National Tourism Day 2023 is not revealed yet. But like every year, the theme will focus on
encouraging tourism in India.
❖ The Ministry of Tourism in India (G. Kishan Reddy) is responsible for formulating the country's national
policies for developing and promoting tourism.
❖ India ranks 6th according to World Travel and Tourism Council in terms of Travel & Tourism total
contribution to GDP in 2021.
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❖ Travel & Tourism contributed 5.8% to GDP and the sector created 32.1 million jobs, which is equivalent to
6.9% of total jobs in 2021.
❖ Also, India is currently ranked 54th in World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (2021).
❖ According to Global Data, international arrivals to the country is forecast to reach 7.2 million in 2022 and 8.6
million in 2023.
❖ Responsible, Inclusive, Green and Hospitable Tourism (RIGHT): To ensure better accountability, all
stakeholders involved in tourism management need to be governed by a common umbrella of regulations.
❖ World Tourism Day: 27th September Theme: Rethinking Tourism
World Leprosy Day

❖ Every year last Sunday in January is observed as Leprosy Day. This year, it falls on 29th January. Leprosy is
also known as Hansen's disease.
❖ Theme 2023: Act Now, End Leprosy.
❖ History: World Leprosy Day was established in 1954 by French philanthropist Raoul Follereau.
❖ Objective: The main objective was to raise awareness about leprosy disease and to teach people about this
ancient disease that is now easily curable
❖ Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease which is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
❖ Leprosy is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than
200000 new cases reported every year.
❖ Symptoms: The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract
and eyes.
❖ Transmission: Leprosy is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent
contact with untreated cases.
❖ Treatment: Leprosy is curable with MDT (multi drug therapy) and treatment in the early stages can prevent
disability. The disease is not hereditary, leprosy does not transmit from parents to children
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❖ In 2017, the government launched nationwide Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) which aims at
communicating the importance of early detection and treatment of leprosy.
❖ National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) focuses on both prevention and cure, especially in
endemic regions. A Leprosy Case Detection Campaign was launched in March 2016, involving house-to-
house screening and referral of patients for diagnosis.
❖ Introduction of an indigenously developed vaccine for leprosy into the NLEP. The vaccine, known as
Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP), has been developed by National Institute of Immunology. This vaccine
will be administered as a preventive measure to those staying in close contact with leprosy patients.
❖ Cholera is a life-threatening infectious disease and a public health hazard.
❖ Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
❖ The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes can be severe.
❖ Vaccine: Currently there are three WHO pre-qualified Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and
Euvichol-Plus.
World Wetland Day

❖ World Wetland day is celebrated on 2 February Every year
❖ Theme: It is Time for Wetland Restoration
❖ Wetlands support a wide range of biodiversity and help to maintain natural cycles. They replenish water
resources and protect coastlines. They account for 4.7% of the Indian Geographical area. Today 30% of the
Indian wetlands have been lost. And 35% of wetlands have been lost at the world level. To create awareness
about the importance of wetlands and protect them from degrading, the UN and other international
organizations celebrate World Wetlands Day.
❖ 5 major types of Wetlands:
➢ Estuarine: Area where the freshwater river meets the ocean
➢ Marine: These wetlands are on the coastlines and are the most productive and most threatened
➢ Lacustrine: These wetlands are found near the lakes
➢ Palustrine: Found in a marshy environment. They are common in the mouth of rivers and delta
regions
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➢ Riverine: Found near rivers or riverbanks
❖ A Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, which is also known
as the ‘Convention on Wetlands’ — an intergovernmental environmental treaty established by UNESCO in
1971, and named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed that year. Came into
force on 21 December 1975.
❖ To increase the optimal use of wetlands in the cities and to improve their biodiversity the GoI launched the
Amrit Dharohar Scheme. The scheme was announced by the Finance Minister during her budget speech.
❖ India has total 75 Ramsar Sites
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❖ The Cobourg Peninsula in Australia was the first designated Ramsar site in 1974.
❖ The United Kingdom (175) has the world’s largest number of Ramsar Sites followed by Mexico.
❖ Bolivia has the largest area with 148,000 square km under the Convention protection
❖ India’s Ramsar wetlands are spread over 11,000 sq km — around 10% of the total wetland area in the country
— across 18 States.
❖ Chilika lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were the first Indian wetland added to the
Ramsar sites of India list in 1981.
❖ India has the highest number of Ramsar sites in South Asia.
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❖ Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India with 14 Indian Wetlands, followed by Uttar
Pradesh with 10 wetlands on the list (as of August 2022).
❖ Renuka Wetland is the smallest wetland Ramsar site of India.
❖ Sundarbans is the largest Ramsar Site in India.
❖ India has set up centre for conservation of wetlands at Chennai
❖ There are 9 critiria to classify ramsar site.
❖ Wetlands are Often called “nature’s kidneys” and “nature’s supermarket”, wetlands support millions of
people by providing food, and water, and controlling floods and storm.
Shaheed Diwas
❖ On January 30, 2023, India observes Martyrs' Day or Shaheed Diwas to pay tribute to all the freedom
fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country. The day is also marked as the death anniversary of the
nation's 'Bapu', Mahatma Gandhi.
❖ Martyrs’ Day or Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day is celebrated in India several times a year.
❖ Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on October 2, 1869, was one of the most influential leaders of India
and played a significant role in the independence of the country.
❖ On this day in 1948 Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in the Birla House in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
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Days About
March 23 On this day Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to
death by the British in Lahore Jail.
May 19 It is celebrated in Assam to remember the people who were killed by the state police
on May 19, 1961. The day was designated as Bhasha Shaheed Diwas or Language
Martyrs’ Day.
July 13 Jammu and Kashmir celebrates July 13 as Kashmir Martyr’s Day to remember people
who were killed, when demonstrating against the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh of
Kashmir.
November Odisha celebrates this day to remember famous freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on
17 his death anniversary.
November Jhansi celebrate this day, the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai, as Martyrs’ Day.
19 The day celebrates the contribution of all who passed away in the Revolt of 1857.
November It is celebrated as Martyrs’ Day by the Sikh community as it is the death anniversary of
24 ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur. He resisted the forced conversions of non-
Muslims and was executed publicly in 1675 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
Mahatma Gandhi
nd
❖ Born on 2 October 1869, Porbandar Gujarat (Celebrated as International Day of Non-Violence)
❖ Father of Nation (First Called by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose)
❖ Political Mentor: Gopal Krishna Gokhale
❖ Death: shot by Nathuram Godse on 30th January 1948
❖ Nominated for Nobel Peace Price 5 Times
❖ Gandhi in South Africa (1893-1915): Used satyagraha against racist regime (Native Africans and Indians
were Discriminated)
❖ Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) is celebrated every year on 9th January to commemorate his return from
South Africa.
❖ Small-Scale Movement like Chamapran SatyaGraha (1917), First Civil Disobedience, Ahmedabad Mill Strike
(1918), First Hunger Strike, and Kheda Stayagraha (1918), First-Non-Cooperation Movement
❖ Nationwide Mass movements: Against Rowlatt act (1919), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil
Disobedience Movement (1930-34), Quit India Movement (1942)
❖ Gandhi- Irwin Pact (1931): Between Gandhi and Lord Irwin that marks the end of a period of Civil
Disobedience.
❖ Poona Pact (1932): Between Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar, this abandons the idea of separate electorates for
the depressed classes (Communal Award).
❖ Books Written: Hind Swaraj, My Experiments with Truth
❖ Weeklies: Harijan, Navjivan, Young India, Indian Opinion
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47th Raising day of ICG
❖ On the occasion of its 47th raising day celebration, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) announced its decision to
install a new radar in the Sundarbans area for better patrolling and surveillance of the area while taking
guard against any terror activities from across the border.
❖ As the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world, it has played a significant role in securing the Indian coasts
and enforcing regulations in the maritime zones of India.
❖ In 1978 (establishment year), there were just seven surface platforms, now, ICG has grown into a
formidable force with 158 ships and 78 aircraft in its inventory and is likely to achieve targeted force levels
of 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by 2025.
❖ In keeping with the nation’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy the ICG has trained several
foreign officers and personnel below officer ranks in 2022.
❖ Director General: Virendra Singh Pathania
World Pulses Day

❖ The United Nations and several other international organizations and countries celebrate World Pulses Day
on February 10. The main objective of the celebration is to increase awareness of the nutritional benefits of
pulses. Also, the day aims to promote the environmental benefits of pulses and how pulses can help
countries in achieving their sustainable food delivery goals.
❖ Theme: Pulses for a Sustainable future
International Day for Women and Girls in Science

❖ Celebrated every year on 11 February since 2015
❖ Observed by the Uniter nations to promote the full and equal access and participation of Women in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
❖ Theme: Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance Sustain (I.D.E.A.S.)
Women who Shaped India
❖ Anandibai Gopalrao (1865-1887): First Indian female to study and graduate with a degree in western
medicines from the United States.
❖ Bibha Chowdary (1913-1991): First Women high energy physicist of India and the first women scientist at
the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TFIR)
❖ Kadambini Ganguly (1891-1923): Becomes India’s first female doctor & practitioner of western medicine in
the whole South Asia
❖ Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal (1897-1984): Made significant contribution to genetics, evolution,
phytogeography and ethnobotany. First director of the Central Botanical Laboratory at Allahabad.
❖ Debala Mitra (1925-2003): First Indian Archeologist served as Director General of the Archaeological Survey
of India
❖ Kamala Sohonie (1911-1998): First Indian Women to receive a PhD in a scientific discipline. Discovered the
enzyme 'Cytochrome C' (helps in energy synthesis).
❖ Anna Mani (1918-2001): First woman to join the Meteorological department
❖ Kamal Ranadive (1917-2001): Established India’s first tissue culture research laboratory at the Indian
Research Centre in Mumbai.
❖ Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay: She is the first woman director of Indian Statistical Institute. Awarded Padma
Shri in 2022
❖ Ms. Sujatha Ramdorai: She was awarded the Padma shri award in 2023. She become the first Indian to win
the prestigious ICTP Ramanujan Prize in 2006. She was also awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Ward ,
the highest honour in scientific fields by the Indian Government in 2004. She is also the recipient of the 2020
Krieger Nelson Prize for her exceptional contribution to Mathematics Research.
National Women’s Day
th
❖ 13 February marks the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. She was famously known as Bharatiya Kokila
(The Nightingale of India).
❖ India celebrates Sarojini Naidu's birth anniversary as National Women's Day.
❖ Sarojini Naidu, was an Indian independence activist, poet, and politician. She was born on February 13,
1879, in Hyderabad, India.
❖ She joined the Indian national movement in the wake of partition of Bengal in 1905. The British government
lauded Sarojini Naidu with the ‘Kaisar-i-Hind’ Medal for her service during the plague epidemic in India.
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❖ Naidu was elected as the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress(INC) in
1925(Kanpur Session) and continued to hold this position till 1928.
o Annie Besant was the first woman President of the INC who presided it in 1917.
❖ Naidu took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhi in 1920 and was arrested several
times for her involvement in various freedom activities.
❖ In 1930, Naidu was selected by Gandhi to lead the Salt Satyagraha, a nonviolent protest against the British
monopoly on salt production in India.
❖ In 1942, Sarojini Naidu was arrested during the "Quit India" movement and was jailed for 21 months with
Gandhiji.
❖ After India gained independence, Naidu was appointed as the governor of Uttar Pradesh, becoming the first
woman to hold a governor's office in India.
❖ Published in 1912, ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ remains one of her most popular poems. Her other works
include "The Golden Threshold (1905)", "The Bird of Time (1912)", and "The Broken Wing (1912)".
❖ She died on March 2, 1949, in Lucknow, India.
World Radio Day

❖ The Prime Minister of India greeted radio listeners and others associated with the broadcasting medium on
‘World Radio Day’.
❖ It is celebrated on 13th February, every year. The theme for this year is “Radio and Peace”.
❖ On 3rd November, 2011, the 36th session of UNESCO declared World Radio Day to be celebrated on
13th February, as UN Radio was established by the United Nations on 13th February, 1946. The day was
later adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.
❖ The day is observed every year to raise awareness among the public and the media about the importance of
radio and to encourage access to information through radio.
❖ India has around 479 radio stations making All India Radio one of the biggest broadcasters in the world. It
covers around 99.19% of the Indian population.
International Mother Language Day

❖ On International Mother Language Day, which was celebrated on February 21, 2023, it was revealed
that India is losing many of its languages due to modernisation and globalisation, particularly because of
the lack of education.
❖ The theme of 2023 is “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education”.
❖ UNESCO declared 21st February as International Mother Language Day in 1999 and the World has been
celebrating the same since 2000.
❖ The day also commemorates a long struggle by Bangladesh to protect its mother language Bangla.
❖ The resolution to mark 21st February as the International Mother Language Day was suggested by Rafiqul
Islam, a Bangladeshi living in Canada.
❖ The UN has designated the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous
Languages.
❖ Earlier, the United Nations General Assembly had proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous
Languages (IYIL).
World Day of Social Justice

❖ Every year, February 20 marks the World Day of Social Justice across the globe.
❖ Theme: Achieving Social Justice through Formal Employment
❖ The General Assembly determined that in 2007, February 20 will be observed annually as World Day of
Social Justice. In 2008, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) endorsed the ILO Declaration on Social
Justice for Equitable Globalization. This is the ILO's third major declaration of principles and policy since
the ILO's Constitution of 1919.
❖ This day promotes awareness of social injustice and breaking down barriers based on gender, age, race,
ethnicity, religion, culture, or handicap. Several schools, colleges, and universities hold numerous activities
and events on this particular day. So that people across the world understand the need to uphold social
justice values.
❖ The theme for this year focuses on the recommendations available on the common agenda prepared to
strengthen global solidarity and to rebuild trust in government by "Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing
Opportunities for Social Justice".
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National Science Day 2023
❖ In 1986, the Government of India, designated February 28 as National Science Day to commemorate the
announcement of the discovery of the “Raman Effect”.
❖ This year’s edition is being celebrated under the theme of “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”, in light
of India’s G20 presidency.
❖ Physicist CV Raman won the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman Effect.
❖ It refers to the inelastic scattering of light by matter, resulting in a shift in the frequency of the scattered
light. In simpler words, it is a change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by
molecules.
❖ The Raman effect forms the basis for Raman spectroscopy which is used by chemists and physicists to
gain information about materials.
❖ Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation.
World NGO Day

❖ Every year, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world celebrate World NGO Day on
27th February. More than 89 nations across six continents mark International NGO Day. The theme for World
NGO Day varies each year, but it typically focuses on a particular aspect of NGO work. Some recent themes
include "Together for Impact," "Innovate for Change," and "For a Just and Sustainable World."
❖ The day assumed its official status when 12-member countries of the IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum on
17th April 2010 formally recognised it. In 2012, the forum's Final Statement Resolution was adopted the day.
Although the day was recognised officially in 2010, it was only in 2014, that for the first time, World NGO
Day was observed by the United Nations.
❖ NGOs are non-profit organisations that support the resolution of many humane concerns impacting people,
animals, and communities. They offer assistance in areas including health, education, and jobs.
World Wildlife Day

❖ World Wildlife Day has been celebrated every year on the 3rd of March since 2013.
❖ The theme of this year is ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’
❖ The date chosen coincides with the day of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), signed in 1973.
❖ This day also marks the 50th anniversary of CITES’ establishment.
❖ CITES 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. Currently, there are 184
parties to the convention, including India. The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United
Nations Environment Programme) and is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Conference of the Parties to
CITES is the supreme consensus-based decision-making body of the Convention and comprises all its
parties.
❖ In India, apart from the Union Ministery of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (Bhupendra Yadav),
the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a statutory body under the Ministry that is especially meant to combat
organised wildlife crime in the country.
World Hearing Day

❖ World Hearing Day is celebrated on the 3rd of March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent
deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
❖ The theme of this year is “Ear and hearing care for all”.
❖ Normal hearing range is from 0 dBHL (Decibel Hearing Level), which is the audiometric zero, to 20 dBHL. A
person who is not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing – hearing thresholds of 20 dB or
better in both ears is said to have hearing loss. Hard of hearing refers to people with hearing loss ranging
from mild to severe. Deaf' people mostly have profound hearing loss, which- implies very little or no
hearing.
International Women’s Day

th
❖ It is celebrated annually on 8 March. It includes: Celebration of women's achievements, raising awareness
about women's equality, lobbying for accelerated gender parity, fundraising for female-focused charities, etc.
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❖ Women’s Day was first celebrated back in 1911 by Clara Zetkin, who was a German. The roots of the
celebration had been in the labour movement across Europe and North America. However, it was only in
1913 that the celebrations were shifted to 8th March, and it has remained that way ever since.
❖ International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975.
❖ In December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for
Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in
accordance with their historical and national traditions.
❖ Theme: The theme for International Women's Day, 2023, according to the United Nations is “DigitALL:
Innovation and technology for gender equality”
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❖ UN Secretary General stated that Gender equality is growing more distant. On the current track, UN Women
puts it 300 years away.
❖ According to the UN, legal restrictions have kept 2.7 billion women from accessing the same choice of jobs
as men.
❖ As of 2019, less than 25% of parliamentarians were women. One in three women experience gender-based
violence.
❖ According to Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data, as of December 2021, while the male LFPR
was 67.4%, the female LFPR was as low as 9.4%.
❖ Even if one sources data from the World Bank, India’s female labor force participation rate is around
25% when the global average is 47%.
❖ In the Global gender gap index (which measures progress towards gender parity), India slipped to
135th place in 2022.
❖ As per the data compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), of which India is a member, women
represent just 14.44% of the total members of the Lok Sabha.
❖ According to a 2018 study by the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 95% of India’s working
women are informal workers who work in labour-intensive, low-paying, highly precarious jobs/conditions,
and with no social protection.
54th CISF Raising Day

❖ March 10 is annually observed as the Raising Day when the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was set
up under the Union ministry of Home Affairs.
❖ CISF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces in India and is responsible for providing security to
various public sector undertakings, airports, and other important installations. The CISF was set up under
the act of the Parliament of India on March 10, 1969. Since then, CISF Raising Day is being celebrated on
March 10 each year. However, in 2023, the date was revised (12th March).
World Consumer Rights Day 2023

❖ The Department of Consumer Affairs is celebrating World Consumer Rights Day on March 15, 2023.
❖ The theme for this year's celebration is “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”.
❖ It is a step towards creating a more sustainable and consumer-friendly ecosystem. India
celebrates 24th December as National Consumer Day every year.
❖ Reducing Dependence on Traditional Sources: The primary focus is to deploy technology to reduce
dependence on traditional energy sources like fossil fuels and enable a rapid transition to clean energy
solutions that promote sustainability, security, affordability, and access to consumers in the long term.
❖ National Consumer Helpline: E-commerce has become one of the most preferred mediums of shopping for
consumers. However, there has been a rise in the number of e-commerce grievances registered by
consumers on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH).
❖ E-Daakhil Portal: The E-Daakhil Portal has been set up to facilitate online filing of consumer complaints.
❖ Right to Repair Portal: In line with the LiFE (Lifestyle for environment) movement, the Department has
initiated the creation of a “Right to Repair portal” to protect consumers against planned obsolescence,
resulting in increasing e-waste.
❖ Reducing E-Waste: The Department is planning to organise a hackathon for designing charging
solutions that work with wearable devices, with an emphasis on reducing electronic and electrical waste (e-
waste) and promoting a more sustainable consumer ecosystem.
International Day of Action for Rivers
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❖ Every year on March 14, the International Day of Action for Rivers (IDAR) is observed to promote awareness
of the importance of the river systems on the planet earth.
❖ This year, the 25th anniversary of the day was observed. The day was earlier known as International Day
against Dams, for Rivers, Water, and Life.
❖ Theme: Rights of Rivers.
❖ It calls for the designation of rivers as a national treasure.
❖ The participants of the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams held in March 1997 in
Curitiba Brazil adopted the International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water, and Life.
❖ 20 countries' representatives had decided that the International Day of Action would take place on 14 March
Brazil's Day of Action Against Large Dams.
World Sparrow Day

❖ Every year on 20th March, World Sparrow Day is observed, it is designated to raise awareness about
sparrow conservation and protection, as their numbers are declining globally.
❖ The theme of World Sparrow Day 2023 is “I Love Sparrows”, with the goal of encouraging more people to
appreciate the relationship between humans and sparrows.
❖ According to the survey conducted by the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), The house sparrow
population in Thiruvananthapuram city has recorded a significant reduction. The decline in population has
been attributed to the oppressive heat and a lack of food supplies in the traditional areas of the city.
World Water Day

❖ World Water Day (WWD) is celebrated on 22nd March Every Year. The United Nations General
Assembly issued a resolution in 1993 declaring every year March 22 as World Day for Water.
❖ The theme for WWD 2023 is 'Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis', emphasizing
the necessity of taking stern action to address the global water crisis.
❖ The main objective of the day is to aware and inspire people to sustainably manage freshwater resources
and learn more about water-related issues like water pollution, water scarcity, inadequate water, and lack of
sanitation, and take appropriate steps to make a difference. According to the United Nations, the idea
behind celebrating the day is to "support the achievement of sustainable development goal (SDG) 6: water
and sanitation for all by 2030."
International Day of Forests

❖ The International Day of Forests, also known as World Forests Day, is celebrated each year on March 21 to
raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees for the survival of humanity and the planet.
❖ The theme for 2023 is ‘Forests and Health.'
❖ The history of the International Day of Forests can be traced back to 1971 when the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established World Forestry Day.
❖ The day was established to create and raise awareness of the importance of forests for people and the
planet.
❖ In 2011, the United Nations declared the years 2011 to 2020 as the International Decade of Forests.
❖ Its objective was to promote sustainable management, conservation, and development of all types of
forests.
❖ In 2012, the International Day of Forests was established.
❖ Status of Forests in India: As per the India State of Forest Report-2021, forest and tree cover in the country
increased by 2,261 square kilometres since the last assessment in 2019.
❖ India’s total forest and tree cover was 80.9 million hectares, which accounted for 24.62% of the
geographical area of the country.
❖ The report said 17 States and Union Territories had more than 33% of their area under forest cover.
❖ Madhya Pradesh had the largest forest cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and
Maharashtra.
❖ The top five States in terms of forest cover as a percentage of their total geographical area were Mizoram
(84.53%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), Meghalaya (76%), Manipur (74.34%) and Nagaland (73.90%).
World Down Syndrome Day

❖ Every year since 2006, March 21 is observed as the World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD). To raise awareness
about Down syndrome and advocate for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with the condition.
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Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects people of all races, backgrounds and ethnicity. The day
was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011
❖ The Theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2023 is "With Us Not for Us".
❖ Down syndrome happens when there is an extra copy of the 21st chromosome, which leads to physical and
intellectual disabilities. People with Down syndrome generally have distinct facial features and have several
health complications such as heart defects, hearing and vision problems, and thyroid conditions. The date
was selected because Down syndrome is caused by the presence of a third copy of the 21st chromosome,
and 21/3 (March 21st) represents this genetic condition
Shaheed Diwas
❖ Shaheed Diwas is celebrated across India on 23rd March since 1931 to remember the sacrifices made by
three freedom fighters - Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru - who died while leading
India's fight for freedom from British rule.
❖ The three freedom fighters were hanged by the British Government in 1931. The trio was found guilty of the
murder of deputy police superintendent JP Saunders in 1928, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
World Meteorological Day

❖ World Meteorological Day is celebrated globally on 23rd March to commemorate the establishment of the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which was created in 1950. This year marks WMO's 150th
anniversary.
❖ The theme for World Meteorological Day 2023 is “The future of weather, climate, and water across
generations.”
❖ The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate, and water-related issues.
The day highlights “the essential role that ‘National Meteorological and Hydrological Services’ (NMHS) plays
in the safety and wellbeing of the society,” the day is also observed to make people aware of their role in
protecting Earth’s atmosphere.
World Tuberculosis Day 2023

❖ World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed on 24th March every year to spread awareness about the disease
and how best to combat it.
❖ Theme for 2023: Yes! We can end TB!
❖ On this day in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes
TB, and his discovery opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
❖ Even today TB is one of the world's deadliest infectious killers. As per WHO (World Health Organisation),
every day, over 4100 people lose their lives to TB and about 28,000 people fall ill with this disease. Deaths
from tuberculosis have risen in 2020 for the first time in more than a decade.
❖ India accounts for roughly 28% of TB cases in the world, as per the Global TB Report 2022.
❖ Tuberculosis is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can practically affect any organ of the
body. The most common ones are lungs, pleura (lining around the lungs), lymph nodes, intestines, spine, and
brain.
❖ Transmission: It is an airborne infection that spreads through close contact with the infected, especially
in densely populated spaces with poor ventilation.
❖ Symptoms: Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains,
weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
❖ Treatment: TB is a treatable and curable disease. It is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4
antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health
worker or trained volunteer.
❖ Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to
isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by
using second-line drugs such as Bedaquiline.
❖ Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not
respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment
options.
❖ Vaccine: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for TB disease.
❖ A total of 1.5 million people died from TB and an estimated 10 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB)
worldwide in 2020.
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❖ India has the world’s highest tuberculosis (TB) burden, with an estimated 26 lakh people contracting the
disease and approximately 4 lakh people dying from the disease every year.
❖ TB mukt It's an initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) to accelerate the country’s
progress towards TB elimination by 2025.
❖ Objectives: Provide additional patient support, Augment community involvement, Leverage Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) activities.
❖ Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative: It is to ensure additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support to those
on TB treatment.
❖ Ni-kshay Digital Portal: It will provide a platform for community support for persons with TB.
❖ The WHO has launched a joint initiative “Find. Treat. All. #EndTB”.
❖ WHO also releases the Global Tuberculosis Report.
o Published annually since 1997
o The estimate of all form of TB in india stood at 188 per 1 lakh Population
o TB deaths have increased for the first time in over a decade, as per the 2021 report
❖ India plans to eradicate TB till 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030.
❖ TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign.(launched in 2019)
❖ Currently, two vaccines VPM (Vaccine Project Management) 1002 and MIP (Mycobacterium Indicus
Pranii) have been developed and identified for TB, and are under Phase-3 clinical trial.
❖ Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (2018): It provides Rs 500 support through direct benefit transfer to the patients.
❖ Creating digital health IDs for TB patients under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission to ensure
proper diagnostics and treatment are available.
❖ The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement of $400 million for the Program
Towards Elimination of Tuberculosis (TB).
❖ To speed up the country’s fight against tuberculosis (TB) and achieve the target set by the Prime Minister of
eliminating the disease by 2025,
International Day of Zero Waste

❖ The International Day of Zero Waste, observed for the first time on 30 March 2023 and is jointly facilitated
by UNEP and UN-Habitat.
❖ It aims to raise awareness of the importance of zero waste and responsible consumption and production
practices and urban waste management contributing to achieving sustainable development.
❖ The day calls on rethinking our practices and for embracing a circular economy as a key for addressing the
triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution, and putting the planet, and humanity, on
a path to health and prosperity.
❖ Also, ‘Swachhotsav - 2023: Rally for Garbage Free Cities’ was held in New Delhi as part of India’s
celebration of the International Day of Zero Waste 2023.
Autism Awareness Day

❖ Autism, also known as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that affects a broad
range of people, is typically diagnosed in early childhood and can impact individuals throughout their lives.
Those with autism may experience social difficulties and display repetitive behavior patterns or speech, as
well as other behavioral issues. And those with this condition may require different levels of care and
support.
❖ To raise awareness of autism and promote acceptance and support for those affected by the condition,
the United Nations established World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. The first World Autism Awareness
Day was observed in 2008.
❖ The theme is "Contribution of Autistic Individuals at Home, at Work, in the Arts, and Policymaking." The day
serves as an opportunity to increase public understanding of autism and encourage individuals,
communities, and organizations to take action to support people with autism. Right of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016 of India deal with rights of people with disabilities including autism.
National Maritime Day

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❖ On April 5 , India celebrated National Maritime Day, which commemorates the maiden voyage of the first
Indian commercial vessel, the SS Loyalty, from Mumbai to London in 1919.
❖ This year's theme was "Propelling Indian Maritime to Net Zero." It was organized by the Directorate General
of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in Mumbai concluded with a ceremony at the
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Domestic Cruise Terminus in Mumbai Port Trust, highlighted the need for a coordinated and collaborative
approach to achieve the net-zero target in the maritime sector.
❖ The Government has acknowledged the contribution of seafarers during the pandemic and emphasized
India’s efforts to promote ‘Ease of Doing Business” to reduce logistics costs and facilitate shipping to make
India a pre-eminent player in the maritime sector. And the importance of academic partnerships with global
maritime universities and enhancing the skills of Indian maritime institutes to achieve the goals of
Maritime Vision 2030. During the program, Sagar Samman Awards were awarded to the contributors to the
growth of the Indian maritime industry.
World Health Day 2023

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❖ Every Year on 7 April World Health Day is celebrated. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the
founding of World Health Organisation in 1948.
❖ The idea of World Health Day was conceived at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and it came into effect in
1950.
❖ It is celebrated annually and each year it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all
over the world.
❖ Theme for 2023: Health for All
❖ India on World Health Day: To mark the occasion of World Health Day on April 7, a health camp and a flash
mob was organized to create awareness on non-communicable diseases (NCD) among the public.
World Homeopathy Day

❖ World Homeopathy Day is observed on April 10 to mark the birth of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of
homeopathy.
❖ Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like.” The idea is to use
a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person to treat similar symptoms in a sick person.
Homeopathy aims to treat the entire person and not just the symptoms of an illness. This gentle approach is
focused on natural healing and avoiding invasive medical procedures.
❖ Origins of Homeopathy: Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, developed the principles of
homeopathy in the late 18th century. He was disillusioned with conventional medical practices, such as
bloodletting and the use of toxic substances like mercury. In the late 1700s, Hahnemann commenced
brainstorming the idea of homeopathy, and by 1796, he published a book outlining his principles and
practices. Hahnemann believed that homeopathy offered a safer and more effective alternative to
conventional medicine.
World Chagas Disease Day

❖ The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World Chagas Disease Day every April 14th to raise
awareness about the little-known disease that affects millions of people, especially in Latin America
❖ The 72nd World Health Assembly dedicated this day to the disease in 2019.
❖ This year’s theme is “time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care”.
❖ Chagas disease, also known as "silent or silenced disease", is a communicable parasitic disease that
infects 6-7 million people and claims around 12,000 lives every year worldwide, according to WHO.
❖ The disease is named after physician Carlos Chagas who first detected it in a Brazilian child in 1909.
❖ It is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted by a family of bugs
called ‘triatomines’ or ‘kissing bugs’ that infect healthy individuals through bites or defecation
❖ It can also be contracted through congenital transmission, blood transfusions, organ transplantation,
consumption of uncooked food contaminated with fecal matter of infected bugs, or accidental laboratory
exposure.
❖ It cannot propagate by casual contact with infected humans or animals.
❖ Symptoms: The disease manifests as fever, headaches, rashes, inflammatory nodules, nausea
or diarrhea, and muscle or abdominal pain.
❖ There are currently no vaccines available for Chagas disease, but antiparasitic medicines Benznidazole and
Nifurtimox can treat the disease. They have a 100% efficacy rate if administered at the onset of the acute
stage.
World Heritage Day

❖ The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) declared April 18th as the International Day
for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, in 1982.
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❖ The theme for this year is "Heritage Changes,".
❖ India is currently home to 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the country with the sixth-largest
number of sites in the world.
o Dholavira, Harappan City in the Rann of Kutchh, Gujarat, becomes India’s 40th UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Rudreswara Temple (Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Warangal, Telangana is 39th.
❖ Out of these, 32 are cultural sites, 7 are natural sites, and one is a mixed-type site, the Khangchendzonga
National Park.
❖ The cultural heritage sites in India include ancient temples, forts, palaces, mosques, and archaeological
sites that reflect the rich history and diversity of the country.
❖ The natural heritage sites in India include national parks, wildlife reserves, and natural landscapes that
showcase the country's unique biodiversity and ecological significance.
❖ The mixed-type site in India, the Khangchendzonga National Park, is known for its cultural significance as
well as its biodiversity, as it is home to several rare and endangered species.
❖ Directive Principles of State Policy: Article 49 puts obligation on the State to protect every monument or
place or object of artistic or historic interest, declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national
importance.
❖ Fundamental Duty: Article 51A of Constitution states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to
value and preserve the rich heritage of our culture. (FD are taken from USSR (Russian) Constitution)
❖ Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) 1958: It is an act of the
Parliament of India that provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and
archaeological sites and remains of national importance, for the regulation of archaeological excavations
and for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects.
Related Static GK
❖ Agra Fort, also known as “Laal Quila”, is located in Agra, India. It was made the first world heritage site by
UNESCO in 1983 from India. Along with Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves
❖ Italy (58) and China (56) have the highest number of Heritage sites.
❖ Maharashtra has a total of 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and this number is highest among all states and
UTs in India. The sites include Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Terminus, and the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings of South Mumbai.
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❖ There are 46 sites of India on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
❖ Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has inventoried about 60,000 buildings in around
150 cities which is still only the tip of the iceberg as there are estimated more than 4000 heritage towns and
cities in the country.
Civil Services Day

❖ Every year, 21st April is celebrated as the Civil Services Day by the Government of India.
❖ The Vice-President of India addressed a gathering of civil servants at the 16th Civil Services Day (CVD) in
New Delhi, the date is chosen to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent
India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at
Metcalf House, Delhi and he referred the Civil servants as the ‘Steel Frame of India’.
❖ On this 16th CVD, the crucial role played by civil servants in ensuring the inclusive development of the nation
was emphasized. Civil servants were called upon to facilitate uniformity in administration across the Union
and the States so that federalism could flourish into cooperative federalism.
❖ Highlighted the Mission Karamyogi, a National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building, which is
shaping the future-ready civil service aligned to the vision of New India. The importance of technology in
complementing the leadership of civil servants for accelerated service delivery and citizen-centric
governance is recognized. The Vice-President unveiled an e-book on the ‘National Good Governance
Webinar Series’ and inaugurated an exhibition on ‘Good Governance Practices in India- Awarded Initiatives’.
Earth Day
❖ Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on 22nd April to raise awareness about the need to protect our
planet and its environment.
❖ In 2009, the United Nations designated 22nd April as ‘International Mother Earth Day.
❖ The theme for Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in our planet,” which calls on businesses, investors, financial
markets, and governments to lead the way in building a healthier and more equitable global system. The
private sector can use its power to promote green innovation and practices, while governments can
incentivize citizens, businesses, and institutions to work toward environmental conservation. Individual
citizens can also contribute by voting for politics that prioritize the environment and by supporting
environmentally conscious businesses.
❖ Earth Day was first observed in 1970 as a response to environmental degradation caused by issues such
as smog, polluted rivers, and oil spills. Today, Earth Day is globally coordinated by EARTHDAY.ORG, a non-
profit organization formerly known as Earth Day Network. It aims to build the world’s largest environmental
movement to drive transformative change for people and the planet.
❖ The landmark Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was signed on Earth
Day 2016, demonstrating the significance of this day in driving meaningful change for our planet.
National Panchayati Raj Day

❖ National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24th April every year to commemorate the 73rd constitutional
amendment that came into effect on the same day in 1993, which accorded panchayats a constitutional
status as the third tier of local self-governance in India.
❖ Although some states such as Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal had already recognized
panchayats as local self-governance institutions, the 73rd and 74th amendments made this a pan-India
phenomenon.
❖ Panchayati Raj has been far more successful in giving women a fair share of representation, with one-third
of total seats reserved for women at the local level, and some states providing 50% reservations to
women in elections for the local bodies. This increased representation of women at the local level has
various policy outcomes, including increased spending on community-based welfare for women and
financial independence for women through self-help groups in many places.
❖ There is significant variation in the degree of fiscal autonomy granted to local government bodies across
states, with some having greater devolution of financial powers than others. For instance, Kerala and
Maharashtra are ranked as the best in terms of following devolution, while Odisha and Assam are ranked
the lowest among major states.
World Malaria Day

❖ World Malaria Day is observed every year on 25th April.
❖ It was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007 to raise awareness about malaria.
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❖ The theme for World Malaria Day 2023 is "Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement".
❖ Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. This parasite is transmitted to
humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
❖ While Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for more deaths, Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread of
all of the malaria species.
❖ Symptoms: Once inside the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver and then infect red blood cells,
causing symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. In severe cases, malaria can
lead to organ failure, coma, and death.
❖ Vaccine: Till now, no malaria vaccine has shown the benchmark efficacy of 75% set by WHO. Still, WHO gave
a go-ahead for the first malaria vaccine called RTS,S to be rolled out in high transmission African countries
understanding the urgency of malaria control and prevention.
❖ It has relatively low efficacy somewhere between 30-40%.
❖ This vaccine has been developed by a collaborative effort of several organisations including
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation etc. In India, Bharat Biotech has been granted
license to manufacture this vaccine.
❖ Similar to RTS,S vaccine the Oxford University has developed a vaccine called R21 which is still waiting for
the WHO’s approval.
❖ Ghana and Nigeria have approved this vaccine for use in their countries. It is also being manufactured by
Serum Institute of India.
❖ Malaria Cases: As per the World Malaria Report 2022, the disease claimed the lives of an estimated
6,19,000 people in 2021.
❖ Global Malaria Program: It was launched by WHO and is responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts
to control and eliminate malaria.
❖ Its work is guided by the "Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030”. The strategy aims to reduce
malaria case incidence and mortality rates by at least 40% by 2020, at least 75% by 2025 and at least 90%
by 2030 against a 2015 baseline.
❖ Malaria Elimination Initiative: It was launched by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This initiative focuses
on eliminating malaria in certain regions of the world through a combination of strategies, including
increasing access to effective treatments, reducing the mosquito population, and developing new tools and
technologies to combat the disease.
❖ E-2025 initiative: In 2021, WHO launched the E-2025 initiative to halt the transmission of malaria in 25
identified countries by 2025.
❖ India’s efforts: National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme: It is an umbrella programme for
prevention and control of vector borne diseases viz. Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis
(JE), Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis.
❖ National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP): Launched in 1953, it is built around three key activities:
Insecticidal residual spray (IRS) with DDT, Monitoring and surveillance of cases, Treatment of patients
❖ National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030: Based on WHO Global Technical Strategy for
Malaria 2016–2030 (GTS), the goals of the NFME are:
o Eliminate malaria (zero indigenous cases) throughout the entire country by 2030
o Maintain malaria–free status in areas where malaria transmission has been interrupted and prevent re-
introduction of malaria.
❖ High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) Initiative: It was started in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh) in July 2019.
❖ Distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to high burden areas has led to a reduction in
endemicity in these 4 very high endemic states.
❖ Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India): It has been established by Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR) with the conglomeration of partners working on malaria control.
Zero Shadow Day

❖ Bengaluru experienced a unique phenomenon called Zero Shadow Day on 25th April 2023. At precisely 12:17
pm, vertical objects such as buildings and trees appeared to have no shadows. This occurred because
the sun was directly overhead, at its zenith, causing the shadow to be directly beneath the object.
❖ This event happens twice a year at every point on Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn. The next Zero Shadow Day for Bengaluru is on 18th August 2023. Locations outside of the tropics
do not experience this phenomenon. This occurrence happens because the sun's rays fall directly
perpendicular to the surface, creating a subsolar point. The subsolar point changes location as the earth
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rotates around the sun, and the tilt of the earth's axis causes the changing seasons. Zero Shadow Day is an
important event as it helps to measure the earth's axial tilt, which is responsible for the changing seasons.
International Leopard Day 2023

❖ On International Leopard Day (May 3, 2023), the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), an active predator conservation
working group, launched a new portal dedicated to leopards to promote and celebrate leopards globally.
❖ The portal was launched at the Global Leopard Conference.
❖ Scientific Name: Panthera pardus
❖ Leopards are elusive and nocturnal animals whose size and colour depend on the habitat. They are great
climbers and hide in trees, where they hide their prey to avoid competition.
❖ Population in India: As per ‘Status of leopards in India, 2018’ report released by MoEF&CC, there has been
a “60% increase in the population count of leopards in India from 2014 estimates’’.
❖ The 2014 estimates placed the population of leopards at nearly 8,000 which has increased to 12,852.
❖ The largest number of leopards have been estimated in Madhya Pradesh (3,421) followed by Karnataka
(1,783) and Maharashtra (1,690).
❖ Protection Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable, CITES: Appendix I, Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
❖ Human-Leopard Conflict: The areas that often witness leopard-human conflicts include Srinagar in the
Kashmir Valley, the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, Gir National Park in Gujarat, and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve in southern Tamil Nadu.
World Pulmonary Hypertension day

❖ World Pulmonary Hypertension Day is an annual event observed on May 5th to raise awareness about
pulmonary hypertension (PH) and support those living with this condition. The day originated in Madrid,
Spain in 2012, where a program and scientific symposium were held to bring together patient associations,
disease organizations, and scientific societies. May 5th was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the
first child's death in Spain from pulmonary hypertension caused by toxic rapeseed oil.
❖ This year's World Pulmonary Hypertension Day 2023 theme is "Together We Are Stronger," emphasizing the
importance of coming together to raise awareness, support patients and their families, and advocate for
increased access to care and treatments.
❖ PH is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. PH
can be caused by various factors, including genetics, certain medical conditions, and exposure to toxins.
Symptoms of PH may include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and fainting.
BRO Raising Day

❖ Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 64th Raising Day on May 07, 2023, at all its detachments
across the country.
❖ The BRO Technical Training Complex and an Automated Driving Track were inaugurated. These facilities
will enhance the training standards of the BRO personnel and help them to be better prepared for various
challenges.
❖ BRO-centric software, developed as part of ‘Digital India’ initiative were also launched on the occasion.
❖ An MoU was signed for construction of indigenous Class 70R Double Lane Modular Bridges which will help
in bolstering the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.
o Class 70R Double Lane Modular Bridges are pre-engineered steel bridges designed to carry vehicular
traffic on two lanes.
❖ The event also witnessed flagging-in ‘Ekta Avam Shradhanjali Abhiyaan’, a multi-modal expedition which
began on April 10, 2023.
❖ It was launched to commemorate the sacrifices and contribution of its Karmyogis in nation building as a
part of 64th BRO Day Celebrations.
❖ It is a multi-model expedition; the team comprises of Motorcycles and Motor cars which started from North
East and Northern part of the country.
❖ The motorcycle leg of the expedition commenced on 14 Apr 2023, from Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh.
❖ Expedition members from 18 Projects had collected Soil, Water and Saplings from 108 remote border
locations and the same were planted at BRO Alma Mater, BRO School and Centre, Pune.
Border Road Organisation
❖ BRO was conceived and raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for coordinating the speedy
development of a network of roads in the North and the North Eastern border regions of the country.
❖ Initially, BRO was functional under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (Nitin Gadkari). But since
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2015, it is being managed and is functional under the Ministry of Defence (Rajnath Singh)
❖ It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building
projects, defence works and tunneling and has endeared itself to the people.
❖ The BRO, in more than six decades, has constructed over 61,000 kms of roads, over 900 Bridges, four
Tunnels and 19 airfields under challenging conditions along India’s borders and in friendly foreign countries,
including Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan.
❖ Projects include construction of Shyok Bridge in Eastern Ladakh and Steel Arch Siyom Bridge of Load Class
70 in Arunachal Pradesh on Along-Yinkiong Road.
❖ Headquarters: New Delhi
❖ Director General: Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastava
National Technology Day 2023

❖ The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the National Technology Day 2023 program. The event
marked the beginning of the celebration of the 25th year of National Technology Day, which would be held
from May 11th to May 14th featuring dedicated multiple projects related to scientific and technological
advancement in the country, with a total worth of more than Rs 5,800 crore. The theme of the event
was "School to Start-ups - igniting young minds to innovate.
❖ The projects for which the foundation stone was laid include Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave
Observatory - India (LIGO-India) in Hingoli, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Jatni,
Odisha, and the Platinum Jubilee Block of Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.
❖ The PM also highlighted the significance of May 11th in India's history, as it commemorates the day when
India's scientists achieved a remarkable feat in Pokhran Nuclear Testing.
❖ Addressing the role of technology in defence, the PM mentioned Innovations for Defense Excellence
(iDEX) and India's goal of a self-reliant defence sector. He also highlighted advancements in the space
sector, such as SSLV and PSLV orbital platforms, and the need to provide opportunities for youth and start-
ups in this domain.
World Migratory Birds Day

❖ World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was observed on May 13, 2023, with the theme “Water and its
importance for Migratory Bird”. In the run-up to World Environment Day, several mass mobilization activities
were organized across India under the Mission LiFE program. These events aimed to underscore the
importance of biodiversity conservation and environmentally friendly habits at the community level.
Participants took the LiFE pledge to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact.
❖ WMBD is a bi-annual global campaign aimed at raising awareness about migratory birds, promoting their
conservation, and emphasizing the importance of preserving their habitats. Celebrated on the second
Saturday in May and October each year, the campaign is organized through a collaborative partnership
between two United Nations treaties, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), along with the non-profit
organization Environment for the Americas (EFTA).
World Hypertension day

❖ The Union Health Ministry of India has unveiled a ground breaking initiative, the "75/25" program, on the
occasion of World Hypertension Day (WHD) on 17th May 2023. This ambitious undertaking aims to screen
and provide standard care to a staggering 75 million individuals with hypertension and diabetes by the year
2025.
❖ WHD is an annual event that aims to raise awareness and promote education about hypertension or high
blood pressure, which affects millions of people worldwide and can lead to serious complications such
as heart failure, stroke, kidney damage, and liver damage. The theme for 2023 is “Measure Your Blood
Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”, which focuses on combatting low awareness rates, especially
in low to middle-income areas, and accurate blood pressure measurement methods. The event was
inaugurated in May 2005 by the World Hypertension League (WHL), a non-governmental organization that
works with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to prevent and control hypertension.
World Hypertension Day encourages people to know their numbers, check their blood pressure regularly,
adopt a healthy lifestyle and seek medical advice if needed.
World Telecom Day 2023
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❖ India on May 17, 2023, commemorated World Telecom Day, celebrating the advancements
and achievements in the telecommunication sector.
❖ The Sanchar Saathi portal was launched on the day to enhance transparency, security, and accountability in
the telecom industry.
❖ The year 2023 also marks the completion of 20 years of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
❖ World Telecommunication Day is celebrated annually since 1969, to mark the founding of International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
❖ It aims to raise awareness of the importance of telecommunication and its contribution to social and
economic development.
❖ The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called for the declaration of May 17 as World
Information Society Day.
❖ In 2006, the ITU combined both tents and celebrated them on May 17 as World Telecommunication and
Information Society Day (WTISD).
❖ Theme: "Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication
technologies".
❖ Highlights from the Event: Exhibition showcasing innovations in the telecom sector by start-ups.
❖ Recognition of top performing Bharat Udyamis ensuring last mile connectivity. Udyami Bharat a programme
launched by the government of India to empower the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector.
❖ Release of a report on the First International Quantum Communication Conclave. Insights shared by
national and international experts on the roadmap and developments in quantum technologies and their
potential impact in various sectors.
❖ Emphasis on the important role played by USOF and BharatNet in bridging the digital divide and providing
connectivity to underserved areas.
❖ Sanchar Saathi Portal: The SSP, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under
the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), is revolutionizing the telecom sector in India.
❖ Objective: The primary objective of the Sanchar Saathi portal is to address various fraudulent
activities prevalent in the telecom industry, such as identity theft, forged KYC, and banking fraud.
❖ Reforms Introduced: CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register): Prevents stolen devices from being used
in Indian networks and allows tracing by law enforcement when necessary.
❖ Know Your Mobile Connections: Allows users to check mobile connections registered in their name.
Enables identification of unauthorized or fraudulent connections. Users can report fraudulent or unrequired
connections, triggering re-verification and termination of reported connections.
❖ ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber
Verification): Developed to identify subscribers who obtain connections using fraudulent or forged
documents. Utilizes facial recognition and data analytics techniques. Analyzes connections obtained
through paper-based KYC documents.
❖ India's Telecom Sector: In 2020-2021 the telecom industry contributed 6% to India's Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and is set to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2020 to 2025. India is one of the largest
consumers of data globally.
❖ The Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 12,195 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom and
networking products under the Department of Telecom.
❖ Growing demand for skilled workers in 5G-centric technologies: India will need around 22 million skilled
workers in areas like IoT, and AI computing by 2025.
Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill 2022
❖ Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released the draft Indian Telecommunications Bill 2022 to
regulate Internet-based OTT (Over-The-Top) telecom services.
❖ The draft Bill consolidates 3 separate acts which currently govern the telecommunication sector — the
Indian Telegraph Act,1885, Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and The Telegraph Wires (Unlawful
Protection) Act, 1950.
❖ The government has included internet-based and OTT communication services such as WhatsApp calls,
Facetime, Google Meet etc under telecom services.
❖ It proposes to rename the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) as Telecommunication Development
Fund (TDF).
❖ The USO fund is generated from the annual revenue of telecom services providers. The sums of money
received towards the TDF will first be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI)
❖ CFI is managed by Comptroller and Auditor General of India- Girish Chandra Murmu
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❖ Recently, a report was released by SBI Research, which said that the OTT (Over-The-Top) market is set to
become a ₹12,000-crore industry by 2023, up from Rs 2,590 crore in 2018
International Day for Biological Diversity

❖ The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), celebrated on 22nd May 2023, raises awareness about
the importance of biodiversity for sustaining life on Earth.
❖ The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services highlights the risk of extinction for
around one million species.
❖ To address the biodiversity crisis, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at
the 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity
❖ This framework sets ambitious targets for 2030 and provides a roadmap for conservation, restoration, and
sustainable use of biodiversity.
❖ The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 proclaimed 22nd May as IDB to increase
understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
❖ The UNGA also declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations (UN) Decade on Biodiversity to
promote the implementation of a strategic plan on biodiversity and its overall vision of living in harmony with
nature.
❖ It also declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN
Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
❖ The theme for 2023 is “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”, which signifies the pressing
requirement to go beyond mere commitments and transform them into concrete actions aimed at
revitalizing and safeguarding biodiversity.
❖ Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: It calls for urgent and integrated action to
reflect biodiversity considerations in all sectors of the global economy but crucial issues - like funding
conservation in poorer countries and committing to biodiversity-friendly supply chains have been left to
discuss later.
❖ It is not a binding international agreement.
❖ It calls upon the parties to mainstream biodiversity protection in decision-making and recognise the
importance of conservation in protecting human health.
❖ The theme of the declaration is Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth.
❖ By adopting this, the nations have committed themselves to support the development, adoption and
implementation of an effective post-2020 implementation plan, a capacity building action plan for
the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety.
❖ 30 by 30 Target: The declaration made a reference to the '30 by 30' target which is a key proposal being
debated at the COP15, that would afford 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030.
❖ Main targets: The framework consists of four goals and 23 targets for 2030.
❖ The four goals are:
o Conserve and restore biodiversity.
o Ensure sustainable use of biodiversity.
o Share benefits fairly and equitably.
o Enable transformative change.
❖ The Signatories aim to ensure 200 billion USD per year is channelled to conservation initiatives, from public
and private sources. Raising international financial flows from developed to developing countries to at least
USD 30 billion per year by 2025, and at least 30 billion USD a year by 2030. But this funding has yet to be
fulfilled.
❖ National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP): Member states agreed to realign their NBSAPs to
the GBF, but progress in submitting the revised plans has been slow. Spain is the only country that has
submitted its realigned NBSAP so far, highlighting the need for more countries to develop and submit their
plans to the CBD secretariat before COP16 in 2024.
World Bee Day

❖ The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Narendra Singh tomar), recently celebrated World Bee
Day on May 20th, 2023 at Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh.
❖ The event aimed to promote and popularise beekeeping nationwide through the National Beekeeping &
Honey Mission (NBHM) under the Atma-Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
❖ The Theme of 2023 is “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”.
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❖ World Bee Day is an annual event that is celebrated on May 20th to raise awareness about the importance of
bees and other pollinators for the environment, food security and biodiversity.
❖ The date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern beekeeping from
Slovenia.
❖ The United Nations General Assembly declared World Bee Day in 2017, following a proposal by Slovenia
and the support of 115 countries.
❖ Pollinators are agents that assist in the process of pollination. Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains
from the male reproductive organs (anthers) of a flower to the female reproductive organs (stigma) of the
same or a different flower, leading to fertilization and the production of seeds.
❖ India is one of the largest producers and consumers of honey in the world, with an estimated annual
production of 1.2 lakh metric tonnes. India has a rich tradition and culture of beekeeping, dating back to
ancient times.
❖ At present, about 12,699 Beekeepers and 19.34 lakhs honey bees colonies are registered with the National
Bee Board and India is producing about 1,33,200 Metric tonnes of Honey (2021-22 estimate).
❖ In November 2022, a new species of endemic honeybee named Indian black honeybee (Apis
karinjodian) was discovered in the Western Ghats after a gap of more than 200 years.
❖ National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM): The NBHM, implemented through the National Bee Board,
focuses on promoting scientific beekeeping and entrepreneurship among small and marginal farmers.
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

❖ The Indian Army commemorated the 75th International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers on 29th
May (which was designated by the UN General Assembly) at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
❖ Theme 2023: 'Peace begins with me'.
❖ This day holds significance as it marks the anniversary of the first UN peacekeeping (UNPK) mission in
1948.
❖ Additionally, India unveiled plans to conduct two initiatives later in 2023, specifically designed to
train women personnel from South East Asia, as part of their collaboration with ASEAN in the defence
sector.
❖ The 'India-ASEAN Initiative for women in UNPK operations' refers to a collaborative effort between India and
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote the participation of women in UNPK
operations, Providing training and support to women personnel from ASEAN member-states.
❖ Under this initiative, India has announced two specific initiatives: Specialized courses at the Centre for
United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi. These courses will offer targeted training in
peacekeeping operations to women peacekeepers from ASEAN countries.
❖ Table Top Exercise for women officers from ASEAN. This exercise will simulate various scenarios and
challenges faced by UN peacekeepers, allowing participants to enhance their understanding and
preparedness for UNPK operations.
❖ UN Peacekeeping: UN Peacekeeping is a vital tool employed by the United Nations to help countries
navigate the path from conflict to peace.
❖ It involves the deployment of military, police, and civilian personnel to regions affected by conflicts or
political instability.
❖ The primary objective of UN Peacekeeping is to facilitate peace and security, protect civilians, and support
the restoration of stable governance structures.
❖ It brings together the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police
contributors and the host governments in a combined effort to maintain international peace and security.
❖ First Mission: The first UN peacekeeping mission was established in May 1948, when the UN Security
Council authorized the deployment of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations
Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab
neighbours.
❖ India's Contributions in UN Peacekeeping: Troop Contribution: India has a rich legacy of contributing to UN
Peacekeeping operations. It is one of the largest troop-contributing countries, with a history of deploying
soldiers, medical personnel, and engineers to various peacekeeping missions worldwide. India has
contributed approximately 2,75,000 troops to peacekeeping missions so far.
❖ Casualties: Indian Army soldiers have made significant sacrifices while serving in UN Peacekeeping
Missions, with 179 soldiers losing their lives in the line of duty.
❖ Training and infrastructure: The Indian Army has established the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping
(CUNPK) in New Delhi. This center provides specialized training for more than 12,000 troops every year in
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peacekeeping operations, hosting national and international courses for potential peacekeepers and
trainers.
❖ Women in Peacekeeping: India has taken proactive measures to promote gender equality in peacekeeping
operations.
❖ India has deployed Female Engagement Teams in United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, which is
the second largest women contingent after Liberia.
❖ India has also deployed Women Military Police in United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and
women staff officers and military observers in various missions.
World Multiple Sclerosis Day

❖ The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, observed World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day on 30th May
2023, joining the global MS community in raising awareness and fostering connections. With the theme of
'connections' for the 2020-2023 period, the MS Connections campaign aimed to build community
connections, self-connections, and connections to quality care.
❖ Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including
the brain and spinal cord. It is characterized by inflammation and damage to the protective covering
of nerve fibers, disrupting the normal flow of electrical impulses. This results in a wide range of
symptoms, including fatigue, difficulty with coordination and balance, muscle weakness, and problems
with vision and cognition. The exact cause of MS is still unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination
of genetic and environmental factors. MS is a lifelong condition with varying degrees of severity and
progression. While there is no cure for MS, there are treatments available to manage symptoms, slow down
the progression of the disease.
World Milk Day

❖ The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in partnership with the Agriculture Production
Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, is gearing up to celebrate World Milk Day on June
1, 2023. The occasion will be marked by a Summer Meet for the animal husbandry and dairying
sector, taking place from June 1st to 2nd at SKICC in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
❖ This event aims to raise awareness about the nutritional value and advantages of milk, while also
acknowledging the significant contributions of dairy farmers, processors, and consumers. The event will
review the progress of ongoing schemes, discuss outcomes, and identify mid-course corrections as
necessary.
❖ As part of the event, "Feeding the Future: Five Days of Action for Feed and Fodder and Training of A-HELP
for 2023-24" campaign will be launched. This initiative aims to address the critical aspects of feed and
fodder management for livestock while providing training through the A-HELP program.
❖ In 2001, World Milk Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to
recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector.
❖ India is the highest milk producer in the world contributing 23% of global milk production in the year 2021-
22. The top five major milk-producing states are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and
Andhra Pradesh.
National Milk Day
❖ National Milk is Celebrated on 26 November 2022 commemorates 101st birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese
Kurien, the “Father of White Revolution in India”.
❖ Dr. Verghese Kurien (1921-2012): He is known as the ‘Father of White Revolution in India’.
❖ He is famous for his ‘Operation Flood’ (White Revolution), launched on 13th January 1970, which is known
as the world’s largest agricultural program.
❖ He established 30 institutions that are run by various farmers and workers.
❖ He also played a key role in the establishment and success of Amul Brand.
❖ Because of his efforts only, India became the largest producer of milk in 1998, surpassing the U.S.
❖ He also helped manage the Delhi Milk Scheme and corrected the prices. He also helped India become self-
sufficient in edible oils.
❖ He was honoured with several awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1963), Krishi Ratna
(1986) and World Food Prize (1989).
❖ He is also the recipient of India's highest civilian awards- Padma Shri (1965), Padma Bhushan (1966) and
Padma Vibhushan (1999).
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World No Tobacco Day
❖ 31st May is observed as ‘World No Tobacco Day’ every year to spread awareness around the deadly effects
of tobacco consumption.
❖ The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global
attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
❖ In 1988, Resolution WHA 42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year
on 31 May.
❖ The theme of 2023 is “Grow food, not tobacco”.
❖ The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report highlighting the urgent need to prioritise
food production over tobacco cultivation.
❖ The report emphasises that approximately 349 million people worldwide are currently facing acute food
insecurity, while valuable fertile land is being occupied by tobacco farming. The tobacco industry's
interference in efforts to substitute its crops exacerbates the global food crisis.
❖ The WHO emphasises the significance of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), the
first international agreement aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and its adverse health effects.
❖ India is the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco after China.
❖ Nearly 267 million adults (15 years and above) in India (29% of all adults) are users of tobacco, according to
the Global Adult Tobacco Survey India, 2016-17.
❖ The Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019 prohibits Production,
Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement of e-Cigarettes.
❖ The Government of India launched the National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS) which have the sole
objective to provide telephone-based information, advice, support, and referrals for tobacco cessation.
❖ The Union Finance Minister of India announced a 16% increase in National Calamity Contingent Duty
(NCCD) on cigarettes in the Budget 2023-24.
❖ The Union Health Ministry of India has announced new regulations requiring Over-The-Top (OTT)
platforms to display tobacco-related health warnings during streamed content.
World Environment Day

❖ World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5th, serves as a platform to raise awareness about
environmental protection and sustainability.
❖ On the 50th anniversary of this significant day, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Collaborative
Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP), an international non-governmental organization
organized a "Conference on Consumer-Centric Approaches for E-cooking Transition" in New Delhi.
❖ The United Nations Assembly established World Environment Day on 5th June 1972, which was the first day
of the Stockholm Conference on the human environment.
❖ It is hosted by a different country each year. India in 2018 hosted the 45th celebration of World Environment
Day under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
❖ The year 2023 World Environment Day is hosted by Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands.
❖ This year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day.
❖ Theme for 2023: The theme will focus on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign
#BeatPlasticPollution.
❖ E-Cooking: E-cooking involves the use of electric cooking appliances as a clean and energy-
efficient alternative to traditional cooking methods.
❖ It encompasses the adoption of electric stoves, induction cooktops, and other electric cooking devices in
households.
❖ The Saubhagya Scheme has played a pivotal role in providing electricity connections to millions of
households, eliminating power cuts, and creating an environment conducive to the adoption of electric
cooking.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency
❖ The Government of India set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency in March 2002 under the provisions of the
Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
❖ It assists in developing policies and strategies with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the
Indian economy.
❖ Major Programmes: State Energy Efficiency Index, Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, The
Standards & Labeling Programme, Energy Conservation Building Code.
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75th International Archives Day
❖ The Ministry of State for Culture inaugurated the exhibition "Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat '' under the
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) at the National Archives of India in New Delhi, commemorating the
75th International Archives Day. The exhibition aims to celebrate India's linguistic diversity, highlighting its
status as one of the most linguistically diverse countries globally, with approximately 788 languages
spoken. India is thus one of the four most linguistically diversified countries in the world, along with Papua
New Guinea, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
❖ The exhibition features a variety of original manuscripts, including the ancient Gilgit Manuscripts (written
between the 5th -6th centuries CE, which is the oldest surviving manuscript collection in India), Tattvartha
Sutra (Ancient Jain Text), Ramayana, and Srimad Bhagwad Gita, among others. Furthermore, the National
Archives of India has made over 72,000 manuscripts available, both physically and through
digitization, ensuring their accessibility to people worldwide.
❖ International Archives Day is a day of celebration and awareness of the importance and value of archives
and archivists. It is celebrated on June 9 every year, since 2008, to commemorate the date when
the International Council on Archives (ICA) was created under the auspices of UNESCO in 1948.
Global Wind Day

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❖ Global Wind Day celebrated on 15 Jun June 2023 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
with the theme of “Pawan - Urja: Powering the Future of India”.
❖ MNRE has set the target of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 and Wind Atlas at 150 meter above
ground level was also launched by National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), estimating the onshore wind
potential at 1,164 GW.
❖ Global Wind Day is an annual event since 2007 to promote wind energy as a clean and renewable source of
power.
❖ It was started by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and later joined by the Global Wind Energy
Council (GWEC). GWEC is a member-based organisation that represents the entire wind energy sector.
❖ Wind Energy: Wind energy is a form of renewable energy that uses the kinetic energy of the air to generate
electricity.
❖ Mechanism: Wind energy is created using wind turbines, which are devices that have blades that
rotate when the wind blows. The rotation of the blades drives a generator that produces electricity.
❖ Wind energy can be generated on land or offshore, where there are stronger and more consistent winds.
❖ Emission of Gases: Wind energy is a clean and renewable source of power that does not emit greenhouse
gases or other pollutants.
❖ Facts About Wind Energy: The largest wind power market in the world is China, with a capacity of over 237
GW of wind power installed followed by U.S, Germany and India
❖ China also has the world’s largest onshore wind farm in Gansu Province, built out of the Gobi Desert.
❖ India Specific: India ranks fourth in wind power capacity (with 42.8 GW as of April 2023) in the world and
has a huge potential for both onshore and offshore wind energy production.
❖ Wind energy is vital for India’s transition to a low-carbon economy and achieving its goals of 50% non-fossil
fuel-based energy by 2030 and Net Zero by 2070.
❖ Tamil Nadu installs highest wind power capacity till June 2022 followed by Gujrat and Karnataka.
❖ Indian Initiatives: National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy: The main objective of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid
Policy, 2018 is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems
for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.
❖ National Offshore Wind Energy Policy: The National Offshore wind energy policy was notified in October
2015 with an objective to develop the offshore wind energy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) along the Indian coastline of 7600 km.
❖ Global Initiative: Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) founded by Denmark, the International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), was officially launched at COP27 in
November 2022, where a large group of countries agreed to a rapid ramp-up of offshore wind.
❖ For the coming three years, the founders and Colombia will co-chair the Alliance.
World Desertification Day 2023

❖ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on the 17th of June.
❖ The theme for this year is “Her Land. Her Rights” which focuses on women’s land rights, essential for
achieving the interconnected global goals of gender equality.
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❖ Background: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the
greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
❖ Two years later, in 1994, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD), the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and
development to sustainable land management and declared 17 June "World Day to Combat Desertification
and Drought".
❖ Later on, in 2007, the UN General Assembly declared 2010-2020 the United Nations Decade for Deserts and
the fight against Desertification to mobilise global action to fight land degradation, led again by the UNCCD
Secretariat.
❖ Gender Equality: An Unfinished Business: According to UNCCD’s landmark study “The Differentiated
Impacts of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought on Women and Men,” gender equality remains
unfinished business in every part of the world.
❖ Women’s rights to inherit their husband’s property continue to be denied in over 100 countries under
customary, religious, or traditional laws and practices.
❖ Globally, women already spend a collective 200 million hours every day collecting water. In some countries,
a single trip to fetch water can take over an hour.
❖ UNCCD’s Gender Action Plan, 2017: The gender action plan, 2017 was adopted during the Conference of
the Parties (COP23), in Bonn, Germany to incorporate gender equality and women’s empowerment in
climate change discourse and actions.
❖ Desertification: Degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by
human activities and climatic variations.
❖ Causes: Climate change, Deforestation, Overgrazing, Unsustainable Agricultural Practices, Urbanisation
❖ Drought: Drought is generally considered as a deficiency in rainfall /precipitation over an extended period,
usually a season or more, resulting in a water shortage causing adverse impacts on vegetation, animals,
and/or people.
❖ Causes: Variability in rainfall, Deviation in the route of monsoon winds, Early withdrawal of the monsoon,
Forest fires, Land degradation in addition to Climate change
❖ Indian Initiatives to Reduce Desertification: Integrated Watershed Management Programme, since 2009-
10: It was launched by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development (Giriraj
Singh) that aims to restore ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural
resources with the creation of Rural Employment.
❖ Desert Development Programme: Launched in 1995 by the Ministry of Rural Development to minimise the
adverse effect of drought and to rejuvenate the natural resource base of the identified desert areas.
❖ National Mission on Green India: It was approved in 2014 and implemented under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change with the objective of protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s
diminishing forest cover with a deadline of 10 years.
❖ Global Initiatives: Bonn Challenge: The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the
world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
❖ At the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the voluntary Bonn
Challenge pledge to bring into restoration 21 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year
2030.
❖ The target has now been revised to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030.
World Yoga Day 2023

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❖ The 9 International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated on June 21st with various events and initiatives
taking place across the country.
❖ This year's IDY theme, "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," which highlights India's socio-cultural heritage
and promotes unity.
❖ Key Highlights: Promoting Tribal Artisans: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India
Ltd (TRIFED) collaborated with the Ministry of Ayush (Sarbananda Sonowal) to supply yoga mats
exclusively made by tribal artisans.
❖ TRIFED will highlight products and communities such as Madur mats or Madhurkathi from Medinipur, Sabai
Grass Yoga Mats from Mayurbhanj, and Gondha Grass mats from Jharkhand.
❖ Ocean Ring of Yoga: Indian Navy and Merchant ships will organize yoga demonstrations at ports and
vessels of friendly countries, fostering global participation.
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❖ Yoga from the Arctic to Antarctica: Coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the
Ministry of Ayush to organize yoga events in countries along the Prime Meridian line and UN member
countries.
❖ Yoga sessions to be held at Himadri in the Arctic and Bharati in Antarctica, showcasing yoga's reach to
extreme regions.
❖ Yoga Bharatmala and Yoga Sagarmala: Indian armed forces, including Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP), Border Security Force (BSF), and Border Roads Organization (BRO), will form a chain of yoga
demonstrations.
❖ Yoga Sagarmala will feature yoga along the Indian coastline along with yoga demonstrations on the flight
deck of INS Vikrant.
❖ National Level Initiatives: The Prime Minister will lead yoga at the United Nations Headquarters in New
York, demonstrating a global commitment to yoga.
❖ The Ministry of Ayush encourages "Har Aangan Yoga" which means Yoga in the courtyard of every house, by
enabling yoga observation at the village level.
❖ Background: The idea of International Day of Yoga (IDY) was proposed by India during the opening of the
69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held in 2014.
❖ The UN proclaimed 21st June as IDY by passing a resolution in December 2014.
❖ The first Yoga Day celebrations in 2015 at Rajpath in New Delhi created two Guinness World Records.
❖ It was the world's largest yoga session with 35,985 people. 84 nationalities participated in it.
❖ The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and
consciousness.
❖ The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also asked its member states to practice Yoga and has included
it in its Global Action Plan for physical activity 2018-30.
❖ Related Initiatives: M-Yoga App: The Prime Minister announced the M-Yoga App which will help in
achieving ‘One World One Health’. The app is a work of collaboration between the WHO and the Ministry of
Ayush, Government of India.
❖ New Website for International Day of Yoga (IDY): This web portal provides all the updated and relevant
information relating to International Day of Yoga.
❖ Yoga Recognized as a Sports Discipline: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, after reviewing
categorization of various Sports disciplines, recognized Yoga as a sports discipline and placed it in the
‘Priority’ category in September 2015.
❖ Common Yoga Protocol: The Ministry of Ayush in its ‘Common Yoga Protocol’ has listed Yama, Niyama,
Asana, etc. among popular yoga ‘sadhanas’.
❖ Vocational Education Courses in Yoga: The Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC)
has vocational education courses in Yoga for CBSE schools.
❖ B&WSSC is established as a non-profit organization under the aegis of National Skill Development
Corporation, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
❖ Various Skilling initiatives: Thousands of candidates have been trained as yoga instructors and trainers
through various skilling initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
❖ Fit India Movement: Yoga is also a part of the Fit India Movement. FIM launched on 29th August 2019 is a
nation-wide campaign that aims at encouraging people to include physical activities and sports in their
everyday lives.
World Sickle Cell Day 2023

❖ Recently, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, observed on 19th June, raises awareness about sickle cell
disease (SCD) and its global impact.
❖ The theme World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2023 is ‘Building and strengthening global sickle cell
communities, formalizing newborn screening and knowing your sickle cell disease status’. The theme is
about recognizing the first step to understanding the genotype in infants and adults in fighting sickle cell
disease. It also urges the utilization of advanced technology to identify SCD status.
❖ SCD is a chronic single-gene disorder characterized by chronic anemia, acute painful episodes, organ
infarction, and chronic organ damage, resulting in a significant reduction in life expectancy. Common
symptoms include chronic anemia leading to fatigue, weakness, and paleness, as well as painful episodes
known as sickle cell crises that cause intense pain in various parts of the body. Delayed growth and
puberty can also occur.
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❖ Treatment options for SCD include blood transfusions to relieve anemia and reduce pain crises, the use of
medication such as hydroxyurea to decrease the frequency of painful episodes and prevent long-term
complications, and potentially bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.
World Blood Donor Day

❖ Every year June 14 is observed as World Blood Donor Day.
❖ Background: It is celebrated on the birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner who was awarded the Nobel
Prize in Physiology and Medicine (1930) for his discovery of the ABO blood group system.
❖ It was designated as an annual event by the World Health Assembly(WHO) in 2005.
❖ Objective: Celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to become new
donors.
❖ Slogan for 2023 World Blood Donor Day campaign: “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”
❖ Host country(2023):Algeria.
❖ Composition of blood
❖ Blood is a specialised body fluid which has four main components: Plasma: It is the liquid component of the
blood and a mixture of water, sugar, fat, protein and salts.
❖ Red blood cells: These are the most abundant cells in the blood.
❖ White blood cells: White blood cells protect the body from infection and account for about 1 percent of
human blood.
❖ Platelets: Platelets are small, colourless cell fragments in our blood that help the blood clotting process (or
coagulation) by gathering at the site of an injury. A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000
platelets per microliter of blood.
❖ The ABO System: There are 4 main blood groups defined by the ABO system
❖ Blood group A:It has A antigens with anti-B antibodies.
❖ Blood group B:It has B antigens with anti-A antibodies.
❖ Blood group AB:It has both A and B antigens but no antibodies.
❖ Blood group O:It has no antigens but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.
❖ The Rh System: Red blood cells sometimes have another antigen, a protein known as the RhD antigen. If this
is present, the blood group is RhD positive. If it's absent, the blood group is RhD negative.
❖ The golden blood type or Rh null blood group contains no Rh antigens (proteins) in the red blood cells
(RBCs). This is the rarest blood group in the world, with less than 50 individuals having this blood group. It
was first seen in Aboriginal Australians.
❖ Universal donor: O- blood, since no antigens are present and it has a negative Rh factor.
❖ Universal receiver: AB+ blood, Since both A and B antigens are present and it has a positive Rh factor.
Blood donation in india
❖ Status: There are 3840 licensed blood banks (blood centres) in the country. (till March 2022 ).
❖ The first voluntary blood donation initiative in India started in 1942, during World War II and the first blood
bank was established in Kolkata, West Bengal.
❖ 1st October is celebrated as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day in India.
❖ The National Blood Policy (2002):The NBP aims to ensure an easily accessible and adequate supply of safe
and quality blood and blood components collected/procured from voluntary non-remunerated regular blood
donors in well-equipped premises; the blood should be free from Transfusion Transmissible Infections
(TTIs), be stored and transported under optimum conditions.
❖ National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTCs) were established
with the intention of planning Nationwide IEC(Information, Education and Communication) campaigns.
❖ In response to the HIV pandemic, blood safety became an important component of National AIDS Control
programme with key objectives: 1. Modernization of blood banks, 2. Promotion of voluntary blood donation,
3. Quality systems in blood transfusion services(BTS).
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

❖ The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26 June
every year which was decided by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987, to strengthen action and
cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. Theme for 2023: People first: stop stigma and
discrimination, strengthen prevention. The aim of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness about the
importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy; providing evidence-based,
voluntary services for all; offering alternatives to p unishment; prioritising prevention; and leading with
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compassion. The campaign also aims to combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs
by promoting language and attitudes that are respectful and non-judgmental.
❖ Every year on 26th June, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also releases the World
Drug Report.
Helen Keller Day

❖ Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope.” - Helen
Keller. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, in India observed Helen Keller's Day on June 27, 2023, commemorating the remarkable life
and achievements of Helen Keller, who overcame her deafness and blindness to become an inspiration to
millions.
❖ Despite her disabilities, Keller's determination and perseverance led her to become a
renowned writer, founder of the "American Foundation for the Blind," and a passionate advocate for people
with disabilities. Her autobiography, "The Story of My Life," published in 1903, remains one of her most
famous works. Other notable publications include "Optimism," "The World I Live In," and "My Religion."
Udyami Bharat MSME Day 2023

❖ On the occasion of International MSME Day,2023, the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
(Narayan Tatu Rane) organized the 'Udyami Bharat-MSME Day' event, aimed at celebrating and promoting
the growth and development of MSMEs.
❖ The event witnessed the launch of several initiatives by, the Union Minister for MSME, including
the 'CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal,' 'Mobile App for Geo-tagging of Cluster Projects and Technology Centers,' and
the announcement of 'MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0' for women entrepreneurs.
❖ International MSME Day is observed on 27th June annually to recognize the significance of MSMEs and their
contribution to the economy.
❖ MSMEs are recognized as the backbone of the country's economy.
❖ Theme of MSME Day 2023: In India, the theme for MSME Day 2023 is "Future-ready MSMEs for India@100."
❖ The Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade celebrates with the theme "Building a Stronger
Future Together" and launches the #Brand10000MSMEs Network.
❖ Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade is an organisation based out of India, South Africa,
USA, UAE, EU and the United Kingdom with board & council member representation across the world.
❖ History and Significance: In April 2017, the United Nations designated 27th June as Micro, Small, and
Medium-sized Enterprises Day.
❖ The day aims to enhance national capacities for unleashing the full potential of MSMEs in
achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
❖ Key Highlights of the Event: Initiatives Launched: CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal: The Ministry introduced the
'CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal' aimed at supporting and promoting MSMEs. This platform will provide various
services such as mentoring, capacity building, access to markets, and grievance redressal to MSMEs.
❖ Mobile App for Geo-tagging of Cluster Projects and Technology Centers: To enhance efficiency and track
the progress of cluster projects and technology centers, the Ministry launched a mobile app for geo-tagging.
❖ MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0 for Women Entrepreneurs: Building on the success of the previous idea
hackathon, the Ministry launched the 'MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0' specifically focused on women
entrepreneurs
❖ Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) Signed: Ministry of MSME and Small Industries Development
Bank of India(SIDBI): To create a portal for 'PM Vishwakarma KAushal Samman' (PMVIKAS) by SIDBI.
❖ To identify the local traditional artisans and craftsmen who were not a part of any targeted interventions so
far.
❖ Ministry of MSME and GeM: To share Udyam Registration data with Government e-Marketplace(GeM) for
last mile registration of MSMEs in the Public Procurement eco-system.
❖ Ministry of MSME and the Industry Department, Government of Tripura: To share Udyam Registration data
through API, easing policy making and targeted distribution of scheme benefits.
❖ Ministry of MSME and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): To provide
guarantee coverage to the beneficiaries of the MSME sector.
❖ National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development
Corporation (NSFDC) & National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC): To
promote mutual collaboration for supporting SC/ ST entrepreneurs under National SC-ST Hub and various
schemes.
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MSME
❖ MSMEs form the backbone of the Indian economy, contributing significantly to employment
generation, industrial production, and overall economic growth. These enterprises are engaged in the
production, manufacturing, processing, or preservation of goods and commodities.
❖ Classification of MSMEs: MSMEs in India are classified based on their investment in plant and machinery or
equipment, along with their annual turnover. The current classification is as follows:
❖ Micro Enterprises: Investment up to Rs. 1 crore and turnover up to Rs. 5 crores.
❖ Small Enterprises: Investment between Rs. 1 crore and Rs. 10 crores, and turnover between Rs. 5 crore and
Rs. 50 crores
❖ Medium Enterprises: Investment between Rs. 10 crores and Rs. 50 crores, and turnover between Rs. 50
crore and Rs. 250 crores.
❖ Recent Government Initiatives Related to MSMEs: Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP)
Scheme
❖ Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro & Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)
❖ Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC)
❖ A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)
❖ Credit Linked Capital Subsidy for Technology Upgradation (CLCSS)
❖ Zero Defect & Zero Effect (ZED)
National Statistics Day

❖ India celebrated National Statistics Day on June 29th, commemorating the birthday of Prof. Prasanta
Chandra Mahalanobis, renowned as the 'Plan Man' of India.
❖ Theme 2023: Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator Framework for Monitoring
Sustainable Development Goals.
❖ As India grapples with the challenges of Big Data and the transformative power of artificial
intelligence (AI), reflecting on Mahalanobis's approach can offer insights into addressing these issues
effectively.
❖ About: Professor P.C. Mahalanobis, a prominent scientist and statistical pioneer, contributed significantly
in the field of data collection, analysis, and planning for national development.
❖ He was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata). His grandfather Gurucharan was a social reformer and a follower of
Debendranath Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore.
❖ Major Contributions: In 1931, he founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Calcutta, with the aim of
promoting research and education in statistics and related disciplines.
❖ He also founded Sankhya, the first Indian statistical journal, in 1933.
❖ In 1955, he was appointed as a member of the Planning Commission of India by Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru.
❖ He played a key role in designing India’s strategy for industrialisation and economic development in
the Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61), also known as Mahalanobis Plan based on his own
mathematical model that emphasized heavy industries and capital goods.
❖ Also, his involvement in the establishment and shaping of Rabindranath Tagore's Visva Bharati
University highlights his significant contributions beyond statistics
❖ In 1968, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
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Awards & Recognition
Golden Globe
❖ Recently, music composer M M Keeravani accepted the award for Best Original Song for Telugu film RRR
(directed by SS Rajamouli) at the 80th Golden Globe Awards. ‘Naatu Naatu’ becomes the first Asian song to
win the coveted award.
❖ Golden Globe Award, presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), is a
recognition of outstanding achievement in motion pictures and television during the previous year. The
Golden Globes are considered second in importance both to the Academy Awards (or Oscars) for films.
❖ First Golden Globe was awarded in 1944
❖ At the 66th Golden Globe Awards, Indian composer A. R. Rahman won the Best Original Score for the Hindi
language song "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire
Critics Choice Award

❖ SS Rajamouli’s RRR, an Indian film directed by SS Rajamouli and featuring Jr NTR and Ram Charan in lead
roles, took home two awards at the 28th Annual Critics’ Choice Award held on Sunday in Los Angeles. The
film won the award for best feature film in a foreign language and the best song.
❖ The Critics’ Choice awards mark the fourth major international award for the film that has scored big at the
box office and is also among the favourites among critics all over the world.
❖ The film was nominated in five categories at the Critics’ Choice awards: best picture, best director, best
foreign language film, best visuals and best song (for Naatu Naatu).
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2023
❖ SSubhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP) 2023 was announced on 23 January
2023.
❖ For 2023, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram,
both in the Institutional category, have been selected for their excellent work in Disaster Management.
❖ SCBAPP is conferred annually to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service in
the field of disaster management. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate in case of
an institution and Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate in the case of an individual.
Padma Awards
❖ 106 Padma Awards is presented to honour people from different fields such as social work, education,
literature, public affairs, education, etc. It is one of the highest civilian awards presented in the country. The
award is presented in three categories namely Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri. Padma
Awards are presented by the President of India.
Padma Vibhushan
❖ Mulayam Singh Yadav (Posthumous): Former Defence Minister of India; her served as the CM of UP for three
years, founder of the Samajwadi Party
❖ SM Krishna (Posthumous): Served as the External Affairs Minister of India between 2009 and 2012; was part
of BJP, from Karnataka
❖ Zakir Hussain: Musician, table player
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❖ Balkrishna Doshi (Posthumous): An Architect. Played huge roles in the evolution of architectural discourse
in India
❖ Dillip Mahalanabis (posthumous): Indian pediatrician, known for effective use of Oral Rehydration Therapy
in treating Diarrhoea
❖ Srinivas Vardhan: From USA in the field of Science and Engineering. He is a mathematician
Padma Bhushan
❖ Bhyrappa: Novelist
❖ Kumar Mangalam Birla: Businessman
❖ Deepak Dhar: Physicist
❖ Vani Jayaram: Singer
❖ Chinna Jeeyar: Religious Guru and ascetic
❖ Suman Kalyanpur: Playback Singer
❖ Kapil Kapoor: Former VC of JNU
❖ Sudha Murthy: Wife of Infosys CEO Narayana Murthy for Social Works
❖ Kamlesh D Patel: In the field of Spiritualism; written several books on yoga
❖ Ghazal Singers of Rajasthan: Mohammad Hussain and Ahmed Hussain
❖ Raveena Tandon, the Bollywood actress will be conferred with Padma Shri.
Grammy Awards 2023

❖ Grammy Award (originally named Gramophone Award) is a series of awards presented annually in the
US by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) or the Latin Academy of Recording Arts
& Sciences (LARAS only for recordings in Spanish/Portuguese languages). This annual event to recognise
musical achievements was started in 1959 to respect the performers for the year 1958. The honorees
receive a golden statuette of a gramophone.
❖ Indian composer (Bengaluru-based) - Ricky Kej won a Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album for his
most recent album Divine Tides with rock-legend Stewart Copeland, making him the only Indian to win three
Grammy awards. Ricky has previously won 2 Grammy Awards under the Best New Age Album category -
‘Winds of Samsara’ (in 2015) and Divine Tides (in 2022).
Grammy Award Winners
❖ Best Song of the Year: “Just Like That”, won by Bonnie Raitt Performed by Raiit
❖ Best Pop Solo Performance: “Renaissance” won by Beyonce
❖ Best AMusica Urban Album: “Un Verano Sin Ti” won by Bad bunny
❖ Best Pop, group performance: “Unholy” won by Kim Petras and Sam Smith
❖ Best R&B Song: “Cuff it”, “Blu June”, won by Andrews Performed by Beuonce
❖ Best Pop Vocal Album: “Harrys House”, won by Harry Styles
❖ Best Country Album: “A Beautiful Time” won by Willie Nelson
❖ Best Country Song: “Till you cant” won by ben Stennis and Matt Rogers; performed by Cody Johnson
❖ Best country solo Performance: “Live Forever”, won by Willie Nelson
❖ Best country group Performance: “Never Wanted to be That Girl”, won by Ashley Mc Bryde and Carly Pearce
❖ Best Latin Pop album: “Pasieros” won by Boca Livre and Ruben Blades
❖ Best Global Music Album: “Sakura” won by Masa Takumi
❖ Best Rap: “The Heart Part 5” won by Kendrick Lamar
❖ Album of the Year: “Just Like That” won by the songwriter Bonnie Raitt
❖ Record of the Year: About Damn time, by Lizzo
❖ Song of the Year: Just like that, Bonnie Raitt
❖ Best New Artist: Easy on Me by Adele
Marconi Prize
❖ Computer scientist Hari Balakrishnan was awarded the 2023 Marconi Prize. Dr. Balakrishnan has been cited
for fundamental contributions to wired and wireless networking, mobile sensing, and distributed systems.
❖ Name after Nobel Laureate Guglielmo Marconi who invented Radio in 1895, and setup in 1974 by his
daughter Gioia Marconi Braga through an endowment. The Marconi Prize is a top honour for computer
scientists and is awarded by the U.S.-based Marconi Foundation. It is given to those who have made a
significant contribution to increasing digital inclusivity through advanced information and communications
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technology. The Prize recipients are recommended by an independent selection committee and approved by
the Marconi Society Board.
❖ The prestigious prize includes $100,000 honorarium and a sculpture. Its honourees become Marconi
Fellows
❖ Past winners of the Marconi Prize include Lawrence E. Page and Sergey Brin for the development of web
search company Google, Tim Berners-Lee for his leadership and innovations in the World Wide Web, Nobel
Laureate Charles K. Kao for developing fiber-optic communications, and Martin Hellman and Whitfield
Diffie for their work in security - the Diffie–Hellman key exchange.
❖ The first award was given in 1975 to syn Rhyne Killian
❖ Marconi shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand Braun "in recognition of their
contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy"
Porter Prize 2023

❖ Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has received the Porter Prize 2023. It recognized
the government's strategy in managing COVID-19, also the approach, and involvement of various
stakeholders especially the involvement of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers. The
country's contribution to developing and manufacturing vaccines was also lauded. India delivered more than
2.5 billion doses.
❖ Porter Prize is named after award-winning economist Michael E. Porter. He has brought economic theory
and strategy concepts to bear on many of the most challenging problems faced by corporations,
economies and societies.
❖ India launched the ASHA programme in 2005-06 as part of the National Rural Health Mission. With the
launch of the National Urban Health Mission in 2013, the programme was extended to urban settings as
well. The core of the ASHA programme has been an intention to build the capacity of community members
in taking care of their own health and being partners in health services.
Abel Prize
❖ Luis Caffarelli has won the 2023 Abel Prize for his contributions to regularity theory for nonlinear partial
differential equations, including free-boundary problems and the Monge-Ampère equation.
❖ The Abel Prize is a prestigious award in mathematics that recognizes pioneering scientific achievements in
mathematics. It is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel.
❖ The Norwegian Parliament established the prize in 2002, and it was first Awarded in 2003 to Jean-Pierre
Serre of France
❖ It includes a monetary award of 7.5 million kroner (approximately $720,000) and a glass plaque.
❖ It is awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on behalf of the Ministry of Education of
Norway.
❖ S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan was the first Indian to win the Abel Prize in 2007
❖ In 2022 its was awarded to Dennis Sullivan of US
Kalanidhi Awards 2023

❖ Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri, who is known for her melodic and meditative style of singing and is
recognised by a Padma Shri from the Indian government has been selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi award
of the Music Academy for 2023. Sangita Kalanidhi award is considered the highest accolade in the field
of Carnatic music, it came into existence in 1942. The award comprises a gold medal and a birudu patra
(citation)
❖ Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari has been selected for The Nritiya Kalanidhi award for
dance. Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari excels both in Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi.
International Prize in Statistics

❖ Calayampudi Radhakrishna Rao, a prominent Indian-American mathematician and statistician, will be
awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in the field.
❖ Rao's remarkable paper, published in 1945 in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society,
demonstrated three fundamental results that paved the way for the modern field of statistics and provided
statistical tools heavily used in science today.
❖ Theory: The Cramer-Rao Lower Bound: Provides a means of knowing when a method for estimating a
quantity is as good as any method can be.
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❖ The Rao-Blackwell Theorem: Provides a means of transforming an estimate into an optimal
estimate. Together, these results form a foundation on which much of statistics is built.
❖ The Information Geometry: Provided insights that pioneered a new interdisciplinary field that has flourished
as "information geometry.
❖ Awards Conferred to C R Rao: Padma Bhushan in 1968 and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
❖ The International Prize in Statistics is awarded every two years by a collaboration among five leading
international statistics organizations.
❖ The prize recognizes a major achievement by an individual or team in the statistics field, particularly an
achievement of powerful and original ideas that have led to practical applications and breakthroughs in
other disciplines.
❖ The prize is modeled after the Nobel prizes, Abel Prize, Fields Medal, and Turing Award.
❖ The first award was given to David Cox (2017), For Survival Analysis Model Applied in Medicine, Science and
Engineering
World Press Freedom Prize

❖ Three imprisoned women journalists- Niloofar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi and Narges Mohammadi from
Iran have been awarded the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2023 for their commitment to truth and
accountability. World Press Freedom Day is observed on 3rd May, every year.
❖ UNESCO has a mandate to ensure freedom of expression and the safety of journalists around the world.
Globally, women journalists and media workers face increasing attacks, whether in real life or online,
including stigmatization, sexist hate speech, trolling, physical assault, rape and even murder. The agency
advocates for their safety and collaborates with partners to identify and implement good practices and
share recommendations aimed at countering these attacks.
❖ The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was established in 1997. It is presented annually
to a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to press freedom, and
especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger.
International Booker Prize 2023

❖ Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel won the International Booker Prize 2023
for Time Shelter.
❖ It is a dark comic novel about the dangerous appeal of nostalgia. The 50,000 pounds in prize money is
divided between the author and translator.
❖ This is the first time a novel originally published in Bulgarian has won the annual award, given to a work of
fiction translated into English and published in the United Kingdom in the preceding year.
❖ Time Shelter has also won Italy’s Strega European Prize for literature in Italian translation.
❖ The International Booker Prize is awarded every year to a translated work of fiction published in the U.K. or
Ireland. It is run alongside the Booker Prize for English-language fiction, which will be handed out in the
autumn.
❖ Last year’s (2022) winners of the International Booker Prize were Indian writer Geetanjali
Shree and American translator Daisy Rockwell for “Tomb of Sand.”
❖ First winner of International Bookers Price was Ismail Kadare of Albania
Gandhi Peace Prize

❖ Gita Press, Gorakhpur, a 100-year-old institution that publishes Hindu religious texts and
promotes Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony, has been awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize
(GPP) for 2021 by the Government of India.
❖ The prize was announced by the Ministry of Culture.
❖ Gandhi Peace Prize Awards for Social, Economic and Political transformation through Non-violence was
instituted in the year 1995, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as a tribute
to his ideals and contributions to humanity.
❖ Reward: The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and a traditional handicraft or
handloom item.
❖ The award is conferred by the President of India at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
❖ Consideration: This award is given to individuals, associations, institutions or organizations who have
worked selflessly for peace, non-violence and amelioration of human sufferings.
❖ The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
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❖ The Award may be divided between two persons / institutions who are considered by the Jury to be equally
deserving of recognition in a given year.
❖ Work by a person since deceased cannot be the subject of an Award. If, however, his death occurred
subsequent to a proposal having been submitted to the Jury(headed by the Prime Minister) in the manner
stipulated in the Code of Procedure, then a Posthumous Award may be made.
❖ Previous Awardees: Organizations: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ramakrishna Mission,
Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Akshaya Patra, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, Sulabh International
❖ Luminaries: Nelson Mandela, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh (2020).
Related Static GK
❖ First Winner of GPP was Julius Kambarage Nyerere awarded in 1995. He was a Tanzanian politician who
served as the leader of Tanzania, and previously Tanganyika, from 1960 until his retirement in 1985.
❖ Ramakrishna Mission was the first Indian Organisation to won the Prize in 1997. Founded by Swami
Vivekananda for promoting social welfare, tolerance, and non-violence among disadvantaged groups
❖ Murlidhar Devisas Amte (Baba Amte) was the first Indian person to won the price in 1999. He was a Social
worker, known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering
from leprosy
❖ Gita Press: Established in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyandka and Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Gita Press is one of
the world’s largest publishers of Hindu religious texts, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages,
including 16.21 crore copies of Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.
❖ Gita Press also runs a monthly magazine called Kalyan, which covers topics such as spirituality, culture,
history, ethics and morality.
❖ It also runs a charitable hospital called Kalyan Chikitsalaya in Gorakhpur, which provides free medical
services to the poor and needy.
National Florence Nightingale Award

❖ Tejavath Susheela, an Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) from Telangana, is one of the recipients of the
prestigious National Florence Nightingale Awards. President Draupadi Murmu conferred these awards upon
30 individuals from across the country during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
❖ Established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973, the award is a recognition of exceptional
service rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to society. The selection process is rigorous, involving
nominations from various healthcare institutions, which are then evaluated by esteemed healthcare
professionals
Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023

❖ Priya A S has been awarded the prestigious Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023 in the
Malayalam language for her novel Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal. The novel Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal,
set against the backdrop of the 2018 Kerala floods, captures the resilience and unity displayed by children
from diverse backgrounds during the calamity.
❖ The Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar is a prestigious literary award for children's literature in
India. It is presented by the Sahitya Akademi and recognizes outstanding contributions in the field. The
award carries a cash prize and plaque, encouraging authors and promoting the growth of children's
literature.
❖ Past Awardees Includes: Anuradha Roy for All the lives We Never Lived, Badri Narayan for Tumadi ke Shabd,
Mr. Rajendran for Kala Pani, Praveen Bandekar for Ujavya Sondechya Bahulya, Anis Ashfaq for Khwab
Sarab, Manoj Kumar Goswami for Bhool Satya (2022)
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Miscellaneous Affairs
UN Peace Keeping Mission
❖ India will deploy an all-woman platoon of peacekeepers as part of a battalion to the United Nations Interim
Security Force in Abyei (on the border between South Sudan and Sudan).
❖ This will be India’s largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a U.N. mission since the deployment of
the first-ever all-women’s contingent in Liberia in 2007.
❖ India is one of the largest troop-contributing nations to the U.N. peacekeeping missions.
Kerala to Provide pension to MGNREGS Workers

❖ In a first of its kind initiative, the Kerala govt. has launched a welfare fund board for the workers registered
for the MGNREGS and Kerala govt.’s Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme.
❖ They will receive a monthly pension from the board once they turn 60. As per the norm, any worker (age
18-55) can take membership in the fund board.
❖ They have to pay a monthly premium amount (₹50 tentatively fixed) until the age of 55 and a member who
has paid the contribution for at least 10 years will be eligible for pension. Apart from the workers’ monthly
contribution, the govt. will also make an equivalent contribution towards the fund (which may be revised
triannually)
MGNREGA
❖ Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is one of the largest work
guarantee programmes in the world launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural development (Giriraj Singh).
❖ The primary objective of the scheme is to guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to
adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.
❖ At least one-third of beneficiaries have to be women.
❖ its legally-backed guarantee for any rural adult to get work within 15 days of demanding it, failing which
an ‘unemployment allowance’ must be given.
❖ The act mandates Gram sabhas to recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the
works must be executed by them.
VARUNA
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❖ Recently, the 21 edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France began on the western
seaboard.
❖ While the bilateral exercise between the two navies was initiated in 1993, it was adopted as ‘VARUNA’ in
2001 and has become a hallmark of the India – France strategic bilateral relationship. The exercise will be
conducted over five days from January 16-20, 2023
List of Exercises of India
❖ China: Hand in Hand
❖ Russia-Exercise Indira, TSENTR, ZAPAD 2021, AviaIndra(air)
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❖ USA-Vajra Prahar, Yudh Abhyas, RED FLAG, Tiger Triump
❖ Australia- Austra Hind, AUSINDEX, Pitch Black
❖ Bangladesh- Sampriti, IN-BN CORPAT, Bongosagar
❖ France-Shakti, VARUNA, Gruda, Ex-Desert Knight 21
❖ Japan- JIMEX, Sahyog-Kaijin, Dharma Guardian, SHINYUU Maitri
❖ UK- AJEYA WARRIOR, KONKAN, Indradhanush
❖ Uzbekistan- Dustlik
❖ Vietnam- VINBAX
❖ UAE- DESERT EAGLE
❖ Thailand- MAITREE
❖ Sri Lanka- MITRA SHAKTI, SLINEX
❖ Singapore- SIMBEX
❖ Seychelles- LAMITYE
❖ QATAR- Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea)
❖ Oman- AL NAGAH, Naseem-al-Bahr, EASTERN BRIDGE
❖ Nepal- Surya Kiran
❖ Myanmar- Imbex, IMCOR
❖ Mongolia-Normadic Elephant
Deputy National Security Advisor

❖ Recently, the retired Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh was appointed
as the Deputy National Security Advisor (D-NSA) in the National Security Council Secretariat for a period of
2 years.
❖ As a D-NSA, he will assist the NSA - Ajit Doval, in creating and implementing India's national security
strategies - assessing threats posed by terrorism, data security, cyber threats, readiness of concerned
agencies and cooperation between different organisations dealing with security issues.
India’s First Constitution Literate District

❖ In a historic achievement, the Indian district of Kollam has become the country’s first constitution literate
district. The announcement was made by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
❖ The district’s success is the result of a seven-month campaign launched by the Kollam district panchayat,
District Planning Committee, and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) to educate citizens
about the country’s laws and their rights.
❖ Constitution Literacy Campaign: The campaign aimed to provide constitutional literacy to 23 lakh citizens
belonging to 7 lakh families in the district.
❖ To achieve this goal, awareness classes were organized for around 90% of the people in Kollam.
❖ Around 16.3 lakh people above the age of 10 were educated by 2,200 trainers called “senators,” who visited
schools, offices, auto stands, and tribal councils to create awareness.
TROPEX 2023
❖ The 2023 edition of Indian Navy’s major maritime exercise TROPEX, was conducted in the Indian Ocean
Region. The Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX) is conducted biennially and
witnesses participation from all Indian Navy units and also Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian
Coast Guard.
❖ TROPEX 23 is being conducted over a duration of three months from Jan - Mar 23. As part of the
exercise, all surface combatants of the Indian Navy including Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes as well as
submarines and aircraft are put through complex maritime operational deployments to validate and refine
the Navy’s Concept of Operations including operational logistics and interoperability with other Services.
Changes in Global Gender Gap Report Criteria

❖ The World Economic Forum (WEF) has agreed to make changes in criteria for Global Gender Gap
Reports by taking into account the participation of women at panchayat level to rank countries in its future
reports. It will better India’s position at the global level.
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❖ The decision comes after India’s Union Women and Child Development Minister led an Indian delegation
to Davos Summit held recently and reiterated the “flaws” in the ranking system.
❖ So far, the WEF has 4 major verticals to assess gender gap in a country — (a) economic participation, (b)
political participation, (c) health and (d) education levels.
❖ There are 1.4-million women in the Indian panchayat system whose political contribution will now be
enumerated in the future reports.
Ops Alert Exercise

❖ In view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, the Border Security Force (BSF) has started an "Ops
Alert'' exercise (21-28 Jan 2023) to enhance security along the India-Pakistan border from from Sir Creek
(marshy area) to Kutch (Gujarat) and Barmer (Rajasthan) with the objective of "thwarting any ill designs of
anti-national elements".
❖ To enhance its security, "permanent vertical bunkers" of concrete are being constructed for the first time
to station BSF troops right at the strategically significant Sir Creek and ‘Harami Nalla’ marshy area.
❖ The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned a Rs. 50-crore fund for the construction of 8 multi-storey bunkers
cum observation posts in this area in view of the “constant infiltration of Pakistani fishermen and fishing
boats in the area”.
Hepatorenal Infection
❖ One of the 8 cheetahs that were introduced in Kuno National Park (MP) has been detected with a
hepatorenal infection. Hepatorenal Infection is a condition in which there is progressive kidney failure that
occurs in a patient with poor functioning of the liver.
❖ In September 2022, 8 Cheetahs were relocated from South Africa and Namibia into the wild at Kuno Palpur
National Park. It was the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
PAN to be used as common Identifier

❖ PAN is a Permanent Account Number issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It is a ten-digit
alphanumeric number. During the Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman announced
that GoI is to use PAN as a universal identifier for all digital systems. This applies only to specific
government entities as appointed. This will increase the ease of doing business.
❖ The initiative is being launched to increase the PAN user base and also to simplify access to systems
working under government entities.
❖ The income tax department uses the PAN card to track financial transactions in the country. Tax liabilities
of an individual and a company are assessed using PAN cards. PAN helps GoI reduce tax evasions. PAN is
compulsory for the sale or purchase of vehicles, opening an account, cash payment and transactions of
more than Rs 50,000, the purchase of securities, the sale or purchase of properties, and lots more. By
making PAN compulsory, the tax norms are being made stricter.
Exercise Trishakti Prahar

❖ The Indian military recently concluded exercise Trishakti Prahar — a joint training exercise in North Bengal
(close to the strategic ‘Siliguri’ corridor). The aim of the exercise was to practise battle preparedness of
the security forces, using latest weapons and equipment in a networked, integrated environment, involving
the Army, the IAF and CAPFs.
❖ The exercise concluded with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise at the Teesta Field Firing Ranges, aimed at
synergising the firepower assets of the Indian Armed Forces and CAPFs to orchestrate an integrated battle.
❖ The Siliguri corridor or Chicken’s neck (West Bengal) is a stretch of land bordering Bangladesh, Bhutan and
Nepal, measuring approximately 170x60 km; at the narrowest it is about 20-22 km.
Operation SADBHAVANA
❖ As part of ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’, Indian Army is undertaking multiple welfare activities such as Army
Goodwill Schools, Infra-development projects, education tours etc. for the children living in remote areas
of UT of Ladakh
❖ The Indian Army is presently running 7 Army Goodwill Schools under ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’ in Ladakh
Region. More than 2,200 Students are currently studying in these schools.
❖ Under this initiative (in FY 22-23), medical camps, veterinary camps, provision of medical equipment,
upgradation of medical infrastructure and staffing of Medical Aid Centres have been provided at various
remote locations in Ladakh. Women in remote areas of Ladakh are also being inducted in Vocational
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Training Centres, Women Empowerment Centres and Computer Centres organised and funded through
SADBHAVNA.
❖ Operation SADBHAVANA (Goodwill) is a unique humane initiative undertaken by Indian Army and
formalised in 1990s in the erstwhile State of J&K to address aspirations of people affected by scrooge of
terrorism.
VIHANGAM Drome Technology

❖ Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), the premier CPSE (Central Public Sector Enterprise) under the Ministry of
Coal has introduced drone technology in coal mines by launching a web- based portal VIHANGAM along
with a drone and ground control system.
❖ The portal allows an authorised person to access real time drone video from the mine. There is a control
station that flies the drone which can be operated anywhere via the portal. This pilot project is currently
operational at Bhubaneswari and Lingaraj opencast mines of Talcher Coalfields (Odisha).
❖ Drone technology is being used for environmental monitoring and photogrammetric mapping of mine for
digitalisation of the mining process. MCL has also introduced a Robotic Nozzle Water Sprayer in its coal
stockyard to carry out difficult jobs like firefighting and dust suppression.
❖ Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) contributes more than 20% of the total coal produced in India
Exercise TARKASH
❖ The exercise named TARKASH by the National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces
(SOF) is currently underway in Chennai.
❖ With chemical and biological warfare being recognised as a coming threat to the world, an ongoing Indo-US
joint exercise has for the first time included a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terror
response in its drill.
❖ The objective of the joint exercise was to rapidly neutralise the terrorists, rescue the hostages safely and
deactivate the chemical weapons being carried by the terrorists
❖ CBRN weapons, which are also classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), have been used by
States and terror elements in the past. The most recent use of CBRN in the form of a sarin gas attack was
witnessed in Syria in 2017
❖ According to the UN, the prospect of non-state actors, including terrorists and their supporters, gaining
access to and using WMDs or CBRNs is a serious threat to international peace and security.
Dharma Guardian
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❖ The 4 edition of the joint military exercise, Exercise Dharma Guardian, between India and Japan is being
conducted in Japan from 17th February to 2nd March 2023.
❖ The exercise is an annual training event with Japan and is crucial and significant in terms of security
challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of the current global situation.
❖ The exercise will further enhance the level of defence co-operation between The Indian Army and
Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces, furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations.
❖ Other Military Exercises between India and Japan are JIMEX (naval), SHINYUU Maitri (Air
Force) and Exercise Veer Guardian.
Anubhuti Inclusive Park

❖ The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (Nitin Gadkari) laid the Foundation Stone of the
world's largest and unique Divyang Park - Anubhuti Inclusive Park in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
❖ This is the world's first inclusive disabled park that is made by the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (Dr. Virendra Kumar). Various projects have been conceptualized for the disabled as well as
for the general public and senior citizens. The park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types of
disabilities, it will have facilities like a touch and smell garden, hydrotherapy unit, water therapy, and
independent room for mentally challenged children, and mothers.
❖ In 2016, the central government passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act for the rights of
persons with disabilities. This law is to give the disabled the right to live with dignity. Taking initiative under
this, the Central Government has created some Divyang Parks in South India and Madhya Pradesh.
INS Trikand
❖ INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-
23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 2023. Exercises will be held with participants from
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over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security
and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce.
❖ IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world. While this is the Indian
Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is
participating in an exercise conducted by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). In November 22, INS
Trikand had participated in the CMF-led Operation Sea Sword 2 in the Northwest Arabian Sea.
FRINJEX-23
❖ The maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army and French Army will be conducted
in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
❖ It is for the first time that the armies of both nations are engaging in this format with each
contingent comprising of a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Army troops
and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
❖ The exercise is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at
the tactical level. The Joint exercise will further enhance the defence cooperation with France which is a
key aspect of the overall Indo-France strategic partnership.
❖ Other military dialogues and regularly held joint exercises include Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force),
and Shakti (army).
Exercise Bold Kurukshetra

❖ The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a
bilateral armour exercise at Jodhpur Military Station, India. The exercise was hosted by the Indian army.
❖ For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post Exercise, which
involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer wargaming.
❖ Exercise Bold Kurukshetra is conducted under the ambit of the bilateral arrangement for the joint Army
Training and exercises between the Singapore Army and the Indian Army. The exercise was first
conducted in 2005. Other exercise between India and Singapore includes Joint Military Training (Air
Force), Trilateral Maritime Exercise SIMTEX (With Thailand) and Exercise Agni Warrior (Army).
Cope India Exercise

❖ The Air Forces of India and the U.S. are set to conduct the Cope India exercise from April 10 to 21 at the
Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal, with Japan as an observer. Cope India Exercise is a bilateral combined
training session involving the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the US Air Force (USAF). Cope India started out as
a fighter-training drill in 2004. The most recent iteration of the practice took place in 2019. The exercise has
developed to include, in addition to fighter-training exercises, subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility
training, airdrop training, and large-force exercises.
❖ Other joint defense drills between India and the US include Yudh-Abhyas (Military Exercise), Vajra Parhar,
and Dharma Guardian with Japan. And a Trilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar is scheduled between
the navies of India, Japan, and the USA.
SLINEX-23
❖ The Indian and Sri Lankan Navies are set to participate in the 10th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise
SLINEX-23, which will take place in Colombo from April 3 to April 8, 2023. The exercise will be conducted in
two phases - the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The previous edition of SLINEX has conducted in
Visakhapatnam in March 2022. The Indian Navy will be represented by two vessels, the INS Kiltan and INS
Savitri, while the Sri Lankan Navy will be represented by two vessels, the SLNS Gajabahu, and SLNS
Sagara. In addition, both sides will deploy Maritime Patrol Aircraft, helicopters, and Special Forces for the
exercise.
❖ SLINEX-23 aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding, and exchange best practices
between the two navies. The other military exercise between India and Sri Lanka is ‘Mitra Shakti.
GI Tags
❖ The Geographical Indication (GI) Registry in Chennai, responsible for registering products under the GI
Act, 1999, has awarded the registration to Ladakh's wood carving. The GI registration ensures that the
product has a unique identity and origin, and it cannot be duplicated or sold under the same name by any
other manufacturer from a different region.
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❖ Banarasi Paan is granted with GI tag, Religious and tourist city Kashi has emerged as a GI hub. Special
Banarasi Langda Mango, Banarasi Paan, Ramnagar's Bhanta (White Big Round Brinjal), and Adamchini Rice
(District Chandauli) have got the Geographical Indications and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) tag.
❖ Not only ‘Banarasi Paan’, but Mathura’s ‘Peda’, Agra’s ‘Petha’ and Kanpur’s ‘Sattu’ and ‘Bukunu’ would also
get tags as part of efforts of the Uttar Pradesh government to provide wider recognition to local goods.
After the success of the One District One Product (ODOP), aiming to provide wider recognition to local
goods.
❖ The world-famous 'Basohli Painting', popular for its miniature art style from Kathua district, Jammu &
Kashmir has obtained the Geographical Indication (GI). This is the first time that the Jammu region got a
GI tag for handicrafts.
❖ The process for GI-tagging of nine products was initiated by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) in consultation with the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom (J&K) in
December 2020.
❖ Madhya Pradesh's traditional Gond painting has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a
recognition that will help protect the art form and the artists who create it. The paintings, which are created
by the Gond tribe, depict nature, animals, and religious themes, and showcase their way of life. The Dindori
district is the main source of Gond painting, and it has expanded to other places in the area.
❖ Tamil Nadu’s famous Cumbum Panneer Thratchai, also known as Cumbum grapes recently earned the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
❖ Kari Ishad mango from Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada Karnataka has received the Geographical
Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Government. The GI
certificate issued to Matha Totagars Farmer Producer Company Limited.
❖ Recognized for its exceptional attributes, including a distinctive aroma, delightful taste, generous pulp
content, and desirable shape and size, the Kari Ishad mango is celebrated as one of the finest mango
varieties.
Geographical Indication tags
❖ A GI or Geographical Indication is a name or a sign given to certain products that relate to a specific
geographical location or origins like a region, town or country.
❖ Using Geographical Indications may be regarded as a certification that the particular product is produced
as per traditional methods, has certain specific qualities, or has a particular reputation because of its
geographical origin.
❖ It came into force with effect from 15th September 2003.
❖ Darjeeling Tea in the year 2004-05 was the first Indian product to get a GI tag
❖ A GI is registered for an initial period of 10 years, which may be renewed from time to time.
❖ Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
❖ At the International level, GI is governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
❖ In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
Indelible Ink
❖ As Karnataka prepares for Assembly elections, Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd. in Mysuru is again in news as
the latter is the only company authorised to produce the indelible ink used in general elections in India.
❖ The Maharaja of Mysore Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar established the factory in 1937 to provide
employment for people and for utilisation of natural resources from the forests nearby. In 1962, it
was selected to manufacture indelible ink, which was first used in the country’s third general election.
From then till now, the company has supplied the ink for every election across India. It has also exported
ink to other countries. The unit was converted into a public limited company in 1947, as one of the
important public sector companies of Karnataka.
❖ Indelible ink, which is also known as the 'voter's ink' ensures that no eligible voter votes twice in an election
and hence plays a key role in avoiding fraudulent and multiple voting.
SATHI Portal
❖ The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW) Minister of India has launched the SATHI (Seed
Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App to address the challenges in
seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification. The system has been developed by
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the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with MoA & FW with the theme of ‘Uttam Beej –
Samriddh Kisan’.
❖ The SATHI portal is a significant step to address the challenges in the agriculture sector and will prove to
be a revolutionary step in agriculture when it is used at the grassroots level. This portal will ensure the
quality assurance system, identify the source of seed in the seed production chain, and trace the seeds
through a QR code. The system will have integrated seven verticals of the seed chain - Research
Organization, Seed Certification, Seed Licensing, Seed Catalogue, Dealer to Farmer Sales, Farmer
Registration, and Seed DBT. Only seeds with valid certification can be sold by valid licensed dealers to
centrally registered farmers, who will receive subsidy through DBT directly into their pre-validated bank
accounts.
Exercise INIOCHOS-23
❖ The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise
hosted by the Hellenic Air Force (Greece) from April 24 to May 4. The IAF is currently participating
in exercise Cope India with the US, as well as a multilateral exercise Orion hosted by France.
❖ The IAF will be participating in INIOCHOS-23 with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft. The objective of
the exercise is to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among the participating
Air Forces.
India’s First Water Metro

❖ The Prime Minster has recently inaugurated the first phase of Kochi Water Metro in Kerala – first-ever
metro system of its kind. It’s a public boat service integrated with the metro rail network. The project is
being implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation with the financial assistance provided by a German
funding agency.
❖ The main objective is to link ten island communities in Kerala's city with the mainland, resulting in shorter
travel times and more cost-effective transportation.
❖ Moreover, Kochi Water Metro is a modern ferry transport project consisting of numerous boats running
along 16 routes across Greater Kochi. Equipped with cutting-edge safety devices and advanced technology,
the ferry ensures smoother commutes and more efficient travel experiences. The boats in the Kochi Water
Metro are powered by batteries and require only 10 to 20 minutes to traverse each route.
India’s First Undersea Tunnels

❖ India’s first undersea twin tunnels are set to open in Mumbai, after more than two years of work on
the Mumbai Coastal Road Project by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The tunnels are part of
the 10.58-kilometer-long Coastal Road project that connects Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea
Link. The 2.07-kilometer-long tunnels are located 17-20 meters below sea level, with a nearly 1-kilometer
stretch running under the sea. The project aims to reduce travel times during peak hours from 45 minutes
to just 10 minutes. Six cross passages will be provided in the tunnels, four for pedestrians and two for
motorists, with each tunnel having three lanes. The tunnels were created with the help of the
largest tunnel-boring machine (TBM).
India’s First Underwater Metro

❖ India's first underwater metro recently conducted it's trial run under the Hooghly river, Kolkata.
❖ It is a part of Kolkata Metro’s East-West Corridor.
❖ It passes under the Hooghly River in the city's northeast, with the tunnel 13 meter below the riverbed and 33
meter below ground level.
❖ Total length of the tunnel: 520 meter
❖ It forms part of the 4.8 kms underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade
❖ Once this stretch is open then Howrah will be the deepest Metro station (33 meters below the surface) in
the country.
❖ The metro is expected to cover the 520-meter stretch under Hooghly river in 45 seconds.
❖ The tunnel will have exists for emergencies like earthquakes.
Government to Ease Life for Gay Couples

❖ The Centre informed Supreme Court that it is willing to form a committee headed by the Cabinet
Secretary to consider administrative measures for addressing “genuine, human concerns” faced by same-
sex couples in their daily lives in areas such as banking, insurance, etc.
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❖ The SC has suggested that same-sex couples consider this as a building block for future changes, rather
than an all-or-none approach. However, the petitioners are seeking a judicial declaration from the court
legally recognizing same-sex marriage, arguing that marriage gives meaning, purpose, and identity to a
relationship. The court noted that even if it were to recognize same-sex marriage, administrative and
legislative changes would still be required to address the human concerns arising out of these
relationships. The government is willing to address these human concerns but is reluctant to give same-sex
relationships the status of marriage.
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise

❖ To expand India-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) military cooperation, the maiden
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) is being conducted. The harbour phase of the exercise is
scheduled to be held in Singapore from 02 – 04 May 2023 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from 07 to
08 May 2023 in the South China Sea.
❖ AIME 2023 will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work together closely and
conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
❖ INS Delhi, India's first indigenously built guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously built
guided missile stealth frigate are a part of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet will also participate in
International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference
(IMSC), hosted by Singapore.
Advanced Light Helicopter DHRUV

❖ The three defense services and the Coast Guard had all grounded their ALH fleets after a Navy ALH-MkIII
was ditched at sea on March 8, 2023, followed by a Coast Guard ALH also suffering an incident.
❖ ALH Dhruv is a multi-role, twin-engine, utility, and advanced light helicopter designed and developed by
the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The major variants of ALH Dhruv are: Mk-I, MK-II & Mk-III, MK-III
Maritime Role (Navy/ Coast Guard) and MK-IV Armed version
❖ Dhruv MkIII is fitted with modern surveillance radar and electro-optical equipment, which enable them to
undertake the role of maritime reconnaissance in addition to providing long-range Search and Rescue,
both by day and night. In addition to special operations capabilities, ALH MK III is also fitted with a heavy
machine gun to undertake constabulary missions.
Bhopal 1st city to track progress on SDGs

❖ Bhopal has taken a significant step towards localizing the United Nations-mandated sustainable
development goals (SDGs). It has become the first city in India to adopt voluntary local reviews (VLR) to
demonstrate its commitment and capacity to achieving the SDGs. The SDGs localisation involves
translating the global agenda of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into actionable local
plans that contribute to the overall achievement of the goals.
❖ Bhopal's VLR is the result of collaboration between the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, UN-Habitat, and
various local stakeholders, aiming to showcase the city's efforts towards sustainable and inclusive urban
transformation. The review incorporates both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including a
qualitative mapping of 56 developmental projects.
❖ In 2015, all 193 member states of the UN adopted the
Agenda 2030, which consists of 17 SDGs and 169 targets.
Member states report their progress towards these goals
through voluntary national reviews (VNRs) submitted to
the UN's high-level political forum (HLPF). Recognizing
the importance of local and regional engagement, cities
and regions have increasingly undertaken their own
subnational reviews known as VLRs. Although VLRs do
not have an official basis in the 2030 Agenda or other intergovernmental agreements, they have proven
useful in facilitating local action. New York City was the first to present its VLR to the HLPF in 2018, and as
of 2021, 33 countries had made 114 VLRs or similar review documents publicly available.
SAMUDRA SHAKTI – 23
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❖ The 4 edition of the India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise, Samudra Shakti-23, commenced as INS Kavaratti,
an indigenously designed and built ASW Corvette, arrived in Batam, Indonesia. Taking place from May 14-
19, 2023, the exercise aims to enhance interoperability, jointness, and mutual cooperation between the
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Indian and Indonesian navies. Alongside INS Kavaratti, an Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and
Chetak helicopter are also participating. At the same time, the Indonesian Navy is represented by KRI
Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and AS565 Panther Helicopter.
❖ The Other Exercise between India and Indonesia is Garuda Shakti, a joint military exercise. And India-
Indonesia CORPAT is a coordinated patrol between the navies of India and Indonesia, aimed at enhancing
maritime security and cooperation in the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca.
Night Traps of Mig-29k onboard Vikrant

❖ The INS Vikrant, India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier and the most complex warship constructed by M/s
Cochin Shipyard Ltd was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2022, providing a significant boost to
the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of the Indian government.
❖ Currently, the Aircraft Carrier is undergoing Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials, involving
both Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft, in order to achieve a state of full combat readiness as soon as
possible.
❖ During the ongoing trials, the first successful day landing of MiG-29K and the indigenous Light Combat
Aircraft (LCA) aircraft was accomplished. Another historic milestone has been achieved by the Navy with
the inaugural night landing of the MiG-29K, marking a significant accomplishment.
Covid-19 Variant & WHO’s IPSN System

❖ The India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), responsible for monitoring and
sequencing Covid-19 variants in India, has not released a weekly bulletin since March 27, 2023.
This decline in genomic surveillance has raised concerns regarding the country's ability to track and
respond to new and potentially threatening variants.
❖ The Department of Biotechnology explained that no specific variants of significant concern have been
detected; however, the WHO warning against diverting attention from Covid-19 recently launched
the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) to strengthen global efforts in pathogen genomics
❖ The IPSN is a global network of pathogen genomic actors, hosted by the WHO Hub
for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, to accelerate progress on the deployment of pathogen genomics
and improve public health decision-making. By strengthening the pathogen genomic surveillance
ecosystem, the IPSN enables faster detection of new pathogens and the enhanced tracking of the spread
and evolution of diseases. This in turn can drive better public health responses. The IPSN supports ongoing
disease surveillance and will help detect and fully characterize new disease threats before they become
epidemics or pandemics.
The Changathi Project

❖ The accomplishment of migrant workers in the Malayalam examination highlights the success of
the Changathi project under the Kerala Literacy Mission.
❖ Designed to address the exclusion faced by migrant labourers in society, this program aims to teach them
to read and write Malayalam and Hindi. Recognizing the importance of socio-cultural integration,
the literacy mission seeks to equip migrant workers with the necessary skills to understand the nuances
of the state they reside in. The programme was first launched on August 15, 2017, in Perumbavoor,
Kerala.
❖ Through initiatives like Changathi, migrant workers are being empowered, breaking down barriers
and fostering greater inclusivity in society.
International Museum Expo 2023

❖ Recently, the Prime Minister (PM) of India inaugurated the International Museum Expo 2023 in New Delhi
to celebrate the 47th International Museum Day (IMD).
❖ The PM also unveiled the plan for what is set to be the world's largest museum, Yuge Yugeen Bharat, which
will capture 5,000 years of India's history.
❖ The Prime Minister unveiled the Mascot of the International Museum Expo, the Graphic Novel – A Day at
the Museum, the Directory of Indian Museums, the Pocket Map of Kartavya Path, and Museum Cards.
❖ The Mascot of the International Museum Expo is a contemporized version of the Dancing Girl made of
wood in the Chennapatnam art style.
❖ The Prime Minister also highlighted the significance of museums in preserving history, promoting
sustainability, and fostering a sense of well-being.
o Preserving Heritage and Reviving Cultural Infrastructure
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o Promoting Sustainability and Well-being
o Combating Smuggling and Appropriation of Artefacts
❖ Examples: 18th-Century Annapurna statue stolen from Banaras (recently returned from Canada), the 12th-
Century statue of Mahishasur Mardini stolen from Gujarat (returned by New York’s Met Museum in 2018),
and the idols of Nataraja built during the Chola Empire.
❖ International Museum Day: IMD is observed on 18th May every year to raise awareness among people
about the museums.
❖ 2023 Theme: ‘Museums, Sustainability and Well Being’
❖ History: The Day was instituted in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
❖ Objective: To raise awareness about the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange,
enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.
❖ International Museum Day and SDG: Each year since 2020, the International Museum Day supports a set of
Goals from the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. In 2023, we will focus on: Goal 3
Global Health and Wellbeing, Goal 13 Climate Action, Goal 15 Life on Land.
❖ ICOM is a membership association and a non-governmental organisation that establishes professional
and ethical standards for museum activities. It is the only global organisation in the museum field.
❖ It was created in 1946 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
❖ The ICOM Red Lists of Cultural Objects at Risk are practical tools to curb the illegal traffic of cultural
objects.
❖ Administration of Museums in India: Multiple ministries hold charges of various Museums. Not all
Museums are administered by the Ministry of Culture (G. Kishan Reddy). Some are run without government
support by a handful of people under a Board of Trustees
❖ Notable Museums in India: National Museum, New Delhi (Subordinate Office under the Ministry of Culture)
❖ National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru
❖ Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH), Kolkata
❖ Asiatic Society, Kolkata (largest museum in India)
❖ National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), New Delhi
❖ The Louvre, located in Paris France, is the largest museum in the world as it covers a total area of 72,735
square meters (782,910 square feet) of galleries space, as big as 280 tennis courts.
MSHTI Initiative
❖ On the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5, 2023), PM Modi launched the MISHTI (Mangrove
Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes). The scheme was first announced by the Union
finance minister in the 2023-24 Union budget.
❖ Targets: Initially the mangrove cover will be restored in nine states across the country. Overall, the scheme
envisages the development of mangroves covering nearly 540 sq km, spreading across 11 states and two
union territories over five years, starting from FY2023-24.
❖ Expected benefits: This scheme will help in mitigating the threat to lives and livelihoods in coastal areas
from rising sea levels and disasters like cyclones.
❖ Strategy: It involves the sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, management practices,
conservation measures and resource mobilization through the public-private partnership route.
❖ Funding: The Centre covers 80% of the project cost, while state governments contribute the remaining 20%.
❖ Mangroves are salt tolerant plant communities found in tropical and sub-tropical intertidal regions of the
world. Such areas are characterized by high rainfall (between 1,000 to 3,000 mm) and temperature (ranging
between 26°C-35°C).
❖ Mangrove Cover: According to the Forest Survey report 2021, mangroves cover in the country is 4,992
square km, which is 0.15 percent of the country's total geographical area. Since 2019, the cover has risen
by only 17 sq. km.
❖ India accounts for about 3% of South Asia’s mangroves.
❖ West Bengal has 42.45% of India’s mangrove cover (mainly because of Sundarbans), followed by Gujarat
(23.66%) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (12.39%). Other states that have mangrove cover are
Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala.
❖ Important species of Mangrove ecosystems in India include Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata,
Sonneratia alba, Avicennia alba, Bruquiera cylindrica, Heritiera littoralis, Phoenix paludosa, Morinda citrifolia
& Ceriops tagal.
❖ Sundarbans: Sunderban, located in the northern Bay of Bengal is the world's largest single patch of
Mangrove Forests.
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❖ Spread over approximately 10,000 sq km, in Bangladesh and India, Sundarban is the first Mangrove forest
in the world, which was brought under scientific management, as early as in 1892.
❖ Status: Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz.
Sundarbans National Park (India), Sundarbans West (Bangladesh), Sundarbans South (Bangladesh) and
Sundarbans East (Bangladesh).
❖ Mangrove Cover Worldwide: As per Global Forest Resource Assessment, 2020 (FRA 2020), world over, 113
countries have Mangrove forests covering an estimated 14.79 million hectares. The largest Mangrove area
is reported in Asia (5.55 million hectares), followed by Africa (3.24 million hectares)
❖ More than 40% of the total area of Mangroves was reported to be in just four countries: Indonesia (19% of
the total), Brazil (9%), Nigeria (7%) and Mexico (6%).
Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)
❖ At the COP27 to UNFCCC at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) was
launched with India as a partner.
❖ Members: The MAC is an initiative led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia. It also includes
India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain as partner countries.
❖ Objectives: It seeks to spread awareness on the role of mangroves in curbing global warming and its
potential as a "nature-based solution to climate change".
❖ The intergovernmental alliance will work on a voluntary basis which means that there are no real checks
and balances to hold members accountable.
Cyclone Biporjoy
❖ Cyclonic Storm "Biporjoy" intensifies in the Arabian Sea, posing significant risks and uncertainties for the
affected regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports the storm's rapid development,
expecting it to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm with winds reaching 115-125 kmph and gusts of
140 kmph on June 8, 2023.
❖ The name 'Biparjoy' (meaning calamity or disaster) was given by Bangladesh.
❖ The formation of Cyclone "Biporjoy" in June is unusual, and the increasing sea surface temperatures in the
Arabian Sea, attributed to climate change, play a significant role. These higher temperatures, reaching 30-
32 degrees Celsius, favour the intensification of cyclones.
❖ The cyclonic system also poses a threat to the southwest monsoon in India, hindering its arrival and
progression. By diverting moisture away from India, the storm could further delay the monsoon
onset. Climate scientists point out the potential influence of long-term Indian Ocean warming and the
developing El Nino, both of which can weaken the monsoon.
India-France-UAE Exercise
❖ The first edition of India, France, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Maritime Partnership
Exercise commenced on 7th June 2023 in the Gulf of Oman, featuring the participation of INS Tarkash,
French Ship Surcouf, French Rafale aircraft, and UAE Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft. It emphasizes the
exchange of best practices and paves the way for greater naval collaboration among India, France, and the
UAE.
❖ India and France have established strong cooperation in the defense sector, the two countries regularly
conduct joint exercises such as Exercise Shakti, Exercise Varuna, and Exercise Garuda involving their
respective army, navy, and air force. Additionally, India has collaborated with France in the construction of
six Scorpene submarines through a technology-transfer arrangement in 2005, and France has
provided India with 36 Rafale fighter jets under an inter-government agreement.
❖ Additionally, India and the UAE have also established strong cooperation in the defense realm, India and
the UAE conduct joint air combat exercises, such as 'Desert Eagle II', to enhance security cooperation and
counter terrorist threats.
Agni Prime Ballistic Missile

❖ The recent successful flight test of the new generation ballistic missile, Agni Prime, conducted by
the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island off
Odisha marks a significant milestone for India's strategic defence capabilities.
❖ The test involved the deployment of advanced Range Instrumentation such as Radar, Telemetry, and
Electro Optical Tracking Systems to capture crucial flight data throughout the vehicle's trajectory, including
at the terminal point.
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❖ Agni Prime, a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with a range between 1000 to 2000
km, features a dual redundant navigation and guidance system. This technologically advanced missile,
which is lighter than its predecessors in the Agni series, plays a vital role in India's nuclear weapons
delivery system alongside the Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft.
Soul of Steel Challenge

❖ The final phase of ‘Soul of Steel’ challenge is taking place on the Amritganga Glacier, Uttarakhand, where
participants are undergoing intensive training in ice craft.
❖ It was launched in Uttarakhand in January,2023 which aims to test one’s high-altitude endurance and to
also promote adventure tourism in Uttarakhand, globally. The general area of the expedition
has been Nanda Devi National Park.
❖ It is an initiative of CLAW Global and is being supported by the Indian Army.
❖ The underlying idea is pooling of skill sets and creating a challenge that will unlock the human ability to
survive, stabilise and thrive in high altitude areas.
❖ It is based on the lines of the ‘Ironman triathlon’ long-distance triathlon challenge in Europe, which tests an
individual’s grit and endurance.
Akhand Bharat
❖ Controversy has erupted in Nepal over the mural of the Indian subcontinent landmass in the newly
inaugurated Parliament building.
❖ Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has described the mural as a map of “akhand Bharat”
❖ The mural shows Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, indicating India’s claims over the region.
Nepal considers Lumbini as one of the major cultural centres on the Nepalese map.
❖ Clarification by Government: The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that “The mural in question depicts
the spread of the Ashokan empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance that he
(Ashoka) adopted and propagated.”
❖ The official description of the mural says: “Between 265 and 238 BC, Ashoka spread the message of
Buddhism and got it inscribed at many places”.
❖ The artwork occupies one of the 16 niches in the Constitutional Foyer of the new Parliament building.
❖ Murals in the other niches are dedicated to Indian sages, ancient texts, and the Ramayana; one of them is
dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru.
❖ Akhand Bharat: Akhand Bharat, is a term for the concept of a unified Greater India. It asserts that modern-
day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are one
nation.
❖ During the Indian independence movement, K.M. Munshi (of Indian National Congress) and Veer Savarkar
(of Hindu Mahasabha) propounded the notion of an Akhand Bharat.
India’s First International Cruise Vessel

❖ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (Sarbananda Sonowal) flagged off MV Empress, India’s
first international cruise vessel - from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai.
❖ The cruise service is the result of an MoU signed during the first Incredible India International Cruise
Conference in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic
and international cruise service.
❖ The cruise service will sail to three Sri Lankan ports; viz. Hambantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei.
Ganga Vilas
❖ Previously Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Ganga river cruise from Varanasi.
❖ It will travel around 3,200 km in 51 days to reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, sailing across 27
river systems in India and Bangladesh.
❖ The 51 days cruise is planned with visits to 50 tourist spots including World Heritage Sites, National Parks,
River Ghats, and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in
Bangladesh and Guwahati in Assam.
❖ It is curated to bring out the best of the country to be showcased to the world.
❖ It is being pitched as the world’s longest river cruise.
❖ Significance: The journey will give the tourists an opportunity to embark upon an experiential voyage and
indulge in the art, culture, history, and spirituality of India and Bangladesh.
Ex Ekuverin
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❖ The 12th edition of the joint military exercise "Ex Ekuverin" between the Indian Army and the
Maldives National Defence Force commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June 2023.
❖ This bilateral annual exercise, alternately conducted in India and Maldives, aims to
enhance interoperability in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism Operations under the UN mandate
and conduct joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.
❖ The Maldives is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka.It consists of a chain of
almost 1200 small coral islands that are grouped into clusters of atolls. The capital and largest city of the
Maldives is Malé. The majority of the population follows Islam. The official language of the Maldives
is Dhivehi. English is also widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas.
Ex Khan Quest
❖ The multinational peacekeeping joint exercise called "Ex Khaan Quest 2023" has begun in Mongolia with
the participation of military contingents and observers from over 20 countries.
❖ The 14-day exercise is aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the participating nations, sharing
experience and training uniformed personnel for the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
(UNPKO). The exercise will prepare participants for future UN Peacekeeping missions, develop peace
operations capabilities and enhance military readiness
❖ Mongolia is in Asia between Russia to the north and China to the south. It has a parliamentary form of
government. The capital of Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar. Languages that are spoken in Mongolia
include Khalkha Mongol (official), Turkic, and Russian. The major mountain ranges are Altai, Khangai and
Khentii. The major river is the Orkhon.
Integrated Simulator Comples ‘Dhruv’

❖ India's Defense Minister, inaugurated the Integrated Simulator Complex (ISC) 'Dhruv' at the Southern Naval
Command in Kochi. This cutting-edge facility is equipped with state-of-the-art simulators developed
indigenously and is set to revolutionise practical training in the Indian Navy.
❖ The simulators housed within the ISC 'Dhruv' will provide real-time experiences in navigation, fleet
operations, and naval tactics, greatly enhancing the training process. Notably, these simulators will also
be utilised to train personnel from friendly countries, strengthening defence cooperation.
❖ Among the simulators showcased, the Multi-Station Handling Simulator (MSSHS), Air Direction and
Helicopter Control Simulator (ADHCS), and Astronavigation Dome garnered attention. The ship
handling simulators, exported to 18 countries, highlight India's prowess in simulator manufacturing, while
the Astronavigation Dome, a first-of-its-kind in the Indian Navy, showcases the nation's innovative
capabilities.
Kalasa Banduri Project

❖ Tenders for the controversial Kalasa Banduri Project, initiated by the previous Karnataka government just
before its Assembly elections, might face difficulties due to the absence of forest and environment
clearance.
❖ Kalasa-Banduri project aims to improve the drinking water supply to the Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and
Gadag districts in Karnataka. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, two tributaries of the
Mahadayi River to divert water to the Malaprabha river (a tributary of Krishna River).
❖ Mahadayi or Mhadei, the west-flowing river, originates in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (Western
Ghats), Belagavi district of Karnataka. The river is Spread across the Districts of Goa, Karnataka and
Maharashtra
❖ The Kalasa-Banduri project is controversial due to inter-state water disputes, environmental concerns,
and opposition from local communities.
❖ The tribunal action: In November 2010, the UPA government at the Centre had set up a tribunal to settle
disputes between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
❖ In 2018, the tribunal awarded 13.42 TMC water from Mahadayi river basin to Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to
Maharashtra and 24 TMC to Goa.
❖ The same was notified by the Union Government in February 2020.
National Exit Test (NExT)

❖ The National Medical Commission recently announced the National Exit Test (NExT), which will serve as
the two-step medical licentiate exam and replace the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) and
419
the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Postgraduate (NEET-PG). Students admitted to the MBBS
course in 2019 will be the first batch to take the National Exit Test (NExT).
❖ The National Medical Commission is a statutory body in India that was established in 2019 by the
government to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI).
President Honors Armed Forces

❖ Recently, President of India bestowed Distinguished Service Awards upon 84 serving and retired personnel
of the armed forces and the Indian Coast Guard in New Delhi. The awards included 52 Ati Vishisht Seva
Medals (AVSMs), 3 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSMs), and 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSMs).
❖ AVSMs are awarded for exceptionally distinguished service in the armed forces. A Bar is added to AVSMs
for multiple instances of outstanding service. UYSMs recognize exceptional operational service during a
war or specific military operations. PVSMs recognize distinguished service of the highest order in the
armed forces, honoring individuals who have displayed exceptional commitment and dedication to their
duties.
Meri LiFE Initiative

❖ The “Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar” campaign was launched by the Union Minister, Shri Hardeep S. Puri,
in May 2023. The campaign is led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in collaboration with local
authorities, NGOs, and citizens across the country.
❖ Objectives: The primary objective of the campaign is to promote the adoption of the 3R mantra (Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle) in urban India. By setting up RRR Centres, the campaign aims to create a convenient and
accessible avenue for citizens to deposit their old and unused items, which can then be repurposed or
recycled. Additionally, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about sustainable practices, encourage
responsible consumption, and reduce the burden on landfills.
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NEWSWEEKLY

Legal Learning Program legallearningprogram@gmail.com

Delimitation in Assam .................................................... 10 NAMASTE Scheme ..................................................... 243

Asia Pacific Postal Union ............................................... 11 Vostro Accounts ............................................................ 245

BIND Scheme ................................................................. 12 UPI-PayNow Integration ............................................... 246

UK Signed CPTPP ........................................................ 191 Awards & Recognition ......................... 402

Titan Tragedy................................................................ 194 Padma Awards .............................................................. 402

ICJ on Myanmar Issue .................................................. 197 Marconi Prize ................................................................ 403

Yemen Crisis................................................................. 198 Porter Prize 2023 ........................................................... 404

Global Unicorn Index ................................................... 199 Kalanidhi Awards 2023................................................. 404

Depreciation of Indian Rupee ....................................... 237 Ex Ekuverin................................................................... 418

Corporate Tax Collection.............................................. 238 Ex Khan Quest .............................................................. 419

Forex Reserves.............................................................. 239 President Honors Armed Forces ................................... 420

Davos Summit 2023...................................................... 240

SMART Program for Ayurveda

Road Accidents in India

Asia Pacific Postal Union

The Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022

High accuracy Digital Survey and mapping of

National Green Hydrogen Mission

Asia’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum

New Integrated Food Security Scheme

108th Indian Science Conference

Country’s Largest Liquid Waste Treatment Plant

Joshimath Land Subsidence

Aspiration Blocks Programme

Air Quality Data Analysis

Ladakh Demand of Sixth Schedule

Ganga Vilas Cruise

FSSAI Standards for Basmati Rice

Air Pollution in India & NCAP

Remote Voting Machine

Revival of Village Defence Committees

Etalin Hydroelectric Project

17th ASER 2022

Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

UNSC 1267 Committee

IT Amendment Rules 2022

Allegations Against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Forest and Tree Cover in India

Challenges faced by Chin-Kuki-Mizo Group

Mughal gardens Renamed

All India Survey on Higher Education 2020-21

National IPR Policy

GACs to Address Complaints Against Social Media Platform

Andhra Pradesh’s New Capital

Deep Ocean Mission

Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue

Lithium Reserves in J&K

India, France, UAE Trilateral Initiative

Southern India’s First Industrial Corridor Project

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

Other Initiatives Pertaining to Startups

National Commission for Schedule Tribe (ST)

Visva-Bharati: World’s First Living Heritage University

Increasing Cases of Suicides in Educational Hubs

Accidental Deaths & Suicide in India Report

India’s Nuclear Power Capacity

International Biofuel Alliance

Largest Chopper Manufacturing unit in India

National Organ Transplantation Guidelines

Vibrant Villages Programme