INDEX

2.7. GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HUMAN

RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS............................................ 31
2.8. SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE...................................... 7 COOPERATION (SAARC............................................31
2.9. GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HUMAN
1.1. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT
RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (GANHRI)............................ 32
(FCRA)....................................................................... 7
2.10. PHASING OUT MERCURY MEASURING DEVICES
1.2. ‘EGGSHELL SKULL’ RULE..................................... 8
IN HEALTHCARE PROJECT........................................33
1.3. RIGHT TO VOTE AND CONTEST ELECTION:
2.11. UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND
PRISONERS................................................................8
CRIME..................................................................... 34
1.4. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005........................ 9
2.12. WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH
1.5. NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING AGENCY................... 10 (WOAH)...................................................................34
1.6. VIRTUAL TOUCH...............................................10 2.13. INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC
1.7. MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION AS MOTHER CORRIDOR (IMEC)................................................... 35
TONGUE..................................................................11 2.14. INCIDENT AND TRAFFICKING DATABASE (ITDB).
1.8. FRAMING OF CHARGES....................................12 36
1.9. FORMS 17A AND 17C OF THE CONDUCT OF 2.15. DIGITAL SERVICES ACT (DSA)..........................37
ELECTIONS RULES, 1961......................................... 12 2.16. INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT............... 37
1.10. RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005.............. 13 2.17. REGULATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE... 38
1.11. TEA BOARD OF INDIA (TBI)............................ 15 2.18. ARAB LEAGUE................................................ 39
1.12. GROUND OF ARREST TO BE INFORMED.........15 2.19. EUROPE’S COPERNICUS PROGRAMME..........40
1.13. RIGHT TO PROPERTY......................................16 2.20. INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (ISA)........40
1.14. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR BACKWARD 2.21. BIMSTEC.........................................................41
CLASSES.................................................................. 17
2.22. ANIMAL DIPLOMACY..................................... 42
1.15. NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING
2.23. INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS........43
AUTHORITY............................................................. 17
2.24. EUROPE’S AI CONVENTION............................44
1.16. SCHEME FOR CARE AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS
18 2.25. SQUAD........................................................... 44
1.17. SHAMLAT DEH................................................18 2.26. FIRST INVESTMENT ROUND OF WHO............ 45
1.18. COMMISSION OF CRIME PREVENTION AND 2.27. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, (CCPCJ).................................... 19 45
1.19. PERSONALITY RIGHTS.................................... 20 2.28. UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING.................. 46
1.20. FURLOUGH AND PAROLE............................... 21 2.29. COLOMBO PROCESS.......................................47
1.21. COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA (CCI).21 3. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS...................................48
1.22. FORM 17C...................................................... 22 3.1. ARBITRATION................................................... 48
1.23. SILENCE PERIOD.............................................23 3.2. ‘NAVRATNA’ STATUS.........................................48
1.24. FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS............................23 3.3. ELECTRONIC TRADING PLATFORMS (ETPS)......49
1.25. ARTICLE 329(b).............................................. 24 3.4. NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
2. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS........26 DEVELOPMENT (NABARD)...................................... 49
3.5. STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT (SBA)..................... 50
2.1. BLOOD MINERALS............................................26
3.6. FRONT RUNNING............................................. 51
2.2. DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT....................................27
3.7. PARADOX OF THRIFT THEORY.......................... 52
2.3. DARFUR............................................................27
3.8. TOBACCO......................................................... 52
2.4. COUNTER-TERRORISM TRUST FUND............... 28
3.9. PASSIVE FUNDS................................................ 54
2.5. INTERPOL......................................................... 29
3.10. STANDARD ESSENTIAL PATENTS.....................54
2.6. UN MEMBERSHIP PROCESS............................. 30
3.11. COCOA........................................................... 55 4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY...................................80
3.12. TOTAL INSTALLED CAPACITY: COAL.................56
4.1. INDIAN SPACE SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT
3.13. GOODS & SERVICES TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL REPORT (ISSAR) FOR 2023..................................... 80
(GSTAT)....................................................................57
4.2. ETHYLENE.........................................................80
3.14. PARTICIPATORY NOTES (P-NOTES)..................57
4.3. MAGNETIC MONOPOLES................................. 81
3.15. NON-BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY........... 58
4.4. SUPERSONIC MISSILE ASSISTED RELEASE OF
3.16. DRIP PRICING................................................. 59 TORPEDO (SMART)................................................. 81
3.17. CAPITAL GAINS TAX........................................ 59 4.5. QUARKS........................................................... 82
3.18. GOVERNMENT SECURITY (G-SEC).................. 60 4.6. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO ATACAMA
3.19. ARECA NUT.................................................... 61 OBSERVATORY (TAO) PROJECT............................... 83
3.20. PROVISIONING...............................................61 4.7. CHANG'E-6 SPACECRAFT.................................. 84
3.21. NON-MARKET ECONOMY.............................. 62 4.8. OXYTOCIN........................................................ 84
3.22. KRISHI INTEGRATED COMMAND AND 4.9. CHLOROPICRIN.................................................85
CONTROL CENTRE (ICCC)....................................... 62 4.10. GOLDENE....................................................... 86
3.23. AGGREGATE MEASUREMENT OF SUPPORT 4.11. CATATUMBO LIGHTNING............................... 86
(AMS)...................................................................... 63
4.12. CHOLINE.........................................................87
3.24. INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (IIP)..... 64
4.13. ARTIFICIAL GENERAL INTELLIGENCE (AGI)..... 88
3.25. AGRI-TECHNOLOGY........................................65
4.14. SEMI-CRYOGENIC ENGINE-200...................... 88
3.26. INDIA INTERNATIONAL BULLION EXCHANGE 65
4.15. GLIDE PHASE INTERCEPTOR (GPI) PROJECT... 89
3.27. WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX.............................. 66
4.16. NEURAL PROCESSING UNIT (NPU)................. 90
3.28. INSURANCE SURETY BOND............................ 66
4.17. DEADBOTS..................................................... 91
3.29. ASSET RECONSTRUCTION COMPANIES (ARCs)...
4.18. LAUNCH VEHICLE MARK-III............................ 91
67
4.19. 3D PRINTING OR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING..
3.30. OPEN NETWORK FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE
92
(ONDC)....................................................................68
4.20. SMALL RNA (sRNA)........................................ 93
3.31. AGROFORESTRY............................................. 69
4.21. DIGILOCKER....................................................94
3.32. STARTUPS.......................................................69
4.22. XENOTRANSPLANTATION...............................94
3.33. SURPLUS TRANSFER.......................................70
4.23. NEXT-GENERATION SYNCHROTRON...............96
3.34. RADIATION PROCESSING................................71
4.24. LEAD (Pb)....................................................... 97
3.35. PRE-PACKAGED INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION
PROCESS (PPIRP).................................................... 72 4.25. INDIAN NATIONAL SPACE PROMOTION AND
AUTHORIZATION CENTRE (IN-SPACe)..................... 98
3.36. INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURES....................... 73
4.26. LUNAR POLAR EXPLORATION MISSION (LUPEX)
3.37. COST INFLATION INDEX (CII).......................... 73
98
3.38. TRADE DEFICIT............................................... 74
4.27. ALPHAFOLD AND ROSETTAFOLD....................99
3.39. INDIAN SPICES EXPORT..................................74
4.28. MITOGENOME............................................... 99
3.40. PULSES IMPORT............................................. 75
4.29. EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD........................... 100
3.41. TREATY ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, GENETIC
4.30. LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS.............................101
RESOURCES AND ASSOCIATED TRADITIONAL
KNOWLEDGE...........................................................76 4.31. “GIANT” VIRUSES......................................... 102
3.42. GOLD-BACKED CURRENCY............................. 76 4.32. CALCIUM CARBIDE.......................................103
3.43. SOVEREIGN BOND..........................................77 4.33. STARLINK......................................................104
3.44. PRAVAAH PORTAL, THE RETAIL DIRECT MOBILE 4.34. SPECULOOS-3 b............................................104
APP AND A FINTECH REPOSITORY..........................77 4.35. GREEN HYDROGEN...................................... 105
3.45. GOLDEN RICE................................................. 78 4.36. DOPPLER EFFECT..........................................106
 4.37. GRAPHITE.....................................................107 5.24. ARMOURED SAILFIN CATFISH...................... 140
4.38. TURBULENCE............................................... 107 5.25. GEOMAGNETIC STORM................................140
4.39. ZERO DEBRIS CHARTER................................ 108 5.26. DUST STORM................................................141
4.40. SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY OBSERVATORY 5.27. FLUE-GAS DESULFURIZATION.......................142
(SKAO)...................................................................109 5.28. VENEZUELA: LOST GLACIERS........................143
4.41. ELECTRIC CEMENT....................................... 111 5.29. LEOPARD CAT............................................... 144
4.42. ASTROSAT.................................................... 111 5.30. SILK COTTON TREES..................................... 144
4.43. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS................................ 112 5.31. RED PANDA.................................................. 145
4.44. LINEAR ACCELERATOR (LINAC).....................113 5.32. BLUE FLAG CERTIFICATION...........................146
4.45. PREFIRE (POLAR RADIANT ENERGY IN THE 5.33. ECO SENSITIVE ZONE................................... 147
FAR-INFRARED EXPERIMENT)............................... 114
5.34. NOR’WESTERS..............................................148
4.46. QUANTUM DIAMOND MICROCHIP IMAGER114
5.35. SUMMER SOLSTICE......................................149
4.47. GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GMO) MOSQUITOES.
5.36. CHIR PINE.....................................................150
115
5.37. KUNMING-MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY
4.48. JUMPING GENES.......................................... 116
FRAMEWORK........................................................ 151
4.49. MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT..............................117
5.38. PHAWNGPUI NATIONAL PARK..................... 152
4.50. EARTHCARE..................................................118
5.39. KOUNDINYA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY............. 152
4.51. LIGNOSAT.....................................................118
5.40. BAOBAB TREE.............................................. 153
5. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT....................... 120 5.41. MICROPLASTICS........................................... 153
5.1. BASEFLOWS................................................... 120 5.42. NAEGLERIA FOWLERI................................... 154
5.2. NEW COLLECTIVE QUANTIFIED GOAL ON 5.43. HIMALAYAN IBEX AND BLUE SHEEP............. 155
CLIMATE FINANCE (NCQG)...................................120 5.44. RED LIST OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS....... 155
5.3. ANTARCTIC TREATY........................................ 121 5.45. COASTAL REGULATION ZONE (CRZ)..............156
5.4. BLUE HOLE..................................................... 122 5.46. SOLAR CYCLE................................................157
5.5. GARO HILLS....................................................123 5.47. MICROBIAL METHANE OXIDATION SYSTEMS.....
5.6. PERCOLATION WELLS.....................................123 158
5.7. BATILLIPES CHANDRAYAANI........................... 124 5.48. TROPICAL CYCLONES....................................159
5.8. SAHYADRI TIGER RESERVE............................. 124 5.49. GHUGHUA FOSSIL PARK............................... 160
5.9. SWELL WAVES................................................ 125 5.50. WHITE-HEADED LANGUR.............................161
5.10. ETA AQUARIDS METEOR SHOWER............... 126 5.51. EUCALYPTUS................................................ 161
5.11. ORANGUTAN................................................127 5.52. SHARAVATHI RIVER...................................... 162
5.12. CARBON FARMING.......................................128
5.13. URBAN HEAT ISLAND (UHI) EFFECT..............129 6. HISTORY AND CULTURE........................................163
5.14. SPERM WHALES........................................... 130
6.1. SRI MADHAVA PERUMAL TEMPLE................. 163
5.15. CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS..........................130
6.2. VALLABHACHARYA JAYANTI............................163
5.16. BATAGAY MEGASLUMP................................ 132
6.3. BENGAL GAZETTE.......................................... 164
5.17. INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE (IOD).......................133
6.4. GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE............................ 164
5.18. NERIUM OLEANDER.....................................134
6.5. SAHITYA AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP....................165
5.19. ARAVALLI RANGE......................................... 135
6.6. UNESCO’S MEMORY OF WORLD ASIA-PACIFIC
5.20. SUNDARBAN MANGROVE............................136 REGIONAL REGISTER.............................................166
5.21. CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL........................137 6.7. PROJECT UDBHAV.......................................... 167
5.22. SONAI RUPAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY............138 6.8. PHANIGIRI......................................................167
5.23. SEA ANEMONES........................................... 139 6.9. VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE.....................................168
 6.10. RAGHOJI BHANGRE......................................169 9.10. RUBELLA...................................................... 195
7. SCHEMES AND PROJECTS IN NEWS.......................170 9.11. WHOOPING COUGH.................................... 195

7.1. INDIA AI MISSION.......................................... 170 10. PLACES AND PERSONS IN NEWS.........................197

7.2. PROJECT ASTRA..............................................171 10.1. SPAIN........................................................... 197
7.3. SHALLOW AQUIFER MANAGEMENT (SAM)... 171 10.2. INDONESIA...................................................197
7.4. GSAP SKILLS................................................... 172 10.3. LEBANON..................................................... 198
7.5. PRADHAN MANTRI JANJATI ADIVASI NYAYA 10.4. SHAKSGAM VALLEY......................................198
MAHA ABHIYAN.................................................... 172 10.5. MOUNT RUANG........................................... 199
7.6. AI KRISH AND AI BHOOMI..............................173 10.6. LALA HANSRAJ............................................. 200
7.7. RESILIENT ISLAND STATES PROGRAMME (IRIS).... 10.7. NETHERLANDS............................................. 200
174
10.8. LIPULEKH, LIMPIYADHURA AND KALAPANI..200
8. SECURITY............................................................. 176 10.9. MULLAPERIYARU DAM.................................201
8.1. KALVARI CLASS SUBMARINES.........................176 10.10. BLACK SEA..................................................202
8.2. MQ-9B DRONES............................................. 176 10.11. GULF OF ADEN........................................... 203
8.3. BOEING STARLINER........................................ 177 10.12. CAMBODIA.................................................203
8.4. FWD-200B UNMANNED AIRCRAFT................ 178 10.13. ASAF ALI.....................................................204
8.5. PARLIAMENT SECURITY OVERHAUL............... 178 10.14. CHABAHAR PORT....................................... 204
8.6. HERMES-900 STARLINER................................ 180 10.15. CROATIA.....................................................205
8.7. KAMIKAZE DRONE......................................... 181 10.16. SLOVAKIA................................................... 205
8.8. ZERO-DAY VULNERABILITY.............................181 10.17. KANWAR LAKE........................................... 206
8.9. EXERCISE ”TARKASH”..................................... 182 10.18. NILE RIVER................................................. 207
8.10. IGLA-S.......................................................... 182 10.19. NEW CALEDONIA....................................... 207
8.11. BHARAT HEALTH INITIATIVE FOR SAHYOG, HITA 10.20. IRAN...........................................................208
AND MAITRI (BHISHM)......................................... 182 10.21. BIPIN CHANDRA PAL.................................. 208
8.12. POKHRAN-I NUCLEAR TEST.......................... 183 10.22. KYRGYZSTAN.............................................. 209
8.13. INTEGRATED THEATRE COMMAND..............184 10.23. MRUGAVANI NATIONAL PARK....................210
8.14. ELECTRIC VERTICAL TAKE OFF AND LANDING 10.24. TAIWAN STRAIT..........................................210
(eVTOL) AIRCRAFT................................................ 185
10.25. PERIYAR RIVER........................................... 211
8.15. INS KILTAN....................................................186
10.26. PAPUA NEW GUINEA................................. 211
8.16. RUDRAM-II...................................................186
10.27. NARVA RIVER............................................. 212
9. HEALTH................................................................ 188 10.28. RASH BEHARI BOSE....................................212
9.1. THROMBOSIS WITH THROMBOCYTOPENIA 11. REPORTS AND INDICES.......................................214
SYNDROME (TTS).................................................. 188
11.1. WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX, 2024........ 214
9.2. WEST NILE FEVER...........................................188
11.2. WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2024..............214
9.3. FLIRT, THE NEW COVID-19 VARIANTS............ 190
11.3. VOLATILITY INDEX........................................ 215
9.4. NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES................... 190
11.4. TRAVEL & TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX
9.5. mRNA VACCINE..............................................191
2024......................................................................215
9.6. ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD.............................. 192
12. ALSO IN NEWS................................................... 217
9.7. TAK-003: DENGUE VACCINE........................... 193
9.8. BACTERIAL PRIORITY PATHOGENS LIST (BPPL) 12.1. TACTICAI.......................................................217
2024......................................................................193 12.2. KAVACH........................................................217
9.9. MATERIOVIGILANCE PROGRAMME OF INDIA 12.3. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY...................... 218
(MVPI) PLATFORM................................................ 194 12.4. INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY......................218
12.5. RAT-HOLE MINING....................................... 219 12.12. PORT OF CALL............................................ 222
12.6. SAHUL.......................................................... 219 12.13. WORLD BEE DAY........................................ 223
12.7. KADAR..........................................................220 12.14. PIG BUTCHERING SCAM.............................224
12.8. 'SANGAM: DIGITAL TWIN'............................ 220 12.15. BOOKER PRIZE........................................... 224
12.9. PLUNGING-REGION......................................221 12.16. NYISHI TRIBE.............................................. 224
12.10. DEDA METHOD.......................................... 221 12.17. PRAGATI-2024............................................225
12.11. NATIONAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY...... 222
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1.1. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT (FCRA)

CONTEXT
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the
registration of at least five Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) for allegedly violating
provisions of FCRA.
FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT (FCRA)
● First enacted in 1976 FCRA regulates
foreign donations and ensures that such
contributions do not adversely affect internal
security.
● The Act ensures that the recipients of foreign
contributions adhere to the stated purpose
for which such contribution has been
obtained.
● It is implemented by Union Home Ministry.
● The FCRA is applicable to all associations, groups and NGOs which intend to
receive foreign donations.

● It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA every
five years.
● The law was amended in 2010 to prohibit their use for any activities
detrimental to national interest.

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 ● It 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
registered under the Act and to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign
funds in State Bank of India, Delhi
● FCRA requires to utilise those funds only for the purpose for which they have
been received and as stipulated in the Act
● FCRA requires to file annual returns and not to transfer the funds to another
NGO
● 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.
1.2. ‘EGGSHELL SKULL’ RULE
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court has rejected the application of the ‘eggshell skull’ rule in a case.
‘EGGSHELL SKULL’ RULE
● The eggshell skull rule is a common law principle applied in civil litigation.
● Essentially, when the offender would be liable for all injuries that might be
intensified due to the peculiar conditions of the injured person that the offender
might not have known.
● Simply put, the defendant would be held responsible for injuries caused to a
person when he hit him on the head, even if the victim had a particularly delicate
skull or an ‘eggshell’ for a skull.
● The rule is applied for claiming an enhanced compensation — for damage that
is more than what could have been ordinarily anticipated to be caused by the
defendant.
● The origins of the eggshell skull rule are most often traced back to an
1891 Vosburg v. Putney case in Wisconsin, US.
1.3. RIGHT TO VOTE AND CONTEST ELECTION: PRISONERS
CONTEXT
Amritpal Singh, the jailed head of the pro-Khalistan outfit Waris Punjab de, announced
his intention to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat.
RIGHT TO VOTE
● Universal adult suffrage is one of the foundational values of our entire
constitutional order.
● Article 326 of the Constitution of India lays down this principle and states that
every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than twenty-one
years of age is not otherwise disqualified on the ground of non-residence,
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 unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice must hold the right to
vote.
● The Sixty-first Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as
The Constitution (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, 1988, lowered the voting age of
elections to the Lok Sabha and to the Legislative Assemblies of States from
21 years to 18 years
● Additional statutory limitations imposed by the Representation of People Act, 1951
disqualify all persons in custody from the right to vote, other than those in
preventive detention.
● A five-judge constitution Bench in 2006, in the case of Kuldip Nayar v. Union of
India held that the right to vote (or the right to elect as it was called) is “pure and
simple, a statutory right”.
● This means that voting is not a fundamental right and can be repealed.
● The same was held for the right to be elected by the Bench, ruling that laws
enacted by Parliament could regulate both these statutory rights.
RIGHT TO CONTEST
● Section 8 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 (RP Act) is titled
“Disqualification on conviction for certain offences”.
● Suppose a person is convicted of any of the offences in the exhaustive list provided
in the provision.
● In that case, they will be disqualified from contesting elections to Parliament or
state legislatures from the date of conviction onwards and face further a six-year
disqualification from contesting in elections beginning from the date of their release.
● This disqualification only kicks in once a person has been convicted and does not
apply if they have only been charged with criminal offences.
● The Election Commission of India (ECI) is empowered under Section 11 of the RP
Act to “remove” or “reduce” the period of disqualification.
1.4. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court is considering whether compensation in cases of Domestic Violence
should be determined by the degree of violence suffered by the victim or the ability of
the perpetrator to pay.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005
● The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 is an Act of the
Parliament of India enacted to protect women from domestic violence.
● It was brought into force by the Indian government and Ministry of Women and
Child Development on 26 October 2006.
● The Act provides a definition of "domestic violence" for the first time in Indian law,
with this definition being broad and including not only physical violence, but

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 also other forms of violence such as emotional, verbal, sexual and psychological
abuse
● It is a civil law meant primarily for protection orders, rather than criminal
enforcement.
● Primarily meant to provide protection to the wife or female live-in partner from
domestic violence at the hands of the husband or male live-in partner or his
relatives, the law also extends its protection to women living in a household
such as sisters, widows or mothers
1.5. NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING AGENCY
CONTEXT
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), India concluded #PlayTrue Campaign.
NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (NADA)
● National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was set
up as a registered society under the
Societies Registration Act of 1860 on
November 24, 2005 with a mandate of
creating dope-free sports in India.
● National Anti Doping Agency, India is an
autonomous body under the Ministry of
Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of
India.
● NADA India implements the Anti-Doping
Program in India and works towards
promoting clean sport practices across the
country.
● It is responsible for promoting, coordinating,
and monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms.
● Headquarters: New Delhi.
1.6. VIRTUAL TOUCH
CONTEXT
Delhi HC has said that the Minors must be taught about ‘virtual touch’ to recognise
risks in cyberspace.
VIRTUAL TOUCH
● Apart from the concepts of “good touch” and “bad touch”, minors must be taught
the concept of “virtual touch” to enable them to recognise potential risks in
cyberspace
● Traditionally, efforts to protect minors from harm have focused on teaching them
about ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ in the physical realm.

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 ● However, in today’s virtual world, it is crucial to extend this education to
encompass the concept of ‘Virtual Touch’
● Educating minors about ‘Virtual Touch’ involves teaching them about
appropriate online behaviour, recognising warning signs of predatory
behaviour, and understanding the importance of privacy settings and online
boundaries.
● Just as children are taught to exercise caution in the physical world, efforts must be
made to teach them to develop critical thinking skills to assess the credibility
of online contacts and safeguard their personal information
1.7. MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION AS MOTHER TONGUE
CONTEXT
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has instructed all its schools to make
use of educational material which will focus on learning in one’s mother tongue and
encourage multilingual education.
STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS ON MOTHER TONGUE
● National Education Policy 2020 and
the National Curriculum Framework
2022, which emphasise teaching and
learning in the child’s mother tongue, or
regional and local language.
● The National Council for Educational
Research and Training and the Indian
Institute of Languages have
collaborated to produce a series of 52
entry-level primers tailored to various
mother tongues and local languages
spoken across India
● Article 350A of the Indian
Constitution enjoins all states and local
authorities “to provide adequate facilities
for instruction in the mother-tongue at
the primary stage of education to
children.”
● Further, the Right to Education Act of
2009 (Section 29 (f) of Chapter V)
clearly states that the “medium of
instruction shall, as far as practicable, be
in child’s mother tongue.”
● UNESCO declared 21st February as International Mother Language Day in
1999 and the World has been celebrating the same since 2000.
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 ● The UN has designated the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International
Decade of Indigenous Languages.
CONDITIONS ON WHICH ARVIND KEJRIWAL GOT BAIL FROM SUPREME COURT
1. Arvind Kejriwal has to pay a personal bond of Rs 50,000 before he leaves Tihar jail.
2. Kejriwal cannot enter either the CM's office or the Delhi Secretariat.
3. He cannot sign on any file without the prior permission of the Delhi Lieutenant
Governor.
4. Kejriwal cannot comment on his role in the Delhi liquor policy scam case.
5. The Delhi CM is not allowed to meet any witnesses in the excise policy scam.
1.8. FRAMING OF CHARGES
CONTEXT
A trial judge in Delhi framed charges against MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under
Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty)
and 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Singh has been accused
of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers.
FRAMING OF CHARGES
● The framing of charges means the trial judge has found a prima facie case against
the accused, based on the material in the chargesheet.
● This is not a determination of whether the accused has committed the alleged
offences, it is only an acknowledgment that sufficient grounds exist to proceed with
the trial.
● After the trial judge frames the charges, the accused can plead innocent or guilty.
● If the accused pleads innocent, the next step is the summoning of witnesses for
cross-examination by the defence lawyer(s).
● After witnesses are examined, both sides present their arguments. Upon completion
of arguments, the judge may reserve judgment.
● If the judge decides to convict the accused, the court will also pronounce the
sentence.
1.9. FORMS 17A AND 17C OF THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
RULES, 1961
CONTEXT
Recently, ECI has rejected allegations that the declaration of final voter turnouts have
been unfairly delayed.
FORMS 17A AND 17C
● As per the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, there are two forms that have data
on the number of electors and voters - Forms 17A and 17C.
● Form 17A is a register of voters, in which polling officials record the details of
every voter who comes into the booth and signs the register.

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 ● Form 17C is the account of the votes
recorded.
● Form 17C is issued to the polling agents of
candidates at the close of polling.
● It has the identification numbers of the
EVMs used in the polling station; the total
number of electors assigned to the polling
station; the total number of voters as
entered in the register for voters (Form
17A); the number of voters who decided
not to record their votes after signing the
register; the number of voters who were
not allowed to vote; and the total number
of test votes to be deducted, and total number of votes recorded per EVM.
● Part-II of the same form carries the results of the counting, which are entered on
counting day.
FORM 17C IS CONSIDERED FINAL
● The data in Form 17C are considered final, and lie at the heart of any Election
Petition that may be filed challenging the result.
● In a statement, the ECI said the “actual data of Form 17C shall prevail which is
already shared with candidates”.
● Apart from being the record that is to be used in a possible legal challenge, the data
in Form 17C are also used by candidates to verify the results on counting day.
● The number of electors and those who cast their votes as recorded in Form 17C can
be matched with the EVM count.
● The ECI has said that it is not “legally bound to publish any voter turnout data at
aggregate level”.
1.10. RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005
CONTEXT
Delhi High Court has said that difficulty in collating data is not a ground to deny
information under RTI Act.
EXEMPTION TO RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005
● Section 8 and 9 of the Act enumerate the categories of information which are
exempt from disclosure.
● Section 8(1) lists all of the exemptions:
● information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the security,
sovereignty and integrity of India;
● information which may constitute contempt of court;
● information that would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State
Legislature;
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● information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual
property
● information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the
competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the
disclosure of such information;
● information received in confidence from foreign government;
● information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical
safety of any person;
● information which would impede the process of investigation or
apprehension or prosecution of offenders;
● cabinet papers including records of deliberations, which come under the
specified exemptions;
● information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has
not relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted
invasion of the privacy.
● Section 8(2) Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19
of 1923) nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section (1),
a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure
outweighs the harm to the protected interests.

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1.11. TEA BOARD OF INDIA (TBI)
CONTEXT
According to data released by TBI, tea production across the tea estates of Assam and
West Bengal may drop by 50%.
TEA BOARD OF INDIA
● The Tea Board of India is a state
agency of the Government of
India under the control of
Ministry of Commerce and
Industry
● It was established to promote
the cultivation, processing,
and domestic trade as well as
export of tea from India.
● It was established by the enactment of the Tea Act in 1953 with its
headquarters in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).
● The Tea Board India's tasks include endorsement of the diverse production and
productivity of tea, financial support of research organisations and the monitoring
of advances in tea packaging as it relates to health beneficial aspects.
● It coordinates research institutes, the tea trade and government bodies,
ensuring the technical support of the tea trade in the global industry.
● The Board is constituted of 31 members (including Chairman) drawn from
Members of Parliament, tea producers, tea traders, tea brokers, consumers, and
representatives of Governments from the principal tea producing states, and trade
unions .
● The Board is reconstituted every three years.
● Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are the major tea-producing
states in India.
1.12. GROUND OF ARREST TO BE INFORMED
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court ordered the release of online portal NewsClick founder Prabir
Purkayastha from custody after concluding that his arrest and remand under the
draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (UAPA) by the Delhi Police were
“invalid in the eyes of law”.
ARTICLE 22(1) AND 22(5) OF THE CONSTITUTION
● Article 22(1) of the Constitution, which dictates that no person who is arrested
can be detained in custody without being promptly informed of the grounds for their
arrest.

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 ● It further stipulates that an arrested person cannot be denied “the right to
consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.”
● Article 22(5): A person under detention should be communicated the grounds
of detention order and allowed to make a representation against detention.
● Both the PMLA as well as the UAPA contain similar provisions, which mandate
the intimation of the grounds of arrest to an accused. Under Section 19 of the
PMLA, sections 43A and 43B of the UAPA mandate the furnishing of the
grounds of arrest to an accused at the earliest.
● As per Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India and Others (2023) wherein it was held
that to give effect to constitutional safeguards, “it would be necessary, henceforth,
that a copy of such written grounds of arrest is furnished to the arrested person as
a matter of course and without exception.”
1.13. RIGHT TO PROPERTY
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court held that compulsory acquisition without following mandatory
procedures followed by a grant of compensation to the owners will not make the
accession constitutional.
RIGHT TO PROPERTY
● The right to property is protected as a constitutional right and has even been
interpreted to be a human right.
● Since the Constitution of India came into force in the 1950s, the right to property
was given fundamental status.
● Basically, two articles Art. 31 and Art. 19(1)(f) ensures that any person's right
against his property remains protected.
● But by the Constitutional 44th Amendment act 1978, these two above mentioned
articles were deleted and a new chapter IV was added in Part XII, containing
only one article 300A.
● Article 300A, provided that “no person shall be deprived of his property, save by
authority of law”.
● The court laid down seven basic procedural rights of private citizens which
constitute the “real content of the right to property under Article 300A” that the
state should respect before depriving them of their private property.
● They include, the right to notice or the duty of the state to inform the person that
it intends to acquire his property;
● the right of the citizen to be heard or the duty of the state to hear the objections
to the acquisition;
● the right of the citizen to a reasoned decision or the duty of the state to inform
the person of its decision to acquire property;
● the duty of the state to demonstrate that the acquisition is exclusively for public
purpose;
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 ● the right to fair compensation of the citizen; the duty of the state to conduct the
process of acquisition efficiently and within prescribed timelines;
● and finally, the conclusion of the proceedings leading to vesting or the right of
conclusion.
1.14. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR BACKWARD CLASSES
CONTEXT
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended an increase
in the reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public employment in
Punjab and West Bengal.
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR BACKWARD CLASSES (NCBC)
● Reservation quota for OBCs will adhere to the Supreme Court's ceiling of up to 50%
reservation in the Indra Sawhney case.
● The National Commission for Backward Classes is an Indian constitutional body
under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government
of India
● It is established through 102nd Amendment Act, 2018 with insertion of Article 338B
● The main work of the commission is to participate and advise actively on the
socio-economic development of the socially backward classes (OBCs) along with
evaluating the progress of their development.
● The commission was the outcome of Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India.
● The commission considers inclusions in and exclusions from the lists of
communities notified as backward for the purpose of job reservations and tenders
the needful advice to the Central Government as per Section 9(1) of the NCBC Act,
1993.
● The Commission consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other
Members in the rank & pay of Secretary to the Govt of India
● NCBC presents a report to the President, annually and at such other times as
the commission may deem fit.
1.15. NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY
CONTEXT
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has announced a lowering of
retail prices for 41 essential drugs and revised ceiling rates of seven scheduled
formulations.
NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY
● The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority was set up as an attached office of
the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
● To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order
(DPCO), 2013 in accordance with the powers delegated to it.

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 ● To undertake and/or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of
drugs/formulations.
● To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take
remedial steps.
● To collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of
individual companies, profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and
formulations.
● To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
● To render advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug
policy.
● To render assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary
matters relating to the drug pricing.
1.16. SCHEME FOR CARE AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS
CONTEXT
There are many gaps in the Scheme for Care and Support to Victims under Section 4
and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
SCHEME FOR CARE AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS
● Scheme for Care and Support to Victims
under Section 4 and 6 of POCSO Act 2012
is a centrally funded scheme from
NIRBHAYA fund of the Ministry of Women
and Child Development.
● It seeks to address the challenges faced by
the minor pregnant girl child victims and fill
the gaps of the existing schemes.
● The scheme shall be implemented through the
State/UT Governments.
● The objectives of the Scheme are:
● To provide integrated support and assistance
to minor pregnant girl child victims under
one roof; and
● To facilitate immediate, emergency and
non-emergency access to a range of services for long term rehabilitation
● Any girl below the age of 18 years, who is a victim of:
● Penetrative Sexual Assault - Section 4 of the POCSO Act,
● Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault — Section 6 of the POCSO Act,
● Section 376, 376A-E of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC)
● And becomes pregnant due to such assault or rape is covered under the Scheme.
1.17.SHAMLAT DEH
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CONTEXT
Supreme Court allowed a review of its 2022 judgment on ‘shamlat deh’ land rights.
SHAMLAT DEH
● Shamlat deh is essentially village common land,
created by multiple landowners contributing an
equal portion of their individual land holdings to
serve the “common purposes” of village’s people.
● The apex court in 2022 had upheld a 1992
amendment to the Punjab Village Common Lands
(Regulation) Act, 1961 (henceforth, the Punjab Act).
● It allows gram panchayats to manage and control
shamlat deh land as “lands reserved for the common
purposes of a village”.
● A Bench of Justices reopened the challenge to the
1992 amendment reccently, after observing that the
2022 decision disregarded an important and relevant
Constitution Bench decision in the case of Bhagat
Ram vs State of Punjab (1967).
● It referred to Ajith Singh case (1967), said that reserving the land for income of
panchayat is effectively acquiring the land.
1.18. COMMISSION OF CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE, (CCPCJ)
CONTEXT
After five days of discussions to strengthen crime prevention, criminal justice
responses and cooperation, the 33rd session of the Commission of Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice, (CCPCJ), came to a conclusion
COMMISSION OF CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, (CCPCJ)
● The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) is a functional
commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) based
in Vienna.
● The commission serves as the primary organ that guides the activities of the
United Nations in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice.
● The commission meets annually for a regular session in Vienna in May.
● It also meets for a reconvened session towards the end of the year, mainly to
discuss budgetary matters and matters concerning the operation of the United
Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme.
● The CCPCJ is the preparatory body to the United Nations Crime Congresses.
● Declarations adopted by the congresses are transmitted through the CCPCJ and the
ECOSOC to the GA for endorsement.

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 ● The CCPCJ has 40 member states that are elected by ECOSOC and is chaired by a
Bureau.
● The UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network (PNI) consists
interregional and regional institutes from around the world.
● The Commissions actively contributes to the implementation of the 2030
Sustainable Development Agenda.
1.19. PERSONALITY RIGHTS
CONTEXT
The Delhi High Court recently passed an ad-interim injunction in favour of Bollywood
actor Jackie Shroff, restraining various entities from infringing his personality/publicity
rights.
PERSONALITY RIGHTS
● The name, voice, signature, images or
any other feature easily identified by the
public are markers of a celebrity’s
personality and are referred loosely as
“personality rights.”
● These could include a pose, a mannerism
or any aspect of their personality.
● Many celebrities even register some
aspects as a trademark to use them
commercially. For example, Usain Bolt’s
“bolting” or lightning pose is a registered
trademark.
● The idea is that only the owner or creator
of these distinct features has the right to
derive any commercial benefit from it.
● Exclusivity is a big factor in attracting
commercial dividends for celebrities.
So unauthorised use causes a tangible loss
of revenue.
● Celebrities can move to the Court and seek an injunction when an unauthorised
third party uses their personality rights for commercial purposes.
● Personality rights or their protection are not expressly mentioned in a statute in
India but are traced to fall under the right to privacy and the right to property.
● Any attempt to take the right of publicity away from the individuals, to the
organiser {non-human entity} of the event would be violative of Articles 19 and
21 of the Constitution of India.
● The right of Publicity vests in an individual and only that person is entitled to profit
from it.
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1.20. FURLOUGH AND PAROLE
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court has set aside the furlough extension of double murder convict.
PAROLE
● Parole is a system of releasing a prisoner with suspension of the sentence.
● The release is conditional, usually subject to behaviour, and requires periodic
reporting to the authorities for a set period of time.
● Parole is considered a reformative process. The provision (along with furlough)
was introduced with a view to humanising the prison system
● In India, parole (as well as furlough) are covered under The Prisons Act of 1894.
● Prisoners convicted of multiple murders or under the anti-terror Unlawful
Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) are not eligible for parole.
● Since prisons is a State subject in the Constitution, the Prisons Act of each state
government defines the rules under which parole is granted in that state.
● State governments have their own Prisoner Release on Parole Rules.
● Parole is granted by the state executive — the jail authorities submit the report to
state government — and the competent authority takes a final decision on grant of
parole on humanitarian considerations.
● If a plea for parole is rejected, the convict can move the High Court challenging
the order of the competent authority.
● Apart from regular parole, the superintendent of a jail can also grant parole up to a
period of seven days in emergencies.
FURLOUGH
● This is a concept broadly similar to parole, but with some significant differences.
● Furlough is given in cases of long-term imprisonment. The period of furlough
granted to a prisoner is treated as remission of his sentence.
● Furlough is seen as a matter of right for a prisoner, to be granted periodically
irrespective of any reason, and merely to enable the prisoner to retain family and
social ties, and to counter the ill-effects of prolonged time spent in prison.
● Parole, by contrast, is not seen as a matter of right, and is given to a prisoner
for a specific reason, such as a death in the family or a wedding of a blood relative.
● Parole may be denied to a prisoner even when he makes out a sufficient case, if the
competent authority is satisfied that releasing the convict would not be in the
interest of society.
● Parole is often not granted to convicts sentenced to death, or to those who, in the
opinion of jail authorities, are likely to flee when released from prison.
1.21. COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA (CCI)
CONTEXT
Competition Commission of India (CCI) celebrated its 15th Foundation Day.
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COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA (CCI)
● The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the chief national competition
regulator in India.
● It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and is responsible for
enforcing the Competition Act, 2002
● It is established to promote competition and prevent activities that have an
appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
● The Commission consists of a Chairperson and not more than 6 Members
appointed by the Central Government.
● The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) constituted under
section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 shall be the Appellate Tribunal for the
purpose of this Competition Act 2002.
● To achieve its objectives, the Competition Commission of India endeavors to do the
following:
● Make the markets work for the benefit and welfare of consumers.
● Ensure fair and healthy competition in economic activities in the country for
faster and inclusive growth and development of the economy.
● Implement competition policies with an aim to effectuate the most efficient
utilization of economic resources.
● Develop and nurture effective relations and interactions with sectoral
regulators to ensure smooth alignment of sectoral regulatory laws in tandem with
competition law.
● Effectively carry out competition advocacy and spread the information on benefits
of competition among all stakeholders to establish and nurture competition culture
in Indian economy.
1.22. FORM 17C
CONTEXT
The Election Commission told the Supreme Court the rules do not permit sharing Form
17C data with any entity apart from polling officials.
FORM 17C
● Form 17C is a record of votes cast at each polling station across the country.
● It contains specific data about the following;
✔ Electors assigned to each booth
✔ Number of registered voters in the area
✔ Number of voters who decided not to vote
✔ Number of voters not allowed to vote
✔ Number of votes recorded (data from the EVM)
✔ If the number of votes recorded is equal to number of voters minus those who did
not vote
✔ Data about ballot papers (received, issued, and not used/returned)
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 ✔ Data about paper seals (numbers issued/used/returned)
● This data is entered by polling officers and checked by the Presiding Officer of that
booth.
● The second part is a record of votes for each candidate and is entered on counting
day. It contains specific data about the following;
✔ Name of the candidate and votes received
✔ If total votes counted from that booth is the same as total votes polled (per Part
1)
1.23. SILENCE PERIOD
CONTEXT
Silence Period was observed in the states where Lok Sabha elections were held.
SILENCE PERIOD
● ‘Silence period’ is used by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to describe a
48-hour period during which political parties and candidates are not allowed to
campaign.
● Under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,
all election campaigning stops during this period that concludes with the end of
voting.
● From politicians to the media, everyone is expected to refrain from influencing
voters when the silence period is enforced.
● The District Magistrate issues a directive banning unlawful assemblies, public
meetings, the use of loudspeakers, and restricting gatherings to less than five
people.
● However, door-to-door campaigning is allowed.
● The display of any election matter such as opinion polls through television or other
similar apparatus is also prohibited.
● “Election matter” under Section 126 refers to any matter “intended or calculated to
influence or affect the result of an election.”
● Political advertisements through electronic and social media are also not
allowed.
1.24. FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS
CONTEXT
Recent fire tragedies at Gujarat’s Rajkot and a children’s hospital in Delhi have shifted
the spotlight on fire safety regulations.
FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS
● “Fire services” is a State subject as a municipal function in the 12th Schedule of
the Constitution.

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 ● State governments are responsible for fire prevention and ensuring the safety
of life and property
● Municipal corporations and local bodies in some states are responsible for fire
services
● National Building Code -2016 serves as the basis for fire safety norms in India
✔ The National Building Code of India (NBC), a comprehensive building Code, is a
national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the building construction
activities across the country.
✔ The Code mainly contains administrative regulations, development control rules
and general building requirements; fire safety requirements; stipulations
regarding materials, (structural design and construction including safety);
building and plumbing services; approach to sustainability; and asset and facility
management.
✔ NBC mentions that while absolute fire safety is not attainable in practice, specifies
measures can be taken to provide the degree of protection from fire that can
be “reasonably achieved.”
✔ NBC is a “mandatory requirement” for State governments to incorporate into
their local building bylaws.
✔ Part 4 of the Code deals with Fire and Life Safety.

✔ The document provides specifications and guidelines for design and materials
that reduce the threat of destructive fires.
1.25. ARTICLE 329(b)
CONTEXT
Recently, Article 329(b) was invoked by the Election Commission in the Supreme
Court for restricting judicial intervention in the poll process.
ARTICLE 329(b)
● Enshrined in Part XV of the Constitution, articles 324-329 specifically discuss
elections.
● While Article 324 gives the poll panel powers to direct and control elections,
Article 329, which has two clauses, concerns itself with the role of the judiciary in
electoral matters.
● Article 329 (a) says the judiciary is not allowed to challenge the constitutionality
of laws relating to the boundaries of electoral districts or the allocation of seats
● while Article 329 (b) says that any challenges to the conduct or results of elections
to the Houses of Parliament or state legislatures must be made through a
designated legal process that is referred to as an “election petition”.

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● The Constitution (19th Amendment) Act of 1966 refined clause (b) of Article
329, stipulating that election-related inquiries are exclusively addressed through
election petitions presented to the authority designated by that law.
● The Representation of the People Act, 1951, furthers this clause as it empowers
the high courts to hear and decide election petitions. A decision in such petitions
can be challenged in the Supreme Court.
● Meanwhile, courts, through several pronouncements, outlined the contours of
Article 329(b) and its applicability.
● For instance, in 1999, the Supreme Court in K. Venkatachalam vs A.Swamickan
determined that Article 329(b) is inapplicable if the matter pertains to Articles 191
and 193, which deal with disqualifications and penalties related to parliamentary
and legislative assembly membership, respectively.
● The judgment further held that the word “election” would include every process of
proceedings after the issuance of election notification.
● However, in 1985, the Supreme Court in Inderjit Barua vs Election Commission
of India excluded electoral roll preparation from the definition of “election.” It
further said that no election could be challenged on the grounds of defects in
electoral rolls.
● Furthermore, a 2007 Gujarat High Court judgment in N.C. Patel vs State of
Gujarat affirmed that election petitions can only be filed under the
Representation of People’s Act, 1951, and not by way of a writ petition.
● Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court in 2002, in Hari Krishna Lal vs Atal Bihari
Bajpai, clarified that only candidates officially recognised by the Election
Commission are eligible to file election petitions.

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 2. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND
CONVENTIONS

2.1. BLOOD MINERALS

CONTEXT
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has warned United States tech giant Apple to
desist from using what it calls “blood minerals” drawn from the impoverished Central
African country or face legal action.
BLOOD MINERALS
● The term ‘blood minerals’ basically refers to minerals sourced from regions
plagued by conflict, violence, and human rights abuses, such as the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
● In the case of the DRC, minerals like cobalt and copper, essential for clean energy
technologies like rechargeable batteries, are often extracted under conditions
involving forced evictions, sexual assault, arson, and violence.
● Minerals extracted from the DRC are often transported to neighbouring
countries like Rwanda, where they are laundered to evade oversight mechanisms
● This process allows the minerals to enter the global supply chain, where they
may end up in products manufactured by major tech companies like Apple.

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2.2. DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT
CONTEXT
Embroiled in a sex abuse case, one of the Indian political Party’s Member of Parliament
(MP) fled to Germany on a diplomatic passport.
DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT
● Unlike normal passports, which have dark blue covers and are valid for 10
years (for adults), diplomatic passports have maroon covers, and are valid for
five years or less.
● Holders of such passports are entitled
to certain privileges and
immunities as per the international
law, including immunity from arrest,
detention, and certain legal
proceedings in the host country.
● The MEA issues diplomatic
passports, known as 'Type D'
passports, to individuals in specific
categories:
1. Those with diplomatic status.
2. Government-appointed individuals
on official business.
3. Senior officers of the Indian Foreign
Service (IFS) at Joint Secretary
rank and above.
4. Relatives and immediate family of
IFS and MEA officers.
5. Selected individuals authorised for official government travel, such as union
ministers and MPs.
● As per the Passport Act 1967, the passport authority may, as per the provisions of
sub-section (1) of section 6 or any notification under section 19, cancel a passport
or travel document, with the previous approval of the Central government.
● A diplomatic passport can be revoked upon orders from a court during
proceedings with respect to an offence allegedly carried out by the passport holder
before a criminal court.
2.3. DARFUR
CONTEXT
The United Nations food agency warned Sudan’s warring parties there is a serious risk
of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don’t allow
humanitarian aid into the vast western region.

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DARFUR:HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
● The name “Darfur” is derived from “dar fur,” meaning “the land of the Fur” in
Arabic.
● The Fur tribe once ruled the Islamic Sultanate of Darfur until the killing in 1916 of
the last Sultan of Darfur.
● Today, Darfur is home to approximately 80 tribes and ethnic groups,
encompassing both nomadic and sedentary communities.
● While tribal and ethnic conflicts are not uncommon, the situation escalated in
2003 when rebels, notably the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and
Equality Movement (JEM), took up arms against the Sudanese Government,
protesting the unequal distribution of economic resources.
● Darfur, roughly corresponding to the westernmost portion of present-day
Sudan.
● It lay between Kordofan to the east and Wadai to the west and extended
southward to the Al-Ghazāl (Gazelle) River and northward to the Libyan
Desert.
● Darfur is a region of western Sudan, bordering Libya, Chad, and the Central
African Republic.
● The latest surge in violence comes as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) encircles
North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher.
● It has halted aid convoys coming from Chad’s Tine border crossing – a
humanitarian corridor that passes through El Fasher.

2.4. COUNTER-TERRORISM TRUST FUND

CONTEXT
India has contributed $500,000 to the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund.
U.N. COUNTER-TERRORISM TRUST FUND
● The Fund was established in 2009 by the Secretary-General and transferred to
UN Office of Counter- Terrorism (UNOCT) when it was created in 2017.
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 ● The Fund accepts contributions from Governments, inter-governmental and
non-governmental organizations, private institutions and individuals.
● Contributions may be unearmarked or earmarked for one of UNOCT’s global
programmes or specific initiatives.
● From its inception in 2009 until 31 March 2024, UNOCT mobilized US$379.5
million in pledges from 42 funding partners and through allocations from the
United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund.
● India has contributed around 5,00,000 dollars to U.N. Counter Terrorism
Trust Fund, it underscores India’s strong commitment to support multilateral
efforts to combat terrorism globally.
2.5. INTERPOL
CONTEXT
Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against the absconding politician.
BLUE CORNER NOTICE
● According to the Interpol website, Blue Corner notices deal with gathering
information about an individual in relation to a criminal investigation.
● They are “international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in
member countries to share critical crime-related information.”
INTERPOL
● The International Criminal Police
Organization (INTERPOL) is an
intergovernmental organization
that helps coordinate the police
force of 194 member countries.
● Each of the member countries hosts
an INTERPOL National Central
Bureau (NCB).
● This connects their national law
enforcement with other countries
and with the General Secretariat.
● It is headquartered in Lyon,
France
● The General Secretariat provides a
range of expertise and services to
the member countries.
● The General Secretariat
coordinates day-to-day activities to fight a range of crimes. Run by the
Secretary General, it is staffed by both police and civilians and comprises a
headquarters in Lyon

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 ● The General Assembly is our governing body and it brings all countries together
once a year to take decisions.
● Interpol provides investigative support, expertise and training to law enforcement
worldwide, focusing on three major areas of transnational crime: terrorism,
cybercrime and organized crime.
2.6. UN MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
CONTEXT
UNGA passes a Resolution calling on the Security Council (SC) to admit Palestine as a
member of the UN.

UN MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
● Article 4 of the UN Charter states that the UN “is open to all other
peace-loving States which accept the obligations contained in the present UN
Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out
these obligations.”
● A State seeking membership to the UN first submits an application to the
Secretary-General.
● The SC considers the application.
● Any recommendation for admission must receive nine affirmative votes of
Council members, and no veto or negative vote from any of the five
permanent members.
● If recommended, it's presented to General Assembly, which requires a
two-thirds majority vote
● Membership to the UN becomes effective on the date the resolution for
admission is adopted.

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2.7. GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
INSTITUTIONS
CONTEXT
The United Nations-linked Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions
(GANHRI) deferred the accreditation of the National Human Rights Commission-India
(NHRC) for the second year in a row.
ACCREDITATION
● The decision, which could now affect India’s ability to vote at the Human
Rights Council and some UNGA bodies
● A change in accreditation can be challenged within 28 days of the date of
communication of the recommendation, according to Article 12.1 of GANHRI
Statute.
● Geneva-based GANHRI gives either ‘A’ or ‘B’ status to state-run human rights
institutes across the world.
● India’s NHRC has long enjoyed ‘A’ status, except in 2016, when a decision on
its accreditation was deferred.
GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (GANHRI)
● GANHRI is constituted as a non-profit entity under Swiss law
● At the International Conference held in Tunis in 1993, NHRIs established the
International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC) with the aim to coordinate
the activities of the NHRI network.
● In 2016, the ICC changed its name into Global Alliance of National Human
Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
● It accredits NHRI with a ‘A status’ (full compliance) or ‘B’ status; (partial
compliance).
● Institutions accredited by the Subcommittee for Accreditation (SCA) of GANHRI with
"A status", meaning full compliance with the Paris Principles, are usually
accorded speaking rights and seating at human rights treaty bodies and other UN
organs, mainly to the Human Rights Council.
2.8. SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL
COOPERATION (SAARC
CONTEXT
The Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) paid a five-day visit to India.
SAARC:
● The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established
with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.

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 ● Seven founding countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
● Afghanistan became the newest member
of SAARC at the 13th annual summit in
2005.
● The Headquarters and Secretariat of the
Association are at Kathmandu, Nepal.
● The SAARC maintains permanent
diplomatic relations at the United
Nations as an observer and has developed
links with multilateral entities, including
the European Union.
● It launched the South Asian Free Trade
Area in 2006.
● Decisions at all levels are to be taken on the basis of unanimity; and bilateral
and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations of the Association.
● SAARC Specialized Bodies:
✔ South Asian University (SAU) – India
✔ South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) – Dhaka
✔ SAARC Development Fund (SDF) – Bhutan
✔ SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO) – Pakistan
2.9.GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
INSTITUTIONS (GANHRI)
CONTEXT
In 2024, UNESCO celebrates the 70th
anniversary of the adoption of the
Convention for the Protection of Cultural
Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
1954 HAGUE CONVENTION
● The 1954 Hague Convention was the
first international legal
framework entirely dedicated to the
protection of movable and
immovable heritage
● With 135 member states,
including India, the Convention
and its Protocols (1954, 1999)
operate under UNESCO.

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 ● The 1999 Protocol enhances protection, featuring a list of Cultural
Properties under Enhanced Protection.
2.10. PHASING OUT MERCURY MEASURING DEVICES IN
HEALTHCARE PROJECT
CONTEXT
UNEP launched Phasing out mercury measuring devices in healthcare projects.
PHASING OUT MERCURY MEASURING DEVICES IN HEALTHCARE PROJECT
● Medical thermometers and
sphygmomanometers (devices which
measure blood pressure) contain mercury.
● The Governments of Albania, Burkina
Faso, India, Montenegro and Uganda
have united to combat chemical pollution,
launching a $134-million project to
eliminate the use of mercury in medical
devices.
● Led by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), with funding from
the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
and executed by the World Health
Organization (WHO)
● It will develop and implement nation-wide
strategies to stop the import, export and manufacture of thermometers and
sphygmomanometers
● The five-year project will bring each country in line with international best
practice as per WHO recommendations and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
MINAMATA CONVENTION ON MERCURY
● The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to
protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and
releases of mercury and mercury compounds
● The convention is named after the Japanese city Minamata.
● This naming is of symbolic importance as the city went through a devastating
incident of mercury poisoning.
● Since it entered into force on 16 August 2017, 147 Parties have been working
together to control the mercury supply and trade, reduce the use, emissions
and releases of mercury, raise public awareness, and build the necessary
institutional capacity.
● India has ratified the Convention.

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 ● The Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF) is one of the two
components of the financial mechanism of the Minamata Convention on Mercury,
together with the Specific International Programme.
2.11. UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME
CONTEXT
The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024
was launched by the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in
Vienna, Austria.
WORLD WILDLIFE CRIME REPORT 2024
● This is the third report in a series
following the 2020 and 2016
publications.
● The report provides an updated
focus on trends in the illegal
trade in wildlife species listed in
the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES).
United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime
● The United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime is a United
Nations office that was established
in 1997
● The agency's focus is the trafficking
in and abuse of illicit drugs, crime
prevention and criminal justice, international terrorism, and political corruption.
● It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
● UNODC publishes the World Drug Report.
2.12. WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (WOAH)
CONTEXT
WOAH released an Annual Report on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use in
Animals.
WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (WOAH)
● It is the global authority on animal health.
● Founded in 1924 as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), in May 2003
● And adopted the common name World Organisation for Animal Health.

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 ● It focuses on transparently disseminating information on animal diseases,
improving animal health globally and thus build a safer, healthier and more
sustainable world.
● WOAH is recognised as a reference organization by the World Trade
Organization (WTO) and in 2022 counted a total of 183 member states.
● Its newest member state is Saint Lucia.
● WOAH's headquarters are located in Paris, France.
● The Organisation and its Members coordinate the global response to animal health
emergencies, the prevention of zoonotic diseases, the promotion of animal
health and welfare, and better access to animal health care.
2.13. INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
(IMEC)
CONTEXT
India, UAE Hold Talks To Advance Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (IMEC)
● The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a planned economic
corridor that aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity and
economic integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.
● The corridor is proposed from India to Europe through the United Arab
Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Greece
● The India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC) was announced on the
sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi
● Memorandum of understanding was signed between the European Union and
seven countries, namely India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), France, Germany, and Italy.
● The IMEEC will comprise two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting
India to the Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Gulf to Europe
● The corridor will include a shipping route connecting Mumbai and Mundra
(Gujarat) with the UAE, and a rail network connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and
Jordan with the Israeli port of Haifa to reach the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
● Haifa will then be connected by sea to the port of Piraeus in Greece to eventually
be connected to Europe.
● Beyond the transport infrastructure, undersea cables would facilitate the exchange
of data, while long-distance hydrogen pipelines would boost the participants’
climate and decarbonisation goals.

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2.14. INCIDENT AND TRAFFICKING DATABASE (ITDB)
CONTEXT
A total of 4243 incidents of illegal or
unauthorized activities involving nuclear and
other radioactive material have been reported
in the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) Incident and Trafficking Database
(ITDB) since 1993.
INCIDENT AND TRAFFICKING DATABASE
(ITDB)
● With 145 participating States, the ITDB
fosters global information exchange
about incidents that involve nuclear and
other radioactive material falling out of
regulatory control
● The ITDB’s data is voluntarily reported,
and only participating States and relevant
international organizations, such as the
International Criminal Police Organization
(INTERPOL), can access it.
● Somalia and Togo most recently joined
the ITDB in 2023.
OTHER INITIATIVES

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 ● Nuclear Proliferation Treaty: The NPT is an international treaty whose
objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to
foster the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of
disarmament.
● The Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW): It entered into
force on 22 January 2021 and India is not a member of this treaty.
● Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG): It was created following the explosion in 1974
of a nuclear device by a non-nuclear-weapon State (India), which demonstrated
that nuclear technology transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused.
● 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.
2.15. DIGITAL SERVICES ACT (DSA)
CONTEXT
EU investigates Meta over Facebook and Instagram child safety, the investigation is
being conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
DIGITAL SERVICES ACT (DSA)
● It is a law that compels the world’s largest tech firms to enhance their efforts in
protecting European users online.
● The DSA has strict rules to protect children and ensure their privacy and security
online.
● The Digital Services Act (DSA) is an EU regulation which came into force in EU law
in November 2022 and is directly applicable across the EU.
● The DSA is designed to provide greater online safety. Organisations for which the
DSA applies are required to:
● provide greater transparency on their services
● adopt procedures for handling take down notices, informing users in certain
circumstances and addressing complaints
● refrain from certain practices, such as profiling, and/or improve control for
users of their service
● While as an EU Regulation it has direct legal effect in EU Member States and
consequently its provisions and obligations apply directly to online Intermediary
Services Providers (ISPs).
● it was necessary to have national legislation to implement those provisions of
the EU Regulation that provide for the supervision and enforcement of those
obligations.
● Each member state designates a competent authority as their Digital Services
Coordinator (DSC).
2.16. INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
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CONTEXT
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister and Hamas leaders.
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
● The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an intergovernmental organization
and international tribunal seated in The Hague, Netherlands.
● It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to
prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against
humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
● The ICC is distinct from the International Court of Justice, an organ of the United
Nations that hears disputes between states.
● Established in 2002 pursuant to the multilateral Rome Statute
● India is not a member.
● The Judicial Divisions consist of the 18 judges of the Court
● They serve nine-year terms and are not generally eligible for re-election.
● All judges must be nationals of states parties to the Rome Statute, and no two
judges may be nationals of the same state
● ICC does not replace national criminal justice systems.
2.17. REGULATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CONTEXT
European Union member states gave final agreement to the world’s first major law for
regulating artificial intelligence.

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AI ACT
● The AI Act applies a risk-based approach to artificial intelligence, meaning that
different applications of the technology are treated differently, depending on the
perceived threats they pose to society.
● The Act categorizes AI systems into four levels: Unacceptable risk, High risk,
Limited risk, and Minimal or no risk.
● Based on the level of risk, each category has corresponding regulatory
requirements
● High-risk applications like AI in self-driving cars are allowed but subject to
certification and open disclosure of underlying techniques.
● Medium-risk applications, such as AI chatbots, require detailed documentation and
transparency for user interactions.
● General Purpose AI (GPAI) are subject to transparency obligations, which become
stricter when a systemic risk exists, i.e. if the model is powerful.
2.18. ARAB LEAGUE
CONTEXT
At the Arab League Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appeals for a
Gaza ceasefire and regional unity.
ARAB LEAGUE
● The Arab League is a regional organization in the Arab world.
● Following adoption of the
Alexandria Protocol in 1944,
the Arab League was founded on
22 March 1945.
● HQ: Cairo, Egypt.
● The Arab League was formed in
Cairo on 22 March 1945,
initially with six members:
Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan,
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria
● Yemen joined as a member on 5
May 1945. Currently, the
League has 22 members.
● India has observer status
● The aims of the league in 1945 were 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.

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2.19. EUROPE’S COPERNICUS PROGRAMME
CONTEXT
The European Union (EU) activated its rapid satellite mapping service to help search
efforts, following a request for assistance from Iran.
EUROPE’S COPERNICUS PROGRAMME
● The rapid response mapping technology is a critical component of the
Emergency Management Service (EMS) within the Copernicus programme.
● The programme is the earth observation component of the European Union’s
space initiative.
● Copernicus was launched in 1998, and was earlier known as the Global Monitoring
for Environment and Security Programme (GMES).
● The programme uses global data from satellites, and ground-based, airborne,
and sea-borne measurement systems to provide environment-related information.
● The space segment uses a group of satellites, called the Sentinels and the
Contributing Missions.
● Presently, the programme is implemented by EU member states with the
support of the European Space Agency (ESA) for the space component and the
European Environment Agency (EEA) for the in-situ component.
● Copernicus provides geospatial information for a wide range of emergencies
resulting from natural or man-made disasters like flood, earthquake, and
tsunamis, as well as aid during humanitarian crises by monitoring refugee and
internally displaced people.
● Active since 2012, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) works
on two models — on-demand mapping and early warning and monitoring
● While on-demand mapping offers detailed information for specific
emergencies, early warning provides critical geospatial data through monitoring
and forecasts for floods, droughts, and forest fires.
2.20. INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (ISA)
CONTEXT
Spain has become the 99th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE
● The International Solar Alliance (ISA), formed to accelerate the global adoption of
solar technology.
● It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide
and promote solar power as a sustainable way to transition to a carbon-neutral
future.
● ISA was formed at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015

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 ● The ISA Assembly is the apex
decision-making body of ISA, in
which each Member Country is
represented.
● It will for the first time compile and
release a ‘global solar stocktake
report’.
● The ISA, which is steered by India
and France.
● In 2021, the UN General Assembly
conferred Observer Status to the
ISA. HQ: Gurugram, India.
● A key focus area for the organisation
is expanding solar installations in
Africa and to that end the
organisation has set up the Global
Solar Facility.
● The aim is to boost the scale of solar
investment there and following that
expand to West Asia, Latin America,
and the Caribbean.
● The Global Solar Facility will have
three funds: a payment guarantee
fund, an insurance fund to
mitigate project risks, and an
investment fund for technical
assistance.
● The ISA is guided by its 'Towards 1000' strategy which aims to mobilise USD
1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030, while delivering
energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy solutions and resulting in
installation of 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity.
2.21. BIMSTEC
CONTEXT
With the adoption of the charter at the 5th summit of the BIMSTEC leaders, the
grouping has acquired a ‘legal personality’ and will be able to enter into structured
diplomatic dialogue with other groupings and countries.
BIMSTEC CHARTER
● This BIMSTEC Charter reaffirms India’s commitment to a prosperous, peaceful
and sustainable neighborhood.
● The chair of BIMSTEC was taken up by Thailand after the 5th leaders summit.
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BIMSTEC
● The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC) is an international organisation
of seven nations of South Asia and Southeast
Asia.
● The BIMSTEC member states – Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand – are among the
countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
● Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of
country names.
● The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
● It mainly aims to create an enabling
environment for rapid economic development;
accelerate social progress; and promote
collaboration on matters of common interest in
the region.
● This sub-regional organization came into being
in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
● Initially, it was formed with four Member States with the acronym ‘BIST-EC’
(Bangladesh, India, Sri-Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
● It was renamed ‘BIMST-EC’ in 1997, following the inclusion of Myanmar.
● With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan in 2004, the name of the grouping was
changed to ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC).
2.22. ANIMAL DIPLOMACY
CONTEXT
Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, is aiming to improve its
environmental image by putting forward “orangutan diplomacy”.
ANIMAL DIPLOMACY
● Animal diplomacy involves giving or lending animals as a sign of friendship or
goodwill between countries.
● These creatures possess cultural significance or are indigenous to the country
that gifts them, hence making them influential instruments for diplomacy.
● For example, China’s panda diplomacy can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty
● The kangaroo diplomacy by Australia including koalas.

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2.23. INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS
CONTEXT
The World Health Assembly will convene to discuss amendments to the International
Health Regulations, aimed at improving the ability of countries to respond to public
health emergencies and prepare a potential new pandemic agreement.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS
● These amendments to the International Health Regulations will target improving
the ability of countries to respond to public health emergencies of international
concern.
● The International Health Regulations (IHR), first adopted by the WHA in 1969 and
last revised in 2005
● It were conceived to maximise collective efforts to manage public health events
while minimising disruption to travel and trade.
● There are 196 State Parties to the IHR, comprising all 194 WHO Member States
plus Liechtenstein and the Holy See.
● The IHR provides an overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights
and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the
potential to cross borders.
● They also introduce important safeguards to protect the rights of travellers and
other persons in relation to the treatment of personal data, informed consent and
non-discrimination in the application of health measures under the Regulations.
● Therefore, the IHR is an instrument of international law that is legally binding on
196 countries.
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY (WHA)
● The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health
Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states.
● It is the world's highest health policy setting body and is composed of health
ministers from member states.
● The members of the WHA generally meet every year in May in Geneva at the
Palace of Nations, the location of WHO Headquarters.
● The main tasks of the WHA are to decide major policy questions, as well as to
approve the WHO work programme and budget and elect its Director-General
(every fifth year)
● and annually to elect ten members to renew part of its executive board
● Its main functions are to determine the policies of the Organization, supervise
financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
● The WHA has, currently, 194 member states (all UN members without
Liechtenstein, plus the Cook Islands and Niue).
● The WHA also includes two associate members, Puerto Rico and Tokelau.

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2.24. EUROPE’S AI CONVENTION
CONTEXT
The global governance of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more complex even as
countries try to govern AI within their borders in various ways.
EUROPE’S AI CONVENTION
● Council of Europe (COE) adopted the Framework Convention on Artificial
Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law — a.k.a.
the ‘AI convention’
● The COE is an intergovernmental organisation formed in 1949, with 46
members today, including the Holy See, Japan, and the U.S., plus countries of the
EU bloc and others.
● The agreement is a comprehensive convention covering AI governance and
links to human rights, democracy, and the responsible use of AI.
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION AND PROTOCOLS
● A ‘framework convention’ is a legally binding treaty that specifies the broader
commitments and objectives under the Convention, and sets mechanisms to
achieve them.
● The task of setting specific targets, if required, is left to subsequent agreements.
● Those agreements that are negotiated under the framework convention will be
called protocols.
SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION
● Convention aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of artificial
intelligence systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the
rule of law”.
● The definition of AI is similar to the one in the EU AI Act, which is based on the
OECD’s definition of AI
● An AI system is a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives,
infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions,
content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual
environments.
2.25. SQUAD
CONTEXT
Earlier this month, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met his Australian, Filipino
and Japanese counterparts to institutionalize and launch the ‘Squad’ as a new
four-way security arrangement in the Indo-Pacific.
SQUAD
● It is formed by USA, Philippines, Japan and Australia
● The Philippines, Japan and Australia are not treaty allies; however, each of
these countries shares a bilateral treaty alliance with the US.
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 ● Thus, the idea behind the Squad centres on the desire of all four democracies to
deepen their level of integration beyond the hub-and-spokes format at a time
when China has been militarizing the South China Sea at the expense of the
rules-based order of the Indo-Pacific.
Minilateralism:
The emergence of small clusters of states, often four or five countries, using
common interests to pursue specific objectives, which usually also produces closer
cooperation in other fields.
2.26. FIRST INVESTMENT ROUND OF WHO
CONTEXT
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first investment round to
sustainably finance its Health for All mandate.
FIRST INVESTMENT ROUND
● The move comes as the organization seeks to transform the way it is funded
by 2028.
● The WHO Investment Round is a new approach to mobilizing resources for
WHO’s core work for the next 4 years (2025-2028).
● The World Health Organization has launched a new ‘Investment Round’ to raise
$7 billion in funds.
● This coincides with the start of the 77th World Health Assembly at the
headquarters of the 194-member UN agency.
● The Investment Round is the result of recommendations by the WHO Working
Group on Sustainable Financing
WHO FUNDING
● WHO gets its funding from two main sources: Member States paying their
assessed contributions (countries’ membership dues), and voluntary contributions
from Member States and other partners.
● Assessed contributions (AC) are a percentage of a country’s gross domestic
product (the percentage is agreed by the United Nations General Assembly).
● Member States approve them every two years at the World Health Assembly.
● They cover less than 20% of the total budget.
● The remainder of WHO’s financing is in the form of voluntary contributions
(VC), largely from Member States as well as from other United Nations
organizations, intergovernmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, the
private sector, and other sources.
2.27. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO)
CONTEXT
The International Labour Organization (ILO) to release a new report “Asia-Pacific
Employment and Social Outlook 2024.
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2.28. UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING
CONTEXT
The “Manama Declaration” issued by the 22-member bloc called for “international
protection and peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian
territories” until a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is implemented.
UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING
● Peacekeeping by the United Nations is a role of the UN's Department of Peace
Operations as an "instrument developed by the organization as a way to help
countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace".
● Accordingly, UN peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets
because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers,
and civilian personnel.
● Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security
Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain
international peace and security
● If the Security Council approves the creation of a mission, then the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations begins planning for the necessary
elements.
● The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective
responsibility of UN Member States.
● Decisions about the establishment, maintenance or expansion of
peacekeeping operations are taken by the Security Council.
● According to the UN Charter every Member State is obligated legally to pay
their respective share for peacekeeping.

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 ● The General Assembly approves resource expenditures for peacekeeping
operations on a yearly basis. Financing covers the period from 1 July to 30 June of
the next year.
● The first peacekeeping mission was initiated in 1948. This mission, the United
Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), was sent to the newly created
State of Israel
● Since 1948, more than 70 peacekeeping operations have been deployed
● In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to
a UN Peacekeeping Mission.
● In 1988, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the United Nations peacekeeping
forces.
● As of June 2022, 120 countries were contributing a total of 74,892 personnel in
Peacekeeping Operations, with Bangladesh leading the tally (6,700), followed
by India (5,832), Nepal (5,794), Rwanda (5,283) and Pakistan (4,399).
2.29. COLOMBO PROCESS
CONTEXT
India assumes chair of Colombo Process for 2024-26.
COLOMBO PROCESS
● The Colombo Process is a regional consultative forum comprising 12 member
states of Asia.
● India has become chair of regional grouping Colombo Process for the first time
since its inception in 2003.
● Colombo Process is a Regional Consultative Process of migrant worker origin
countries from South and SE Asia.
● It serves as a forum for exchange of best practices on overseas employment
● India looks to promote safe, orderly and legal migration.

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 3. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS

3.1. ARBITRATION
CONTEXT
Vice President echoes CJI on arbitration, calls for urgent reforms in dispute resolution
mechanism.
ARBITRATION
● This process is very much similar to
litigation and court setup. There’s a judge
(referred to as the ‘arbitrator’), there are
hearings and evidence, etc.
● But it is a private form of dispute
resolution, where the parties decide the
rules of the process and appoint their own
judge.
● The parties in dispute appoint a neutral
third party, referred to as an
Arbitrator, who decides the matter
between the parties.
● The process is rather flexible and
technical aspects of court proceedings can
be dispensed away with by the parties at
their discretion.
NEED FOR REFORM
● Award (by arbitration court), objection to
award, appeals, and then invocation of Article 136 of the constitution followed
by review and Curative petitions,” has become the norm that affects the efficiency
of the process
● Disruptive technologies can be used in arbitration to ensure effective and
timely resolution.
3.2. ‘NAVRATNA’ STATUS
CONTEXT
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) said it was granted ‘Navratna’
status by the Department of Public Enterprises.
‘NAVRATNA’ STATUS
● The Indian government accords the navratna status to top-tier public sector
undertakings (PSUs) and these organisations are authorised to undertake

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 substantial investments of up to ₹1,000 crore without needing approval
from the Centre.
● For a company to be accorded navratna status, it should already hold the
miniratna category I status and be listed under Schedule A of CPSEs.
● which have obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ rating under the Memorandum of
Understanding system in three of the last five years, and have composite score of
60 or above in the six selected performance parameters, namely,
✔ net profit to net worth,
✔ manpower cost to total cost of production/services,
✔ profit before depreciation, interest and taxes to capital employed,
✔ profit before interest and taxes to turnover,
✔ earning per share
✔ inter-sectoral performance
3.3. ELECTRONIC TRADING PLATFORMS (ETPS)
CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a draft Master Direction for Electronic Trading
Platforms (ETPs).
DIRECTION ISSUED
● An entity seeking authorisation as an ETP operator should maintain a minimum
net-worth of Rs 5 crore and continue to maintain the minimum net-worth
prescribed all times.
● Also, the entity should be a company incorporated in India
ELECTRONIC TRADING PLATFORMS
● ETP refers to any electronic system, other than a recognised stock
exchange, on which transactions in eligible instruments are contracted.
● Eligible instruments mean securities, money market instruments, foreign
exchange instruments, derivatives, or other instruments of like nature.
3.4. NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (NABARD)
CONTEXT
NABARD has sanctioned a study on the impact evaluation of Geographical Indication
(GI) products.

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NABARD ( NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT)
● It is a statutory body established under ‘National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development Act, 1981’.
● It is a development bank focussing primarily on the rural sector of the country.
● It is the apex banking institution to provide finance for Agriculture and rural
development.
● Headquarters: Mumbai
● It provides refinance support for building rural infrastructure.
● Refinancing institutions are important institutions who give loans to other
institutions who ultimately give loans to the end customers.
● NABARD provides short-term, medium-term and long-term refinance to Cooperative
banks and RRBs to supplement their resources for providing adequate credit for
supporting investment activities of farmers and rural artisans.
● It supervises Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and
helps them develop sound banking practices and integrate them to the CBS
(Core Banking Solution) platform.
● NABARD was established on the recommendations of B. Sivaramman
Committee
3.5. STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT (SBA)
CONTEXT
The International Monetary Fund has approved an immediate disbursal of USD 1.1
billion to Pakistan as part of a bailout package supported by the IMF's Stand-By
Arrangement (SBA).

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STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT (SBA)
● The Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) provides short-term financial assistance to
countries facing balance of payments problems.
● It has been the IMF lending instrument most used by advanced and
emerging market countries.
● Through the years, the SBA has been upgraded to be more flexible and
responsive to countries’ needs.
● It typically covers a period of 12-24 months, but no more than 36 months,
and repayments are due within three-to-five years.
● Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) is often termed as the work horse facility of the IMF
as it is the most sought loan facility. Bulk of non-concessional assistance has
been provided through SBAs.
3.6. FRONT RUNNING
CONTEXT
SEBI has amended mutual fund norms, requiring Asset Management Companies to
establish mechanisms to prevent front running.
FRONT RUNNING
● Front-running is when a broker or an investor joins a trade because they have
foreknowledge of a large confidential deal which will impact the asset's price.
● Front-running is also known as forward-trading or tailgating.
● It can happen when stockbrokers know their firm plans to buy several shares
of a particular stock and buy shares from the same stock on their own.

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 ● It also occurs when an analyst or a broker buys or sells shares from their
personal account before their firms buy or sell customers recommendations.
● Front-running is illegal and unethical because it leverages private information
that is not publicly available.

3.7. PARADOX OF THRIFT THEORY

CONTEXT
The concept was popularised by British economist John Maynard Keynes in his 1936
book The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money.
PARADOX OF THRIFT THEORY
● The paradox of savings, also known as the paradox of thrift, refers to the theory
that a rise in the savings rate of individuals can surprisingly cause a fall
rather than a rise in the overall savings in an economy.
● This is in contrast to the general belief that a rise in individuals’ savings rates will
cause a rise in the overall savings in the economy.
● So even though savings may be good for an individual household, it is believed
that it may not be good for the wider economy.
● The idea is part of the under-consumption theories of the business cycle
which attribute economic downturns to weak consumption and high savings.
● Keynesian economists believe that higher savings is bad for the wider
economy, and that boosting consumer spending is the way to grow an economy.
3.8. TOBACCO
CONTEXT
Tobacco prices to rise in Andhra after crop failure in Brazil, Indonesia.
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TOBACCO CULTIVATION
● The genus Nicotiana includes more than 60 species, of which N. tabacum and N.
rustica are the two commonly
cultivated for producing commercial
tobacco.
AREA AND PRODUCTION
● In India tobacco is predominantly
cultivated in AP, Gujarat,
Karnataka, UP and Bihar.
● Gujarat accounts for 45 per cent of
the area (0.13 M ha) and 30 percent
of production (0.16 M t). Productivity
is also highest (1700 kg ha-1) in
Gujarat followed by AP.
● In India, tobacco is grown when the
mean temperature is 20° to 27°C.
● When grown as a rainfed crop, it
requires at least about 500 mm of
well distributed rainfall during
crop growing season.
● It is not usually grown where rainfall
exceeds 1200 mm during the season.
● Rainfall is undesirable during crop
maturity, as gums and resins on the
leaf get washed.
● India is the 2nd largest producer and
exporter.
TOBACCO CONTROL INITIATIVES
● The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO
FCTC) is a treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly held in Geneva,
Switzerland
● It became the first World Health Organization treaty adopted under article 19
of the WHO constitution
● The FCTC is a supranational agreement that seeks "to protect present and future
generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and
economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco
smoke"
MPOWER
● MPOWER is a policy package intended to assist in the country-level
implementation of effective interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco, as

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 ratified by the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control
● Incidentally, the WHO has developed several other technical policy packages:
ACTIVE (physical activity), HEARTS (cardiovascular diseases), REPLACE
(trans fat), SAFER (alcohol) and SHAKE (salt reduction).
NATIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES
● COTPA stands for the "Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of
Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply
and Distribution) Act, 2003".
● It is an Act of Parliament of India enacted in 2003 to prohibit advertisement of,
and to provide for the regulation of trade and commerce in, and
production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco
products in India.
● Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme
(NTCP) in the year 2007-08, with the objectives to (i) create awareness about the
harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii) reduce the production and supply of
tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implementation.
3.9. PASSIVE FUNDS
CONTEXT
SEBI eases investment rules for passive funds.
PASSIVE FUNDS
● A passive fund is an investment vehicle that tracks a market index, or a
specific market segment, to determine what to invest in.
● Unlike with an active fund, the fund manager does not decide what securities
the fund takes on.
● This normally makes passive funds cheaper to invest in than active funds,
which require the fund manager to spend time researching and analysing
opportunities to invest in.
● Tracker funds, such as ETFs (exchange traded funds) and index funds –
essentially any fund that tracks an index fall under the banner of passive
funds.
3.10. STANDARD ESSENTIAL PATENTS
CONTEXT
There is a possible crisis brewing in India over the manner in which certain technology
companies are wielding ‘standard essential patents’ (SEP) against the telecom
manufacturing sector in India.
STANDARD ESSENTIAL PATENT (SEP)
● A Standard Essential Patent (SEP) is a patent that claims an invention that is
used to comply with a standard.
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 ● These standards frequently refer to technologies
which are protected under the Patent regime.
● A patent that protects a technology that defines
standards to be followed by technologies of that
field is called Standard Essential Patent.
● The relevant standard set out by Standard Setting
Organizations(SSO) gives birth to a body inclusive
of essential features that must be fulfilled by any
device to be in conformity with a particular
standard.
● When a device is found to be in conformity with
an essential standard it is allowed to bear a mark
to indicate to the public that the product is
compliant with the set standards.
● In order to produce a standard-compliant device, use of certain patents is
required.
● When a patent is acknowledged by the SSO and designated as a SEP,
manufacturers canonly produce their goods in the market after first acquiring a
licenseunder the SEP.
● SEPs are common in the mobile telephony and telecommunications
industry, a sector which is highly standardised due mainly to the need for
interoperability between mobile devices.
3.11. COCOA
CONTEXT
The price of cocoa beans, the most important raw material in chocolates, has
skyrocketed, hitting a record $12,000 a tonnes, around four times last year’s price.
COCOA
● It is an important plantation crop grown
for chocolates around the world.
● It is known as a crop of humid tropics
and is native to the Amazon basin of
South America.
● It is mainly grown in an area of land
around the equator between 20
degrees latitude north and south.
● Cocoa requires well drained as well as
moisture retentive soil.
● It thrives well on a wide range of soil
types like clayey loams, loams and sandy loams with pH ranging from 4.5-
8.0 and optimum being 6.5-7.0.
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 ● Cocoa is a crop of humid tropics.
● It comes up well in altitudes ranging from 300 m to 800 m above mean sea
level.
● It requires well distributed rainfall with an annual precipitation of
1500-2000 mm.
● Dry seasons of more than 3-4 months should be supplemented with
irrigation.
● It grows within a temperature range of 18-32°C and optimum temperature
is around 25°C with high relative humidity.
● Cocoa, whose natural environment is the lower storey of the forest, requires
50% shade when young.
● About 70 percent of the world’s cocoa beans come from four West African
countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
● In India, it is mainly cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu mainly
as intercrop with Arecanut and Coconut.
3.12. TOTAL INSTALLED CAPACITY: COAL
CONTEXT
According to Latest edition of the CEEW-CEF Market Handbook , share of coal and
lignite in India’s total installed capacity fell below 50% for the first time.
TOTAL INSTALLED CAPACITY: COAL
● Renewable energy (RE) sources contributed 71% of the 26 GW of power
generation capacity that India added in FY24
● The country’s total installed energy capacity has now reached 442 GW, of which
144 GW (33%) was RE and 47 GW (11%) came from hydroelectric.
● solar—grid-scale and rooftop—continued to dominate India’s RE capacity addition,
accounting for 15 GW (or 81% of RE addition) in FY24.
● Wind capacity addition almost doubled and stood at 3.3 GW (2.3 GW in FY23).
Notably, for the first time since FY17, nuclear capacity (1.4 GW) was added in
FY24.
COAL PRODUCTION
● Our country is endowed with 5th largest geological reserves of coal.
● It is the 2nd largest consumer of coal.
● The coal production which was 382.62 million tons (MT) in the year 2004-05 has
grown to 893.19 MT in 2022-23 and is all set to touch 1000 MT in the year
2023-24.
● The overall annual Coal Production has surged from 565.77 MT in FY 2013-14 to
893.19 MT in FY 2022-23, witnessing a massive growth of 57.87 % over the last
10 years.
● Coal India Limited (CIL) plays a dominant role, contributing over 80% of the
country's indigenous coal production and supply.
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3.13. GOODS & SERVICES TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL (GSTAT)
CONTEXT
Centre has appointed retired Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra as President of GSTAT.
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL (GSTAT)
● The National Bench of the Appellate Tribunal shall be situated at New Delhi.
● It is y established under Central GST (CGST) Act, 2017
● GSTAT shall be presided over by its President and shall consist of one Technical
Member (Centre) and one Technical Member (State).
● Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the forum of second appeal in GST
laws and the first common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and
States.
● The appeals against the orders in first appeals issued by the Appellate Authorities
under the Central and State GST Acts lie before the GST Appellate Tribunal, which
is common under the Central as well as State GST Acts.
● CGST Act provides for the Appeal and Review Mechanism for dispute
resolution under the GST Regime.

3.14. PARTICIPATORY NOTES (P-NOTES)

CONTEXT
Registered Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) domiciled at the GIFT International
Financial Services Centre (IFSC) have been allowed to issue participatory notes
(p-notes).
PARTICIPATORY NOTES (P-NOTES)

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 ● Participatory notes allow non-registered investors to invest in the Indian
market.
● Participatory notes, referred to as P-notes or PNs, are derivative instruments
of underlying Indian assets.
● Participatory notes are popular investments due to the investor remaining
anonymous.
● It is a derivative instrument issued in foreign jurisdictions, by a SEBI
registered Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) or its sub-accounts or one of its
associates, against underlying Indian securities.
● The underlying Indian security instrument may be equity, debt, derivatives or
may even be an index
● The investor in PN does not own the underlying Indian security, which is held
by the FII who issues the PN.
● Thus the investors in PNs derive the economic benefits of investing in the security
without actually holding it.
● They benefit from fluctuations in the price of the underlying security since the
value of the PN is linked with the value of the underlying Indian security.
● The PN holder also does not enjoy any voting rights in relation to
security/shares referenced by the PN.
3.15. NON-BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY
CONTEXT
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are increasing their fixed deposit (FD) rates
to mop up funds that can make up for lower bank borrowings.
NON-BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY
● A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the
Companies Act, 1956
● It is engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of
shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or
local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing,
hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business but does not include any
institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity,
industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or
providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.
● NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;
● NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot
issue cheques drawn on itself;
● Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.
● It should have a minimum net owned fund of ₹ 200 lakh.

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 ● NBFCs whose asset size is of ₹ 500 cr or more as per last audited balance sheet
are considered as systemically important NBFCs.
● The functions of the NBFCs are managed by both the Ministry of Corporate
Affairs and the RBI.
● The RBI has the authority to issue licenses to NBFCs, regulate their
operations, and ensure that they adhere to the established norms and
regulations.
3.16. DRIP PRICING
CONTEXT
The Centre recently warned about “drip pricing”, saying it can surprise consumers with
“hidden charges”.
DRIP PRICING
● Drip pricing is a strategy where only a
portion of an item's cost is initially
displayed, with the full amount revealed
later during the purchase process.
● The charges often involve withholding
essential fees like local taxes or booking
charges, or omitting necessary add-ons like
internet access or amenities, which may be
required for product or service usage.
● The price advertised, whether in print, email,
or on a website (referred to as the “headline
price”), may not accurately reflect the final cost to the consumer.
● Companies prefer to present a lower initial price and later disclose
mandatory fees to avoid alarming customers with unexpectedly high prices.
● Drip pricing complicates comparison shopping and disadvantages sellers
who provide more transparent pricing structures.
● The rationale for employing drip pricing is that shoppers who are invested in
the shopping process may commit to a purchase once additional fees are
revealed, even if they had not initially factored in.
3.17. CAPITAL GAINS TAX
CONTEXT
The Finance Minister has denied the reports that the Income Tax (I-T) Department is
planning to introduce changes in the capital gains tax structure in case the
government is voted back to power .
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
● A capital gains tax is a levy placed on profits from the sale of an asset,
whether its a physical asset — like a house, car or boat — or intangible assets —
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 like stocks, bonds, mutual funds and
cryptocurrency.
● How a capital asset is taxed depends on
your taxable income and filing status, as
well as how long you owned the asset before
selling it
● The tax rate depends upon whether it is
long term or short term.
● Gains are considered long term if the assets
are held for more than 36 months.
● This period may be reduced to more than 12
months in the case of shares, specified securities/bonds and units of mutual funds.

3.18. GOVERNMENT SECURITY (G-SEC)

CONTEXT
Govt to buy back Rs 40,000 crore worth of sovereign bonds.

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3.19. ARECA NUT
CONTEXT
The arecanut grown in the Tirthahalli region emerged as the best quality areca among
the varieties grown in Karnataka in an analysis conducted by the Areca Research
Centre.
ARECA NUT
● The areca nut palm (Areca catechu L.) is one of the
important commercial crops of India.
● The crop is mainly grown in the states of Kerala,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal,
Meghalaya, Maharashtra, and Andaman &
Nicobar group of Islands.
● The economic produce is the fruit called betelnut
or 'supari' which is used mainly for masticatory
purposes.
● Arecanut is an essential ingredient of ‘gutka’ and
‘pan masala.’
● Arecanut or betelnut is an extensively cultivated
tropical palm.
● Arecanut grows well within the temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC and is
adversely affected by temperatures below 10ºC and above 40ºC.
● Due to its susceptibility to low temperature, a good crop of arecanut cannot be
obtained at an altitude of more than 1000 m MSL.
● Rainfall requirement : 750 – 4500 mm.
● The largest area under the crop is found in gravelly laterite soils of red clay
type.
● It can also be grown on fertile clay loam soils.
● Sticky clay, sandy, alluvial, brackish and calcareous soils are not suitable for
arecanut cultivation.
3.20. PROVISIONING
CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) proposed norms to tighten project financing, which
has recommended an increased standard asset provisioning of up to 5 per cent on
loans.
PROJECT FINANCE
● Project finance refers to the method of funding in which the lender looks
primarily to the revenues generated by a single project, both as the source of
repayment and as a security for the loan.

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 ● This type of financing is usually for large, complex and expensive
installations such as power plants, chemical processing plants, mines,
transportation infrastructure, environment, telecoms etc.
PROVISIONING
● Provisioning is a mechanism to counter bad assets.
● Under provisioning, banks have to set aside or provide funds to a prescribed
percentage of their bad assets.
● The percentage of bad assets that has to be 'provided for' is called
provisioning coverage ratio.
3.21. NON-MARKET ECONOMY
CONTEXT
Vietnam has been pushing the President Joe Biden administration to quickly change its
“non-market economy” classification to “market economy”.
NON-MARKET ECONOMY
● It is to avoid high taxes imposed by the US on the goods imported from the
Southeastern country.
● In total, the list includes 12 non-market economies such as Russia, China,
and some countries which used to be a part of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
● The US designates a country as a non-market economy based on several
factors.
● These are: if the country’s currency is convertible; if wage rates are determined
by free bargaining between labour and management; if joint ventures or other
foreign investment are allowed; whether the means of production are owned
by the state; and if the state controls the allocation of resources and price and
output decisions. Other factors like human rights are also considered.
● The non-market economy label allows the US to impose “anti-dumping”
duties on goods imported from designated countries.
3.22. KRISHI INTEGRATED COMMAND AND CONTROL
CENTRE (ICCC)
CONTEXT
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched a Krishi ICCC at Krishi Bhavan
in New Delhi.
KRISHI INTEGRATED COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE (ICCC)
● The ICCC is a tech-based solution involving multiple IT applications and
platforms, which is designed to help in making informed decisions.
● The centre is housed in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare,
which is responsible for legislation, policy formation, and implementation of
initiatives in the agriculture sector.

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 ● The ICCC uses state of the art technologies such as artificial intelligence,
remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect and
process large amounts of granular data — on temperatures, rainfall, wind speed,
crop yields and production estimations — and presents it in graphical format.
● The ICCC will enable comprehensive monitoring of the farm sector by making
available at one place geospatial information received from multiple sources
● It provides information on crop yields, production, drought situation,
cropping patterns (geographic region-wise and year-wise) in map, timeline, and
drill-down views.
● Also gives the relevant trends (periodic and non-periodic), outliers, and Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs), and receives insights, alerts, and feedback on
agriculture schemes, programmes, projects, and initiatives.
● The ICCC uses platforms including the Krishi Decision Support System (DSS)
to collect micro-level data, process it, and present the macro picture.
3.23. AGGREGATE MEASUREMENT OF SUPPORT (AMS)
CONTEXT
The United States (US) and Australia have accused India of providing excessive
subsidies to its sugarcane farmers, surpassing the permissible 10 per cent limit set for
developing countries under WTO regulations.
AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE
● The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is an
international treaty of the World Trade
Organization. It was negotiated during
the Uruguay Round of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and
entered into force with the establishment
of the WTO on January 1, 1995.
● The Agreement on Agriculture consists of
three pillars—domestic support,
market access, and export subsidies.
● Market access means the right which
exporters have to access a foreign market.
In simple terms, this provision calls for
access to imported agricultural goods in
the member countries.
● Market Access includes provisions on
tariffication, tariff reduction and trade
facilitation in agriculture.

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 ● Domestic support refers to the government subsidies that guaranteed Minimum
Price (or Input subsidies) which are provided at the domestic level either directly
or product-specific or both.
● Domestic Subsidies are generally categorized into 3 boxes
● Export subsidies are special incentives provided by governments to encourage
increased foreign sales. These may be in Cash or in kind.
PEACE CLAUSE
● Developed countries criticised the developing and LDC’s food security programmes
(public stock holding programmes) as a trade distorting subsidy.
● Since the negotiation went on among countries a temporary peace clause was
introduced in Bali Package 2013.
● The ‘peace clause’ said that no country would be legally barred from food security
programmes even if the subsidy breached the limits specified in the WTO
agreement on agriculture.
3.24. INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (IIP)
CONTEXT
Factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), slowed to 4.9
per cent in March from 5.6 per cent in the previous month, but was higher than 1.9
per cent growth in the year-ago period.
INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (IIP)
● It is defined as a summary measure that measures the changes in the volume of
industrial production of a representative basket of industrial products during a
particular period with respect to a chosen base period.
● IIP is a short-term indicator that reflects the changes in volume of goods
produced over time.
● It is compiled and published monthly by the National Statistics Office (NSO)
under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, with a time lag of
six weeks from the reference month.
● Base year is 2011-12.
● The index covers 839 items clubbed into 407 item groups under three sectors:
✔ Mining (29 items) - weights of 14.37 per cent

✔ Manufacturing (809 items) - weights of 77.63 per cent

✔ Electricity (1 item) - weights of 7.99 per cent

● Eight Core Sectors comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index
of Industrial Production (IIP).
● The decreasing order of Eight Core Sectors weightages - Refinery Products>
Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

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3.25. AGRI-TECHNOLOGY
CONTEXT
Agritech: Shaping Agriculture in Emerging Economies, Today and Tomorrow Report
released by World Economic Forum (WEF).
AGRITECH REPORT
● It gives a macro-level view of the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution
technologies needed to deliver systemic change in the agriculture sector.

3.26. INDIA INTERNATIONAL BULLION EXCHANGE

CONTEXT
SBI becomes trading-clearing member of IIBX at GIFT City.
INDIA INTERNATIONAL BULLION EXCHANGE
● The India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) is India's first bullion
exchange, launched on 29 July 2022 in Gujarat.
● It is the 3rd exchange of its kind in the globe
● IIBX has been conceptualised to provide a gateway to import bullion into
India and provide a world class bullion exchange ecosystem to promote bullion
trading, investment in bullion financial products and vaulting facilities in IFSCs.

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 ● IIBX is promoted by India’s leading market infrastructure institutions like
NSE, INDIA INX (subsidiary of BSE), NSDL, CDSL and MCX.
● IIBX is established at GIFT IFSC, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. IIBX is
regulated by International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)
● IIBX enables trading in bullion which adhere to OECD Due Diligence
Guidance for Responsible Supply chain of Minerals from Conflict Affected and
High-Risk Areas for establishing supply chain integrity.
● India's gold market is one of the largest in the world and holds an
important position in the global bullion market.
3.27. WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX
CONTEXT
Inflation in India’s wholesale prices rose to a 13-month high of 1.26% in April, from
0.53% in March.
WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX
● WPI measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by
wholesale businesses to other businesses.
● WPI is unlike the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the prices of goods
and services purchased by consumers
● The WPI tracks prices at the factory gate before the retail level.
● The numbers are released by the Economic Advisor in the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
● The base year was updated to 2011-12 from 2004-05 for the new series of
Wholesale Price Index (WPI), effective from April 2017.
● WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does.
● In April 2014, the RBI had adopted the CPI as its key measure of inflation.
● The WPI comprises of three major groups:
✔ Primary Articles (eg- Food Articles, Vegetables, Milk, Minerals etc)
✔ Fuel and Power (eg- LPG, Petrol etc)
✔ Manufactured Products (eg- manufacture of food products, sugar, manufacture
of textiles etc)
● Weightage: Primary Articles (22.62%), Fuel and Power (13.15%) and
Manufactured products (64.23%).
● The weightage of food in WPI is approx. 24% which is lesser than CPI.
3.28. INSURANCE SURETY BOND
CONTEXT
National Highways Authority of India Organises Workshop on Implementation of
Insurance Surety Bonds in National Highway Contracts.
INSURANCE SURETY BOND
● Surety Bond is a form of financial credit known as Bond Guarantee.
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 ● Surety bonds are legally enforceable three-party contract that guarantee
performance and/or payment.
● Surety Bonds are used to guarantee the performance of a contractor, supplier,
or other party in a business transaction.
● Surety Bond Insurance always involves 3 parties:
✔ The first party is the Principal who is going to be the beneficiary, if the Surety
Bond is called upon;
✔ Second Party is the Contractor

✔ The final party is the Surety Provider. The Surety Provider is basically the
Surety Bond Insurance Company.
● Surety bonds can be used as a substitute for Bank Guarantees.(BG)
● A Surety Bond protects the Principal, the party to whom the bond amount is
going to be paid, in the event of a default against the losses that result from
the Contractor’s failure to the perform his obligations.
● Insurance Surety Bonds are instruments where insurance companies act as
‘Surety’ and provide the financial guarantee that the contractor will fulfil its
obligation as per the agreed terms.
● The Ministry of Finance, Government of India has made e-BG and Insurance
Surety Bonds at par with Bank Guarantees for all Government procurements.
● Instruments like Insurance Surety Bonds will help to strengthen National
Highway Infrastructure development, which has a cascading positive impact
on the Indian economy.
3.29. ASSET RECONSTRUCTION COMPANIES (ARCs)
CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised supervisory concerns on the functioning of
asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) during its interactions with debt recast firms.
ASSET RECONSTRUCTION COMPANIES (ARCS)
● An Asset Reconstruction Company is a specialized financial institution that
buys the NPAs or bad assets from banks and financial institutions so that the latter
can clean up their balance sheets.
● So, ARCs are in the business of buying bad loans from banks.
● ARC is a company registered under the Companies Act and registered with
Reserve Bank of India under Section 3 of the Securitization and Reconstruction of
Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002.
● SARFAESI Act provides the legal basis of setting up an Asset Reconstruction
Company (ARC) in India.
● ARCs are regulated by RBI as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under
RBI Act, 1934.
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 ● They function under the supervision and control of the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI).
● 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Asset Restructuring Companies
under the Automatic route.
● The origin of ARCs is normally credited to a 1991 report on financial sector reforms
by a panel chaired by former RBI Governor M.Narasimham.

3.30. OPEN NETWORK FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE (ONDC)

CONTEXT
Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT) organised the
‘ONDC Startup Mahotsav’, a first of its
kind event, at Vanijya Bhawan, New
Delhi.
Features of ONDC
● ONDC, a UPI of e-commerce, seeks to
democratise digital or electronic
commerce, moving it from a
platform-centric model to an
open-network.
● It aims to create a level playing field
for e-commerce behemoths such as
Amazon, Flipkart, and offline traders

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 ● In this system, ONDC plans to enable sellers and buyers to be digitally visible and
transact through an open network, regardless of what platform or application
they use.
● It will also empower merchants and consumers by breaking silos to form a single
network to drive innovation and scale, transforming all businesses from retail
goods, food to mobility.
● The new framework aims at promoting open networks developed on
open-sourced methodology, using open specifications and open network
protocols independent of any specific platform.
● It is expected to digitise the entire value chain, standardise operations,
promote inclusion of suppliers, derive efficiencies in logistics and enhance value for
consumers.
3.31. AGROFORESTRY
CONTEXT
India faces severe decline in farmland trees, major losses in Maharashtra and
Telangana.
FARMLAND TREE:DECLINE
● The paper, Severe decline in large farmland
trees in India over the past decade, published in
the journal Nature Sustainability, analysed satellite
imagery from 2010 to 2022.
● Agroforests play a crucial role in offering socio
ecological benefits and are a potential climate
solution as a carbon sink.
AGROFORESTRY
● Agroforestry is a land use management system
in which combinations of trees or shrubs are grown
around or among crops or pastureland.
● There are three main types of agroforestry systems:
✔ Agrisilvicultural systems are a combination of crops and trees, such as alley
cropping or homegardens.
✔ Silvopastoral systems combine forestry and grazing of domesticated animals
on pastures, rangelands or on-farm.
✔ The three elements, namely trees, animals and crops, can be integrated in what
are called agrosylvopastoral systems
3.32. STARTUPS
CONTEXT
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 Two Indian cities have featured among the top 50 startup cities globally, with Mumbai
at 32nd place and Bengaluru at 34th.
RANKINGS FOR 2024
● PitchBook recently unveiled its global Venture Capital ecosystem rankings for
2024, showcasing the top 50 startup cities worldwide.
An entity shall be considered as a Startup:
● Company age : Period of existence and operations should not be exceeding 10
years from the Date of Incorporation
● Company Type : Incorporated as a Private Limited Company (as defined in the
Companies Act, 2013) or registered as a partnership firm (registered under section
59 of the Partnership Act, 1932) or a limited liability partnership (under the
Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) in India.
● Annual Turnover : Should have an annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 100
crore
● Entity is working towards innovation, development or improvement of
products or processes or services
● India has emerged as the 3rd largest ecosystem for startups globally.

3.33. SURPLUS TRANSFER

CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board approved the transfer of Rs 2,10,874 crore as
surplus to the Central Government for the accounting year 2023-24.

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SURPLUS TRANSFER
● The surplus amount calculation is based on the
Economic Capital Framework (ECF)
● The transferable surplus funds for the years
2023-24 were determined using the guidelines set
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in August 2019.
● These guidelines were recommended by a
committee led by Dr. Bimal Jalan.
● The committee suggested that the RBI should keep
aside funds for unexpected risks, known as the
Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB), which should be
between 5.5 per cent and 6.5 per cent of the RBI’s
total assets.

3.34. RADIATION PROCESSING

CONTEXT
The government is planning to significantly
ramp up the radiation processing of onions to
create a buffer stock of 1,00,000 tonnes this
year.
RADIATION PROCESSING
● It aims to prevent shortages and price
rises of the politically sensitive bulb
● Radiation processing is a controlled
application of energy of short wavelength
radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum
known as ionizing radiations and includes
gamma rays, accelerated electrons and
X-rays to have desired effect on the
product.
● Some of the major objectives of
radiation processing are:
✔ Phytosanitation to overcome quarantine
barriers in fruits and vegetables
✔ Insect disinfestations of food products

✔ Inhibition of sprouting in tubers, bulbs and rhizomes

✔ Delay in ripening of fruits

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 ✔ Enhancement in shelf life by destruction of spoilage microbes in foods

✔ Elimination of pathogens and parasites in foods

● The radiation processing involves passing of food through a radiation field allowing
the food to absorb desired radiation energy.
● The food itself never comes in contact with the radioactive material. Gamma
rays, X-rays and electrons prescribed for food irradiation do not induce any
radioactivity in foods.
3.35. PRE-PACKAGED INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION PROCESS
(PPIRP)
CONTEXT
PPIRP has resulted in the full settlement of
operational creditors' claims in five cases.
INSOLVENCY
● It is a state when a business or a
person is unable to pay debts on
time. And it often leads to a
bankruptcy filing.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
● Passed in 2016, IBC governs
insolvency and bankruptcy
proceedings for companies,
partnership firms, and individuals. It
subsumed several laws such as the
Companies Act 2013.
Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution
Process (PPIRP)
● A pre-packaged insolvency resolution
was introduced in April 2021 to deal
with stress of these small and
mid-sized companies.
● The idea was that resolution of distressed MSMEs requires different treatment
due to the unique nature of their businesses.
● Pre-packaged insolvency process is an alternate and speedier resolution
mechanism for micro, medium and small enterprises in financial distress.
● The entire resolution process has to be completed in 120 days from the date of
initiation.
● If the default amounts range anywhere between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore, the
pre-packaged insolvency process kicks in.
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 ● If the defaults are higher than the said amount, a corporate insolvency
resolution process under the IBC would be initiated.
● After 66% of creditors approve the informal proposal, the pre-packaged
insolvency resolution process begins.
3.36. INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURES
CONTEXT
The Government may look at addressing inverted duty structures in washing
machines, air purifiers.
INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE
● Inverted duty structure refers to taxation of
inputs at higher rates than finished
products that result in the build-up of
credits and cascading costs.
● Inverted duty structure impacts the
domestic industry as manufacturers have
to pay a higher price for raw materials in
terms of duty, while the finished products
land at lower duty and cost.
● Inverted duty structure goes against the
government’s emphasis on ‘Make in India’ as it encourages the import of
finished products rather than raw materials by imposing a higher import duty on
the latter.
3.37. COST INFLATION INDEX (CII)
CONTEXT
The Income Tax Department has notified the cost inflation index for the current fiscal
to calculate long-term capital gains arising from the sale of immovable property,
securities and jewellery.
COST INFLATION INDEX (CII)
● The cost inflation index (CII) is used by a taxpayer to compute gains arising out
of the sale of capital assets after adjusting for inflation.
● CII or Cost Inflation Index is notified under the Income-tax Act, 1961, every
year.
● It is popularly used to calculate the "indexed cost of acquisition" while
calculating capital gains at the time of sale of any capital asset.
● CII is a measure used by the Income Tax Department of India to account for
inflation when calculating the capital gains on the sale of long-term capital
assets.
● The index is revised annually to keep up with inflation, with the base year being
periodically reset (currently the base year is 2001-02 in India).
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 ● Normally, an asset is required to be retained for more than 36 months (24
months for immovable property and unlisted shares, 12 months for listed
securities) to qualify as long-term capital gains.
● Since the prices of goods increase over time resulting in a fall in the purchasing
power, the CII is used to arrive at the inflation-adjusted purchasing price of assets
to compute taxable long-term capital gains (LTCG).
3.38. TRADE DEFICIT
CONTEXT
India has recorded a trade deficit, the difference between imports and exports, with
nine of its top 10 trading partners, including China, Russia, Singapore, and Korea, in
2023-24.
TRADE DEFICIT
● Simply put, the trade “balance” of a country shows the difference between what
it earns from its exports and what it pays for its imports.
● If this number is negative – that is, the total value of goods imported by a country
is more than the total value of goods exported by that country – then it is referred
to as a “trade deficit”.
● If India has a trade deficit with China then China would necessarily have a “trade
surplus” with India.
DATA ON TRADE DEFICIT
● The data also showed that the deficit with China, Russia, Korea, and Hong
Kong increased in the last fiscal compared to 2022-23, while the trade gap with
the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, and Iraq narrowed.
● China has emerged as India's largest trading partner with $ 118.4 billion of
two-way commerce in 2023-24, edging past the US.
● India has a free trade agreement with four of its top trading partners -
Singapore, the UAE, Korea and Indonesia (as part of the Asian bloc).
● India has a trade surplus of $ 36.74 billion with the US in 2023-24.
● America is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus.
● The surplus is also there with the UK, Belgium, Italy, France and Bangladesh.
● India's total trade deficit in the last fiscal narrowed to $ 238.3 billion as against $
264.9 billion in the previous fiscal.
3.39. INDIAN SPICES EXPORT
CONTEXT
The Indian authorities have now initiated several measures to ensure that Indian
spices comply with food safety standards of the importing countries after the presence
of a higher than prescribed level of the sterilising agent Ethylene Oxide (ETO).
INDIAN SPICES EXPORT
● India enjoys a significant share in the global market for spices and spice products.
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 ● In 2023-2024, India exported spices worth $4.4 billion (nearly 14 lakh tonnes),
which is 12.3% higher than the financial year 2022-2023.
● In terms of production, garlic, ginger and chilli were the top three spices
produced in FY23.
● China, Bangladesh, west Asian countries and the U.S. are important markets
for Indian spices.
ETHYLENE OXIDE
● Ethylene oxide is a flammable, colourless gas at temperatures above 10.7
Celsius.
● It serves as a "disinfectant, fumigant, sterilising agent and insecticide".
● It is mainly used to sterilise medical equipment and to reduce microbial
contamination in spices.
● Besides being produced from natural sources, it can also be generated from
water-logged soil, manure, and sewage sludge.
● The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) classifies ethylene oxide as a 'Group 1 carcinogen', meaning it has
"enough evidence to conclude that it can cause cancer in humans".
● Short-term exposure to the carcinogen can affect the human central nervous
system, and cause depression and irritation of the eyes and mucous
membranes
● Prolonged exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and
damage the brain and nervous system.
3.40. PULSES IMPORT
CONTEXT
India's pulses imports in fiscal 2024 surged 84%
year-on-year to their highest level in six years
after lower production prompted India to allow
duty-free imports of red lentils and yellow peas.
PULSES
● Pulses are highly nutritious.
● As nitrogen-fixing crops, they enrich soils,
reduce fertilizer use, promote biodiversity, and
lower agriculture’s carbon footprint.
● Pulses host rhizobium bacteria which fix
atmospheric nitrogen into the soil,
improving fertility. They facilitate nutrient
cycling and carbon sequestration.
● Drought-tolerant pulses provide income
stability for farmers. Affordable and

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 shelf-stable, they are key to tackling malnutrition globally.
● India is the largest producer at 25% of global output.
● Pulses play a major role in Indian diets, accounting for 27% of global
consumption.
● However, domestic production does not meet demand, so India also imports
14% of the world’s pulses.
● India became self-sufficient in chickpeas. Efforts underway to achieve
self-reliance across all major pulses by 2027.
3.41. TREATY ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, GENETIC
RESOURCES AND ASSOCIATED TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
CONTEXT
The Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional
Knowledge was adopted at the Diplomatic Conference held under the aegis of the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at its headquarters in Geneva.
TREATY ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, GENETIC RESOURCES AND ASSOCIATED
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
● This Treaty mandates the disclosure of the origin of genetic resources and
associated traditional knowledge in patent applications.
● It specifically includes provisions for Indigenous Peoples and local
communities, ensuring their contributions are recognized and respected.
○ Disclosure Requirements: Patent applicants must disclose the country of
origin or source of genetic resources used in their inventions.
○ Traditional Knowledge: If the invention involves traditional knowledge,
applicants must identify the Indigenous Peoples or local communities that
provided this knowledge.
● The treaty will come into force once it is ratified by 15 parties.
● It is the first treaty to specifically address genetic resources (GRs) and
traditional knowledge (TK) held by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
● The treaty aims to make the IP system more inclusive, catering to the needs of
diverse countries and communities.
3.42. GOLD-BACKED CURRENCY
CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has launched a new gold-backed currency
called the ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, replacing the Zimbabwean dollar.
GOLD-BACKED CURRENCY
● The ZiG stands out as a new currency backed by gold reserves, ensuring its
value is supported by the physical gold held by the government.
● Gold backing aims to provide stability and prevent currency devaluation.

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 ● The ZiG signifies Zimbabwe’s shift away from past economic challenges towards a
more secure monetary future.
● By establishing a stable foundation to control inflation, stimulate economic
growth, and restore public trust in Zimbabwe’s financial system after years of
currency instability.
3.43. SOVEREIGN BOND
CONTEXT
Sovereign yield falls to near 1-year low post RBI's dividend payout .
SOVEREIGN BOND
● A sovereign bond, or a government bond, is a specific debt instrument issued
by the government.
● It can be availed in both foreign currency and domestic currency.
● The sovereign bond yield is the interest rate paid on a government sovereign
bond.
● That is, the sovereign bond yield is the rate of interest at which a national
government can borrow. They are sold by governments to raise money for
spending
● Similar to other bonds, sovereign bonds offer a precise interest for a specified
number of years on the purchase amount. It repays a face value upon maturity.
● Sovereign bonds are, technically, risk-free because they are based on the
currency of the issuing government.
● Some factors that affect the yield of a specific sovereign bond include the stability
of the issuing government, the creditworthiness of the issuing government, and
the value of the issuing currency on the currency exchange market.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE YIELD:
● Creditworthiness: Credit rating agencies rate the issuing countries’ perceived
ability to repay the debts.
● Risk: Factors such as war and public disorder play a key role in deciding a
country's ability to pay off the debts.
● Exchange rates: If the bonds are issued in foreign currencies, there can be
fluctuations in the exchange rate, leading to an increased pay-out pressure on the
issuing government.
3.44. PRAVAAH PORTAL, THE RETAIL DIRECT MOBILE APP
AND A FINTECH REPOSITORY
CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of India has launched three major initiatives – the PRAVAAH portal,
the Retail Direct Mobile App and a FinTech Repository – aimed at enhancing public
access to the central bank and facilitating regulatory approvals and transactions.

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 PRAVAAH PORTAL
● The PRAVAAH (Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation, and Authorisation)
portal is a secure and centralized web-based platform for individuals and entities
to apply online for various regulatory approvals from the RBI.
● The portal streamlines the process of seeking authorizations, licenses, or
regulatory approvals by providing a single point of contact for applicants.
● It is expected to improve the efficiency of the RBI’s regulatory approval and
clearance processes.
THE RETAIL DIRECT MOBILE APP
● The Retail Direct Mobile App offers retail investors easy access to the Retail
Direct platform and facilitates transactions in government securities (G-Secs).
● The app enables retail investors to open Retail Direct Gilt accounts with the
RBI, participate in primary auctions for G-Secs, and buy and sell G-Secs in the
secondary market.
A FINTECH REPOSITORY
● The Fintech Repository is a comprehensive database containing information on
the Indian fintech sector.
● The repository aims to provide a better understanding of the sector from a
regulatory perspective and facilitate the design of appropriate policy approaches.
● It includes information on Indian fintech companies, their products and services,
and the regulatory framework applicable to them.
EMTECH REPOSITORY
● The RBI has also launched a related repository called the EmTech Repository
meant for RBI-regulated entities (banks and NBFCs).
● The EmTech Repository contains information on the adoption of emerging
technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud
computing, distributed ledger technology (DLT), and quantum computing by these
entities.
3.45. GOLDEN RICE
CONTEXT
A court in the Philippines recently revoked biosafety permits for commercial
propagation of genetically modified golden rice and Bt eggplant.
GOLDEN RICE
● Golden rice, so named because of its rich yellow colour, was genetically
engineered to contain higher levels of the micronutrients iron and zinc in the
grains while also producing beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A.
● In 2021, the Philippines became the first country to approve commercial
production of the rice variety.
● Golden rice was developed by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)

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● Like ordinary rice, Golden Rice does not require any special cultivation
practices, and generally has the same yield and agronomic performance.
● This rice is expected to cost and taste the same as regular rice, its beta carotene
content makes it a valuable asset in the battle against Vitamin A deficiency (VAD).
● The World Health Organization has classified vitamin A deficiency as a public
health problem affecting about one third of children aged 6 to 59 months in
2013, with the highest rates in sub-Saharan Africa (48 per cent) and South Asia
(44 per cent).

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 4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4.1. INDIAN SPACE SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

(ISSAR) FOR 2023
CONTEXT
Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) releases Indian Space
Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR)
for 2023.
INDIAN SPACE SITUATIONAL
ASSESSMENT REPORT (ISSAR) FOR
2023
● Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
becomes an essential prerequisite
for safe and sustainable
operations in outer space.
● Global Scenario- more space
objects were placed in orbit , a
total of 3143 objects originating
from 212 launches and on-orbit
break-up events were added to the
space object population in 2023
● Indian Scenario- a total of 127
Indian satellites, including those
from private operators/academic
institutions, have been launched till
31st December 2023.
4.2. ETHYLENE
CONTEXT
Mangoes were seized after being artificially ripened with ethylene.
ETHYLENE
● It is a colourless, flammable gas having a sweet taste and odour.
● Ethylene (C2H4) is a small hydrocarbon natural gas that aid in the ripening
and ageing process of fresh products.
● it can also have detrimental effects on many plant varieties, flowers, and
other produce by accelerating aging and diminishing product quality and shelf life
● Natural sources of ethylene include both natural gas and petroleum;
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 ● it is also a naturally occurring hormone in plants, in which it inhibits growth
and promotes leaf fall, and in fruits, in which it promotes ripening.
● Some of these industrial applications for ethylene include; ethylene oxide for
the sterilising of medical devices, polyethylene as a more durable plastic over
polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene, ethylene glycol for creating polyester fibres in
fabric
● Ethylene, also known as either the “death or ripening hormone”, plays a
regulatory role in many processes of fruit & vegetable growth, development, and
eventually decay.
4.3. MAGNETIC MONOPOLES
CONTEXT
Physicists at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK have spotted
signatures of magnetic monopoles and other unusual magnetic structures in haematite,
a naturally occurring antiferromagnetic iron oxide material.
MAGNETIC MONOPOLES
● In 1931 Paul Dirac became the first to predict that magnetic monopoles –
elementary particles that act as isolated magnetic north and south poles
and are the magnetic analogues of electric charges – could exist
● An ordinary bar magnet consists of a north and a south pole.
● Slice it in two, and each of the resulting halves – no matter how small – will also
have two poles.
4.4. SUPERSONIC MISSILE ASSISTED RELEASE OF
TORPEDO (SMART)
CONTEXT
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a
flight test of the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) from Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam Island, situated off the coast of Odisha.
SUPERSONIC MISSILE ASSISTED RELEASE OF TORPEDO (SMART)
● SMART is a next-generation missile-based light-weight torpedo delivery
system, designed and developed by the DRDO
● It is to enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Indian Navy
beyond the conventional range of lightweight torpedoes.
● The SMART missile system comprises a long-range supersonic missile carrier
that can travel up to 643 km, and a lightweight torpedo with a range of 20 km
and a 50 kg high explosive warhead as the payload.
● The missile uses a two-stage solid propulsion system, electromechanical
actuators, precision inertial navigation, and a datalink for mid-course updates and
terminal homing of the torpedo.

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 ● The development of SMART is aimed at countering the increasing deployment of
submarines by the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean region and enhancing
India's self-reliance in defence capabilities.
● SMART is a canister-based missile system.
● It carries an advanced lightweight torpedo as a payload along with a
parachute-based release system.

4.5. QUARKS
CONTEXT
Scientists have reported that the insides of most
massive neutron stars are most likely made of an
unusual state of matter called quark matter.
QUARK
● All matter is composed of atoms, and atoms
are made of protons and neutrons inside the
nucleus and electrons outside.
● But unlike electrons, protons and neutrons are
composite particles because they are further
made up of quarks.
● Quarks can’t exist in isolation.
● They can only be found in groups of two or
three, if not more.
● Such clumps of quarks are called hadrons.
● Protons and neutrons are common
examples.
● There are six types of quarks: up, down,
top, bottom, strange, and charm.
● Each quark can have one of three types of
colour charge.
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 ● Then there are also antiquarks, their antimatter versions.
● A quark-antiquark clump is called a meson (they don’t annihilate each other
because they are of different types, e.g. up + anti-down).
● Three-quark clumps are called baryons and they form the normal matter
surrounding us.
● Quarks are further held together by another set of particles called gluons.
● Because nuclear forces are very strong, quarks are always tightly bound to
each other and are not free, even in the vacuum of empty space.
4.6. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO ATACAMA OBSERVATORY
(TAO) PROJECT
CONTEXT
TAO telescope site completion ceremony held in Santiago, Chile.

UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO ATACAMA OBSERVATORY (TAO) PROJECT

● The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) Project is to construct the
6.5m optical-infrared telescope at the summit of Cerro Chajnantor, an
altitude of 5,640 m (18,500 ft) in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
● The observatory has become the highest permanent astronomical observatory
in the world.
● The altitude of the TAO site is very high at 5,640 meters from sea level, so there is
extremely low water vapor in the air.
● Building a telescope here will make it possible to observe infrared rays from
celestial objects that are normally invisible from the ground surface of the
earth due to absorption by water vapor in the air.
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 ● The telescope will have two primary instruments, the MIMIZUKU mid-infrared
imager and spectrograph, and SWIMS near-infrared spectrograph.
● The goal of the TAO project is to utilize these features to unravel the mysteries of
the universe range from the origin of the universe, such as dark energy and
the first stars, to the evolution of stars and planets, and the formation of the solar
system.
4.7. CHANG'E-6 SPACECRAFT
CONTEXT
China launched a “first-of-its-kind mission", Chang'e-6 spacecraft.
CHANG'E-6 SPACECRAFT
● The lunar probe is expected to collect
samples from the far side of the moon
and bring those samples to Earth for
research purposes
● Chang'e 6 is the world's first attempt to
retrieve substances from the moon's far
side – the side which is not visible from the
Earth.
● It is expected to make a soft landing in the
South Pole of the moon i.e Aitken Basin.
● The Chang'e-6 lunar probe was launched
onboard the Long March-5 Y8 carrier
rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft
Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province.
● Components: The spacecraft consists of four components – an orbiter, a
lander, an ascender and a re-entry module.
● The aim is to collect up to 2 kilograms of stones and soil, packed in a
vacuumed metal container inside the ascender.
● After carrying out the surface operations, the ascender's rocket will elevate it to
lunar orbit to dock with the re-entry module. It will transfer samples to the
module, which will carry them to Earth.
4.8. OXYTOCIN
CONTEXT
The Delhi High Court has issued directives to combat the use of spurious Oxytocin
hormone in the dairy colonies across the national capital.
OXYTOCIN
● It noted that administering the hormone, which results in increased milk
production, amounts to animal cruelty and is, therefore, an offence.

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 ● Administering of oxytocin amounts to animal cruelty and is a cognisable offence
under Section 12 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
● Also known as the ‘love hormone’, Oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary
glands of mammals during sex, childbirth, lactation or social bonding
● and could be chemically manufactured and sold by pharma companies for
use during childbirth.
● It is administered either as an injection or a nasal solution.

4.9. CHLOROPICRIN
CONTEXT
The United States has accused Russia of deploying banned choking gas Chloropicrin to
expel Ukrainian troops.
CHLOROPICRIN
● Chloropicrin, primarily utilised
as an insecticide, found a more
sinister application as a weapon
during World War I.
● This oily substance was among
the various gases employed to
injure and asphyxiate
entrenched soldiers.
● It appears colorless to a
faintly yellow oily liquid.
● Functioning as a toxic
irritant, Chloropicrin induces
tearing and burning
sensations in the eyes and
skin, while also impacting the
respiratory system.
● Inhalation of significant
quantities may result in
symptoms such as nausea
and vomiting.
● Chloropicrin is listed as a
banned choking agent by the
Hague-based Organisation for
the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW), which was created to implement and monitor compliance with
the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
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4.10. GOLDENE
CONTEXT
For the first time, researchers have created a free-standing sheet of gold that is only
one atom thick and named it as Goldene.
GOLDENE
● Researchers have created a
free-standing sheet of gold that
is only one atom thick. This
makes gold the first metal to be
formulated into (freestanding)
2D sheets.
● Goldene is the first free-standing
2D metal.
● To create goldene, researchers first
sandwiched an atomic
monolayer of silicon between layers of titanium carbide.
● When they deposited gold on top of this sandwich structure, the gold atoms
diffused into the material and replaced the silicon atoms, forming a trapped
monolayer of gold atoms.
● Subsequently, scientists etched away the titanium carbide layers to create a
free-standing, one atom thick layer of gold.
● This was done with the help of an age-old Japanese technique used to forge
katanas and high-quality knives, using a chemical popularly known as
Murakami’s reagent.
● These sheets of goldene are roughly 100 nanometres thick (a nanometre is a
billionth of a metre), approximately 400 times thinner than the thinnest
commercially available gold leaf.
● Applications could include carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen-generating
catalysis, selective production of value-added chemicals, hydrogen
production, water purification, etc.
4.11. CATATUMBO LIGHTNING
CONTEXT
A convergence of several factors give rise to the unique conditions required for
Catatumbo lightning.
CATATUMBO LIGHTNING
● Catatumbo lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs over the Catatumbo
River in Venezuela, where lightning strikes almost continuously.
● This phenomenon primarily happens at the mouth of the Catatumbo River,
where it meets Lake Maracaibo, the largest lake in Venezuela.
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 ● A convergence of several factors give rise to
the unique conditions required for Catatumbo
lightning.
● Warm, moist air from the Caribbean Sea is
pushed towards the Andes mountains, where it
collides with cooler air descending from the
peaks.
● This collision creates a perfect storm of
sorts, as the warmer air is forced to rise rapidly
by the shape of the local landscape. And as it
does, it cools and condenses, forming
towering cumulonimbus clouds.
● Meanwhile, the combination of strong winds
and temperature differentials generates
electrical charges within these clouds.
● The cumulonimbus clouds — sometimes reaching heights of more than 5 km
— load up on static electricity.
● When the electrical potential within the clouds becomes too great, it
discharges in the form of lightning.
● Catatumbo lightning is distinguished by its frequency and duration: the
strikes occur for up to 160 nights in a year, with an average of 28 lightning strikes
per minute at its peak.
● With constant flow of current, the area has earned the title of “the
lightning capital of the world.
4.12. CHOLINE
CONTEXT
Researchers recently discovered that an essential nutrient called choline is transported
into the brain by a protein called FLVCR2.
CHOLINE
● It is an essential nutrient that supports various bodily functions, including
cellular growth and metabolism.
● It exists as both water-soluble and fat-soluble molecules.
● The body transports and absorbs choline differently depending on its form.
● The body can also produce small amounts of choline on its own in the liver,
but not enough to meet daily needs.
● During gestation, choline is an essential nutrient for brain development.
● Animal studies have shown that choline deficiency during pregnancy
negatively impacts fetal brain development in areas involved in cognition,
learning, and memory, with long-term consequences.

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 ● Choline is also vital for the synthesis of several brain components, including
acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential to maintain memory function and
learning.
● Choline is abundantly available in egg yolk, fatty fish, liver, red potatoes,
soybeans, legumes, etc.
4.13. ARTIFICIAL GENERAL INTELLIGENCE (AGI)
CONTEXT
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed his commitment to invest billions of dollars
towards the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
ARTIFICIAL GENERAL INTELLIGENCE (AGI)
● AGI refers to a machine or a software that can perform any intellectual task
that a human can do.
● This includes reasoning, common sense, abstract thinking, background
knowledge, transfer learning, ability to differentiate between cause and effect,
etc.
● In simple words, AGI aims to emulate human cognitive abilities such that it
allows it to do unfamiliar tasks, learn from new experiences, and apply its
knowledge in new ways.
AGI DIFFERENT FROM AI :
● The main difference between AGI and the more common form of AI, also
known as narrow AI, lies in their scope and capabilities.
● Narrow AI is designed to perform specific tasks such as image recognition,
translation, or even playing games like chess—at which it can outdo humans, but it
remains limited to its set parameters.
● On the other hand, AGI envisions a broader, more generalised form of
intelligence, not confined to any particular task (like humans).
4.14. SEMI-CRYOGENIC ENGINE-200
CONTEXT
The space agency conducted the first ignition trial for SCE-200 (semi-cryogenic
engine-200) at the semi-cryo integrated engine test facility (SIET) located in the ISRO
propulsion complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri.
SEMI-CRYOGENIC ENGINE-200
● Semi-cryogenic engine ignition is achieved using a start fuel ampule which uses a
combination of Triethylaluminium and Triethyleboron developed by Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and used for the first time in ISRO in the 2000
kN semi-cryogenic engine
● The SCE-200 is a 2MN thrust class liquid rocket engine developed by ISRO’s
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).

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 ● The semi-cryogenic engine utilizes a propellant combination of Liquid Oxygen
(LOX) and Kerosene
● This next generation rocket engine, designed to enhance the payload
capability of ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-III launcher and other future launch
vehicles.
● It operates on an oxidiser-rich staged combustion cycle using liquid oxygen
(LOX) and RP-1 (rocket propellent-1) kerosene.
● SCE-200 was expected to replace the current L110 stage also known as the
core stage of the LVM-3.
● It also promises to boost payload capacity and power future launch
vehicles being designed by ISRO including the upcoming next generation
launch vehicles (NGLV) and the reusable launch vehicle (RLV).
4.15. GLIDE PHASE INTERCEPTOR (GPI) PROJECT
CONTEXT
Japan is investing in the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project under joint
development with the US.
GLIDE PHASE
● With a traditional Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), the warhead separates
from its booster and continues on a parabolic, gravity-driven trajectory to its
target
● A hypersonic weapon, by contrast, separates from its booster after the peak of
its trajectory and accelerates toward the Earth using gravity.
● It then performs a pitch manoeuvre to begin a flatter trajectory called the
glide phase.
GLIDE PHASE INTERCEPTOR (GPI) PROJECT
● Hypersonic weapons or missiles pose a unique challenge due to their blinding
speeds and relatively low altitudes (20 to 80 km) during the glide phase.
● These characteristics make it particularly challenging for ground-based radar
systems to track them effectively.
● Understanding these technical difficulties is crucial to appreciating the significance
of the GPI project in regional missile defence.
● The GPI project aims to provide regional hypersonic missile defence.
● It will achieve this by launching specially modified missiles from surface
warships.
● These missiles will engage and destroy incoming hypersonic missiles as they
glide through the boundary between space and Earth’s atmosphere
● They can navigate around areas containing known missile defence sensors.
● The “glide” phase of the missile’s trajectory provides the best opportunityto
intercept it before it enters its last high-speed drop.

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4.16. NEURAL PROCESSING UNIT (NPU)
CONTEXT
Apple debuted the M4 chip with the iPad Pro, the most prominent change in the M4 is
the 16-core Neural Engine, which is Apple’s term for Neural Processing Unit (NPU).
NEURAL PROCESSING UNIT (NPU)
● An NPU, or a Neural Processing Unit, is a dedicated processor designed
specifically for accelerating neural network processes.
● A neural network is essentially a type of machine learning algorithm that
mimics the human brain for processing data.
● Therefore, the NPU is highly capable for handling machine learning
operations that form the basis for AI-related tasks, such as speech recognition,
natural language processing, photo or video editing processes like object
detection, and more.
● The NPU is integrated within the main processor, adopting a System-on-Chip
(SoC) configuration.
NPU DIFFERENT FROM CPU
● CPUs employ a sequential computing method, issuing one instruction at a time,
with subsequent instructions awaiting the completion of their predecessors.
● In contrast, NPU harnesses parallel computing to simultaneously execute
numerous calculations.
● This parallel computing approach results in swifter and more efficient
processing.

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4.17. DEADBOTS
CONTEXT
A new study urges caution in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots
designed to mimic deceased loved ones, known as ‘deadbots’.
DEADBOTS
● Deadbots, also known as griefbots, are AI-enabled digital representations of
departed loved ones.
● These chatbots simulate their language patterns and personality traits using
their digital footprint, like emails, social media posts and even voice recordings, to
create a conversational AI that reflects their personality.
● These chatbots, while potentially comforting, could lead to psychological
distress if not designed with safety in mind.
● Companies offering these services need to adopt safety standards to ensure
that their technologies do not manipulate or cause psychological distress to
the users.
4.18. LAUNCH VEHICLE MARK-III
CONTEXT
New Space India Limited (NSIL) — the commercial arm of the department of space —
has called on private players to manufacture its largest launch vehicle LVM3.

NEWSPACE INDIA LIMITED (NSIL)

● NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the
Government of India and under Department of Space
● NSIL is responsible for producing, assembling and integrating the launch
vehicle with the help of an industry consortium.

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 ● The main objective of NSIL is to scale up private sector participation in Indian
space programmes.
NSIL was setup with the following objectives:
● Transfer of Small Satellite technology to industry: NSIL will obtain license
from DoS/ISRO and sub-license the same to industry
● Manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in collaboration with
private sector
● Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Indian industry
● Production and marketing of Space-based products and services, including
launch and application
● Marketing of spin-off technologies and products/services, both in India and abroad
4.19. 3D PRINTING OR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
CONTEXT
The Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) successfully conducting a hot test of a
liquid rocket engine created with Additive
Manufacturing (AM) technology also known in
common language as 3D printing.
PS4 ENGINE
● The engine that the space agency tested
is the PS4 engine used in the Reaction
Control System (RCS) of the upper stage
(PS1) of the Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle (PSLV).
● Consequently, the new engine now saves 97
per cent of raw materials and reduces
production time by 60 per cent.
3D PRINTING OR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
● 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a
process of making three dimensional
objects from a digital file.
● The creation of a 3D printed object is
achieved using additive processes.
● In an additive process an object is created
by laying down successive layers of
material until the object is created.
● 3D printing is the opposite of subtractive
manufacturing which is cutting out /
hollowing out a block of material with for
instance a milling machine.
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 ● 3D printing helps to produce complex shapes using less material than traditional
manufacturing methods.
● Layer-by-layer manufacturing process offers flexibility in designing complex
structures, finding applications in diverse industries such as aerospace,
automotive, spare parts, heat sinks, biomedical devices, and construction
materials
● Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Direct Energy Deposition (DED) are popular
metal additive manufacturing technologies; the extrusion-based method
distinguishes itself by being more cost-effective, less hazardous, and offering
greater design freedom.
● India’s first 3D-printed post office opened in Bengaluru.
4.20. SMALL RNA (sRNA)
CONTEXT
Researchers found that after C. elegans worms ate a disease-causing bacteria(P.
vranovensis) , its children knew from birth to avoid making the same mistake.
SMALL RNA (sRNA)
● The researchers found that P. vranovensis makes a small RNA molecule called
sRNA.
● When the worms ingest this strain, they also take in the sRNA.
● The sRNA then altered the worm’s feeding behaviour such that, from that
point on, the worms ‘know’ to avoid feeding on this bacterium and save
themselves from getting sick.
● Small RNA (sRNA) are polymeric RNA molecules
that are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and
are usually non-coding.
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID AND RIBONUCLEIC ACID
● Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule
composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil
around each other to form a double helix carrying
genetic instructions for the development, functioning,
growth and reproduction of all known organisms and
many viruses.
● DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are nucleic
acids.
● A nucleic acid containing deoxyribose is called
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) while that which contains
ribose is called ribonucleic acid (RNA).
● Both DNA and RNA contain Adenine, Guanine
and Cytosine. The fourth base is Thymine in DNA
and Uracil in RNA.
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 ● The structure of DNA is a double strand [helix] whereas RNA is a single
strand molecule.
● Hydrogen bonds bind the nitrogenous bases of the two separate polynucleotide
strands to make double-stranded DNA.
● There are three types of RNA — mRNA, rRNA and tRNA which actually carry
out the protein synthesis in the cell based on the coded message for proteins
provided by DNA.
4.21. DIGILOCKER
CONTEXT
Students of the ICSE class 10 and ISC class 12 can now access their results, mark
sheets as well as certificates in real-time from the DigiLocker.
DIGILOCKER
● The DigiLocker platform, launched in 2015, operates as an app to store
users’ digital records.
● DigiLocker is an Indian digitization online service provided by the Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India
under its Digital India initiative.
● This is the government's effort to create an electronic version of documents,
which can be easily verified and stored in printable format.
● DigiLocker provides an account in cloud to every Aadhaar holder to access
authentic documents/certificates such as driving license, vehicle registration,
academic mark sheet in digital format from the original issuers of these
certificates.
● The users can also store their documents such as insurance, medical
reports, PAN card, passport, marriage certificate, school certificate and other
documents in the digital format.
● Apart from e-documents, DigiLocker can store a Uniform Resource Identifier
(URI) link of e-documents issued by various issuer departments.
● It also provides 1GB storage space to each account to upload scanned copies
of legacy documents.
● The issued documents in DigiLocker system are deemed to be at par with original
physical documents as per Rule 9A of the Information Technology
(Preservation and Retention of Information by Intermediaries providing
Digital Locker facilities) Rules, 2016
4.22. XENOTRANSPLANTATION
CONTEXT
The first recipient of a modified
pig kidney transplant passed
away.

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XENOTRANSPLANTATION
● Xenotransplantation is any
procedure that involves the
transplantation,
implantation or infusion
into a human recipient of
either
✔ live cells, tissues, or organs
from a nonhuman animal
source, or
✔ human body fluids, cells,
tissues or organs that have
had ex vivo contact with
live nonhuman animal
cells, tissues or organs.”
● Essentially, it is the use of
animal cells and organs to
heal humans.
● The gene editing technology
CRISPR-Cas9 was
employed to “Remove
certain pig genes that
produce sugars with
antibodies our immune
systems react to” and “Add
certain human genes to improve the kidney’s compatibility with humans.”
● Pig widely used because The pig’s anatomical and physiological parameters
are similar to that of humans, and the breeding of pigs in farms is widespread
and cost-effective.
● In January 2022, the first xeno transplantation of a genetically-modified pig
heart was done.
CRISPR
● The CRISPR is an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short
Palindromic Repeats, developed in the year 2012
● CRISPR has made gene editing very easy and simple, and at the same time
extremely efficient.
● The technology works in a simple way — it locates the specific area in the
genetic sequence which has been diagnosed to be the cause of the
problem, cuts it out, and replaces it with a new and correct sequence that
no longer causes the problem.

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 ● The technology replicates a natural defence mechanism in some bacteria that
use a similar method to protect itself from virus attacks

4.23. NEXT-GENERATION SYNCHROTRON

CONTEXT
China is the first in Asia to build next-generation synchrotrons.
NEXT-GENERATION SYNCHROTRON
● This facility marks a significant milestone for Asia, propelling China into the
elite league of nations with fourth-generation synchrotron light sources.
● Situated in Huairou, near downtown Beijing.
● These efforts are geared towards creating a light source capable of delving
deep into samples, unveiling their molecular and atomic structures in
real-time.
● High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) will revolutionize scientific research with its
production of high-energy X-rays, facilitating the precise probing of
samples at the nanoscale level.
● A synchrotron is a type of circular particle accelerator.
● It works by accelerating charged particles (electrons) through sequences of
magnets until they reach almost the speed of light.
● These fast-moving electrons produce very bright light, called synchrotron light.
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 ● This very intense light, predominantly in the X-ray region, is millions of times
brighter than light produced from conventional sources and 10 billion times
brighter than the sun. Scientists can use this light to study minute matter such as
atoms and molecules.
● There are approximately 70 synchrotrons around the world in various stages of
development. There are technical differences between the use and
capabilities of synchrotrons,
● Giant magneto-resistance, the phenomenon behind portable mp3 players,
was studied using synchrotrons.
● The generation of a synchrotron is related to the technology it uses to
produce synchrotron light.
● Synchrotrons were originally developed as "atom-smashers", used by
particle physicists to study the basic constituents of matter.
INDUS-2 IS A SYNCHROTRON
● Indus-2 is a synchrotron radiation source with a nominal electron energy of 2.5
GeV and a critical wavelength of about 1.98 angstroms.
● It is one of the most important projects in progress at the Raja Ramanna
Centre for Advanced Technology.
● It is designed to cater to the needs of X-ray users, material scientists and
researchers.
● Indus-1 has the distinction of being the first synchrotron generator of India
with a 450 Mev storage ring. Indus-2 is an improvement over Indus-1.
● The radiation source Indus-2 is in an advanced stage of construction near
Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
4.24. LEAD (Pb)
CONTEXT
Scientists have developed a compact and inexpensive technology for detecting and
measuring lead concentrations in water.
LEAD (Pb)
● Lead (Pb), a soft, silvery white or grayish metal
● Lead is very malleable, ductile, and dense and is a poor conductor of
electricity.
● Properties that are responsible for the many uses of elemental lead include its
ductility, ease of welding, low melting point, high density, and ability to absorb
gamma radiation and X-radiation
● Lead and its compounds are toxic and are retained by the body, accumulating
over a long period of time—a phenomenon known as cumulative poisoning
● In humans the main sources of lead are usually lead-based paint and drinking
water carried through lead pipes; lead-based paints are especially harmful to
children.
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 ● Other possible sources of lead poisoning include the agricultural use of
insecticides containing lead compounds
● The poison affects the entire body—especially the nervous system, the
gastrointestinal tract, and the blood-forming tissues.
4.25. INDIAN NATIONAL SPACE PROMOTION AND
AUTHORIZATION CENTRE (IN-SPACe)
CONTEXT
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has been
honoured with the Geospatial World Forum (GWF) Leadership Award for “Public Policy:
Enabling Industry Development.”
INDIAN NATIONAL SPACE PROMOTION AND AUTHORIZATION CENTRE (IN-SPACe)
● The GWF Leadership Awards, presented annually at the Geospatial World Forum,
acknowledge individuals and organizations that have made exceptional
contributions to the geospatial field and demonstrated innovation in
addressing global challenges.

4.26. LUNAR POLAR EXPLORATION MISSION (LUPEX)

CONTEXT
The India-Japan partnership for their joint moon mission, Lunar Polar Exploration
Mission (LUPEX), is likely to take flight in a few years.
LUNAR POLAR EXPLORATION MISSION (LUPEX)
● The mission’s primary objective is to explore the lunar surface and search for
subsurface water.
● While the Japanese space agency is responsible for the lunar rover, the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is handling the lander that will carry the
rover.

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 ● The mission will also carry observation instruments from US’ National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency
(ESA), further enhancing its scientific capabilities.
● LUPEX will not only confirm the presence of water but will also investigate its
quantity, distribution on the lunar surface
● and below ground, and form, such as the level of mixing with dry regolith, the
layer of loose unconsolidated rock and dust that sits atop a layer of bedrock.
4.27. ALPHAFOLD AND ROSETTAFOLD
CONTEXT
The use of AI in drug development.
ALPHAFOLD AND ROSETTAFOLD
● AI has the potential to revolutionise target discovery and understand
drug-target interaction by drastically cutting down time, increasing the accuracy
and saving money.
● The development of two AI-based prediction tools, AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold,
developed by researchers at DeepMind, a Google company, and the University
of Washington, U.S., respectively
● Both tools are based on deep neural networks.
● The tools’ neural networks use massive amounts of input data to produce the
desired output — the three-dimensional structures of proteins.
● The new avatars of AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold, called AlphaFold 3 (developed
jointly by Isomorphic Labs, a DeepMind spinoff) and RoseTTAFold All-Atom,
respectively
● The significant difference between the upgraded versions and their previous forms
is their capability to predict not just static structures of proteins and
protein-protein interactions
● but also their ability to predict structures and interactions for any combination
of protein, DNA, and RNA, including modifications, small molecules and ions.
● Additionally, the new versions use generative diffusion-based architectures
(one kind of AI model) to predict structural complexes.
4.28. MITOGENOME
CONTEXT
New research into the leopards’ genetics — their mitogenome — has revealed that the
descendants of these two groups are the leopards found today in South Africa’s
Mpumalanga province.
MITOGENOME
● DNA is found in the nucleus of cells and also in the mitochondrial genome, or
mitogenome.
● Mitogenomes are DNA molecules that float around outside the nucleus of a cell.
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 ● They store their own set of genetic information and are maternally inherited,
which means they are only passed on from mother to offspring.
● Mitogenomes are a “genomic by-catch” when sequencing the whole genome.
● They are so abundant in cells that it is very easy to extract them.
● Studying mitogenomes is a reliable way to track the ancestry of a species.
● This is because genes mutate (change) at a regular rate over time.
● The changes in the mitogenome provide a picture of leopard evolution over
hundreds of thousands of years.
4.29. EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
CONTEXT
New research on ancient rocks from South Africa and Brazil suggests that Earth's
magnetic field underwent a major weakening about 591 million years ago.
EDIACARAN OXYGENATION
● This corresponds to a time period called the Ediacaran (about 635 million to 541
million years ago)
● It is when both the atmosphere and the oceans may have become more
oxygen-rich and living things evolved to be larger and more mobile than previous
life-forms.
● The new findings suggest that the weakening of the magnetic field enabled this
oxygen boost, which, in turn, led to a new phase of evolution.
EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
● Earth's magnetic field, also known as the
geomagnetic field
● It is the magnetic field that extends from
Earth's interior out into space, where it
interacts with the solar wind, a stream of
charged particles emanating from the Sun.
● The magnetic field is generated by electric
currents due to the motion of convection
currents of a mixture of molten iron and
nickel in Earth's outer core
● These convection currents are caused by
heat escaping from the core, a natural
process called a geodynamo.
● Earth's magnetic field is represented by a field of a magnetic dipole currently
tilted at an angle of about 11° with respect to Earth's rotational axis
● The North geomagnetic pole actually represents the South pole of Earth's
magnetic field, and conversely the South geomagnetic pole corresponds to the
north pole of Earth's magnetic field

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 ● While the North and South magnetic poles are usually located near the geographic
poles, they slowly and continuously move over geological time scales
● However, at irregular intervals averaging several hundred thousand years, Earth's
field reverses and the North and South Magnetic Poles respectively, abruptly
switch places.
● These reversals of the geomagnetic poles leave a record in rocks that are of
value to paleomagnetists in calculating geomagnetic fields in the past.
● Such information in turn is helpful in studying the motions of continents and
ocean floors.
● The magnetosphere extends above the ionosphere that is defined by the extent of
Earth's magnetic field in space or geospace.
● It extends several tens of thousands of kilometres into space, protecting Earth
from the charged particles of the solar wind and cosmic rays.
4.30. LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS
CONTEXT
India is playing a significant role in the lab-grown diamond industry, positioning itself
as the world's second-largest producer of precious stones created in laboratories
rather than extracted from the earth.
LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS
● Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that are produced using specific technology
which mimics the geological processes that grow natural diamonds.
● They are not the same as “diamond simulants” – LGDs are chemically, physically
and optically diamond and thus are difficult to identify as “lab-grown.”
● While materials such as Moissanite, Cubic Zirconia (CZ), White Sapphire, YAG, etc.
are “diamond simulants” that simply attempt to “look” like a diamond, they
lack the sparkle and durability of a diamond and are thus easily identifiable.
● There are multiple ways in which LGDs can be produced. The most common (and
cheapest) is the “High pressure, high temperature” (HPHT) method.
✔ As the name suggests, this method requires extremely heavy presses that can
produce up to 730,000 psi of pressure under extremely high temperatures
(at least 1500 celsius).
✔ Usually graphite is used as the “diamond seed” and when subjected to these
extreme conditions, the relatively inexpensive form of carbon turns into one of
the most expensive carbon forms.

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 ● Other processes include “Chemical Vapor Deposition” (CVD) and explosive
formation that creates what are known as “detonation nanodiamonds”.
● LGDs have basic properties similar to natural diamonds, including their optical
dispersion, which provide them the signature diamond sheen.
● However, since they are created in controlled environments, many of their
properties can be enhanced for various purposes.
● LGDs are most often used for industrial purposes, in machines and tools.
4.31. “GIANT” VIRUSES
CONTEXT
Scientists have discovered 1.5 Billion-Year-Old “Giant” Viruses in Yellowstone National
Park.
GIANT VIRUSES
● "Giant" viruses that are approximately 1.5 billion years old.
● The epithet "giant" refers to the fact that these viruses' genes are significantly
larger than those of ordinary viruses.
● They do not harm people and provide valuable knowledge about how life began
on Earth.
● They vary from other viruses in that they have large genomes, some with over
1,000 genes, allowing them to produce proteins and gain independence from host
cells.
● Finding these ancient viruses is critical for comprehending the time when Earth's
earliest single-cell animals began to develop.

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 ● Researchers studying these massive viruses learn a lot about environmental
circumstances and biological processes that influence the early stages of life's
formation.

4.32. CALCIUM CARBIDE

CONTEXT
FSSAI Alerts Fruit Traders to Ensure Compliance with Prohibition of Calcium Carbide in
Fruit Ripening.
CALCIUM CARBIDE
● Calcium carbide, commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes, releases
acetylene gas which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
● These substances, also known as ‘Masala’, can cause serious health issues
● Additionally, acetylene gas is equally hazardous to those handling it.
● Due to these dangers, the use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits has been
banned under Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards
(Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
ETHYLENE GAS
● Considering the issue of rampant use of banned calcium carbide, FSSAI has
permitted the use of ethylene gas as a safer alternative for fruit ripening in India.
● Ethylene gas can be used at concentrations up to 100 ppm (100 μl/L),
depending upon the crop, variety and maturity.
● Ethylene, a naturally occurring hormone in fruits, regulates the ripening
process by initiating and controlling a series of chemical and biochemical activities.
● The treatment of unripe fruits with ethylene gas triggers the natural ripening
process until the fruit itself starts producing ethylene in substantial quantities.

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4.33. STARLINK
CONTEXT
Starlink was launched at three Indonesian health centers including two in Bali and one
on the remote island of Aru in Maluku.

STARLINK
● Starlink is a network of satellites operating to facilitate uninterrupted
internet services in remote and inaccessible areas on Earth.
● These are small satellites launched at regular intervals into the Low Earth
Orbit (LEO).
● SpaceX first began sending them into space in 2019.
● It plans to have as many as 42,000 satellites at altitudes of about 550 km.
● A Starlink satellite has a lifespan of approximately 5 years.
● It offers reduced latency and increased bandwidth due to the satellite's
proximity to Earth.
4.34. SPECULOOS-3 b
CONTEXT
Astronomers find a new Earth-sized exoplanet about 55 light-years away.
EXOPLANET
● An exoplanet is any planet beyond our solar system.
● Most orbit other stars, but free-floating exoplanets, called rogue planets, orbit
the galactic center and are untethered to any star.
● The exoplanet SPECULOOS-3 b orbits around a star called SPECULOOS-3
● The star is about the size of Jupiter and twice as cold as the Sun.
● It has an average temperature of approximately 2,627°C, while the surface of the
sun has a temperature of 5,500°C, with its core topping 15 million°C.
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 ● Ultra-cool dwarf stars are scattered across the sky so transiting planets detect,
using robotic telescopes around the world.
● The SPECULOOS (Search for Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars) project was set
up to research ultra-cool dwarf stars.
● In February 2017, the team discovered the first Earth-sized red dwarf star,
TRAPPIST-1, and its seven-planet system in our galaxy.
4.35. GREEN HYDROGEN
CONTEXT
For the first time, India has set up its own pavilion at the World Hydrogen Summit
2024 held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
GREEN HYDROGEN
● Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen that is produced from the electrolysis of
water, splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyser powered by
renewable energy.
● The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy defines Green Hydrogen as
having a well-to-gate emission (i.e., including water treatment, electrolysis, gas
purification, drying and compression of hydrogen) of not more than 2 kg CO2
equivalent / kg H2.
● The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power shall be the Nodal
Authority for accreditation of agencies for the monitoring, verification and
certification for Green Hydrogen production projects.
● India has an ambitious Green Hydrogen Mission that aims to produce 5 million
tonnes of the fuel annually from 2030.
Other initiatives
● Hydrogen Valley Innovation
Clusters: The Department of Science and
Technology has initiated them to foster
innovation and promote Green Hydrogen
ecosystem in India.
NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION
● The Mission has an outlay of Rs 19,744
crore.
● The initial outlay for the Mission will be
Rs.19,744 crore, including an outlay of
Rs.17,490 crore for the SIGHT
programme, Rs.1,466 crore for pilot
projects, Rs.400 crore for R&D, and Rs.
388 crore towards other Mission
components.

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 ● The Mission will result in the following likely outcomes by 2030:
● Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million
Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity
addition of about 125 GW in the country
● Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments
● Creation of over Six lakh jobs
● Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. One lakh crore
● Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
4.36. DOPPLER EFFECT
CONTEXT
The Consumer Affairs Ministry has invited public comments on draft rules for
microwave doppler radar equipment used to measure vehicle speeds on roads.

DOPPLER EFFECT
● The Doppler effect (also Doppler shift) is the change in the frequency of a
wave in relation to an observer who is moving relative to the source of the wave.
● The Doppler effect is named after the physicist Christian Doppler, who
described the phenomenon in 1842
● The Doppler effect can be observed for any type of wave - water wave, sound
wave, light wave, etc.
● The Doppler effect is used in studying the motion of stars
● Electromagnetic radiation emitted by such stars in a distant galaxy would appear
to be shifted downward in frequency (a red shift) if the star is rotating in its
cluster in a direction that is away from the Earth.
● On the other hand, there is an upward shift in frequency (a blue shift) of such
observed radiation if the star is rotating in a direction that is towards the Earth.

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4.37. GRAPHITE
CONTEXT
India has initiated discussions with Sri Lanka to acquire graphite mines in the island
nation.
GRAPHITE
● Graphite, also known as plumbago, blacklead,
or mineral carbon, is a naturally occurring,
stable form of carbon.
● The carbon content in Graphite is never less
than 95%.
● Graphite considered the highest grade of coal
● Graphite is extremely soft, cleaves with very
light pressure.
● It is extremely resistant to heat and is highly
unreactive.
● Graphite is a non-metal and it is the only
non-metal that can conduct electricity.
● This soft, lustrous mineral is used in lubricants,
refractories, brake linings, pencils, and
electrodes.
● Graphite typically constitutes the largest component by weight in lithium-ion
batteries, with up to 70 kilograms used in an average electric vehicle (EV).
4.38. TURBULENCE
CONTEXT
A Singapore Airlines flight operating from London to Singapore encountered “severe
turbulence” en route resulting in injuries to many passengers.
TURBULENCE
● Turbulence means disruption of airflow over the wings of an airplane, which
causes it to enter irregular vertical motion.
● There are at least seven kinds of turbulence that an aircraft can run into:
✔ WIND SHEAR: Happens when there is a sudden change in wind direction,
whether vertically or horizontally.
▪ Typically occurs close to thunderstorms, jet streams, etc.; tricky for pilots as
tailwinds suddenly change to headwinds or vice versa.
✔ FRONTAL: Created in the frontal zone when warm air is lifted by sloping
frontal surface and friction between opposing air masses.
▪ Most palpable when warm air is moist; intensity increases with
thunderstorms. Most common close to thunderstorms.
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 ✔ CONVECTIVE: When land surface temperature rises, the air above the
ground heats up and rises, creating air pockets around it.
▪ Convection currents cause difficulties during approach as they tend to affect
the rate of descent.
✔ WAKE: Forms behind an aircraft when it flies through air-creating wingtip
vortices.
▪ Can be dangerous for small aircraft following bigger ones, which tend to
disrupt the airflow more strongly in their wake.
✔ MECHANICAL: This type of turbulence occurs when tall solid objects such as
mountains or highrise constructions disrupt the normal airflow, causing the air
for planes to fly through to become dirty.
✔ CLEAR AIR: Occurs when an aircraft crosses from one air mass to another,
which has a different direction.
▪ Clear air turbulence could also happen when an aircraft moves out of a jet
stream. Clear air turbulence is mainly caused by wind or jet streams.
✔ MOUNTAIN WAVE: One of the most severe; these are oscillations that form on
the downwind side of mountains when strong winds flow towards mountains
in a perpendicular fashion.
▪ Aircraft tracking perpendicularly across, or downwind of a mountain, may
experien0ce sudden loss of altitude followed by a sudden reduction in
airspeed.
4.39. ZERO DEBRIS CHARTER
CONTEXT
Twelve nations have signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council,
solidifying their commitment to the long-term sustainability of human activities in
Earth orbit.
ZERO DEBRIS CHARTER
● In addition to the 12 countries, the European Space Agency also signed the Zero
Debris Charter as an International Organization (IGO).
● The Zero Debris Charter is an effort to become debris-neutral in space by
2030 that was unveiled at the ESA Space Summit in Seville meeting in
November 2023.
● Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom have all pledged to adhere to the
charter.
● ESA estimates that there are currently more than one million pieces of space
debris larger than one cm in Earth’s orbit
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 ● ESA’s Zero Debris approach is
the agency’s large-scale
revision of its internal space
debris mitigation requirements
to become debris-neutral by
2030.
● The approach will rely on
debris mitigation and
remediation technology
developed in ESA’s Space
Safety Programme.
● Facilitated by ESA’s Protection
of Space Assets Accelerator
and collaboratively developed
by more than 40 space actors,
the Charter contains both
high-level guiding principles
and ambitious, jointly defined
targets to enable the space
community to achieve the goal
of Zero Debris.

4.40. SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY OBSERVATORY (SKAO)

CONTEXT
The first prototype dish antenna which will be replicated towards building the world’s
largest radio telescope has achieved results from the first light.
SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY OBSERVATORY (SKAO)
● Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), which will function as the world’s
largest radio telescope.
● The SKAO is not a single telescope but an array of thousands of antennas, to
be installed in remote radio-quiet locations in South Africa and Australia.
● India, through the Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics
(NCRA) and some other institutions, has been involved in the development of SKA
since its inception in the 1990s.
● The SKA will also search for gravitational waves but is meant to study a range
of phenomena being able to peer much deeper into the universe — more than
3,000 trillion km — to study galaxies and stars in greater detail.

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● These are aimed at advancing the scope of
astronomical observations for improving the
overall understanding of the universe and its
evolution.
● India’s main contribution to the SKA is in the
development, and operation, of the
Telescope Manager element, the “neural
network” or the software that will make the
telescope work.
● The Square Kilometre Array radio telescope
will be developed by 16 consortium
members- Australia, South Africa, Canada,
China, India, Japan, South Korea, the UK,
Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and
Italy.
● India is contributing ₹1250 crore to the
Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project.

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4.41. ELECTRIC CEMENT
CONTEXT
Scientists found a way to recycle cement from demolished concrete buildings.
ELECTRIC CEMENT
● Concrete is the second most used material on earth, behind only water.
● Cement is the binding agent used in concrete, and its production is responsible
for 8% of global CO2 emissions.
● Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC) has developed a technology for recovering and
reusing cement from demolition waste making zero carbon cement a
possibility.
● Recovered cement paste is a viable substitute for the flux used in steelmaking.
● Rather than producing a waste slag, the process outputs “clinker” (the material
produced by conventional cement kilns).
● The steelmaking process is unaffected and production costs are reduced.
● CEC recognised that the conditions for recharging cement exist within the
electric arc furnaces used in recycling steel.
● The temperature is high enough to recharge the cement paste and to vaporize
impurities.
● From a steelmaking perspective, recovered cement paste works in place of
conventional flux and has no adverse effect on the steel.
● By switching to CEC’s process, steelmakers can reduce both their operating costs
and their carbon footprint.
● No alterations are required for the furnaces and the cement produced is
expected to cost about the same as conventional cement.
4.42. ASTROSAT
CONTEXT
A team of Indian astrophysicists has used observations from AstroSat1 the country’s
first dedicated space astronomy observatory—to discover aperiodic modulation of
high-energy X-ray photons in Swift J1727.8-1613, a black hole binary source.
ASTROSAT
● AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying
celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously
● AstroSat with a lift-off mass of 1515 kg was launched in 2015 into a 650 km
orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator.
● It was launched by PSLV-C30 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
● This multi-wavelength observatory, conceived in the 1990s, saw the collaboration
of scientists from the ISRO, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and
Astrophysics, Raman Research Institute, Indian Institute of Astrophysics,

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 Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research and
the Physical Research
Laboratory.
● The payloads including the
UltraViolet Imaging Telescope
(UVIT), Large Area X-Ray
Proportional Counters (LAXPC),
Soft X-Ray Telescope (SXT),
Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager
(CZTI) , Scanning Sky Monitor
(SSM) and Charged Particle
Monitor (CPM), were carefully
crafted for carrying out unique
observations.
BLACK HOLE X-RAY BINARY (BH-XRB) SYSTEM
● A black hole X-ray binary (BH-XRB) system consists of a black hole and a
companion star that are locked in gravitation.
● The black hole pulls matter off the star, forming a luminous accretion disk.
● This matter, as it falls towards the black hole through the accretion disk,
touches temperatures in millions of degrees and emits high-energy X-rays
● With these electromagnetic radiations that detect black holes, BH-XRBs also
unravel the processes of accretion (the increase in mass of celestial objects caused
by gravitational forces)
● These X-ray binaries are a reminder that, even though black holes are often
thought of as dark and mysterious, they can create spectacular displays of light
and energy, revealing their presence across vast distances.
4.43. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
CONTEXT
A recent study has caused controversy by raising the possibility that Fish oil
supplements may not be as heart-healthy as previously thought.
FISH OIL
● Fish oil is derived from the tissues of fatty fish.
● It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
● These essential fats are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and their
role in maintaining various bodily functions, including brain and heart health
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
● Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s) are polyunsaturated fats that perform
important functions in the human body.
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 ● There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids:
1. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EPA is a “marine omega-3” because it’s found in
fish.
2. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is also a marine omega-3 found in fish.
3. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is the form of omega-3 found in plants.
● They play a significant role in:
● Omega-3s help reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to many
chronic diseases.
● High doses of EPA and DHA can significantly lower blood triglyceride levels.
● Omega-3s are known to help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart
attack, and prevent arrhythmias.
● DHA, in particular, is vital for brain health and cognitive function
4.44. LINEAR ACCELERATOR (LINAC)
CONTEXT
Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER)
exchanges MoU on MRI and technology transfer of Linear Accelerator with industry in
presence of Secretary, MeitY.
LINEAR ACCELERATOR (LINAC)
● A medical linear accelerator (LINAC) is the device most commonly used for
external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer.
● It delivers high-energy x-rays or electrons to the region of the patient's tumor.
● These treatments can be designed in such a way that they destroy the cancer cells
while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.
● The LINAC is used to treat all body sites, using conventional techniques
● The linear accelerator uses microwave technology (similar to that used for
radar) to accelerate electrons in a part of the accelerator called the "wave guide".
● Then allows these electrons to collide with a heavy metal target to produce
high-energy x-rays.
● These high energy x-rays are shaped as they exit the machine to conform to the
shape of the patient's tumor and the customized beam is directed to the patient's
tumor.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
● Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a noninvasive medical imaging test that
produces detailed images of almost every internal structure in the human
body, including the organs, bones, muscles and blood vessels.
● MRI scanners create images of the body using a large magnet and radio
waves.
● No ionizing radiation is produced during an MRI exam, unlike X-rays.

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4.45. PREFIRE (POLAR RADIANT ENERGY IN THE
FAR-INFRARED EXPERIMENT)
CONTEXT
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) launched one of the two climate satellites, which
would study heat emissions at Earth’s poles.
PREFIRE
● The two shoebox-sized cube satellites, or
CubeSats, will measure how much heat the Arctic
and Antarctica — two of the coldest regions on the
Earth — radiate into space and how this influences the
planet’s climate.
● The mission has been named PREFIRE (Polar Radiant
Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) and was
jointly developed by NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (US).
● Each of the PREFIRE satellites is a 6U CubeSat.
● The two satellites will be placed in a near-polar orbit (a type of low Earth orbit)
at an altitude of about 525 kilometres.
● Its two CubeSats can study far-infrared radiation from the Earth’s pole and the
data collected by them would help scientists better understand the energy budget
of the planet.
● Each of the PREFIRE CubeSat is equipped with a thermal infrared spectrometer
— known as Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (TIRS) — to measure the amount of
infrared and far-infrared radiation from the Arctic and Antarctica.
● The CubeSats will also measure the amount of far-infrared radiation trapped
by atmospheric water vapour and clouds at the poles and how this influences
the greenhouse effect in the region.
4.46. QUANTUM DIAMOND MICROCHIP IMAGER
CONTEXT
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said it will work with the Indian Institute of
Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) to develop the country’s first Quantum Diamond
Microchip Imager, a tool to check the quality of semiconductors.
QUANTUM DIAMOND MICROCHIP IMAGER
● The Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager, an advanced sensing tool for
semiconductor chip imaging, will help reduce the chances of chip failures and
improve the efficiency of electronic devices
● This platform will enable better quality control of semiconductor chips, thereby
improving product reliability, safety, and energy efficiency of electrical devices.

114 | Page
 ● It “images” magnetic fields for a non-invasive and non-destructive mapping of
semiconductor chips, like a magnetic resonance imaging machine at a hospital.
● The collaboration between the information technology services (IT) company and
IIT Bombay “is aligned” with the government’s National Quantum Mission to

make India a global quantum technology leader.

4.47. GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GMO) MOSQUITOES
CONTEXT
Genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes were released in Djibouti, East Africa on May
23, 2024 to fight malaria.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GMO) MOSQUITOES
● The release is part of the ‘Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Programme’ started two
years ago to stop the spread of Anopheles stephensi, an invasive species of
mosquito.
● The method targets female mosquitoes, which are predominantly responsible
for malaria transmission. By reducing the female mosquito population.
● Male mosquitoes do not bite and therefore cannot transmit malaria.
● The friendly non-biting male Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, developed by
Oxitec, a UK-based biotechnology company, carry a gene that kills female
offspring before they reach maturity.
● This is the first time a genetically engineered mosquito has been released in East
Africa and the second time on the African continent.
● Burkina Faso in West Africa conducted the first ever release of genetically modified
mosquitoes in Africa in the village of Bana.
● The laboratory-produced mosquitoes carry a "self-limiting" gene that prevents
female mosquito offspring from surviving to adulthood when they mate.
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 ● Only their male offspring survive but would eventually die out
● Unlike the sterile male Anopheles colluzzi mosquitoes released in Burkina Faso in
2018, the friendly stephensi mosquitoes can still have offspring.
● GM mosquitoes are mosquitoes that have been implanted with a gene that was not
originally present or naturally occurring in the insect.
● In one case, the implant in question is a self-limiting gene that disrupts the
normal processes of mosquitoes’ offspring. These offspring will, in turn, not
survive to adulthood.
● GM mosquitoes are mass-produced in a laboratory to carry two types of
genes:
✔ A fluorescent marker gene that glows under a special red light. This allows
researchers to identify GM mosquitoes from wild mosquitoes.
✔ A self-limiting gene that prevents female mosquito offspring from surviving to
adulthood.
✔ A male-selecting gene that allows males to pass on their genes in a wild
population for multiple generations, while the females never become adults.

4.48. JUMPING GENES

CONTEXT
A new plant species found on the high, muddy slopes of the Nelliyampathy hills in
Kerala’s Palakkad district has been named after Barbara McClintock, the American
scientist who won the 1983 Nobel Prize for her discovery of the ‘jumping genes.’
JUMPING GENES

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 ● Transposable elements (TEs), also known as "jumping genes," are DNA
sequences that move from one location on the genome to another.
● These elements were first identified more than 50 years ago by geneticist
Barbara McClintock of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York.
● However, it became apparent that not only do TEs "jump," but they are also
found in almost all organisms (both prokaryotes and eukaryotes) and typically
in large numbers.
● For example, TEs make up approximately 50% of the human genome and up
to 90% of the maize genome (SanMiguel, 1996).
● In rare cases, however, transposons are associated with genetic mutations
or chromosomal rearrangements that cause disease in humans.
4.49. MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT
CONTEXT
Radar images obtained by NASA's Magellan spacecraft from 1990 to 1992 indicated
large lava flows at these two locations in the Venusian northern hemisphere at the
time of the observations.
MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT
● The Magellan spacecraft was a 1,035-kilogram (2,282 lb) robotic space probe
launched by NASA of the United States, on May 4, 1989, to map the surface of
Venus by using synthetic-aperture radar and to measure the planetary
gravitational field.
● The Magellan probe was the first interplanetary mission to be launched from
the Space Shuttle
● NASA's Magellan mission to Venus was one of the most successful deep space
missions.
● It was the first spacecraft to image the entire surface of Venus and made
several discoveries about the planet.
● First deep space probe launched by a space shuttle
● First spacecraft to image the entire surface of Venus
● Magellan was designed to use a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to map 70%
of the Venusian surface down to a resolution of 390 to 985 feet (120 to 300
meters).
● Venus is the second planet from the sun, and Earth the third. Venus has a
diameter of about 7,500 miles (12,000 km), slightly smaller than Earth.

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4.50. EARTHCARE
CONTEXT
Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) Mission Launched.
EARTHCARE
● ESA's EarthCARE (Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) mission launched, is the
largest and most complex Earth Explorer to date
● and will advance our understanding of the role that clouds and aerosols play in
reflecting incident solar radiation back into space and trapping infrared radiation
emitted from Earth's surface.
● EarthCARE is a joint venture between ESA and JAXA (Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency).
● objective to deliver unprecedented datasets to allow scientists to study the
relationship of clouds, aerosols and radiation at accuracy levels that will
significantly improve our understanding of these highly variable parameters.
● the aims of the mission are to improve understanding of the cloud, radiative
and aerosol processes that affect the Earth's climate
● The spacecraft will feature four distinct instruments
● ATmospheric LIDar (ATLID),Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), Multi-Spectral Imager
(MSI), Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR)
4.51. LIGNOSAT
CONTEXT
Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite In Fight Against Space Debris.
Lignosat

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● In a world-first, Japanese researchers have built a tiny
wooden satellite named LignoSat.
● This innovative project aims to reduce space debris by
burning up completely upon re-entry into Earth's
atmosphere.
● LignoSat is a collaborative effort between Kyoto
University and the logging company Sumitomo
Forestry
● the satellite is a mere 10 centimetres on each side and
is crafted from magnolia wood, selected for its strength
and workability after space exposure tests
● Traditionally, satellites are constructed from metal,
which creates harmful debris when they burn up in the atmosphere.
● This debris can pose a significant threat to operational satellites and spacecraft,
and researchers believe wooden satellites could offer a more sustainable
solution.
● LignoSat is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space
Centre in September.
● It will be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS)

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 5. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT

5.1. BASEFLOWS
CONTEXT
A recent study highlighted that Baseflows have a stronger triggering effect on river
floods in Peninsular India.
BASEFLOWS
● This study examines six major river
basins — Narmada, Tapi,
Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and
Cauvery — to identify the dominant
mechanisms that generate floods.
● Water storage in the upper layer of
soil (the unsaturated zone) is
referred to as soil moisture, while
water storage in the saturated zone
is known as groundwater. Below
the water table, groundwater can
flow into a river, which is generally
referred to as baseflow.
● This is often called groundwater flow or dry-weather flow.
5.2. NEW COLLECTIVE QUANTIFIED GOAL ON CLIMATE
FINANCE (NCQG)
CONTEXT
Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have made new
submissions on New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG).
NEW COLLECTIVE QUANTIFIED GOAL ON CLIMATE FINANCE (NCQG)
● In 2009, developed countries committed to providing ‘new and additional’ financial
resources amounting to about $30 billion to developing countries between
2010 and 2012.
● They also made a commitment of jointly mobilising $100 billion every year by
2020 for the same.
● In 2015, this goal of collective mobilisation of $100 billion by developed
countries was extended to 2025
● This is called NCQG, also called the post-2025 climate finance goal / new
goal.

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5.3. ANTARCTIC TREATY
CONTEXT
India is set to host the prestigious 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Meeting
will be organised by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR),
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
ANTARCTICA TREATY
● The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries — Argentina, Australia,
Belgium, Chile, French Republic, Japan, New
Zealand, Norway, Union of South Africa, USSR,
the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and
the US of America, and came into force in 1961.
● The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S
latitude.
● The objectives of the treaty are to demilitarize
Antarctica and establish it as a zone used
for peaceful research activities and to set
aside any disputes regarding territorial
sovereignty, thereby ensuring international cooperation.
● The total number of Parties to the Treaty is now 56-this includes India.
● India signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and received consultative status the
same year.
● The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(CCAMLR) was set up in 1980 for the protection and preservation of the Antarctic
environment and, in particular, for the preservation and conservation of marine
living resources in Antarctica.

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 ● The Protocol on Environmental Protection to
the Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1991 and
came into force in 1998.
● It designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve,
devoted to peace and science”.
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR POLAR AND OCEAN
RESEARCH (NCPOR)
● The National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research, (NCPOR) formerly known as the
National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research
(NCAOR) is an Indian research and
development institution, situated in Vasco
da Gama, Goa.
● It is an autonomous institution of the
Department of Ocean Development (DOD),
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of
India which is responsible for administering the
Indian Antarctic Programme
● and maintains the stations, Bharati and Indian government's Antarctic
research Maitri.
● It operating the Himadri and IndARC Arctic research stations in Svalbard,
Norway
5.4. BLUE HOLE
CONTEXT
Researchers unveiled the true extent of Mexico’s Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH), now
officially known as the deepest blue hole on Earth.
BLUE HOLE
● The Taam Ja’ Blue Hole, located
in Mexico’s Chetumal Bay off
the Yucatan Peninsula.
● The blue hole goes down a
whopping 1,380 feet (420
meters) below sea level —
nearly the height of Trump Tower
in Chicago.
● The blue hole surpasses the
previous record holder, the
Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also
known as the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, by 480 feet.

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 ● Blue holes, also known as Karst formations, are geological wonders formed by
the gradual dissolution of soluble bedrock such as limestone or gypsum, resulting
in the creation of vertical caverns submerged beneath the oceans’ surface.
● Blue holes are vertical marine caves that were carved over thousands of years
by glacial runoff during the Ice Age.
● Lack of oxygen and the presence of harmful hydrogen sulfide gas have
stopped researchers from reaching the bottom of the blue hole.
5.5. GARO HILLS
CONTEXT
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has unearthed fossils estimated to be between 35
to 40 million years old in Tolegre, South Garo Hills of Meghalaya.
GARO HILLS
● The Shillong Plateau‘s western, northern, and southern escarpments are
called the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills, respectively.
● The Garo Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya state of India
● They are inhabited by the Garo people
● It is one of the wettest places in the world.
● The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.
● It comprises the western margin of the Shillong Plateau and rises to a top
elevation of about 4,600 feet (1,400 metres).
● Drained by various tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, it has extremely high
rainfall and is heavily forested.
● Nokrek National Park, in the western part of the region, protects a highly
diverse plant and animal community.
5.6. PERCOLATION WELLS
CONTEXT
Non-profit organisation has embarked on an ambitious project to build 10,000
percolation wells across the City by 2026.
PERCOLATION WELLS
● Percolation wells are earthen dams padded with concrete rings inside and
filled with gravel
● so that rainwater gets trapped into it and percolates down to natural aquifers.
● Rain falls into the percolation well, water leaks into the soil in multiple layers and it
goes down to the ground and natural aquifers get activated, instead of allowing
rainwater runs off or forms a cesspool and evaporate.

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5.7. BATILLIPES CHANDRAYAANI
CONTEXT
A new species of marine tardigrade discovered from the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu
has been named Batillipes chandrayaani after the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
TARDIGRADES
● Tardigrades are microscopic marvels commonly
known as ‘water bears,’ although they have no
relation to actual bears.
● Marine tardigrades account for 17% of all known
tardigrade species.
● They are also found in all the oceans.
● Despite their tiny physiques, these micro-metazoans
easily rank among the hardiest animals, enduring
mass extinctions and are highly regarded for their
survival skills.
BATILLIPES CHANDRAYAANI
● Batillipes chandrayaani has been discovered in the intertidal beach sediments
at Mandapam in Tamil Nadu.
● Similar in size to other tardigrades, it grows to a length of 0.15 millimetres
and 0.04 millimetres in width.
● It has a trapezoid-shaped head and four pairs of legs with sharp-tipped
sensory spines. Both sexes are similar in terms of morphology and size.
5.8. SAHYADRI TIGER RESERVE
CONTEXT
The Maharashtra forest department is gearing up for translocation of a few tigers from
the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur to Sahyadri Tiger reserve.
SAHYADRI TIGER RESERVE
● The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) is one of only five tiger reserves in the
country — Kaval in Telangana, Kamlang in Arunachal Pradesh,Dampa in
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 Mizoram and Satkosia in Odisha being the other four — with zero tigers within
the reserve
● The translocation is part of a long-term plan to revive the population of the big cats
● The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had cleared the translocation
plan in October 2023.
● Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is a reserve in the state of Maharashtra, created by the
Indian government in 2008.
● Located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, it is
part of the ecoregions of North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests and North
Western Ghats montane rain forests
● STR straddles Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and Ratnagiri districts in western
Maharashtra.
● These ranges form a common boundary between Maharashtra, Karnataka and
Goa, and constitute rich evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
● The reserve spreads over Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary forming the northern
portion and Chandoli National Park forming the southern part of the
reserve.
● Recently the reserve has been extended towards Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary.

5.9. SWELL WAVES

CONTEXT
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) had forecasted
Swell waves likely to hit several coastal areas in India.
SWELL WAVES
● These waves are formed by an ocean swell, hence the name swell surge.
● Ocean swells occur not due to the local winds, but rather due to distant storms
like hurricanes, or even long periods of fierce gale winds.
● During such storms, huge energy transfer takes place from the air into the
water, leading to the formation of very high waves.
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 ● Such waves can travel thousands of kilometres
from the storm centre until they strike shore.
● Usually, states like Kerala witness swell waves as a
result of strong winds in the southern part of the
Indian Ocean, where an ocean swell is generated,
and the waves then travel north to reach the coast
in two or three days.
● The March swell waves were generated after a low
atmospheric pressure system moved over the region
from the South Atlantic Ocean — 10,000 kilometres
off the Indian coast.
● The arrival of the pressure system resulted in
strong winds, which led to the formation of swell
waves of up to 11 metres in height. These waves hit
the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep.
● To forecast swell waves, INCOIS launched the Swell Surge Forecast System in
2020 which can give forewarning seven days in advance.
● In March, swell waves led to flooding in several areas of Keral.Such flooding
events are called Kallakkadal in Kerala.

5.10. ETA AQUARIDS METEOR SHOWER

CONTEXT
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks during early May each year.
ETA AQUARIDS METEOR SHOWER
● Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed, with the meteors traveling at
about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere.

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 ● The pieces of space debris that interact
with our atmosphere to create the Eta
Aquarids originate from comet
1P/Halley.
● The Eta Aquarids are viewable in both
the Northern and Southern
hemispheres during the pre-dawn
hours.
● The Southern Hemisphere is
preferable for viewing the Eta Aquarids.
● Comet Halley takes about 76 years to
orbit the Sun once.
● The last time comet Halley was seen by
casual observers was in 1986. Comet
Halley will not enter the inner solar
system again until 2061.

5.11. ORANGUTAN
CONTEXT
Scientists observed a wild male orangutan
repeatedly rubbing chewed-up leaves of a
medicinal plant on a facial wound in a forest
reserve in Indonesia.
ORANGUTAN
● Known for their distinctive red fur,
orangutans are the largest arboreal
mammal, spending most of their time in
trees.
● These great apes share 96.4% of our
genes and are highly intelligent
creatures.
● The name orangutan means "man of the forest" in the Malay language.
● In the lowland forests in which they reside, orangutans live solitary
existences.
● They feast on wild fruits like lychees, mangosteens, and figs, and slurp water
from holes in trees.

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 ● They make nests in trees of
vegetation to sleep at night and rest
during the day. Adult male orangutans
can weigh up to 200 pounds.
● Bornean orangutan is now estimated at
about 104,700 based on updated
geographic range (Endangered) and the
Sumatran about 7,500 (Critically
Endangered).
✔ The median life expectancy for male
Bornean orangutans is about 27 years
and for male Sumatran orangutans is
about 25 years.
● A third species of orangutan, With no
more than 800 individuals in existence,
the Tapanuli orangutan is the most
endangered of all great apes.
● Orangutans live semi-solitary lives in
the wild.
● While they are the most solitary of the great apes, it should be noted that
orangutans are highly social and exhibit social tolerance during times of high
fruit abundance when they come together in aggregations known as parties.
5.12. CARBON FARMING
CONTEXT
The practice of carbon farming can help ameliorate soil degradation, water scarcity
and challenges related to climate variability.
CARBON FARMING
● Carbon is found in all living
organisms and many minerals.
● It is fundamental to life on earth and
plays a crucial role in various
processes, including photosynthesis,
respiration, and the carbon cycle.
● Farming is the practice of cultivating
land, raising crops, and/or
livestock for food, fibre, fuel, or
other resources.
● Carbon farming combines these two
concepts by implementing
regenerative agricultural practices that restore ecosystem health while
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 improving agricultural productivity and soil health, and mitigating climate change
by enhancing carbon storage in agricultural landscapes and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
● A simple implementation of carbon farming is rotational grazing.
● Others include agroforestry, conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient
management, agro-ecology, livestock management, and land restoration.
● Agroforestry practices — including silvopasture and alley cropping — can
further diversify farm income by sequestering carbon in trees and shrubs.
● Conservation agriculture techniques such as zero tillage, crop rotation, cover
cropping, and crop residue management (stubble retention and
composting) can help minimise soil disturbance and enhance organic content,
particularly in places with other intense agricultural activities.
● Integrated nutrient management practices promote soil fertility and reduce
emissions by using organic fertilizers and compost.
● Agro-ecological approaches such as crop diversification and intercropping have
benefits for ecosystem resilience.
● Livestock management strategies including rotational grazing, optimising
feed quality, and managing animal waste can reduce methane emissions and
increase the amount of carbon stored away in pasture lands.
5.13. URBAN HEAT ISLAND (UHI) EFFECT
CONTEXT
The study conducted by NIT Trichy has identified that there is a significantly higher
concentration of pollutants in the urban areas compared to the rural areas.
URBAN HEAT ISLAND (UHI)
● Urban areas usually experience the
urban heat island (UHI) effect, that
is, they are significantly warmer
than surrounding rural areas.
● The temperature difference is
usually larger at night than
during the day
● The differences are primarily due to
heat being trapped within
environments that resemble
concrete jungles.
● The temperature variation can range between 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.
● Rural areas have relatively larger green cover in the form of plantations,
farmlands, forests and trees as compared to urban spaces.
● This green cover plays a major role in regulating heat in its surroundings.

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 ● On the contrary, urban areas lack sufficient green cover or gardens and are often
developed with high-rise buildings.
5.14. SPERM WHALES
CONTEXT
Sperm whales use complex vocalisations resembling Morse code, revealing a
sophisticated communication system with a “phonetic alphabet”
SPERM WHALE
● Sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales,
communicate using bursts of clicking noises —
called codas — sounding a bit like Morse code.
● Sperm whales have one of the widest global
distributions of any marine mammal species.
● They are found in all deep oceans, from the
equator to the edge of the pack ice in the
Arctic and Antarctic.
● They are named after the waxy substance—spermaceti—found in their heads
● Sperm whales are mostly dark grey, though some whales have white patches
on the belly.
● They are the only living cetacean that has a single blowhole
● Sperm whales hunt for food during deep dives that routinely reach depths of
2,000 feet and can last for 45 minutes.
● IUCN Status : Vulnerable
● Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
5.15. CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS
CONTEXT
Constructed wetlands are nature’s ingenious solution for wastewater treatment in
India.
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS
● Constructed wetlands are engineered structures designed to replicate the
functions of natural wetlands.
● They are comprised of meticulously chosen vegetation, soil and water,
orchestrated to facilitate a seamless process of purification.
● Unlike conventional concrete tanks, these wetlands foster biodiversity, ranging
from microorganisms to aquatic plants and even birds — to engage in the
purification process.
● Constructed wetlands are typically divided into two categories: subsurface
flow (SSF) and surface flow (SF).
● SSF wetlands direct wastewater through gravel beds or porous media, promoting
microbial activity that degrades organic matter.
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● In contrast, SF wetlands demonstrate their aesthetic appeal above the water’s
surface, with gently flowing streams and lush vegetation.
● Both variants share a unified objective: to convert pollutants into benign
compounds through natural processes.
● Constructed wetlands replicate the functionalities of natural wetlands but are
purposefully designed to efficiently treat wastewater.
● India boasts several remarkable locations where constructed wetlands are utilised
for wastewater treatment.
● One such example is the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi, situated on
the city’s outskirts.
● The Kolkata East Wetlands in West Bengal, designated as a Ramsar site,
feature a vast network of natural and constructed wetlands.
● In Rajasthan, the Sariska Tiger Reserve has embarked on an innovative
initiative, utilising constructed wetlands for treating wastewater from nearby
villages.

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5.16. BATAGAY MEGASLUMP
CONTEXT
Siberia's 'gateway to the underworld' i.e. Batagay megaslump is growing a

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 staggering amount each year.
BATAGAY MEGASLUMP
● The Batagay megaslump — a
3,250-foot-wide (990 meters)
depression in the permafrost in the
Russian Far East
● It is growing by 35 million cubic
feet (1 million cubic meters) every
year as the frozen ground melts.
● The Batagaika crater is a
thermokarst depression in the Chersky Range area.
● The biggest permafrost crater in the world.

5.17.INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE (IOD)

CONTEXT
Two Australian weather agencies have said that the Positive Indian Ocean Dipole
(IOD) or Indian Nino in the Indian Ocean, may re-emerge for the second consecutive
year in the latter half of 2024.
INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE (IOD)
● The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), also
known as the Indian Niño, is an
irregular oscillation of sea surface
temperatures in which the western
Indian Ocean becomes alternately
warmer (positive phase) and then
colder (negative phase) than the
eastern part of the ocean.
● The IOD involves an aperiodic
oscillation of sea-surface
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 temperatures (SST), between "positive", "neutral" and "negative" phases.
● A positive phase sees greater-than-average sea-surface temperatures and
greater precipitation in the western Indian Ocean region
● The negative phase of the IOD brings about the opposite conditions, with warmer
water and greater precipitation in the eastern Indian Ocean, and cooler and drier
conditions in the west.
El NIÑO
● El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate
pattern across the tropical Pacific—the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or
“ENSO” for short.
● The pattern shifts back and forth irregularly every two to seven years,
● It brings predictable shifts in ocean surface temperature and disrupts the
wind and rainfall patterns across the tropics.

● El Niño is a phenomenon of warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea

surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
● Over Indonesia, rainfall tends to become reduced while rainfall increases over
the tropical Pacific Ocean.
● The low-level surface winds, which normally blow from east to west along the
equator (“easterly winds”), instead weaken or, in some cases, start blowing the
other direction (from west to east or “westerly winds”).
5.18. NERIUM OLEANDER
CONTEXT
Two Kerala government-controlled temple boards have
banned use of oleander flowers(locally known as arali) in
temple offerings after a 24-year old woman died after
accidentally chewing some oleander leaves.
NERIUM OLEANDER
● It is commonly known as oleander or rosebay, is a
plant cultivated worldwide in tropical, subtropical,
and temperate regions.
● Known for its drought tolerance, the shrub is often used for ornamental and
landscaping purposes.
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 ● There are different varieties of oleander, each with a flower of a different colour.
● Uses: In Kerala, the plant is known by the names of arali and kanaveeram, and
is grown along highways and beaches as a natural, green fencing.
MEDICINAL PROPERTY
● The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), a government document that
describes the quality, purity, and strength of drugs used in Ayurveda, mentions
oleander.
● According to API, oil prepared from the root bark can be used to treat skin diseases.
● The plant has been frequently described in Brihattrayi, Nighantus and other
classical Ayurvedic texts. Charka [Charak Samhita] has prescribed the leaves of
white flowered variety externally in chronic and obstinate skin diseases of serious
nature including leprosy.
TOXICITY OF OLEANDER
● It has long been recognised across the world
● The ingestion or inhalation of smoke from burning oleander can also be intoxicating.
● This is due to the properties of cardiac glycosides (a type of chemical) including
oleandrin, folinerin, and digitoxigenin, which are present in all parts of the plant.
EFFECTS OF OLEANDER TOXICITY
● It include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, confusion, dizziness, irregular
heartbeat, slow heartbeat, and, in extreme cases, death.
5.19. ARAVALLI RANGE
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court bars four states from granting
fresh mining leases in Aravallis.
ARAVALLI RANGE
● They stretch for a distance of about 720 km from
Himmatnagar in Gujarat to Delhi, spanning Haryana,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
● The Aravallis date back to millions of years when a
pre-Indian subcontinent collided with the mainland
Eurasian Plate
● Carbon dating has shown that copper and other
metals mined in the ranges date back to at least the
5th century BC.
● The Aravallis of Northwestern India, one of the oldest fold mountains of the
world, now form residual mountains with an elevation of 300m to 900m.
● Guru Shikhar Peak on Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range
(1,722 m).
● It has been formed primarily of folded crust, when two convergent plates move
towards each other by the process called orogenic movement.
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 ● The mountains are divided into two main ranges – the Sambhar Sirohi Range
and the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where their extension is about
560 km.
● Aravallis give rise to Banas, Luni, Sakhi, and Sabarmat
● The hidden limb of the Aravallis that extends from Delhi to Haridwar creates a
divide between the drainage of rivers of the Ganga and the Indus.
● The Aravallis are the green lungs for large parts of the subcontinent.
● They moderate the velocity of hot winds that blow towards north India and resist
the advance of the Thar Desert towards the Indo-Gangetic plains. Their forests are
crucial to recharging groundwater.
5.20. SUNDARBAN MANGROVE
CONTEXT
A new study by leading environmental scientists indicates that air pollution is a
serious threat to West Bengal's Sundarbans, a vital mangrove ecosystem that shields
the area from severe weather.

SUNDARBAN MANGROVE
● The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world.
● Named after the dominant mangrove tree species, Heritiera fomes, known as
sundri in Bengali,
● Sundarbans itself literally means ‘beautiful forest’ in Bengali.

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 ● The ecosystem is now one of the World’s Natural Wonders, and was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
● The Sundarbans Mangrove ecoregion lies in a vast delta, an area over 10,000 km2
formed by the confluence of South Asia’s largest rivers, the Ganges, Hooghly,
Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna.
● Sundarban is the largest deltaic region of the world.
5.21. CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL
CONTEXT
Swiss company Climeworks has opened the biggest operational direct air capture
(DAC) plant in the world to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Mammoth
plant, located in Iceland, is nearly ten times bigger than Orca, its second-largest
plant.
CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL
● Carbon dioxide removal, or CDR, is using technologies, practices, and
approaches to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere through
deliberate and intentional human actions.
● This includes traditional methods like afforestation, as well as more sophisticated
technologies like direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS).
● Natural processes, like the growth of a natural forest, are not CDR methods.
● CDR also includes durable and efficient storage of extracted carbon dioxide in
natural reservoirs like soil and vegetation, or in manufactured products like
carbonated drinks.
DIFFERENT CDR METHODS AFFORESTATION/REFORESTATION
● Converting abandoned or degraded agricultural lands into forests can
contribute to negative emissions
● According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), afforestation
is a relatively cheaper method of CDR
BIOCHAR
● Biochar is the substance produced by burning organic waste from
agricultural lands and forests in a controlled process called pyrolysis.
● Although it resembles common charcoal in appearance, the production of biochar
reduces contamination and is a method to safely store carbon.
● Biochar is a stable form of carbon that cannot easily escape into the atmosphere.
BECCS
● Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, or BECCS, is similar to biochar in
the sense that it also uses biomass to produce energy while preventing the
release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
● However, BECCS involves bioenergy production, often through combustion to
generate electricity or heat.

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 ● The resulting CO2 emissions from this combustion are captured and stored
underground, preventing them from contributing to the greenhouse effect.
● BECCS sequesters photosynthetically fixed carbon as post-combustion CO2.
● Biochar, on the other hand, is made by burning organic material and the carbon
is stored in the resulting charcoal-like substance
DACCS
● Direct air carbon capture and storage, or DACCS (also called DACS), extracts
CO2 directly from the atmosphere at any location.
● This captured CO2 is then permanently stored in deep geological formations
or used for other applications.
ENHANCED ROCK WEATHERING
● This CDR method involves pulverising silicate rocks to bypass the
conventionally slow weathering action.
● The resultant product, usually a powder, has higher reactive surface area, which
is then spread on agricultural lands for further chemical reactions.
OCEAN ALKALINITY ENHANCEMENT
● Like forests and green patches on land, oceans are also vast natural sinks for
carbon.
● Ocean alkalinity enhancement is a CDR method that involves adding alkaline
substances to seawater to accelerate this natural sink.
5.22. SONAI RUPAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
CONTEXT
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked Assam’s Chief Secretary to provide
details of officers who let polling stations, schools, and other construction activities
in a Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and a reserve forest in gross violation of the
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

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5.23. SEA ANEMONES
CONTEXT
Scientists at the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) working
on sea anemones of the Lakshadweep group of islands have found mass anemone
bleaching off the Agatti island.
SEA ANEMONES
● Bleaching is making sea anemone
more susceptible to diseases
and increases mortality.
● The loss of symbiotic algae
deprives sea anemones of their
primary energy source,
compromising their long-term
survival.
● Sea anemone is an aquatic
animal marked by soft bodies
and an ability to sting.
● They are close associates of corals
and live rocks.
● There are over 1,000 species spanning the world’s oceans, and they come in a
whole spectrum of bright colours.
● Sea anemones are polyps, which means they have a cylindrical-shaped body
with a central mouth.
● This mouth is surrounded by a variable number of tentacles, giving them a
plant-like appearance.
● Sea anemones are predatory animals, but instead of hunting for their food, they
will wait patiently on their rock or coral reef for their prey to pass by.
● They are carnivores, and feed on the likes of tiny plankton and fish, but
larger anemones have also been known to eat starfish and crabs.
● Sea anemones have no eyes or ears and rely on their tentacles to sense and
capture their meals.
● Sea anemones have been known to live up to 100 years, and sometimes even
longer.
● This makes them one of the longest-living marine creatures.
● Sea anemones can clone themselves.
● They do this through asexual reproduction, where the anemone’s body breaks
into two. Sea anemone can also reproduce sexually and will do so every
couple of days.

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5.24. ARMOURED SAILFIN CATFISH
CONTEXT
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
(CCMB) scientists have found out that
the invasive armoured sailfin catfish has
spread to 60% in the water bodies of
Eastern Ghats.
ARMOURED SAILFIN CATFISH
● This was realised through a unique
‘eDNA-based quantitative PCR assay’.
● Armoured sailfin catfish, commonly referred
to as the Rakashi or devil fish.
● South American armoured sailfin catfish
from family Loricariidae belong among very
popular ornamental fish species.
INVASIVE SPECIES
● An "invasive species" is a species that is:
● non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem
under consideration and,
● whose introduction causes or is likely to cause
economic or environmental harm or harm
to human health.

5.25. GEOMAGNETIC STORM

CONTEXT
After two decades, Earth is struck by the G-5 Level Geomagnetic Storm.
GEOMAGNETIC STORM

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 ● A geomagnetic storm 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 disturbance that drives the magnetic storm
may be a solar coronal mass ejection (CME)
or (much less severely) a co-rotating interaction
region (CIR), a high-speed stream of solar wind
originating from a coronal hole.
CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS
● The solar magnetic cycle that works in the
deep interior of the Sun creates regions that
rise to the surface and appear like dark spots.
These are the sunspots.
● Solar flares are highly energetic phenomena
that happen inside the sunspots.
● In a solar flare, the energy stored in the sun’s
magnetic structures is converted into light and
heat energy.
● This causes the emission of high energy x-ray
radiation and highly accelerated charged particles to leave the sun’s surface.
● Sometimes solar flares also cause hot plasma to be ejected from the Sun,
causing a solar storm, and this is called Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).
● Coronal Mass Ejections can harbour energies exceeding that of a billion atomic
bombs.
● The energy and radiation and high energy particles emitted by flares can affect
Earth bound objects and life on Earth – it can affect the electronics within
satellites and affect astronauts.
● Very powerful Earth-directed coronal mass ejections can cause failure of power
grids and affect oil pipelines and deep-sea cables.
● They can also cause spectacular aurorae in the high-latitude and polar
countries.
5.26. DUST STORM
CONTEXT
Delhi-NCR witnessed a massive duststorm accompanied by thunderstorms and rain
DUST STORM
● A dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is blown into an area by strong
winds from thunderstorms.

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 ● The wall of dust created by a dust storm can be miles long and several thousand
feet high.
● Dust storms happen in many places around the world.
● Most of the world’s dust storms occur over the Middle East and North Africa.
However, they can also happen anywhere in the world
● Dust storms are caused by very strong winds — often produced by
thunderstorms.
● In dry regions, the winds can pull dust from the ground up into the air, creating a
dust storm.
● Northwest India experiences convective dust storms, locally called “aandhi”,
during the premonsoon season with maximum frequency and intensity in
May.
● The frequency of dust storms is maximum over Rajasthan followed by Haryana,
Punjab and West Uttar Pradesh.
● It is of three types: Slight dust storm: If the wind speed is up to 41 kmph and
visibility is less than 1,000 metres but more than 500 meters.
● Moderate dust storm: If the wind speed is between 42-74 kmph and visibility is
between 200 and 500 metres.
● Severe dust storm: If the surface wind speed (in gusts) exceeds 74 kmph and
visibility is less than 200 metres.
5.27. FLUE-GAS DESULFURIZATION
CONTEXT
The Ministry of Power held a meeting to review a study conducted by IIT-Delhi on the
effect of installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) technology on Sulphur Dioxide
(SO2 ) emissions.
FLUE-GAS DESULFURIZATION
● Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) is a set of technologies used to remove sulfur
dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants.
COMMON METHODS USED:
● Wet scrubbing using a slurry of alkaline sorbent, usually limestone or lime, or
seawater to scrub gases;
● Spray-dry scrubbing using similar sorbent slurries;
● Wet sulfuric acid process recovering sulfur in the form of commercial quality
sulfuric acid;
● SNOX Flue gas desulfurization removes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and
particulates from flue gases;
● Dry sorbent injection systems that introduce powdered hydrated lime (or other
sorbent material) into exhaust ducts to eliminate SO2 and SO3 from process
emissions.[1]

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 ● For a typical coal-fired power station, flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) may
remove 90 per cent or more of the SO2 in the flue gases.
SULPHUR DIOXIDE
● It is an inorganic compound, heavy, colourless, and poisonous gas. It is
produced in large quantities in intermediate steps of sulphuric acid manufacture.
● It has a pungent, irritating odour, similar to the smell of a just-struck match.
● In nature, it occurs in volcanic gases and in a solution of some water warm springs.
Usually, it is prepared industrially by the burning in air or oxygen of sulphur or such
compounds of sulphur as iron pyrite or copper pyrite.
● In large quantities, sulphur dioxide is formed in the combustion of
sulphur-containing fuels.
● It can combine in the atmosphere with water vapour to form sulphuric acid which is
a major component of acid rain.
● It is used in the preparation of sulphuric acid, sulphur trioxide, and sulphites.
● It is also used as a disinfectant.
● It is used in a refrigerant, a reducing agent, a bleach, and food preservation
mainly in dried fruits.
5.28. VENEZUELA: LOST GLACIERS
CONTEXT
Venezuela may be the first nation in modern history to lose all its glaciers.
LOST GLACIERS
● The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), a scientific advocacy
organization, the Humboldt, or La Corona, in the Andes—had become "too
small to be classed as a glacier".
INITIATIVES RELATED TO SAFEGUARDING GLACIERS
● National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem– It aims to
understand scientifically the complex processes affecting this ecosystem and evolve
suitable management and policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding the
Himalayan ecosystem including Himalayan glaciers.
● SECURE Himalaya project- SECURE Himalayas project is spread over 6 years. The
objective of the project is to secure people’s livelihood, restore, conserve and use
sustainably the high range ecosystems of the Himalayas.
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR INTEGRATED MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT (ICIMOD)
● The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a
regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving
regional member countries (RMCs) of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region
● CIMOD promotes and fosters partnerships amongst the RMCs in an effort to secure
a better future for the people and environment of the HKH region.
● Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP)
launched by ICIMOD.
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HIMANSH
● As part of the Indian government’s initiatives to better study and quantify the
Himalayan glacier responses towards the climate change, National Centre for
Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth
Sciences has established a high altitude research station in Himalaya
● It is called HIMANSH (literally meaning, a slice of ice), situated above 13,500
ft (> 4000 m) at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
5.29. LEOPARD CAT
CONTEXT
A leopard cat has been spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve for the first time.
LEOPARD CAT
● Leopard cat, with the scientific name Prionailurus bengalensis, belongs to the
family Felidae, and is noted for its leopard-like colouring.
● 15 species of felids, or wild cats, are found in India, constituting over 40 per
cent of global felid diversity.
● Leopard cat is the most widespread species after the jungle cat in India due to
its “adaptive flexibility”, and is restricted to North East India, northern Himalayan
states, West Bengal, Odisha, and pockets of Western Ghats.
● The leopard cat is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast,
and East Asia.
● Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as it is
widely distributed although threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its
rang
● The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra which gets its name from the
Pench river is spread over 740 sq km. The flora is predominantly dominated by
teak trees.
● The Reserve shows corridor connectivity with the Melghat Tiger Reserve to
the west, Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve to the southeast, Pench Tiger
Reserve (MP) to the north, and Kanha Tiger Reserve (MP) to the northeast.
5.30. SILK COTTON TREES
CONTEXT
Silk cotton trees are disappearing in south Rajasthan, triggering a chain reaction of
negative implications for both the environment and the local population.
SILK COTTON TREES
● Silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba L.), known locally as semal.
● Its roots, fruits, seeds, stem, stem bark, and gum are all medicinally valuable
● Apart from the flowers, the silk cotton tree is characterised by its spiked trunk and
fluffy seed pods, and is native to India.

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 ● When mature, it is a tall deciduous tree with a buttressed base and a trunk
covered in huge conical prickles.
● It is most commonly found in moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, as
well as on the plains. Occasionally found in plains from the shore and on the
deciduous belt of hills up to 1400 meters.
● In India, it is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Kerala,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
IMPORTANCE
● Members of the Garasia tribe in Rajasthan believe they descended from semal
trees.
● Semal is an integral species that holds the forest ecosystem together.
● The rock bees nestle on its branches because the tree’s spikes keep its
predator, the sloth bears, away.
● Members of tribal communities consume the tree’s reddish root for food during
the monsoons.
● Larvae of the moth Bucculatrix crateracma feed on its leaves.
● The golden-crowned sparrow weaves the lining of its nests with white cotton from
its seeds.
● The Dysdercus bugs, the Indian crested porcupine, Hanuman langurs, and some
other species feast on the nectar in its flowers
● Members of the Kathodi tribe use its wood to craft musical instruments while
those of the Bhil use it to make utensils.
5.31. RED PANDA
CONTEXT
An endangered species, Red panda was recently
captured on camera in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary
(EWS) located in the Singchung subdivision of the West
Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.
RED PANDA
● The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as
the lesser panda, is a small mammal native
to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern
China.
● It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black
belly and legs, white-lined ears
● The red panda inhabits coniferous forests as
well as temperate broadleaf and mixed
forests, favouring steep slopes with dense
bamboo cover close to water sources.
● It is solitary and largely arboreal.
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 ● It feeds mainly on bamboo shoots and
leaves, but also on fruits and blossoms.
● Red pandas mate in early spring, with the
females giving birth to litters of up to four
cubs in summer.
● The species has been listed as Endangered on
the IUCN Red List since 2015. It is protected
in all countries.
● The red panda inhabits Nepal, the states of
Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal
Pradesh in India, Bhutan, southern Tibet,
northern Myanmar and China's Sichuan and
Yunnan provinces.
● It is the state animal of Sikkim.
● Habitat is located in the temperate climate zone of the Himalayas with a
mean annual temperature range of 18–24 °C
● Throughout this range, it has been recorded at elevations of 2,000–4,300 m.

5.32. BLUE FLAG CERTIFICATION

CONTEXT
The Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) has recommended
the Injambakkam-Akkarai stretch development project with the condition to explore
blue flag certification.
BLUE FLAG CERTIFICATION
● The Blue Flag is a certification given to beaches by the Foundation for
Environmental Education (FEE).

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 ● A beach that has been awarded the blue flag
means that it meets the organisation's standards
of environmental management.
● These standards are for water quality, safety,
and public environmental education.
● The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE
which is a non-profit, non-governmental
organisation.
● It is made up of 65 organisations in 60 member
countries in Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia and the
Americas.
● It is an internationally recognised eco-label that is
accorded based on 33 criterias. These criterias
are divided into 4 major heads namely,
✔ Environmental education and information
✔ Bathing water quality
✔ Environmental management
✔ Conservation and safety services in the beaches
● As of October 2022, India has 12 Blue Flag beaches.

5.33. ECO SENSITIVE ZONE

CONTEXT
The Supreme Court halted all mining activities within a one-kilometre radius of a
critical tiger habitat (CTH) in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
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ECO SENSITIVE ZONE
● As per the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016), issued by the Union
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, land within 10 km of the
boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries is to be notified as eco-fragile
zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ).
● 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.
● According to the guidelines issued by the Environment Ministry in 2011, ESZs are
created as “shock absorbers” for the protected areas, to minimize the negative
impact on the “fragile ecosystems” by certain human activities taking place nearby.
● Furthermore, these areas are meant to act as transition zone from areas requiring
higher protection to those requiring lesser protection.

5.34. NOR’WESTERS
CONTEXT
India is working to develop its first research testbed
to study Nor’westers.
NOR’WESTERS
● A kalbaisakhi also known in Assam as a
bordoisila and nor'wester,
● It is a localised rainfall and thunderstorm
event which occurs in Bangladesh as well as the
Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha,
Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal during
summer.

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 ● These storms generally occur in the afternoon or just before sunset, when thick
dark black clouds start appearing over the sky and then bring gale-speed wind
with torrential rain, often with hail, but spanning only a short period of time.
● The period of kalbaisakhi formation generally begins in April and lasts until the
monsoon establishes itself over Northeast India, although March kalbaisakhi are not
unknown
● Kalbaisakhi originates over the Chottanagpur Plateau between the states of Bihar
and Jharkhand.
● They gradually gain strength as they move southeast wards and impact the
states of Odisha, West Bengal, and Assam with gale-speed winds (often exceeding
100 km/h (62 mph)), torrential rains, and hailstorms.
● On some occasions, incursion of moist air in these elevated places, when combined
with high surface temperatures, causes violent thunderstorms
● However it is extremely helpful for kharif crops like tea, jute, paddy.
5.35. SUMMER SOLSTICE
CONTEXT
The summer solstice heralds the start of astronomical summer in the Northern
Hemisphere and marks the day with the most daylight for the year.
SUMMER SOLSTICE
● "Solstice" means "sun stands still" in Latin.
● Solstices and equinoxes are caused by Earth's axis being tilted 23.5 degrees with
respect to its orbit
around the sun.
● That tilt means
different parts of
Earth receive
sunlight for
different lengths
of time depending
on the time of year.
● On the summer
solstice, the
Northern
Hemisphere is tilted
toward the sun, receiving the full glare of the sun's rays — which means the
longest day of the year.
✔ At the North Pole, the sun literally does not set on the summer solstice.

✔ On the summer solstice, there are more hours of sunlight the farther north
you go in the Northern Hemisphere.
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 ✔ People in this hemisphere might notice that the sun is very high in the sky at
noon.
✔ The exact opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere, which experiences its
winter solstice on the same day; at the South Pole, the sun will not rise.
● On the equinoxes — the two days of the year when both hemispheres experience
the same amount of daylight and nighttime — the sun appears directly overhead, at
90 degrees above the equator at noon.
✔ But on the northern summer solstice, the noon sun appears directly overhead at
a higher latitude: the Tropic of Cancer, which sits about 23.5 degrees north of
the equator
● Each year, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on one of two
days: June 20 or June 21.
● In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice happens on Dec. 21 or Dec. 22.
● After the summer solstice, the days begin to get shorter in the Northern
Hemisphere.
● Northern midlatitudes experience about 15 hours of daylight in the weeks
following the summer solstice, compared with around 9 hours of daily sunlight
around the winter solstice.
● In addition, the Northern Hemisphere is still tilted toward the sun, making it
warm.
5.36. CHIR PINE
CONTEXT
Uttarakhand’s pine trees are to blame for the fires.
CHIR PINE
● A conifer that can grow up to a height of about
30 metres, the chir pine covers almost 16.5
percent of Uttarakhand’s total forested area.
● It owes its scientific name, Pinus roxburghii
● Native to the Himalayas, chir pine or the
longleaf Indian pine, was not introduced to the
Himalayas by the British
● Found all over the Western Himalayas at an
elevation between 1,000 and 2,000 metres, it
covers large parts of Garhwal and Kumaon
where it can be seen growing on steep slopes and
can be identified by its three needles and its
round cone (unlike the elongated cones of other
pines).
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 ● It is one of the six pines in India that have maximum occurrence and area
● The root system of pine is shallow and it doesn’t require a lot of water .
● That is why the majority of the places with an abundance of pine forests have a
high chance of becoming seriously drought-prone in summer months
● Pine tree is exclusively used for resin-tapping .
● The resin, locally known as Lisa, is used for making turpentine oil after
distillation.
● The wood is used by the people as a source of firewood and locally sourced
timber for their houses and other wooden furniture needs.
5.37. KUNMING-MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY
FRAMEWORK
CONTEXT
Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Scientific body adopted recommendations
to implement Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
KUNMING-MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK
● United Nations Biodiversity Conference
(COP15) Chaired by China and hosted by
Canada, COP 15 resulted in the adoption of
the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
● The deal, which includes 23 targets in
total, replaces the failed 2010 Aichi
Biodiversity Targets that were intended to
guide conservation through 2020.
● It is non-binding in nature
● It has target of protecting 30% of the
world's land and seas by the decade's
end, a target known informally as 30-by-30
● Global Environment Facility set up a
Special Trust Fund – the GBF Fund – to
support the implementation of the GBF, in
order to ensure an adequate, predictable and timely flow of funds.
● It calls for raising $200 billion by 2030 for biodiversity from a range of sources
and working to phase out or reform subsidies that could provide another $500
billion for nature
● The framework calls for increasing to at least $20 billion annually by 2025 the
money that goes to poor countries — or about double what is currently provided.
That number would increase to $30 billion each year by 2030.

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5.38. PHAWNGPUI NATIONAL PARK
CONTEXT
A rare hemi-parasitic terrestrial plant named
Phtheirospermum lushaiorum has been
found in Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram.
PHAWNGPUI NATIONAL PARK
● The specific epithet “lushaiorum” is named
after the “Lushai” tribe of Mizoram.
● Phawngpui National Park or Phawngpui
Blue Mountain National Park is one of the
two national parks of India in Mizoram, the
other and the larger being Murlen
National Park.
● It is about 300 km from the main city
Aizawl, located in the Lawngtlai district,
towards the Phawngpui National Park and
relatively close to Burma.
● It bears the name of the mountain Phawngpui, which is the highest mountain
peak in the state, reaching 2,157 m asl.
● The Phawngpui National Park provides habitat for a range of birds including the
rare Blyth's tragopan, falcon, sunbirds, dark-rumped swift, and Mrs. Hume's
pheasant, which is the Mizoram state bird
● The flora of Phawngpui mostly includes grasses, orchids, trees of
rhododendrons, and oak.
5.39. KOUNDINYA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
CONTEXT
Sri Lankan golden-backed frog rediscovered after 200 years in India at Koundinya
Wildlife Sanctuary
KOUNDINYA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
● Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and an elephant reserve
situated in Andhra Pradesh, India.
● It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a population of Asian elephants,
which migrated after 200 years from neighbouring regions
● It lies in Kuppam and Palmaner Ranges of Chittoor district,Andhra Pradesh.
● The habitat of Kaundinya sanctuary is rugged with high hills and deep valleys.
● The sanctuary has dry deciduous forests with thorny scrubs interspersed with
trees.
● These forests have small ponds, tanks and the Kaindinya and Kaigal tributaries
of Palar River.
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 ● The sanctuary is situated in region where the Kolar Plateau ends and slopes down
into the plains of Tamil Nadu creating many valleys and ghats
5.40. BAOBAB TREE
CONTEXT
The baobab lineage began in Madagascar around 21
million years ago and spread to Africa and Australia
within the past 12 million years.
BAOBAB TREES
● It is a long-lived deciduous, small to large
tree with broad trunks and compact tops which is
also known as the upside-down tree.
● There are 9 species of baobab tree. Two are
native to mainland Africa, six to Madagascar, and
one to Australia.
● Mandu, in the Dhar district of Madhya
Pradesh, is perhaps the only place in India where
baobab trees are found in abundance.
● Ecologically, baobabs are keystone species in
Madagascar's unique landscapes.
● Their massive trunks and extensive root
systems are vital for storing water in arid
environments, providing a critical resource for both
the trees and the surrounding ecosystem during drought periods.
● It is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and
stores water.
● Baobab trees grow in 32 African countries. They can live for up to 5,000
years, reach up to 30 metres high and up to an enormous 50 metres in
circumference.
● It has a fruit that is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.
Baobab is the only fruit in the world that dries naturally on its branch.
5.41. MICROPLASTICS
CONTEXT
New research finds Micro plastics can build up in the testicles of humans and dogs —
raising more questions about the potential health impacts of these particles.
MICROPLASTICS
● Microplastics, small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that
occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution.

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 ● Microplastics are present in a variety of products, from cosmetics to synthetic
clothing to plastic bags and bottles. Many of these products readily enter the
environment in wastes.
● Microplastics consist of carbon and
hydrogen atoms bound together in
polymer chains.
● Microplastics are divided into two
types: primary and secondary.
● Examples of primary microplastics
include microbeads found in
personal care products, plastic
pellets (or nurdles) used in industrial
manufacturing, and plastic fibres
used in synthetic textiles (e.g.,
nylon).
● Secondary microplastics form
from the breakdown of larger
plastics; this typically happens
when larger plastics undergo
weathering, through exposure to, for
example, wave action, wind
abrasion, and ultraviolet radiation
from sunlight.
5.42. NAEGLERIA FOWLERI
CONTEXT
A five-year-old girl from Malappuram, Kerala, has died of amoebic
meningoencephalitis at the Government Medical College Hospital Kozhikode.
NAEGLERIA FOWLERI
● The Naegleria fowleri amoeba is a tiny organism found in warm freshwater
like lakes and rivers.
● It can also be found in soil or untreated water.
● When people swim or dive in water containing this amoeba, it can enter their
bodies through the nose.
● Once in the nasal passages, Naegleria fowleri can travel to the brain, resulting in
inflammation of the brain tissue and causing a severe infection called primary
amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)
● This infection spreads quickly and can be deadly if not treated right away.
● Symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and changes in
mental state.

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5.43. HIMALAYAN IBEX AND BLUE SHEEP
CONTEXT
Census exercise begins in Himachal’s cold desert Lahaul & Spiti district to estimate
blue sheep, Himalayan ibex.
HIMALAYAN IBEX
● Himalayan ibex is a wild goat, a subspecies
of the Siberian ibex.​
● It is native to the Himalayan region of India,
Pakistan, Tibet, and Nepal.
● In India, they are found in Jammu and
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and
Uttarakhand.
● They inhabit the high-altitude regions of the
Himalayas at elevations between 3,000
and 5,800 meters.
● They prefer steep, rocky terrain with plenty of vegetation and access to water
sources.
● During the winter, they migrate to lower elevations to avoid deep snow and harsh
weather conditions.
● They are herbivores and primarily feed on grasses, leaves, and shrubs.
● Conservation Status: Wild life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
BLUE SHEEP
● The bharal, also called the blue sheep
● It is native to the high Himalayas.
● Despite their name, Blue Sheep are neither
blue nor are they sheep.
● They are more closely related to goats
● It is found in India, Bhutan, China,
Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
● They live on treeless slopes, alpine
meadows and shrubs.
● They prefer gentle hillsides rather than steep,
rugged slopes.
● Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern, Wild life Protection Act, 1972:
Schedule I
5.44. RED LIST OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS
CONTEXT
The report, Red List of Mangrove Ecosystems, is the first global mangrove assessment
for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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MANGROVES STATUS
● Indian mangrove ecosystems have been
bunched into three parts.
● The ecosystems in the Bay of Bengal
region shared by India and Bangladesh
and those in the west shared by India
and Pakistan are in the least concerned
category.
● However, the mangrove ecosystem in the
south, which India shares with Sri
Lanka and Maldives, is categorised as
critically endangered.
MANGROVES
● Mangroves are tropical trees or
shrubs that grow in coastal saline or
brackish water where other species
cannot survive.
● They act as a natural barrier to coastal
soil erosion and other natural disasters
like floods.
● Mangroves are the ideal example of an ecotone because they grow between the
land and the sea, and they serve as a breeding ground for many species of fish
that are essential to the economy.
● An Indian mangrove forest has a salt filtration system in place to handle wave
action and immersion in seawater.
● Pneumatophores, or blind roots, are a feature of mangroves in India that help
them overcome the respiration issue in anaerobic soil.
● Mangroves reproduce by viviparity, which means that seeds begin to develop
inside the tree before falling to the ground.
● This is an important adaptation strategy for resolving the germination issue in
salinized water.
5.45. COASTAL REGULATION ZONE (CRZ)
CONTEXT
Southern Bench of the NGT has directed to halt Chennai Shoreline Renourishment
and Revitalization Project (includes cycle track, food court, etc.) in the CRZ II zone,
where such activities are prohibited.
COASTAL REGULATION ZONE
● Currently, The coastal zone management plan (CZMP) as per Coastal Regulation
Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019 has been approved for Odisha, Karnataka and
Maharashtra
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 ● The island coastal regulation zone management plan (ICRZP) as per Island Coastal
Regulation Zone Notification, 2019 has also been approved for Great Nicobar Island
and Little Andaman Island
● Under the section 3 of
Environment Protection
Act, 1986 of India, Coastal
Regulation Zone notification
was issued in 1991 for the
first time, for regulation of
activities in the coastal area
by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests
(MoEF).
● The Coastal regulation
zone notification
2019 was issued to replace
the 2011 notification and
develop the coastal region
of the country in sustainable
manner on scientific
principles
● The notification of 2019 also
promotes the development of tourism infrastructure in the coastal areas.
● One of the important feature of 2019 notification is the streamlining of the
coastal regulation zone clearing procedure. The Ministry of Environment forest
and climate change will oversee the matter of CRZ clearance only for CRZ-I; i.e
the ecologically vulnerable areas and CRZ IV (area between low tide line and
12 nautical miles seaward) areas
● while for the other two categories namely CRZ-III and CRZ-II (urban areas),
the power of clearance has been designated at state level.
● The notification also proposes a no development zone of 20 metres for all
islands.
● The ecologically vulnerable areas identified on the basis of Environment Protection
Act, 1986 are to be managed in partnership with coastal communities and
fisherfolks.
● For the purpose of pollution abatement in coastal areas, the development of
treatment facilities is proposed under the regulation in CRZ-IB areas.
5.46. SOLAR CYCLE
CONTEXT
The origin of the Sun’s magnetic field and solar cycles are being researched.
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SOLAR CYCLE
● The solar cycle is the cycle that the Sun’s
magnetic field goes through
approximately every 11 years.
● Every 11 years or so, the Sun's magnetic
field completely flips.
● This means that the Sun's north and south
poles switch places.
● The solar cycle affects activity on the surface
of the Sun, such as sunspots which are
caused by the Sun's magnetic fields.
● 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.
● Giant eruptions on the Sun, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections,
also increase during the solar cycle. These eruptions send powerful bursts of
energy and material into space.
● This activity can have effects on Earth. For example, eruptions can cause lights in
the sky, called aurora, or impact radio communications. Extreme eruptions
can even affect electricity grids on Earth.
5.47. MICROBIAL METHANE OXIDATION SYSTEMS
CONTEXT
A recent study proposes an innovative and sustainable approach to use microbial
methane oxidation system (popularly called biocover) to control fugitive methane
emissions from an old dumpsite at full scale in Estonia, Europe.
MICROBIAL METHANE OXIDATION SYSTEMS
● Landfills and dumpsites, a component of waste disposal, are significant sources
of methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28
times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period.
● When municipal solid waste (MSW) is initially disposed of in landfills or dumpsites,
it undergoes aerobic decomposition, producing minimal methane.
● However, as anaerobic conditions prevail, methanogenic activity leads to
prolonged methane emissions, even from closed landfills.
● Current methods for methane reduction in the waste sector include source
segregation, organic waste diversion, scientific treatment of MSW fractions,
construction of sanitary landfills and dumpsite remediation.
● However, a recent study proposes an innovative and sustainable approach of
microbial methane oxidation system (popularly called as biocover) to control
fugitive emissions of methane from an old dumpsite
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 ● The fine fraction from landfill mining was used to create biocovers, which
effectively controlled methane emissions by oxidising methane into CO2.
● An inexpensive way to reduce greenhouse-active methane emissions from
existing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills is to exploit the natural process of
microbial methane oxidation through improved landfill cover design.
● Landfill top covers, which optimise environmental conditions for methanotrophic
bacteria and enhance biotic methane consumption, are often called ‘biocovers’
and function as vast bio-filters.
● Biocovers are typically spread over an entire landfill area.
● They are often waste materials, such as diverse composts,
mechanically-biologically treated waste, dewatered sewage sludge or yard waste.
● Methane oxidation in compost materials shows high oxidation capacity.
Manipulation of landfill covers to maximise their oxidation capacity provides a
promising complementary strategy for controlling methane emissions.

5.48. TROPICAL CYCLONES

CONTEXT
The severe cyclonic storm Remal started its landfall
process between Sagar Island in West Bengal and
Khepupara in Bangladesh.
TROPICAL CYCLONES
● Tropical cyclones are violent storms that
originate over oceans in tropical areas and move
over to the coastal areas bringing about large
scale destruction caused by violent winds, very
heavy rainfall and storm surges.

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 ● Tropical Cyclones are one of the most
devastating natural calamities in the
world.
● Tropical cyclones originate and intensify
over warm tropical oceans.
● The conditions favourable for the
formation and intensification of tropical
storms are:
✔ Large sea surface with temperature
higher than 27° C.
✔ Presence of the Coriolis force.

✔ Small variations in the vertical wind

speed.
✔ A pre-existing weak low- pressure
area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
✔ Upper divergence above the sea level
system
● The cyclonic wind movements are
anti-clockwise in the northern
hemisphere and clockwise in the
southern hemisphere (This is due to
Coriolis force).
THEY ARE KNOWN AS:
● Cyclones in the Indian Ocean
● Hurricanes in the Atlantic
● Typhoons in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea
● Willy-willies in Western Australia
5.49. GHUGHUA FOSSIL PARK
CONTEXT
A team of archaeologists from Ashoka University in Sonipat, conducting research
in Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, found prehistoric artefacts made
from fossil wood.
GHUGHUA FOSSIL PARK
● Ghughua Fossil Park is a National Park, located near Shahpura in Madhya
Pradesh, India, in which plant fossils belonging to 31 genera of 18 families have
been identified
● It was declared a National Park in 1983.
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 ● Numerous plant, leaf, fruit, seed, and shell fossils can be found in this park,
some of which date as far back as 65 million years, the most prominent of which
are the palm fossils
● fossils related to dinosaur eggs have been found in the forest
5.50. WHITE-HEADED LANGUR
CONTEXT
The Limestone Langur, a unique primate species endemic to southern China’s
Guangxi province, faces imminent extinction due to habitat destruction and
fragmentation.
WHITE-HEADED LANGUR
● The white-headed langur (Trachypithecus
leucocephalus) is an endangered species of langur
native to Guangxi, China.
● These leaf-eating primates are active during the
day (making them diurnal) and most active at dawn
and dusk (making them crepuscular).
● White-headed langurs live in groups (called “troops“)
of 9-12 individuals. Group size varies with habitat
quality.
● At the end of each day, the monkeys leave as a group.
Although they choose a large tree as a roost for the
night, they prefer crevices or caves.
● Demarcating the species’s narrow geographic range is
the Zuojiang River in the north and northwest; the Mingjiang River in the south
and southwest; and the Shiwan Mountains in the southeast.
● A shock of white fur covers the head. Its black-and-white coat allows it to blend
in with the black-and-white limestone of the karst landform.
● IUCN: Critically endangered.
5.51. EUCALYPTUS
CONTEXT
The Kerala government issued an order allowing the Kerala Forest Development
Corporation (KFDC) to plant eucalyptus trees for its financial sustenance in 2024-
2025.
EUCALYPTUS
● Eucalyptus, (genus Eucalyptus), large genus of more than 660 species of shrubs
and tall trees of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), native to Australia,
Tasmania, and nearby islands.
● In Australia the eucalypti are commonly known as gum trees or stringybark
trees.
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 ● Many species are cultivated widely throughout the temperate regions of the
world as shade trees or in forestry plantations.
● Eucalyptus is a fast-growing evergreen tree.
● The oil that comes from the eucalyptus tree is used as an antiseptic, a perfume,
as an ingredient in cosmetics, as a flavoring, in dental preparations, and in
industrial solvents.
● However, concerns arise due to its high water consumption, toxicity to
animals, and flammable oil emissions.
● Despite being a biomass production champion, its rapid growth exacerbates
water depletion and soil fertility reduction, leading to ecological concerns.
5.52. SHARAVATHI RIVER
CONTEXT
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed
the State Environment Impact Assessment
Authority (SEIAA) and mines and geology
department to stop any unlawful/illegal sand
mining in Sharavathi river coastal zone.
SHARAVATHI RIVER
● Sharavati is a river which originates and
flows entirely within the state of Karnataka
in India.
● It is one of the few westward flowing rivers
of India and a major part of the river basin lies
in the Western Ghats.
● The river Sharavati originates at a place called
Ambutheertha in the Thirthahalli taluk.
● The total length of the river is around 128 km
(80 mi) and it joins the Arabian Sea at
Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district.
● On its way, the Sharavati forms the Jog Falls
where the river falls from a height of 253 m. The river is dammed at
Linganamakki
● The river basin mainly consists of Pre-Cambrian rocks.
● The two major groups of rocks found in the Sharavati river basin are the Dharwar
system and the peninsular gneiss.

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 6. HISTORY AND CULTURE

6.1. SRI MADHAVA PERUMAL TEMPLE

CONTEXT
Inscriptions in a Sri Madhava Perumal Temple submerged by Bhavanisagar dam in Erode
reveal a trade route.
SRI MADHAVA PERUMAL TEMPLE
● A major trade route connecting the Kongu region in western Tamil Nadu with
southern Karnataka and Kerala had existed over a 1,000 years ago.
● The area served as peruvali (a trunk road), and traders crossed River Bhavani and
River Moyar to reach Wayanad in Kerala and various places in Karnataka.
● Madhava Perumal Dhandanayaka’s son Veera Siddha Keththaya Dhandanayaka
constructed the Sri Madhava Perumal Temple inside the fort
● Temple is dedicated to Thondreeshwaramudiayar (Lord Shiva)
● The area came under the Hoysala rulers.
● King Veera Ballala III (1292-1342), the last great king of the Hoysala Empire,
ruled the area.
6.2. VALLABHACHARYA JAYANTI
CONTEXT
Recently, the 545th birth anniversary of renowned scholar and saint Vallabhacharya was
celebrated.

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6.3. BENGAL GAZETTE
CONTEXT
World Press Freedom Day is annually commemorated on May 3, in recognition of the
importance of journalism in society, Bengal Gazette was the first newspaper ever
published in India.
BENGAL GAZETTE
● The first newspaper ever published in India
was Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, whose
inaugural edition went out on January 29,
1780.
● Ireland-born James Augustus Hicky
served as its founder-editor.
● Hicky’s paper also shed a light on
government corruption, civic issues, and
at times criticised the British East India
Company.
● It was certainly under the radar of British
authorities, and was sued for libel around
two years into its publication, leading to its
closure
● It was a weekly English-language
newspaper published in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), the capital of British India.
● It was closed down in 1782 after it criticized the then Governor General
Warren Hastings.
6.4. GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE
CONTEXT
The birth anniversary of Gopal Krishna Gokhale was celebrated.
GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE
● He was born on 9 May 1866 in Kotluk village in
present-day Maharashtra in a Brahmin family.
● Gopal Krishna Gokhale was an Indian political leader, a
social reformer during the Indian Independence
Movement and Mahatma Gandhi’s political mentor.
● Gokhale campaigned for Indian self-rule and also
social reform.
● He was the leader of the moderate faction of the
Congress party that advocated reforms by working with
existing government institutions
● He contributed articles to the English weekly Mahratta.
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 ● He served as Secretary of the Deccan Education Society.
● After being given charge of the Bombay Provincial Conference in 1893, he was elected
to the Senate of the Bombay University.
● He visited Ireland and arranged for Irish nationalist Alfred Webb to serve as the
President of the Indian National Congress in 1894.
● As a member of the Pune Municipality, twice elected its president, Gokhale
continued to strive to solve the problems of the poor, and those who came to him with
grievances.
● Gokhale also published a daily newspaper entitled Jnanaprakash, which allowed
him to voice his reformist views on politics and society.
● He was later elected to the Council of India of the Governor-General of India in
1903.
● In 1905, he founded the Servants of India Society, which trained people to be
selfless workers so they could work for the common good of the people.
● He was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress.
● Gokhale was a mentor to both Mohammed Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi.
● Mahatma Gandhi even wrote a book called, ‘Gokhale, My Political Guru’.
● His core beliefs about the importance of political liberty, social reform and economic
progress for all Indians are still relevant to our times.
● In 1908, Gokhale founded the Ranade Institute of Economics.
● He started english weekly newspaper, The Hitavada (The people's paper).
● Gokhale died on 19 February 1915.
6.5. SAHITYA AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP
CONTEXT
Eminent English author Ruskin Bond was awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi
Fellowship.
SAHITYA AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP
● Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is the highest literary honour in India.
● It is conferred only on the “Immortals of Indian Literature,” whose contributions
have made lasting impact on the writers and literary traditions of the country.
SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARDS
● The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya
Akademi,
● It is India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most
outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the 8th
Schedule to the Indian constitution as well as in English and Rajasthani
language.
● Established in 1954, the award comprises a plaque and a cash prize of ₹ 1,00,000
● The award's purpose is to recognise and promote excellence in Indian writing
and also acknowledge new trends.
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 ● The annual process of selecting awardees runs for the preceding twelve months.
● The Sahitya Akademi, supported by, though independent of the Indian
government.
● Its office is located in Rabindra Bhavan near Mandi House in Delhi.
6.6. UNESCO’S MEMORY OF WORLD ASIA-PACIFIC
REGIONAL REGISTER
CONTEXT
Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, Sahṛdayāloka-Locana Enter ‘UNESCO’s Memory Of World
Asia-Pacific Regional Register’.
UNESCO’S MEMORY OF WORLD ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL REGISTER
● The decision was taken at the 10th meeting of the Memory of the World
Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), held at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
● The UNESCO Memory of the World Register is part of an international initiative
launched by UNESCO in 1992
● It is to safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity.
● The programme aims to preserve and ensure access to documentary materials
of significant historical, cultural, and scientific value.
● This includes manuscripts, printed books, archival documents, films, audio, and
photographic records that are unique and irreplaceable.
● It consists of three Registers namely, International, Regional and National
Register
● The Programme’s objectives are thus to:
✔ Facilitate preservation of the world’s documentary heritage
✔ Catalyse universal access to documentary heritage
✔ Enhance public awareness worldwide of the significance of documentary
heritage
RAMCHARITMANAS:
● The Ramcharitmanas is based on the Ramayana, sage Valmiki’s great epic.
● Written in the 16th Century by Goswami Tulsidas
● The poem was written in the 16th century in the Awadhi dialect
● It is divided into seven chapters (Kand) that tell the story of Lord Ram from birth to
his becoming King of Ayodhya.
PANCHATANTRA:
● The Panchatantra is a collection of ancient Indian animal fables that dates back to
at least the 3rd century BCE.
● Originally written in Sanskrit by Vishnu Sharma.
SAHRDAYĀLOKA-LOCANA (SANSKRIT)
● Written by Acharya Anandvardhan in Sanskrit and is a text of Indian Poetics.
● A text on Indian poetics with commentary by philosopher Abinava Gupta.

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6.7. PROJECT UDBHAV
CONTEXT
An event was held in New Delhi under Project Udbhav.
PROJECT UDBHAV
● Project UDBHAV, a collaboration between the Indian Army and the United Service
Institution of India (USI) is an endeavour to revisit the roots of India's ancient
military thoughts.
● ‘Udbhav’, which translates to 'origin' or 'genesis', acknowledges the vintage
scriptures and writings of our Nation that can benefit modern military strategies.
● The objective of the Project is to synthesize ancient wisdom with contemporary
military practices, forging a unique and holistic approach to address modern
security challenges.
● It is a visionary initiative by the Indian Army that seeks to integrate age-old
wisdom with contemporary military pedagogy.
● Literature like Chanakya's Arthashastra underscores the importance of strategic
partnerships, alliances and diplomacy, aligning with modern military practices such as
international cooperation and soft power projection.
● Similarly, the wisdom of Thirukkural, the classical Tamil text authored by
Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil philosopher, advocates ethical conduct in all endeavours,
including warfare.
● This aligns with modern military codes of ethics of just war and principles of
Geneva Convention.
6.8. PHANIGIRI
CONTEXT
A hoard of lead coins belonging to the Ikshvaku period was found during the latest round
of excavations by archeologists at the early historic site of Phanigiri in Suryapet in
Telangana.
PHANIGIRI
● Phanigiri village lies on the left bank of the Bikkeru rivulet, a tributary of the river
Musi, located in Nagaram Mandal, Suryapet district.
● This insipid village is located about 35 km from Suryapet the district headquarters, and
110 Km from Hyderabad
● The early historic site at Phanigiri was first discovered and protected during the period
of Nizam and was excavated from 1941 to 1944 by Sri Khaja Mahamad Ahmad.
● Phanigiri is not a lone site in this zone.
● There are several Buddhist sites nearby, such as Vardhamanukota, Gajula Banda,
Tirumalagiri, Nagaram, Singaram, Aravapalli, Ayyavaripalli, Arlagaddagudem and
Yeleswaram.

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 ● It is one of the important Buddhist monasteries strategically located on the hilltop,
on the ancient trade route (Dakshinapatha) connecting the west and the east coast
of the Deccan.
● This evolved Buddhist monastery surpasses the monasteries at Amaravathi and
Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda) in Andhra Pradesh.
● The coins have an elephant symbol on the obverse and Ujjain symbol on the
reverse.

6.9. VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE

CONTEXT
A portion of the Virupaksha temple in Karnataka collapsed following torrential rains.
VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE
● Virupaksha Temple is the 7th century Shiva temple in Hampi, Central Karnataka.
● It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
● The temple was built by Lakkan Dandesha, a nayaka (chieftain) under the ruler Deva
Raya II, also known as Prauda Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire
● Virupaksha Temple is dedicated to lord Shiva.
● Hampi, capital of the Vijayanagar empire, sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra
River (Pampa hole/Pampa river).
● However, the most significant expansions and contributions were made during the
reign of King Krishnadevaraya in the early 16th century.

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6.10. RAGHOJI BHANGRE
CONTEXT
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs observes Raghoji Bhangre’s martyrdom.
RAGHOJI BHANGRE
● Raghoji Bhangre was a tribal leader born in Devgaon village of the Ahmednagar
district, in present-day Maharashtra.
● He strongly led his Koli community against the exploitative British government
● The revolts of Raghoji Bhangare are considered as most significant in history of
Maharashtra.
● Raghoji Bhangre was titled as Bandkari for his revolts. Bandkari means leader of
rebellions in Marathi language
● In the nineteenth century, the moneylenders, under the protection of the British
regime, exploited the tribals and farmers by charging arbitrary interest rates on
loans and seizing their lands in exchange for recovering the debt.
● Bhangre became infamous owing to his reckless campaign against such
moneylenders.
● Raghoji Bhangre was eventually captured in 1847 by Lt. Gell at Pandharpur
and later hanged on the charge of multiple murders.

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 7. SCHEMES AND PROJECTS IN NEWS

7.1. INDIA AI MISSION

CONTEXT
The government is ready to finance up to 50 per cent to create Artificial Intelligence
(AI) computer infrastructure in the country.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) COMPUTE INFRASTRUCTURE
● The target is to establish at least 10,000 GPU (graphics processing unit) worth of
AI compute capacity in the country
● Under the Rs 10,372 crore India AI Mission, a key focus area is to develop
high-end compute capacity within the country, for which the government will
facilitate the setting up of more than 10,000 GPUs under the public-private
partnership (PPP) model.
● GPUs are essential for creating AI models as these require large-scale
computing, which cannot be done by central processing units (CPUs).
INDIA AI MISSION
● The IndiaAI mission will establish a comprehensive ecosystem catalyzing AI
innovation through strategic programs and partnerships across the public and
private sectors.
● The approved corpus will be used to build a high-end scalable AI ecosystem in
public-private partnership mode.
● The mission will be implemented through the IndiaAI Independent Business
Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC).
● It has the following components
✔ IndiaAI Compute Capacity: The IndiaAI compute pillar will build a high-end
scalable AI computing ecosystem
✔ IndiaAI Innovation Centre: Undertake the development and deployment of
indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific
foundational models in critical sectors.
✔ IndiaAI Datasets Platform –Streamline access to quality non-personal
datasets for AI Innovation.
✔ IndiaAI Application Development Initiative –Promote the AI applications in
critical sectors for the problem statements sourced from Central Ministries,
State Departments, and other institutions.

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 ✔ IndiaAI FutureSkills – IndiaAI FutureSkills is conceptualized to mitigate
barriers to entry into AI programs and will increase AI courses in
undergraduate, masters-level, and Ph.D. programs.
✔ IndiaAI Startup Financing: Conceptualized to support and accelerate
deep-tech AI startups and provide them streamlined access to funding to
enable futuristic AI Projects.
✔ Safe & Trusted AI – Recognizing the need for adequate guardrails to advance
the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of AI.
7.2. PROJECT ASTRA
CONTEXT
Google at the company’s annual developer conference, presented an early version of
Project Astra.
PROJECT ASTRA
● Project Astra is a new multimodal AI agent capable of answering real-time
questions fed to it through text, video, images, and speech by pulling up the
relevant information.
● The new AI knows what things are and where the users left them.
● It can provide answers or help the users to do almost anything.
● It even answers if a computer code is correct by looking at it through the phone’s
camera.
● Astra is not limited to smartphones
● Project Astra can learn about the world, making it as close as possible to a
human-assistant-like experience.
7.3. SHALLOW AQUIFER MANAGEMENT (SAM)
CONTEXT
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in a latest intervention has taken
up Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) model on a pilot basis in the city.
SHALLOW AQUIFER MANAGEMENT (SAM)
● The aim is to tap SAM as a sustainable urban water management technique.
● SAM, as part of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
● The National Institute of Urban Affairs, the nodal implementation agency, will
oversee works.
● The project’s concept is to drill shallow water injection borewells to a depth of
100-120 feet and pump out water in the shallow aquifers.

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 ● This is done so that the layers underneath get recharged whenever there is
rainfall, while collecting water from the surrounding watershed and channeling it
through recharge pits.
● Thus, the underground layers are recharged, and the water table rises.
7.4. GSAP SKILLS
CONTEXT
IUCN launches GSAP SKILLS - the Global Species Action Plan Online Knowledge
Platform.
GSAP SKILLS
● An important component of the Global Species Action Plan (GSAP), the Species
Conservation Knowledge, Information, Learning, Leverage and Sharing (SKILLS)
platform was launched at the Fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on
Implementation, Convention on Biological Diversity.
● The Global Species Action Plan (GSAP) is designed to support implementation of the
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
● Developed collaboratively by IUCN, its Commissions, Members, and Partners,
the GSAP emphasises strategic interventions to achieve species conservation
outcomes for each of the GBF targets.
● This GSAP SKILLS online hub serves as a comprehensive resource, offering
tools, training support, and technical guidance to assist governments and
stakeholders worldwide
● The GSAP SKILLS platform aims to facilitate global collaboration and
partnership, connecting decision makers, species conservation practitioners and
experts at all levels.
● The platform provides real-time updates on technical tools and resources,
ensuring accessibility and relevance.
● This platform is managed proactively by IUCN to meet the needs from
governments and all stakeholders to take actions for species.
● The development of the GSAP SKILLS platform has been principally supported by
the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, with additional resources from
the Tech4Nature Initiative launched by IUCN and Huawei in 2020.
7.5. PRADHAN MANTRI JANJATI ADIVASI NYAYA MAHA ABHIYAN
CONTEXT
The PM JANMAN presents a new opportunity to transform the lives of India’s
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
PRADHAN MANTRI JANJATI ADIVASI NYAYA MAHA ABHIYAN
● It is announced in the Budget Speech 2023-24.
● It is to improve socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs)
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 ● This will saturate PVTG households and
habitations with basic facilities such as safe
housing, clean drinking water and
sanitation, improved access to education,
health and nutrition, road and telecom
connectivity, and sustainable livelihood
opportunities.
● Implemented in the next three years under
the Development Action Plan for the
Scheduled Tribes (DAPST)
● The PM-JANMAN (comprising Central Sector
and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) to focus
on 11 critical interventions through 9
Ministries including Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
● The scheme is implemented during FY
2023-24 to 2025-26.
● This will saturate PVTG households and
habitations with basic facilities such as
safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to
education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable
livelihood opportunities.
● An amount of Rs.15,000 crore will be made available to implement the Mission in
the next three years under the Development Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes
(DAPST).
7.6. AI KRISH AND AI BHOOMI
CONTEXT
DD Kisan, a government TV channel dedicated to farmers, has launched two AI
anchors, AI Krish, and AI Bhoomi.
AI KRISH AND AI BHOOMI
● The channel will launch two AI anchors—AI Krish and AI Bhoomi, who are said
to work like a human and can read the news 24 hours and 365 days without
stopping or getting tired.
● These AI anchors will be able to speak in fifty languages of the country and
abroad and will provide every necessary information about agricultural research
happening in the country and global level, trends in agriculture mandis, changes in
the weather or any other information of government schemes.

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7.7. RESILIENT ISLAND STATES PROGRAMME (IRIS)
CONTEXT
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
announces $8 Million Funding to Boost Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure in Small Island Developing
States.
RESILIENT ISLAND STATES PROGRAMME (IRIS)
● This announcement was made at the United
Nations 4th International Conference on Small
Island Developing States (SIDS) held in Antigua
and Barbuda
● The funding call, worth USD 8 million, is part of
CDRI’s Infrastructure for Resilient Island
States Programme (IRIS).
● This initiative aligns with the priorities outlined
in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS
(ABAS).
● Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) is a
flagship programme of the Coalition for Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
● Launched at COP26 of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), held in Glasgow, UK.
● Co-created with SIDS, the objective of IRIS is to
support successful implementation of the SAMOA
Pathway through delivering on: Improved
resilience of SIDS Infrastructure to climate change
and disaster risks; Strengthened knowledge and
partnerships of integrating resilience in SIDS
infrastructure; Gender equality and disability
inclusion promoted through resilient SIDS
infrastructure.
● IRIS is already supported by commitments of USD 35m from Australia, India,
the EU, and the UK, with a target to attract and deploy USD 50m to support SIDS
by 2030.
● SAMOA aims to improve resilience of SIDS infrastructure to climate change and
disasters,
● The funding call is open to all 57 SIDS and will support projects focused on
enhancing disaster resilience in transport, power, telecommunications, water,
health, and education sectors.
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 ● The projects will address policies and regulatory frameworks, project
preparation, resource mobilization, project management and implementation
capacities, and data system improvements.
COALITION FOR DISASTER RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE (CDRI)
● The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is an international
coalition of countries, United Nations (UN) agencies, multilateral development
banks, the private sector, and academic institutions, that aims to promote
disaster-resilient infrastructure.
● Its objective is to promote research and knowledge sharing in the fields of
infrastructure risk management, standards, financing, and recovery mechanisms.
● It was launched by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2019 UN
Climate Action Summit in September 2019.
● CDRI's initial focus is on developing disaster-resilience in ecological, social,
and economic infrastructure.
● It aims to achieve substantial changes in member countries' policy frameworks and
future infrastructure investments, along with a major decrease in the economic
losses suffered due to disasters
● Today, or as of 2023, the CDRI has 39 members, incl. 31 member states.

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 8. SECURITY

8.1. KALVARI CLASS SUBMARINES

CONTEXT
Pakistan launched its first Hangor class submarine which is considered a direct
counterpart of India's Kalvari class of submarines.
Kalvari class submarines
● The Kalvari-class submarines is a class of diesel-electric attack submarines
operated by the Indian Navy (IN).
● Currently being constructed by a syndicate of French and Indian shipyards, namely,
Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) respectively
● They can be used in anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence
gathering andsurveillance and naval mine laying.
● These submarines are built under Project 75 and their design is based on the
Scorpene class of thesubmarines.
● Project-75, is a fuel-cell-based AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system
● India operates six Kalvari class submarines, namely:
✔ Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir, Vagshir.

8.2. MQ-9B DRONES

CONTEXT
The MQ-9B drones India will be buying from the United States of America will be placed
in two states: Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

MQ-9B DRONES
● The procurement process has commenced with the Defence Acquisition Council
(DAC) chaired by the Defence Minister according to the Acceptance of Necessity
(AoN), the first step in the process.

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 ● The MQ-9B has two variants — the SkyGuardian
and the SeaGuardian, its maritime variant.
● The MQ-9B is a next-generation remotely
piloted aircraft that delivers persistent
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
around the globe
● The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is the army and air force
version.
● It can fly over the horizon via satellite for up to
40 hours or more in all types of weather, and safely
integrate into civil airspace
● It helps to deliver real-time situational
awareness anywhere in the world, day or night.
● The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is the
maritime-focused sibling of the SkyGuardian.
● SeaGuardian can also fly over the horizon via
satellite for over 30 hours (depending on
configuration).
● This versatile maritime patrol and
reconnaissance aircraft also has a self-contained
anti-submarine warfare mission kit.

8.3. BOEING STARLINER

CONTEXT
Flying Wedge Defence, a city based defence and aerospace technology firm on Friday
unveiled the FWD-200B unmanned aircraft.
FWD-200B UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
● It is India’s first indigenous bomber unmanned aircraft.
● Indigenous FWD-200B, built with state-of-the-art technology and
manufactured in India
● The FWD-200B has a payload capacity of 100 kgs and is classified as a MALE
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (medium-altitude, long-endurance).
● The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) consists of optical surveillance payloads
and is integrated with missile-like weapons for precision air strikes.
● With a max speed of 200 kts/370 kmph, it has an endurance capacity of
12-20 hours.
● The FWD-200B can carry a maximum takeoff weight of 498 Kgs in addition to
this, it holds a ground control station (GCS) range of 200 kms.

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8.4. FWD-200B UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
CONTEXT
A team of 2 astronauts sitting inside a crew
capsule called Starliner is scheduled to be
launched on 7th May 2024.
BOEING STARLINER
● Starliner is a spacecraft that transports
astronauts in space, after being launched
there by a rocket.
● It consists of a crew capsule and a
service module.
● The crew capsule houses the astronauts;
like others of its kind, it will be able to survive
reentry and return to the ground.
● The service module consists of the
equipment and systems the astronauts
need to survive in space, including air and
temperature control, water supply, sanitation,
etc., plus the engines and fuel required to
manoeuvre the spacecraft.
● The service module won’t be reusable.
● Starliner is more than 4 m wide and can
house up to seven astronauts.
● It can be fit atop an Atlas V rocket,
operated by United Launch Alliance, a
joint venture between Boeing and
Lockheed Martin.
● Assuming Starliner’s crewed test flight is successful, SpaceX and Boeing will take
turns launching astronauts to the ISS — each crew’s expedition lasts up to six
months — until the ISS is decommissioned next decade.
● After NASA shut its Space Shuttle programme in 2011 and before SpaceX’s Dragon
capsule got ready in 2020, only Russia’s Soyuz rocket and capsule could ferry
astronauts to and from the ISS.

8.5. PARLIAMENT SECURITY OVERHAUL

CONTEXT
Security at the Parliament complex could witness a radical overhaul with the Union
Home Ministry constituting a panel to assess whether personnel of the CISF (Central
Industrial Security Force) should take charge of the entire process.
CURRENT PARLIAMENT SECURITY SETUP
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 ● The security responsibilities are currently entrusted with the Parliament Security
Service.
● Parliament security service works under the Watch and Ward committee under
the Lok Sabha Secretariat. On September 3, 1929, by Vithalbhai Patel, then
president of the Central Legislative Assembly.
● Article 98 of the Constitution mandates each House to have a separate secretariat
staff.
● Many suggests that any change should be under the direction of the Speaker, not
MHA.
CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE
● Established in 1969: After a devastating fire accident in 1964, the
Justice Mukherjee Commission recommended the establishment of
a dedicated industrial protection force.
● Thus, the CISF was set up by an Act of Parliament on March 10,
1969.
● CISF was created “for the better protection and security of Industrial
undertakings.”
● It is one of seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) –
including Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Sashastra
Seema Bal, the Assam Rifles, the National Security Guard, and the Central Reserve
Police Force.
● It is the only CAPF with a dedicated fire fighting wing.
● Headquartered in Delhi, it is headed by an Indian Police Service officer with the
rank of Director-General.
● The force is divided into nine sectors (Airport, North, North-East, East, West,
South, Training, South-East, Central), in addition to its Fire Service Wing.
● It was first inducted at the Fertilizer Corporation of India manufacturing plant in
Trombay, Maharashtra, on November 1, 1969.
● It was expanded to include joint-ventures and private undertakings in 2009. It
provides consultancy services to the private sector.
● Over the years, CISF’s strength has significantly evolved to include much more
than guarding factories and industrial premises.
● It is the largest public-facing security force.
● In recent years, the CISF has involved in providing security cover to VIPs.
● The CISF operates with a sanctioned strength of 1.8 lakh personnel.
● CISF has the largest percentage of women in its force, in comparison to all other
CAPFs. CISF is currently headed by Special DG Nina Singh, the first woman to
occupy the post.

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8.6. HERMES-900 STARLINER
CONTEXT
The Indian Army is set to receive the first
Hermes-900 Starliner drone, known as
Drishti-10, on May 18 as part of efforts to bolster
border surveillance along the Pakistan border.
The army will also procure a Very Short Range
Air Defence System (VSHORADS) and a
UAV-launched Precision Guided Munition
(ULPGM).
HERMES 900 STARLINER
● The Hermes-900, termed the Drishti-10, is supplied by Adani Defence
Systems to bolster India's defence apparatus.
● Medium-altitude, Long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles that will enhance the
Indian Army’s surveillance capabilities along the northern borders.
● Wingspan of 17m and a maximum take-off weight of 1,600kg. Service ceiling of
30,000ft and Flight Endurance of up to 36 hours.
● FEATURES: Automatic Take-Off and Landing (ATOL) capability, Active De-Icing
System, Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS) and Radars - synthetic aperture
radar (SAR), a ground moving target indicator (GMTI) radar.
● BENEFITS: Patrolling and Surveillance along the northern borders.
WHAT IS VSHORADS?
● The Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) is a state-of-the-art,
fourth-generation, man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) designed
to counter low-altitude aerial threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters,
and fighter aircraft.
● Developed indigenously, VSHORADS represents a significant advancement in
India's ability to neutralize short-range airborne threats effectively.
UAV LAUNCHED PRECISION GUIDED MUNITION (ULPGM)
● UAV Launched Precision Guided Munition (ULPGM), a sophisticated missile
system tailored for deployment on drones.
● ULPGM marks the inaugural installment in a series of precision-guided
munition (PGM) missiles specifically engineered for unmanned aerial vehicles.
● It is poised to become the standard PGM for India's TAPAS BH and Archer NG
UAVs, positioning India at the forefront of drone-enabled precision strike
capabilities.

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8.7. KAMIKAZE DRONE
CONTEXT
Kadet Defence Systems, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), has reached a milestone with the successful development of
Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM), the first of their kind in India.
KAMIKAZE DRONE
● It is also called as ‘Suicide’ or ‘kamikaze’ drones or loitering aerial munitions
(LAM)
● Multiple versions of the indigenously designed, developed and India-manufactured
LAM systems are being developed to meet different operational requirements with
its weight varying from 15 kg to 120 kg with explosives payload of 2 to 40
kg.
● The biggest version of the drone can loiter for about 12 hours.
● These systems have been made adaptable to various terrains, including deserts,
plains, and high-altitude environments, with a remarkable launch altitude
capability exceeding 5,000 meters.
● They can be shoulder launched or vehicle launched while future plans are to
develop the air-launched version.
● The range of the LAM extends from 150 km to 300 km with a rocket-assisted
canister launch and a runway independent hybrid vertical take-off and landing
(VTOL) system.

8.8. ZERO-DAY VULNERABILITY

CONTEXT
Google Chrome has been hit with another zero-day vulnerability which has set the
alarm bells ringing among users and cyber experts.
ZERO-DAY VULNERABILITY
● A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack
vector that takes advantage of an
unknown or unaddressed security flaw
in computer software, hardware or
firmware.
● "Zero day" refers to the fact that the
software or device vendor has zero
days to fix the flaw because malicious
actors can already use it to access
vulnerable systems.
● These are essentially loopholes in a
particular software, the existence of
which even its developer is unaware of.
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 ● A zero-day vulnerability is detected only when an attack takes place
exploiting one, or when companies discover them and issue fixes.
● Zero-day loopholes in WhatsApp and Apple’s iMessage have been used earlier to
install spyware tools.
● Pegasus, the spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, also
used zero-day vulnerabilities.

8.9. EXERCISE ”TARKASH”

CONTEXT
The seventh edition of the Indo-U.S. joint counter-terrorism exercise ‘Tarkash’ was
recently held in Kolkata.
EXERCISE ”TARKASH”
● The seventh edition of the Indo-U.S. joint counter terrorism exercise
”Tarkash”, between the elite National Security Guard (NSG) and the U.S. Special
Operations Forces (SOF).
● The primary objective of the bilateral exercise is to build functional relation and
enhance interoperability between the two special forces.
● The exercise is also aimed at improving bilateral cooperation between India
and the U.S. in matters relating to combating terrorism, in all its forms and
manifestations.

8.10. IGLA-S
CONTEXT
The Army is all set to begin receiving another set of Russian Igla-S very short range
air defence systems (VSHORAD) .
IGLA-S
● It is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) developed by Russia.
● It is a hand-held defence system that can be operated by an individual or crew.
● It is designed to bring down low-flying aircraft and can also identify and
neutralise air targets such as cruise missiles and drones.
● It has a range of 500 metres to 6 kilometres and attack targets up to an
altitude of 3.5 kilometres.
● The speed of the missile is 400 metres per second and the deployment time is
13 seconds.

8.11. BHARAT HEALTH INITIATIVE FOR SAHYOG, HITA AND

MAITRI (BHISHM)
CONTEXT
The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully tested portable hospital cubes Bharat Health
Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) for the first time in Uttar Pradesh's
Agra for airdrops.
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 BHARAT HEALTH INITIATIVE FOR SAHYOG, HITA AND MAITRI (BHISHM)
● It is tailored to treat up to 200 casualties.
● These cubes are robust, waterproof, and
light, designed for various configurations,
making them ideal for diverse emergency
scenarios.
● The portable hospital consists of two master
cube cages, each containing 36 mini cubes.
● The aid cube is equipped with several innovative
tools that enhance disaster response and offer
medical support during emergencies.
● It integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective
coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services in
the field.
● It is also equipped with advanced medical facilities, including an operation theatre,
X-ray machines, blood test equipment, ventilators, and provisions for treating
a wide range of injuries such as gunshots, burns, fractures, and major bleeding.
● The Aid Cube stands out with its ability to be deployed within 12 minutes.
● Advanced medical equipment, RFID-tagged for efficient repacking and
redeployment, is a key feature of the Cube.
● The state-of-the-art BHISHM software system integrated into a provided tablet
allows operators to locate items quickly, monitor their usage and expiry, and ensure
readiness for subsequent deployments.

8.12. POKHRAN-I NUCLEAR TEST

CONTEXT
Fifty years ago, India conducted its first nuclear test in
Pokhran, code-named Operation Smiling Buddha.
POKHRAN-I NUCLEAR TEST
● This nuclear operation was named Operation
Smiling Buddha.
● Today, it is known as the Pokhran-I nuclear test.
● Incidentally in 1974, May 18 was also Buddha
Jayanti, a festival day marking the birth of
Gautama Buddha.
● The Pokhran-I nuclear test was followed by the
Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998.
● The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was founded
in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974
and first met in November 1975.

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 ● NSG was a group of forty-eight nuclear supplier countries that came together to
control the export of nuclear-related equipment, technology, and material to
non-nuclear-weapon states.
● India maintains a "no first use" nuclear policy and has developed a nuclear
triad capability as a part of its "Minimum Credible Deterrence" doctrine.

8.13. INTEGRATED THEATRE COMMAND

CONTEXT
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) emphasizes on developing Joint Culture in Armed Forces.
INTEGRATED THEATRE COMMAND:
● An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three
Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres that are of
strategic and security concern.
● The commander of such a force will be able to bear all resources at his disposal —
from the Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Navy — with seamless efficacy.
● The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services.
● Integration and jointness of the three forces will avoid duplication of
resources. The resources available under each service will be available to other
services too.
● The services will get to know one another better, strengthening cohesion in the
defence establishment.
● The Shekatkar committee has recommended the creation of 3 integrated
theatre commands — northern for the China border, western for the Pakistan
border, and southern for the maritime role.

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 ● Specifically, out of the 19 existing commands, 17 are single-service oriented—the
Army and the IAF have seven commands each, while the Navy has three.
● In addition, there are two tri-service commands Andaman and Nicobar
Command set up in 2001 while the Strategic Forces Command, set up in 2003,
is an integrated functional command or specified combatant command.

8.14. ELECTRIC VERTICAL TAKE OFF AND LANDING (eVTOL)

AIRCRAFT
CONTEXT
The Indian Institute of Technology,
Madras-incubated ePlane Company is set to
deploy its e-flying taxis in Bengaluru this
year.
ELECTRIC VERTICAL TAKE OFF
AND LANDING (eVTOL) AIRCRAFT
● An electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing
(eVTOL) aircraft hovers, takes off, and
lands vertically.
● Most eVTOLs employ distributed electric
propulsion technology, which entails
incorporating a complicated propulsion
system inside the airframe.
● Multiple motors are used for diverse
operations, increasing efficiency while
simultaneously ensuring safety.
● This is a technology that has grown as a
result of advances in electric propulsion

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 technologies like as motors, batteries, fuel cells, and electronic controllers, as well
as the necessity for new vehicle technology that provides Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

8.15. INS KILTAN

CONTEXT
INS Kiltan Arrives In Brunei As A Part Of South China Sea Deployment.
INS KILTAN
● The Kamorta-class corvettes or Project 28 are a class of anti-submarine warfare
corvettes currently in service with the Indian Navy.
● Built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, they are the
first anti-submarine warfare stealth corvettes to be built in India.
● Project 28 was approved in 2003, with construction of the lead ship, INS Kamorta
commencing on 12 August 2005.
● All of the four corvettes, INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS
Kavaratti were commissioned in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2020 respectively.
● the basic design was later provided by the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval
Design, followed by the detailed design by Garden Reach Ship Builders and
Engineers (GRSE)
● The platform and major internal systems of this class of corvettes are indigenously
designed and built.
● The corvettes are named after the islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
● The Kamorta-class corvettes are intended to succeed the Kora class by
precedence and the Abhay class by role.
● The ships also include technology that enables them to fight in nuclear,
biological and chemical warfare (NBC) scenarios.
● The Indian Navy claims that the indigenisation achieved in these ships is about
90%
● All the ships of this class are built using DMR 249A special grade high-tensile
steel

8.16. RUDRAM-II
CONTEXT
India Successfully Tests Anti-Radiation Missile 'Rudram-II.
RUDRAM-II
● The Rudram-II anti-radiation supersonic missile is developed by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
● Rudram missile is the first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile
designed to target enemy ground radars (surveillance, tracking) and communication
stations in Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions.
● The Rudram-II is the latest version after the mark-1 version

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● An indigenously developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system,
Rudram-II is one of the finest and meant to neutralise many types of enemy assets.
● India currently operates the Russian Kh-31, an anti-radiation missile. The
Rudram missiles will replace the Kh-31s.

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 9. HEALTH

9.1.THROMBOSIS WITH THROMBOCYTOPENIA SYNDROME (TTS)

CONTEXT
AstraZeneca has admitted that its Covid-19 vaccine can cause side effects like TTS
THROMBOSIS WITH THROMBOCYTOPENIA SYNDROME (TTS)
● Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia
Syndrome (TTS) causes blood clots
and low platelet counts.
● Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia
syndrome (TTS) is a rare but serious
condition associated with certain
Covid-19 vaccines, particularly
adenovirus vector vaccines such as
the AstraZeneca vaccine and Johnson
& Johnson's Janssen vaccine.
● TTS involves the formation of blood
clots in combination with low
platelet levels (thrombocytopenia).
● The condition typically presents itself
with blood clots occurring in unusual
locations, such as the brain
(cerebral venous sinus
thrombosis) or abdomen, along with low platelet counts.
● The symptoms of TTS include severe headache, blurred vision, difficulty
speaking, chest pain, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and leg swelling, among
others.
● TTS has been thought to result from an immune response triggered by the
adenovirus vector used in the vaccines, which activates platelets and forms blood
clots.
9.2. WEST NILE FEVER
CONTEXT
Cases of West Nile fever have been reported from three districts in the state – Thrissur,
Malappuram and Kozhikode in Kerala.
WEST NILE FEVER
● The virus was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in
1937, so called as such.

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● The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a
mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA
virus.
● It is a flavivirus and is related to the
viruses that cause Japanese encephalitis
and yellow fever.
● Culex species of mosquitoes act as the
principal vectors for transmission.
● Infected mosquitoes spread the disease
among humans and animals, including
birds, which are the reservoir host of the
virus.
● WNV can also spread through blood
transfusion, from an infected mother
to her child, or through exposure to
the virus in laboratories.
● It is not known to spread by contact with
infected humans or animals.
● The disease is asymptomatic in 80% of
the infected people. The rest develop
what is called the West Nile fever or
severe West Nile disease.
● For them, the symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea,
rash, and swollen glands.
● No WNV-specific prophylaxis, treatment or vaccine is available. Only
supportive treatments are given to neuroinvasive WNV patients.

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9.3. FLIRT, THE NEW COVID-19 VARIANTS
CONTEXT
FLiRT cases have soared in the U.S, U.K., South Korea and New Zealand, renewing
fears of a fresh COVID-19 wave.
FLIRT, THE NEW COVID-19 VARIANTS
● KP.2 and KP1.1, dubbed ‘FLiRT’ variants, are descendants of the Omicron JN.1
which spread globally.
● The variants appear to outstrip their ancestor and other Omicron variants.
● KP.2, the dominant strain of the two, in particular, is believed to leap past
immunity built up from vaccines and previous infections.
● KP.2 and KP1.1 sublineages are descendants of the JN.1 variant of the SARS-CoV-2
virus with two new added spike mutations.
● The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has detected 238 cases
of KP.2 and 30 cases of KP1.1 circulating in India.
SYMPTOMS
● Sore throat, cough, Nausea, Congestion, Fatigue, Headache, Muscle or Body Ache,
Loss of taste or smell.
● Prevention through Vaccination and other preventive measures.
9.4. NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
CONTEXT
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its Global report on neglected
tropical diseases 2024.
NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
● In 2022, 1.62 billion people required interventions against neglected tropical
diseases (NTDs)
● In 2023, five countries were acknowledged by WHO for eliminating one NTD,
and one country for eliminating two NTDs.
● Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of conditions caused by
a variety of pathogens (including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and
toxins)
● WHO has recognized 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases.
● NTDs are a diverse group of tropical infections that are common in low-income
populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
● It receives less funding for research and treatment.
● January 30 is World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.
● What these diseases have in common is that they have largely been ignored by
the traditional pharmaceutical industry.
● Simply, pharmaceutical companies have little commercial incentive to develop
medicines for people who cannot pay for them.
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 ● The result is increased suffering, disability, and death – all contributors to cycles of
poverty in areas where neglected tropical diseases are found.

NTDs include: buruli ulcer, chagas disease, dengue and chikungunya, dracunculiasis,
echinococcosis, foodborne trematodiases, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis,
leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses,
onchocerciasis, rabies, scabies and other ectoparasitoses, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted
helminthiases, snakebite envenoming, taeniasis and cysticercosis, trachoma, and yaws.

9.5. mRNA VACCINE

CONTEXT
For the first time, scientists have tested a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine in a patient
with a deadly form of brain cancer — and it triggered a strong immune response.
mRNA VACCINE
● A messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine is a biological substance given in a
series of shots designed to protect from developing a disease.
● Two of the vaccines currently in use to prevent the COVID-19 infection
(coronavirus disease) are mRNA vaccines. These are the Pfizer and Moderna
vaccines.
● An mRNA vaccine works by triggering your immune system to create
antibodies.
● Antibodies are proteins in the body. They fight bacteria and viruses that cause
disease.
VARIOUS VACCINE TECHNOLOGIES

LIVE-ATTENUATED VACCINES
● Live-attenuated vaccines contain live pathogens from either a bacteria or a
virus that have been "attenuated," or weakened.
● Examples: Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, varicella (chickenpox)
vaccine
INACTIVATED VACCINES
● Inactivated vaccines take a live pathogen and inactivate or kill it.
● the inactivated pathogen is strong enough to create an immune response,
however, is incapable of causing disease.
● Multiple doses are often needed in order to build up immunity and offer full
protection.
● Examples: Polio vaccine, influenza vaccine
SUBUNIT VACCINES
● Subunit vaccines are made from a piece of a pathogen, not the whole
organism, so they do not contain any live pathogens.

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 ● Some important subunit vaccines are polysaccharide vaccines, conjugate
vaccines, and protein-based vaccines.
● Subunit vaccines can be made one of two ways: from the original pathogen or
recombinantly. Recombinant vaccines use another organism to make the vaccine
antigen.
● Examples: Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine (conjugate),
pneumococcal vaccine (polysaccharide or conjugate), shingles vaccine (recombinant
protein), hepatitis B (recombinant protein), acellular pertussis, MenACWY
(conjugate).
TOXOID VACCINES
● Toxoid vaccines use inactivated toxins to target the toxic activity created by
the bacteria, rather than targeting the bacteria itself.
● Examples: Tetanus vaccine, diphtheria vaccine
VIRAL VECTOR VACCINES
● Viral vector vaccines use a harmless virus to deliver to the hosts cells the
genetic code of the antigen you want the immune system to fight
● Examples: Ebola vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson)
9.6. ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD
CONTEXT
A 30-year study links ultra-processed food to
higher risk of early death.
ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD
● The study defined ultra-processed foods as
those that undergo significant industrial
processing.
● This oft en involves the addition of
colours, emulsifiers, flavours, and
other additives.
● These are foods that are high in fat, Sugar
and Salt (HFSS) and lack nutrients and
fibre.
● It found a particularly strong association
between early death and consumption of
specific processed food categories,
including:
✔ Ready-to-eat meat products
✔ Sugary drinks
✔ Dairy-based desserts
✔ Highly processed breakfast foods

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9.7. TAK-003: DENGUE VACCINE
CONTEXT
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has prequalified a second vaccine for dengue,
made by the Japanese drug maker Takeda
Pharmaceuticals.
TAK-003: DENGUE VACCINE
● Known as TAK-003, it is a
live-attenuated vaccine containing
weakened versions of the four serotypes
of the virus that cause dengue.
● TAK-003 can be administered to children
aged 6 to 16 years, with a high
dengue burden and transmission
intensity.
● The vaccine should be administered in a
2-dose schedule with a 3-month
interval between doses, as per the
WHO.
● The WHO had previously prequalified the
CYD-TDV vaccine against dengue,
developed by Sanofi Pasteur.
WHO PREQUALIFICATION
● WHO prequalification of a vaccine means that the health agency has assessed the
vaccine for quality, safety, and efficacy.
● This process ensures that the vaccine meets international standards and can be
used globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
● Prequalification allows the vaccine to be included in procurement by UN agencies
and other global health organisations, helping in wider distribution and use in public
health programs.
● Inclusion in the list does not imply any approval by WHO of the vaccines and
manufacturing sites in question. This is the prerogative of the national regulatory
authority (NRA).
9.8. BACTERIAL PRIORITY PATHOGENS LIST (BPPL) 2024
CONTEXT
The World Health Organization (WHO) released its updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens
List (BPPL) 2024.
BACTERIAL PRIORITY PATHOGENS LIST (BPPL) 2024
● The updates are the first since the WHO released its initial Bacterial Priority
Pathogens List (BPPL) in 2017.
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 ● The 2024 WHO BPPL covers 24 pathogens, spanning 15 families of
antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens into three priority groups
✔ Critical Priority: These pose the most significant threat and include:
Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Acinetobacter baumannii) which can easily
develop resistance and spread it to others.
❖ Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to the antibiotic rifampicin, a
concern for tuberculosis treatment.
✔ High Priority: These pathogens pose major challenges, especially in
healthcare settings, such as: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, a
hospital-acquired infection.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a common
antibiotic-resistant infection.
✔ Medium Priority: These pathogens cause a high disease burden and require
attention, particularly in vulnerable populations.
● New additions to the 2024 list include Group A and B Streptococci.
● The WHO BPPL acts as a guide for prioritizing R&D and investments in AMR,
emphasizing the need for regionally tailored strategies to effectively combat
resistance.
9.9. MATERIOVIGILANCE
PROGRAMME OF INDIA
(MVPI) PLATFORM
CONTEXT
The Drugs Controller General of India
(DCGI) has called for timely reporting of
adverse events related to medical devices
on the government’s Materiovigilance
Programme of India (MvPI) platform.
MATERIOVIGILANCE PROGRAMME OF
INDIA (MVPI) PLATFORM
● The MvPI was launched by the Health
Ministry.
● MvPI has been in place since 2015
● with the objective to improve Indian
patient safety by monitoring,
recording and analysing the root cause
of adverse events or risks associated

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 with the use of medical devices including in-vitro diagnostics
● The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has functioned as the National
Coordination Centre (NCC) since 2018.
● Currently in India medical devices including In-vitro diagnostic medical devices have
come under the regulation under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and
Medical Devices Rules, 2017.
● A license/approval is required for the import/manufacture for marketing of the
devices in the country.
9.10. RUBELLA
CONTEXT
Dr. Paul D. Parkman, who was instrumental in identifying the virus that causes
rubella and developing a vaccine, died recently.
RUBELLA:
● It is also called German Measles.
● Rubella is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in
children and young adults.
● 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.
● Transmitted by airborne droplets that occur most often in children and young
adults.
● It was declared eliminated in the Americas in 2015. It is still present in Africa and
Southeast Asia.
● Rubella isn't the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some signs and
symptoms, such as the red rash.
● Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn't as
infectious or as severe as measles.
9.11. WHOOPING COUGH
CONTEXT
In winter 2023, Health experts in Europe noticed rising cases of whooping cough
(pertussis). Experts are unsure why the cases are spiking; multiple factors might be
involved.
WHOOPING COUGH
● Whooping cough is a highly contagious infection which impacts the respiratory
tract and is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
● It gets its name from the "whooping" sound which the patient experiences which
coughing.
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● It is particularly severe in infants and in
case of complications may led to pneumonia
and even death.
● A person catches this bacteria via droplets
when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
● It attaches itself to the throat lining and
then produces toxins which damage hair-like
projections which clear debris and mucus.
● This leads to inflammation in the airways
and causes severe coughing fits. It also then
leads to difficulty in breathing.
● It begins with cold-like symptoms
accompanied with low-grade fever.
● As it progresses, cough get accompanied with
"whooping" sound and these spells may last
for a while leading to vomiting.
● In infants and young children, there may
not be a whooping sound but may
experience sleep apnea.
● The most effective method to protect oneself
against whooping cough is vaccination.
● There are 2 vaccines which protect children
against whooping cough: DTaP and Tdap.

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 10. PLACES AND PERSONS IN NEWS

10.1. SPAIN
CONTEXT
Spain's Prime Minister refuses to resign after a court opened an initial inquiry into his
wife over corruption claims.

10.2. INDONESIA
CONTEXT
75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Indonesia.

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10.3. LEBANON
CONTEXT
Israeli strikes have killed at least 295 fighters from Hezbollah and other armed
groups in Lebanon in the last six months.

10.4. SHAKSGAM VALLEY

CONTEXT
India protests Chinese road construction at Shaksgam Valley in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir.
SHAKSGAM VALLEY
● The Shaksgam valley, or the
Trans Karakoram Tract, is
part of the Hunza-Gilgit
Region of PoK.
● It is bordered by the Xinjiang
Province of the People's
Republic of China to the north.
● The northern areas of PoK are to
its west and south.
● And the Siachen Glacier
region to the east.
● In 1963, Pakistan ceded the
Shaksgam valley to China
when it signed a border
agreement with Beijing to settle
their border disputes.
● But, Article 6 of the 1963 agreement clearly stated that the two Parties have
agreed that after the settlement of the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan
and India, the sovereign authority concerned will reopen negotiations

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 ● In granting China's claim to a border along the Karakoram Range, Pakistan
compromised India's traditional frontier along the Kun Lun Range to the
north-west of the Karakoram Pass.
● It also allowed China to extend a claim eastward along the Karakoram in
Ladakh. This enabled China to claim all of Aksai-Chin.
10.5. MOUNT RUANG
CONTEXT
Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano recently erupted, triggering the highest level of
alert.
MOUNT RUANG
● Mount Ruang, a 725-meter (2,400-foot) volcano on Ruang Island, North
Sulawesi, has been erupting.
● Mount Ruang is a stratovolcano, which are typically conical and relatively
steep-sided due to the formation of viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily.
● Stratovolcanoes often produce explosive eruptions due to gas build-up in the
magma
● Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago of 270 million people, sits along the
Ring of Fire and has more than 120 active volcanoes – more than anywhere
else in the world.
PACIFIC RING OF FIRE
● The Ring of Fire is essentially a string of hundreds of volcanoes and
earthquake-sites which runs along the Pacific Ocean.
● It is a semicircle or horse shoe in shape and stretches nearly 40,250 kilometres.
● The Ring of Fire traces the meeting
points of numerous tectonic plates,
including the Eurasian, North American,
Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Caribbean, Nazca,
Antarctic, Indian, Australian, Philippine,
and other smaller plates, which all
encircle the large Pacific Plate
● The Ring of Fire is not a single
geological structure.
● It was created by the subduction of
different tectonic plates at
convergent boundaries around the
Pacific Ocean
● The interactions at these plate boundaries have formed oceanic trenches,
volcanic arcs, back-arc basins and volcanic belts.
● It runs through 15 more countries including the USA, Indonesia, Mexico,
Japan, Canada, Guatemala, Russia, Chile, Peru, and the Philippines.
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10.6. LALA HANSRAJ
CONTEXT
Birth anniversary of Lala Hansraj was celebrated.

10.7. NETHERLANDS
CONTEXT
12th India-Netherlands Foreign Office Consultations were held in The Hague,
Netherlands.

10.8. LIPULEKH, LIMPIYADHURA AND KALAPANI

CONTEXT
Nepal announced the printing of a new Rs 100 currency note with a map that shows
the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani.
LIPULEKH, LIMPIYADHURA AND KALAPANI
● Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West
Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

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 ● Territorial dispute over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, together cover
about 370 sq km.
● The strategic Lipulekh pass
connects the Indian state of
Uttarakhand with the Tibet
region of China.
● The Kalapani area is strategically
significant in South Asian
diplomacy as it is at the tri-junction
between India, China, and Nepal.
● Given that Nepal is a “buffer state”
between China and India—both
countries have power aspirations in
the region, the Kalapani dispute can
have ramifications on the relations
between the three.
● In 2020, India inaugurated the 80km road to facilitate pilgrims visiting
Kailash-Mansarovar in Tibet in China, which is around 90km from the Lipulekh
pass.
● Lipulekh is a strip of land on the northwestern edge of Nepal, lodged
between Nepal, India, and Tibet.
● It is a far western point near Kalapani, a disputed border area between Nepal
and India.
● The road has strategic value for India as it will be the first to provide connectivity
to the Indian troops deployed on the Line of Actual Control with China in
Uttarakhand.
● The road originates from Ghatiabgarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the
gateway to Kailash-Mansarovar.
10.9. MULLAPERIYARU DAM
CONTEXT
Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court, alleging that Kerala is obstructing in
strengthening work of Mullaperiyar Dam.

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 ● The Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala with a length of 244 km.
● It is also known as ‘Lifeline of Kerala’ as it is one of the few perennial rivers in the
state.
● A perennial river is a channel that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all
year round.
● Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats and flows through the
Periyar National Park.
● The main tributaries of Periyar are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni,
Perinjankutti.
10.10. BLACK SEA
CONTEXT
Ukraine's exploding drone boats appear to be hunting down smaller, high-speed
vessels in the Black Sea.

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10.11. GULF OF ADEN
CONTEXT
Suspected pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden raises concerns about growing Somali
piracy.

10.12. CAMBODIA
CONTEXT
Cambodia formally accepted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

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10.13. ASAF ALI
CONTEXT
The birth anniversary of Asaf Ali was celebrated.

10.14. CHABAHAR PORT

CONTEXT
Eight years after concluding the general framework of cooperation on the Chabahar
port in Iran, India and Iran signed a 10-year contract for its operation.
CHABAHAR PORT
● The port of Chabahar is located on the
Makran coast of Sistan and
Baluchistan Province, next to the Gulf
of Oman and at the mouth of the Strait
of Hormuz.
● It serves as Iran's only oceanic port,
and consists of two separate ports named
Shahid Kalantari and Shahid
Beheshti.
● The port is partly intended to provide an
alternative for trade between India and Afghanistan as it is 800 kilometers
closer to the border of Afghanistan than Pakistan's Karachi port
● It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean.

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 ● Being close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan and others, it has been termed the "Golden Gate" to these
landlocked countries
● The Kandla port in Gujarat stands as the nearest to the Chabahar port, with a
distance of 550 nautical miles, while the distance between Chabahar and
Mumbai spans 786 nautical miles.
● India and Iran have positioned the port as a pivotal node within the
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) initiative.
● The INSTC spans 7,200 kilometers and encompasses various modes of
transportation, serving as a comprehensive freight transport project connecting
India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and
Europe.
10.15. CROATIA
CONTEXT
Incumbent Croatian Prime Minister has secured office for the third consecutive time.

10.16. SLOVAKIA
CONTEXT
The Slovak prime minister was shot multiple times.

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10.17. KANWAR LAKE
CONTEXT
Kanwar lake, Bihar’s only Ramsar site, faces a challenge of survival.
KANWAR LAKE
● Bihar has many wetlands, only one is recognised.
Kanwar Lake in Begusarai was declared a Ramsar
site in August 2020.
● The Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake or Kabartal
Wetland located in Begusarai district of Bihar, India,
● It is Asia's largest freshwater oxbow lake
● It is approximately six times the size of the
Bharatpur Sanctuary.
● In November 2020, the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared it the
first Ramsar site in Bihar
● There are a total of 75 Ramsar Sites in India till
2022.
● It is a residual oxbow lake, formed due to meandering of Burhi Gandak river,
a tributary of Ganga, in the geological past
● It covers 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains in the northern Bihar State.
● The Wetland is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway
● It is also a valuable site for fish biodiversity

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 ● Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures – the
red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) – and two waterbirds, the sociable lapwing
(Vanellus gregarius) and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
10.18. NILE RIVER
CONTEXT
Researchers have discovered an extinct branch of Nile River – the Ahramat Branch
– that once flowed alongside pyramids in Egypt.
NILE RIVER
● The Nile is a major north-flowing river in
northeastern Africa.
● It flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
● The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has
historically been considered the longest river in
the world.
● The Nile River flows over 6,600 kilometers
(4,100 miles) until emptying into the
Mediterranean Sea.
● It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake
Victoria (located in modern-day Uganda,
Tanzania, and Kenya), and empties into the
Mediterranean Sea.
● its drainage basin covers eleven countries:
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania,
Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia,
Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.
● The Nile has two major tributaries: the
White Nile and the Blue Nile.
● The White Nile is traditionally considered to be the headwaters stream.
10.19. NEW CALEDONIA
CONTEXT
France declares a state of emergency in New Caledonia.

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10.20. IRAN
CONTEXT
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan
province.

10.21. BIPIN CHANDRA PAL

CONTEXT
Bipin Chandra Pal was remembered on his death anniversary.

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10.22. KYRGYZSTAN
CONTEXT
Violence has erupted in Kyrgyzstan, with mobs targeting hostels housing students
from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

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10.23. MRUGAVANI NATIONAL PARK
CONTEXT
Telangana Forest Department Informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that
area of MNP in Chilkur has been reduced by 80 hectares on paper.
MRUGAVANI NATIONAL PARK
● Mrugavani National Park is a national park located in Hyderabad, Telangana
State, India.
● It is situated at Chilkur in Moinabad mandal
● It was declared as a National Park in 1994.
● They are dry deciduous forests in the Southern tropical.
● The undulating topography shows the rocky side of the formation of the Deccan
trap.
● The topography of Park supports woodlands, grasslands and rocky areas.
● The animals include: indian hare, forest cat, civet, Indian rat snake, Russell's
viper, chital and the flower pecker.
10.24. TAIWAN STRAIT
CONTEXT
The escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait
highlight the ongoing geopolitical complexities in the
region, with Taiwan reaffirming its commitment to
defending its sovereignty and democratic values in the
face of increasing military pressure from China.
TAIWAN STRAIT
● The Taiwan Strait, also known as the Formosa
Strait, is a 180 km wide strait separating
Taiwan and mainland China.
● The strait is currently part of the South China
Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north. The narrowest part is 130
km wide.
● The entire strait is on Asia’s continental shelf.
● Historically both the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan espoused a
One-China Policy that considered the strait part of the
exclusive economic zone of a single “China”.
KINMEN ISLANDS
● Kinmen, alternatively known as Quemoy, is a group of
islands governed as a county by the Republic of China
(Taiwan).
● It is only 10 km (6.2 mi) east from the city of
Xiamen in Fujian, located at the southeastern coast of
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 the People's Republic of China, from which they are separated by Xiamen
Bay.
● Kinmen is located 187 km west from the shoreline of the island of Taiwan across
the Taiwan Strait.
● The People's Republic of China (PRC, China) claims Kinmen as part of its own
Fujian Province.
10.25. PERIYAR RIVER
CONTEXT
Massive fish deaths in a Periyar river tributary were due to dangerous levels of
ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and unidentified toxins in the water.
PERIYAR RIVER
● The Periyar River is the longest river in the
state of Kerala with a length of 244 km.
● It is also known as ‘Lifeline of Kerala’ as it
is one of the few perennial rivers in the state.
● It empties into the Arabian Sea at Aluva,
near Kochi, Kerala
● A perennial river is a channel that has
continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all
year round.
● Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of
Western Ghats and flows through the Periyar
National Park.
● The main tributaries of Periyar are
Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni,
Perinjankutti.
● Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam
on the Periyar River in the Indian state of
Kerala.
● It supports diverse ecosystems, passes
through Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
(notable for elephants and tigers).
● The ancient port of Muziris, is believed to have been located near the mouth of
the Periyar.
10.26. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
CONTEXT
As many as 2,000 people are feared to have been buried by last week’s massive
landslide in Papua New Guinea.

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10.27. NARVA RIVER
CONTEXT
A new dispute has emerged between Russia and Estonia, centered around the
removal of navigation markers on the Narva River.
NARVA RIVER
● It forms part of the border between the two
countries.
● The Narva flows 77 kilometres (48 mi) north into
the Baltic Sea and is the largest Estonian river by
discharge.
● The river draws its water from Lake Peipsi, runs
along the border of the Republic of Estonia and
the Russian Federation, and falls into Narva
Bay, Gulf of Finland.
● The river gives its name to the archaeological
(Neolithic) Narva culture, as well as the city of
Narva.
10.28. RASH BEHARI BOSE
CONTEXT
Remembering revolutionary leader Rash Behari Bose on his death anniversary.

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213 | Page
 11. REPORTS AND INDICES

11.1. WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX, 2024

CONTEXT
The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its latest edition of World Press
Freedom Index.
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX, 2024
● It is published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that ranks 180
countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to journalists.
● It has been published every year since 2002.
● It provides a snapshot of the media freedom situation based on an evaluation
of pluralism, independence of the media, quality of legislative framework, and
safety of journalists in each country and region.
● The press freedom questionnaire covers five categories — political context,
legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context and security.
2024 RANKING
● Norway, Denmark, and Sweden occupied the top positions in press freedom,
while Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea constituted the bottom three.
● In 2022, India was ranked 150th out of 180 countries.
● However, in 2023, India’s ranking slipped further to 161st.
● In 2024, India’s score in the World Press Freedom Index fell from 36.62 to
31.28, but its rank improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024.
11.2. WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2024
CONTEXT
The International Organization for Migration (IOM)
launched the World Migration Report 2024.
WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2024
● It has been published Biennially (every 2
years), since 2000.
● With an estimated 281 million international
migrants worldwide, the number of displaced
individuals due to conflict, violence, disaster, and
other reasons has surged to the highest levels in
modern-day records, reaching 117 million
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
(IOM)

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 ● The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations agency
that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and
migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
● The IOM was established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for
European Migration (ICEM) to help resettle people displaced by World War II.
● It became a United Nations agency in 2016
● The IOM is the principal UN agency working in the field of migration.
● The IOM promotes humane and orderly migration by providing services and
advice to governments and migrants.
● The IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: migration and
development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and addressing
forced migration.
11.3. VOLATILITY INDEX
CONTEXT
India VIX surged above the critical threshold of 21, indicating heightened volatility in
India’s stock market.
VOLATILITY INDEX
● The Volatility Index, VIX or the Fear Index, is a measure of the market’s
expectation of volatility over the near term.
● Volatility is often described as the ‘rate and magnitude of changes in prices’
and in finance often referred to as risk.
● Usually, during periods of market volatility, the market moves steeply up or
down and the volatility index tends to rise.
● As volatility subsides, the Volatility Index declines.
● India VIX is a volatility index computed by the NSE based on the order book of
NIFTY Options.
● India VIX indicates the investor’s perception of the market’s volatility in the
near term i.e.
● It depicts the expected market volatility over the next 30 calendar days.
● The higher the India VIX values, the higher the expected volatility and vice
versa, as per NSE.
11.4. TRAVEL & TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX 2024
CONTEXT
India’s rank on the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index
2024 has risen to 39th place.
TRAVEL & TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX 2024
● While the US topped the list, India is ranked highest in South Asia and among
the lower-middle-income economies

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● India was ranked 54th in the previously
published index in 2021.
● After the US, Spain, Japan, France and
Australia figure among the top five in the
2024 list.
● The index, prepared in collaboration with the
University of Surrey, showed India is highly
price-competitive (18th) and boasts
competitive Air Transport (26th) and Ground
and Port (25th) infrastructure.

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 12. ALSO IN NEWS

12.1. TACTICAI
CONTEXT
Google’s Deepmind has developed TacticAI that can provide experts with tactical
insights in Football.
TACTICAI
● An AI system that can provide experts with tactical insights, particularly on
corner kicks, through predictive and generative AI.
● TacticAI says it has achieved encouraging results by using “a geometric deep
learning approach” that helps create more generalisable models
● This AI tool can be used by football team managers as an assistant for
tactics.
● It has incorporated both a predictive and generative component to allow
coaches to effectively sample and explore alternative player setups for each corner
kick, and to select those with the highest predicted likelihood of success.

12.2. KAVACH
CONTEXT
The railways inked an agreement with a tech firm for “exploring and delivering”
train collision avoidance system KAVACH implementation projects in India as well as
other countries.
KAVACH SYSTEM
● The KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
system by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in
collaboration with the Indian industry.
● It is a state-of-the-art electronic system with Safety Integrity Level-4
(SIL-4) standards.
● It is meant to provide protection by preventing trains to pass the signal at Red
(which marks danger) and avoid collision.
● It activates the train’s braking system automatically if the driver fails to control
the train as per speed restrictions. In addition, it prevents the collision between two
locomotives equipped with functional Kavach systems.
● The Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), with the help of equipment on board
the locomotive and transmission towers at stations connected with Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) tags,
● It helps in two-way communication between the station master and loco-pilot to
convey any emergency message.
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 ● If a red signal is jumped and two trains come face to face on the same line,
the technology automatically takes over and applies sudden brakes.

12.3. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY

CONTEXT
National Technology Day is celebrated every year on May 11.
NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY
● It is celebrated on May 11 to honor scientists and engineers.
● The theme for 2024 is 'School to Startups-Igniting Young Minds to Innovate',
aiming to inspire innovation and startup culture.
● A theme for the event is chosen by the Technology Development Board (TDB).
● National Technology Day was chosen to mark the anniversary of the successful
nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran on May 11, 1998.
● The first National Technology Day was celebrated on May 11, 1999.
● It aimed at highlighting India's quest for scientific inquiry, technological creativity
and innovation.
● The central government uses the platform to announce the winners for Rashtriya
Vigyan Purashkar, or National Science Awards.

12.4. INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY

CONTEXT
Military Nursing Service celebrates International Nurses Day, 2024.
INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY
● International Nurses Day is celebrated across the world, every year on the birth
anniversary of Florence Nightingale to mark the contributions of nurses
towards society.
● It is celebrated around the world on May 12 every year.
● The International Council of Nurses has declared the theme for this year as ‘Our
Nurses Our Future, The Economic Power of Care’.
● International Nurses Day serves as a reminder of the importance of nurses and their
dedication to making a difference in the lives of others.

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12.5. RAT-HOLE MINING
CONTEXT
Despite a ban from National Green Tribunal in 2014, none of 26,000 abandoned rat-
hole coal mines in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya have been shut down.
RAT HOLE MINING
● It is a primitive and hazardous method of mining for coal, with tunnels that
are only 3-4 feet in diameter (hence, rat-hole), leading to pits ranging from 5-100
sq. mt deep.
● It involves digging of very small tunnels in which workers, more often
children, enter and extract coal.
● A major portion of these employees are children, who are preferred because of
their thin body shape and ease to access depths.
● The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014. But
the practice continues unabated.

12.6. SAHUL
CONTEXT
Archaeologists have found evidence of a lost
landscape known as Sahul in ancient times.
SAHUL
● The supercontinent, once known as Sahul, was
a landmass that was exposed thousands of years
ago during the Pleistocene epoch - when Earth
was in the middle of the last ice age.

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 ● Glaciation led to declining sea levels, exposing areas of the continental shelf
that had previously been submerged.
● This revealed land connecting what is now mainland Australia to Papua New
Guinea in the north and Tasmania in the south.

12.7. KADAR
CONTEXT
The recent death of a Kadar tribesman in Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve in an
elephant attack has left the indigenous community and conservationists in shock as
Kadars are known to co-exist with wild elephants for ages.
KADAR
● The Kadar are a tribal community or indigenous community in India, a
designated Scheduled Tribe in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,and Kerala.
● They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based on
hunting and gathering.
● They specialized in collecting honey, wax, sago, arrowroot, cardamom,
ginger, and umbrella sticks for trade with merchants from the plains
● They speak the Dravidian languages of Tamil and Kannaḍa.
● They are listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Kerala,
but not in Tamil Nadu.

12.8. 'SANGAM: DIGITAL TWIN'

CONTEXT
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) proudly announces the selected
participants for Stage 1 of the ground-breaking ‘Sangam: Digital Twin with AI-
Driven Insights Initiative’.
'SANGAM: DIGITAL TWIN'
● Digital Twin technology offers a solution by creating virtual replicas of physical
assets, allowing for real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis for experimental
iterations.
● Digital Twin is a PoC (proof of concept ) distributed in two stages to be conducted in
one of the major cities of India.
● First stage is Exploratory for clarity of horizon and creative Exploration to unleash
potential.
● Second stage is for practical demonstration of specific use cases generating a
future blueprint that may serve as a roadmap to scale and replicate successful
strategies in future infrastructure projects through collaboration.
● 'Sangam: Digital Twin' symbolizes a collaborative leap towards reshaping
infrastructure planning and design, combining the prowess of 5G, IoT, AI, AR/VR,
AI native 6G, Digital Twin and next-gen computational technologies with the

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 collective intelligence of public entities, to break the silos and engage in a
whole-of-nation approach.
● Sangam brings all stakeholders on one platform aiming to transform innovative
ideas into tangible solutions.
● It aims to demonstrate practical implementation of innovative infrastructure
planning solutions, to develop a model framework for facilitating faster and more
effective collaboration.
● and to provide a future blueprint that may serve as a roadmap to scale and
replicate successful strategies in future infrastructure projects.

12.9. PLUNGING-REGION
CONTEXT
Researchers at Oxford University Physics have proved Einstein theory was correct
about a key prediction concerning plunging-region around blackhole.
PLUNGING-REGION
● Their study gives the first observational proof that a “plunging-region” exists
around black holes
● It is an area where matter stops circling the hole and instead falls straight in.
● Furthermore, the team found that this region exerts some of the strongest
gravitational forces yet identified in the galaxy.

12.10. DEDA METHOD

CONTEXT
A Muria tribal farmer who migrated from Chhattisgarh and settled in the dense
forests of the Godavari Valley, is still practising ‘deda’, a traditional method of
preserving seeds that his ancestors handed over to his family.
DEDA METHOD
● Deda method, wherein the seeds are preserved in leaves and packed almost
airtight to look like boulders from a distance.
● The packaged seeds are, in turn, woven with Siali leaf (Bauhinia vahlii), which is
locally known as ‘addakulu’ to make the deda.
● The deda method guarantees protection of seed from pests and worms.
● In this method, the stored seeds can be used for cultivation for up to five years.
MURIA TRIBE
● The Muria are an indigenous Adivasi, scheduled tribe Dravidian community of
the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, India.
● They are part of the Gondi people.
● The Muria are generally self-sufficient in producing and consuming Forest
produce
● The Muria people drink a local form of liquor Mahuva, Selfi, which plays a key role
in social and ritual gatherings
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 ● The Muria traditionally practice their folk religion, nature of worshipping, and
Budhadev (Dev) God the deities of their respective village and clan, similar to
Sarnaism.

12.11. NATIONAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY

CONTEXT
In 2024, the National Endangered Species Day will be observed on May 17.
NATIONAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY
● National Endangered Species Day is an annual event that strives to raise
awareness about the significance of safeguarding endangered species and their
habitats.
● This special day, observed on the third Friday of May each year, provides an
opportunity to conserve and restore the magnificent biodiversity that exists on
our earth.
● The theme for the year 2024 is “Celebrate Saving Species”.
● To emphasise how important it is for plants and animals to coexist peacefully to
maintain the ecosystem, National Endangered Species Day is observed.
● An ecosystem is out of balance when a species faces extinction as a result of a
large population fall or the loss of vital habitat.
● All living organisms on earth are interconnected, losing one often results in the
extinction of others.
● The Endangered Species Coalition and David Robinson co-founded National
Endangered Species Day in 2006.
● Robinson defines Endangered Species Day as a worldwide day of action to rescue
species and celebrate conservation triumphs.
● The Endangered Species Coalition sees its aim as preventing the extinction of
the country’s at-risk species, protecting and restoring their ecosystems, and
guiding these fragile populations toward recovery.

12.12. PORT OF CALL

CONTEXT
Spain has refused permission for an Israel-bound ship carrying arms to call at the
southeastern port of Cartagena.
PORT OF CALL
● Port of Call means an intermediate stop for a ship on its scheduled journey for
cargo operation or taking on supplies or fuel.
● It can be defined as the port of a country where cargo or a passenger (cruise)
ship halts to discharge or load the cargo or to embark or disembark passengers.
● For the cruise ship, port of call is the premier stop from where they take on
passengers for their cruise holidays.

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 ● For cargo ships, a port of call is a port attended within a voyage to load or unload
the cargo, or for bunkering or repairs carried out on the ship etc.
● Port of Call can include both inland harbours and marine seaports that cater
to vessels transiting internationally.
● When a vessel makes the initial customs entry into a country, the first port which
it will attend will be considered as the “First Port of Call”.

12.13. WORLD BEE DAY

CONTEXT
World Bee Day is observed on 20 May each year to draw attention to the essential
role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet are healthy.
POLLINATION
● Bees and other pollinators, such as
butterflies, bats and hummingbirds,
are increasingly under threat from human
activities.
● Pollination is, however, a fundamental
process for the survival of our
ecosystems.
● Nearly 90% of the world’s wild
flowering plant species depend,
entirely, or at least in part, on animal
pollination, along with more than 75% of
the world’s food crops and 35% of
global agricultural land.
● Not only do pollinators contribute directly
to food security, but they are key to
conserving biodiversity.
WORLD BEE DAY
● To raise awareness of the importance
of pollinators, the threats they face and
their contribution to sustainable
development, the UN designated 20 May
as World Bee Day.
● The goal is to strengthen measures
aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly
contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate
hunger in developing countries.

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12.14. PIG BUTCHERING SCAM
CONTEXT
An online financial fraud called the Pig Butchering Scam is increasing across the
globe, including in India.
PIG BUTCHERING SCAM
● A pig butchering scam is a type of long-term scam and investment fraud
● In which the victim is gradually lured into making increasing contributions, usually
in the form of cryptocurrency, to a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
● The scammer builds trust with the victim through online communication,
subsequently persuading them to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
● The "butchering" or "slaughtering" of the victim transpires when their assets or
funds are stolen
● Pig butchering scams originated in 2020 as a regional scam in China and later
spread throughout Southeast Asia at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

12.15. BOOKER PRIZE

CONTEXT
German author Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann won the
International Booker Prize for fiction for “Kairos.
BOOKER PRIZE
● The Booker Prize, formerly the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the
Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a literary award conferred each year for
the best novel written in the English language, which was published in the United
Kingdom and Ireland
● It was first awarded in 1969.
● The Booker Prize is open to English-language novels from any country
published in the U.K. and Ireland.
● For the Booker Prize, the winner receives £50,000.
● When the prize was created, only novels written by Commonwealth, Irish, and
South African (and later Zimbabwean) citizens were eligible to receive the prize; in
2014, eligibility was widened to any English-language novel
● A sister prize, the International Booker Prize, is awarded for a book
translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

12.16. NYISHI TRIBE

CONTEXT
Arunachal’s Kabak Yano becomes the first Nyishi woman to scale Mount Everest.
NYISHI TRIBE

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 ● The Nyishis are mentioned as the Dafla people in the contemporary Ahom
documents and consequently, the British documents and historians of the
post-independence period also used the same term.
● The Nyishi are geographically concentrated around the Dafla Hill range, located
in the northern part of the Papum Pare district.
● The Nyishi community is the largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh in
north-eastern India.
● The Nyishi language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family, however, the origin is
disputed.
● Their population of around 300,000 makes them the most populous tribe of
Arunachal Pradesh, closely followed by the tribes of the Adi
● Nyishi believes that they are the descendants of Abo Tani.
● That is why Nyishi, Adi, Gallo, Tagin, Apatani, of state and Mishings of Assam
called themselves the Tani Group of Tribes.
● One striking feature of Nyishi society is that it is neither based on caste system
nor stratified into classes, except a loose type of social distinction, which is not
determined by birth or occupation.
● Polygyny is prevalent among the Nyishi.

12.17. PRAGATI-2024
CONTEXT
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences Launches “PRAGATI-2024”, an
initiative to shape the future of Ayurveda.
PRAGATI-2024

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● The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous
body under the Union Ministry of Ayush, today launched “PRAGATI- 2024”
(Pharma Research in AyurGyan And Techno Innovation).
● It offers a very useful opportunity for collaborative research in the field of
Ayurveda.
● PRAGATI-2024 presents a scope for collaboration between CCRAS and the
industry.

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