MARCH 2024

Part II
Fast Breeder Reactor
Indigenous
Why in news?

PM Modi witnesses the historic “Commencement of Core

Loading” at India’s first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder
Reactor (500 MWe) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu in March. It is
hailed as “a historic milestone in India’s nuclear power
programme”.

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What is FBR and Why is it significant?

● Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) is a Nuclear reactor that

produces more nuclear fissile material than it consumes.
>>More production than the consumption of fuel<<
● It is a milestone event, because operationalisation of the
PFBR will mark the start of stage II of India’s three-stage
nuclear power programme.
● PFBR is designed and developed indigenously by BHAVINI
(Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited), a Special

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Purpose Vehicle along with IGCAR.

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What is India’s 3-Stage Nuclear
Program?
● Formulated by Homi Bhabha, the Father of Indian Nuclear
Program, in 1954 and adopted by Govt in 1958.
● To make India Energy Independent. (500 GWe can be
produced which can be used for next 4 centuries)
>>1st Stage- PHWR (Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor)
>>2nd Stage- FBR(Fast Breeder Reactor-500MWe capacity)
>>3rd Stage- Advanced Thorium Based Reactors. (by 2050)
● With total utilization of all the Thorium reserves (approx.
500k tonnes), we can produce 350 TWe of power.
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Why is Nuclear power important?

● Currently, there are 22 operational reactors in India with a

total installed capacity of 6780 MWe (Megawatts electric).
● Total energy production - Coal has 50% share; Gas has
06% share. Solar and Wind & Other - 30% and Hydro -
11% ; Nuclear - 1.6% only.
● With the amount of Thorium reserves available in India,
we can completely become Energy self sufficient if India
builds and operationalizes the 3-Stage Nuclear Program
successfully by building more advanced Nuclear reactors.
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India - EFTA
Trade Agreement signed
Why in news?

India signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement

(TEPA) with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on 10th
March 2024.

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What is EFTA and India’s TEPA
with it?
● EFTA is an inter-governmental organization set up in 1960
for promoting free trade and economic integration among
four non-EU countries - Switzerland, Iceland, Norway &
Liechtenstein.
● It was finalized after more than 15 years of negotiations
and will remove import tariffs on industrial goods from
EFTA states.
● EFTA countries have committed a $100 billion investments
across a range of sectors in India, including manufacturing,
and 1 million direct jobs in next 15 years.
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Significance?

● Will boost Make In India, provides opportunities to

talented workforce and help Exporters to access large
European and Global markets.
● A legal commitment is being made about promoting
target-oriented investments and creation of jobs.
● TEPA provides an opportunity to integrate into EU
markets. Over 40% of Switzerland’s global services
exports are to the EU. Indian companies can look to
Switzerland as a base for extending its market reach to EU.
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G.I. Tag
Assam’s Majuli Mask
Why in news?

The traditional Majuli masks in Assam were given a

Geographical Indication (GI) tag recognition by the
Government of India.

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What is G.I. Tag and its
significance?

● This tag is issued by the Geographical Indication Registry

under the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
● A GI tag is conferred upon products originating from a
specific geographical region within the country.
● G.I. Tags signifies the unique characteristics and qualities
of the product and serves as Trade Mark in global markets.
● GI tags are issued as per the Geographical Indications of
Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,1999.

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Majuli Mask of Assam?

● The handmade masks are traditionally used to depict

characters in bhaonas, or theatrical performances.
● To propage bhakti through arts in the neo-Vaishnavite
tradition, introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer
saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
● These masks are often used during festivals like Durga
Puja, where mask-wearing is a common practice.
● Majuli is the largest river Island in the world and people
belonging to this region manufacture these masks.
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Locally made but Globally popular.

● These masks are made of bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton,

wood and other materials available in the riverine
surroundings of Majuli.
● The makers of these masks are promoting their art by:
>gifting small masks along with the traditional gamchas
while felicitating guests at events,
>promoting the sale of masks to tourists at Majuli, and
>increasing their display at exhibitions and galleries— the
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masks have even found a place in the British Museum now.

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Other GI Products:

● Majuli Manuscript paintings of Assam

● Benarasi Saree of Varanasi
● Solapur Chaddar of M.H.
● Mysore Silk of Karnataka
● Pochampalli Ikkat of Telangana
● Kutch Embroidery of Gujarat
● Kancheepuram Silk of T.N.
● Madhubhani paintings of Bihar
● Silver Filigree of Telangana
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Election Commissioners
New Appointments
Why in news?

The Election Commission of India (ECI), a constitutional

authority responsible for administering electoral processes,
has welcomed Mr. Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh
Sandhu as the newly appointed Election Commissioners.

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What is ECI? How are the Election
Commissioners appointed
before?
● As per Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election
Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body
responsible for supervising, administering and conduct of
the General Elections in India.
● The President of India appoints the Election
Commissioners including the Chief Election Commissioner
on the basis of the recommendations of the Council of
Ministers headed by P.M.
● Office of the Election Commissioners is equivalent to the
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office of a Judge of Supreme Court.

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What is the present status?

● The Parliament has recently enacted “the Chief Election

Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners
(Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office)
Act, 2023” to bring in more transparency&accountability.
● This Act is GOI’s response to a directive from the Supreme
Court of India in the Anoop Baranwal v Union of India case,
2023, regarding appointment process of Commissioners.
● Now, a Selection Committee of P.M., Union Cabinet
Minister and Leader of Opposition would recommend the
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President for the appointment of Commissioners.

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World Happiness Report
2024 Edition
Why in news?

India was ranked 126 out of 143 nations in the World

Happiness Report 2024, a global happiness index which was
released in March to mark the UN’s International Day of
Happiness.

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What is World Happiness Report?

● It is an annual publication of the UN Sustainable

Development Solutions Network(UNSDSN) in partnership
with Gallup (the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre) and
the World Happiness Report’s Editorial Board.
● The report demands for more attention to happiness and
well-being as criteria for government policies and actions.
● The report considers 06 key factors to rank countries on
their happiness levels:
● >>social support, income, healthy life, freedom of choice,
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generosity, and the perception of corruption.

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 Highlights of World Happiness
Report 2024?
● Finland topped the list for the seventh year in a row.
● Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway,
Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Australia are in the top 10.
● Out of the 143 countries surveyed, Afghanistan remained
at the bottom of the list.
● Worldwide, women were less happy than men in every
region, with the gender gap widening as they aged.
● Countries with higher GDP and higher per capita income
are not necessarily the happiest countries and there exists
a link between the state of happiness and rule of law.
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India Specific Observations:

> India’s ranking has improved from 136 to 126 this year
> Age & Happiness: Older age - Higher life satisfaction in India.
> Positive corelation b/w high education & Social/Caste status.
> India ranks below our neighbouring countries in South Asia.

> Indians feel that their quality of life is declining.. due to

various factors: congestion in cities/declining incomes and
rising unemployment/unfavourable perceptions about
corruption/rising health-care/women’s safety/environmental
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pollution/poor mental well-being.

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ASI
Delist of Monuments
Why in news?

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided

to delist 18 “centrally protected monuments”.

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What is ASI?

● Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is the premier

organisation which undertakes archaeological research
and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
● Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
(AMASR) Act, 1958 governs the functioning of ASI.
● Founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the first
Director-General of ASI. Alexander Cunningham is also
known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.
● Exploration and excavation of archaeological sites,
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conservation and maintenance of protected monuments.

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Why ASI De-lists monuments and
What it means?
● Why? ASI delists monuments if it assesses that they do not
hold national importance anymore.
● Reasons-Untraceable, lack of security, encroachments.
● What it means?
● Removal from ASI's Purview.
● Allowing Construction and Urbanisation.
● Loss of Legal Protection.
● Loss of valuable cultural heritage.
● Highlights the need for better conservation efforts and
resource allocation in the future.
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Excise Policy Case
Delhi C.M.’s Arrest
Why in news?

Recently, a Magistrate Court in Delhi has sent the Chief

Minister of Delhi to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s)
custody in connection with the Excise Policy Case.

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What is the case?

● The CM of Delhi is accused by the ED of being the “kingpin

and key conspirator” of the Delhi excise policy case.

● This Case refers to the formulation and implementation of

the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 that came into effect in
November 2021, which was subsequently scrapped in July
2022 due to allegations and issues of procedural lapses,
corruption, and financial losses to the exchequer.
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What are the allegations?

● Arbitrary decisions leading to financial losses.

● Conspiracy and kickbacks (bribery or corruption)

● Cartel Formation and Preferential Treatment

● Influence on elections in Punjab and Goa.

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Can a C.M. rule from Jail?

● Constitutional morality and Good governance & Public

trust.
● C.M. not immune as President and Governor.
● Legal Provisions says that disqualification occurs only
when convicted.
● Or when the political party in power loses majority in the
house or on passage of No-Confidence Motion.
● Practical difficulties.
● Issues of legitimacy and effectiveness of leadership.
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○

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India’s Basmati Rice
Unauthorized cultivation
& marketing by
Pakistan
Why in news?

IARI has raised concerns about Pakistan’s unauthorized

cultivation and marketing of IARI-bred basmati rice varieties
of India.

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What is the issue?

● India's indigenous basmati rice varieties, like Pusa-1121

and 1509 Basmati, were found to be illegally registered,
cultivated and marketed in Pakistan under new names.
● It raised concerns among the IARI scientists and other
authorities to initiate legal action & safeguard the interests
of Indian farmers and exporters.
● It undermines the rights of the Indian farmers as per the
Seeds Act 1966 and Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers’ Rights Act 2001.
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Its implications?

● Violation of the Intellectual Property Rights of Indian

breeders over the rice varieties registered under the
relevant Acts.

● Potential impact on the export volumes and revenues (50

Lakh Tonnes; 5.5 Billion USD)

● Threat to the India’s domination over the EU markets.

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