6. INDUS WATER TREATY...................................................

23
INDEX 7. INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR
PROSPERITY (IPEF).............................................................. 24
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE............... 6 8. QUAD GROUPING...............................................................24
1. RULE 170 OF THE DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT.. 6 9. QUAD CANCER MOONSHOT......................................... 25
2. MEASURES TAKEN FOR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY. 6 10. SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE...........................................25
3. LAW COMMISSION.............................................................. 7 11. MINERALS SECURITY FINANCE NETWORK....... 26
4. PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE...............................................7 12. GLOBE NETWORK.......................................................... 27
5. ARTICLE 254.......................................................................... 8 3. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS............ 28
6. CENTRALIZED PENSION PAYMENT SYSTEM 1. ‘NAVRATNA’ STATUS........................................................ 28
(CPPS)............................................................................................ 9
2. VADHAVAN PORT...............................................................28
7. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE..................................9
3. DIGITAL AGRICULTURE MISSION...............................29
8. COLLEGIUM......................................................................... 10
4. INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK.................................... 30
9. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL
5. WINDFALL TAX...................................................................31
LANGUAGE................................................................................ 10
6. PERPETUAL BOND............................................................32
10. STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS............. 11
7. FINANCIALISATION..........................................................32
11. ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH
FOUNDATION...........................................................................12 8. VERTICAL FISCAL IMBALANCE.................................. 32
12. INNER LINE PERMIT (ILP)......................................... 12 9. SUKANYA SAMRIDDHI ACCOUNT SCHEME........... 33
13. GRAM NYAYALAYAS........................................................13 10. CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITS (CD)............................ 34
14. ‘ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION’.................................13 11. STATE FINANCE COMMISSION................................. 35
15. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS..........................................14 12. NATIONAL BANK FOR FINANCING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT (NABFID)...
16. LOK ADALAT..................................................................... 15
35
17. NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (NCoE)
13. CO-LOCATION CASE.......................................................36
FOR ANIMATION.................................................................... 15
14. BHASKAR PLATFORM...................................................37
18. FACT CHECK UNIT (FCU)............................................ 15
15. JUTE PRODUCTION........................................................ 38
19. ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD (AOR)............................... 16
16. ECONOMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE PRIME
20. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL
MINISTER.................................................................................. 39
OFFENSES..................................................................................17
17. GOPALPUR PORT............................................................ 40
21. ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT
(AFSPA), 1958..........................................................................18 18. WHITE REVOLUTION 2.0............................................ 40
22. CLAUSE 6 OF ASSAM ACCORD.................................. 19 19. FOOD IMPORT REJECTION ALERT (FIRA)...........41
20. WINDFALL TAX................................................................42
2. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND
CONVENTIONS.................................... 20 21. CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP (CDS)................................. 42
1. FORUM ON CHINA–AFRICA COOPERATION 22. ICAR-NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SECONDARY
(FOCAC)......................................................................................20 AGRICULTURE (NISA).......................................................... 42
2. INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC 23. GST COMPENSATION CESS.........................................43
CORRIDOR (IMEC)................................................................. 20 24. CENTRAL SILK BOARD.................................................44
3. BARAKAH NUCLEAR ENERGY PLANT......................21 25. AGRISURE FUND............................................................. 44
4. INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE...................... 22 26. INVESTOR EDUCATION AND PROTECTION FUND
5. OPERATION SADBHAV....................................................22 AUTHORITY (IEPFA).............................................................45

2
27. 10 YEARS OF MAKE IN INDIA................................... 45 21. PROJECT CHEETAH........................................................70
28. PRECISION FARMING....................................................47 22. EXOSTOMA SENTIYONOAE........................................ 71
4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY............48 23. OPERATION BHEDIYA...................................................72
1. GENOME MAPPING OF CHANDIPURA VIRUS....... 48 24. FJORDS................................................................................ 72
2. BEPICOLOMBO MISSION................................................48 25. MISSION MAUSAM......................................................... 73
3. CHAMRAN-1 SATELLITE................................................49 6. HISTORY AND CULTURE.................. 74
4. POLARIS DAWN MISSION.............................................. 49 1. THE BATTLE OF SARAGARHI.......................................74
5. 2024 PT5 MINI-MOON.................................................... 50 2. KARAM PARV.......................................................................74
6. VENUS ORBITER MISSION............................................ 51 3. NAGA KING CHILLI FESTIVAL......................................75
7. SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY....................................... 52 4. KOODIYATTOM................................................................... 75
8. CRITICALITY IN NUCLEAR REACTOR...................... 53 5. SANT TUKARAM................................................................ 76
9. TRISHNA MISSION............................................................ 53 7. SCHEMES AND PROJECTS IN NEWS. 77
10. EUROPA CLIPPER MISSION........................................54 1. INDIA SEMICONDUCTOR MISSION (ISM)...............77
11. PULSARS............................................................................. 55 2. POSHAN TRACKER INITIATIVE.................................. 77
12. ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI (AGN)...........................55 3. NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPING AND
5. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT....57 HARNESSING INNOVATIONS (NIDHI)...........................78
1. NAZCA RIDGE......................................................................57 4. SWACHH BHARAT MISSION..........................................78
2. SATKOSIA TIGER RESERVE...........................................58 5. 'INDIASIZE' INITIATIVE..................................................79
3. MIMETUS SPINATUS AND MIMETUS PARVULUS58 6. PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN MAANDHAN YOJANA....
80
4. THE LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND.................................. 59
7. INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE....
5. DELAY IN THE ONSET OF LA NIÑA........................... 59
80
6. SATURN’S RINGS TO DISAPPEAR TEMPORARILY....
8. PM E-DRIVE SCHEME...................................................... 81
60
9. NPS VATSALYA SCHEME................................................. 82
7. ELONGATED TORTOISE..................................................61
10. SUBHADRA SCHEME..................................................... 82
8. AHAETULLA LONGIROSTRIS....................................... 61
11. PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY
9. MIKANIA MICRANTHA................................................... 62
SANRAKSHAN ABHIYAN (PM-AASHA)......................... 83
10. MYRISTICA SWAMP FOREST..................................... 63
12. ‘BIO-RIDE’ SCHEME....................................................... 84
11. SALT PAN LAND...............................................................63
13. FAST TRACK IMMIGRATION-TRUSTED
12. TYPHOON YAGI................................................................ 64 TRAVELLER PROGRAMME (FTI-TTP)........................... 85
13. INTEGRATED OCEAN ENERGY ATLAS...................65 14. VIVAD SE VISHWAS SCHEME 2024.........................85
14. SYNTRETUS PERLMANI...............................................66 15. INSPIRE – MANAK..........................................................86
15. AMUR FALCON................................................................. 66 16. SPICED SCHEME..............................................................86
16. SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL................................ 67 17. PARYATAN MITRA AND PARYATAN DIDI.............. 87
17. VALMIKI TIGER RESERVE...........................................67 18. PRADHAN MANTRI JAN AROGYA YOJANA
18. INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE (PM-JAY).....................................................................................87
HABITATS.................................................................................. 68 19. WOMEN IN SPACE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
19. STATE OF RHINO 2024 REPORT.............................. 69 (WISLP)...................................................................................... 88
20. COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT 8. SECURITY....................................... 90
(CAQM)....................................................................................... 70
1. PROJECT NAMAN...............................................................90

3
2. COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE...............................90 12. SRI VIJAYA PURAM.......................................................111
3. SAMUDRA PRATAP........................................................... 90 13. PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR........................................112
4. EXERCISE VARUNA........................................................... 91 14. TAIWAN STRAIT........................................................... 113
5. AGNI-4 MISSILE................................................................. 91 11. Reports and Indices.................... 114
6. YUDH ABHYAS 2024.........................................................93 1. GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY INDEX 2024................114
7. EXERCISE AL NAJAH........................................................ 93 2. ASIA POWER INDEX...................................................... 114
8. VERTICAL LAUNCH SHORT RANGE SURFACE TO 3. GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2024........................115
AIR MISSILE (VLSRSAM).....................................................93
12. ALSO IN NEWS............................ 116
9. INDUS-X DEFENCE INITIATIVE...................................94
1. TEACHERS DAY................................................................116
10. OPERATION CHAKRA-III............................................. 95
2. BONDA TRIBE.................................................................. 116
11. EXERCISE AIKYA............................................................. 95
3. ESHRAM PORTAL............................................................117
12. EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE - VII...........................96
4. DIGI YATRA........................................................................118
13. CSIRT-POWER...................................................................96
5. SAHARIYA TRIBE............................................................ 118
14. GROM-E1 MISSILE..........................................................96
6. SWACHH VAYU SURVEKSHAN AWARDS............... 118
9. HEALTH...........................................98
7. TRADE CONNECT E-PLATFORM.............................. 119
1. NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK.................................... 98 8. NATIONAL FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARDS.......
2. VALLEY FEVER................................................................... 98 119
3. LEPTOSPIROSIS..................................................................99 9. RANGEEN MACHHLI APP............................................120
4. HEPATITIS A VACCINE.....................................................99 10. IRULAS TRIBE................................................................121
5. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE................................................100 11. EID MILAD UN NABI................................................... 121
6. TUBERCULOSIS................................................................101 12. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY.............121
7. ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR).................. 102 13. SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY.................................................. 122
8. CELLULITIS DISEASE.................................................... 102 14. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE..........................123
9. MVA BN VACCINE............................................................103 15. RETRACTION................................................................. 123
10. NECROTISING FASCIITIS.......................................... 103 16. MANKIDIA TRIBE.........................................................124
11. DENGUE........................................................................... 104 17. GOA MARITIME SYMPOSIUM................................. 124
12. OPERATION AMRITH................................................. 104 18. WORLD TOURISM DAY.............................................. 125
10. PLACES AND PERSONS IN NEWS. 106 19. KEFFIYEH SCARVES....................................................125
1. MAJOR DHYAN CHAND.................................................106 20. SASTRA RAMANUJAN PRIZE 2024.......................126
2. V. O. CHIDAMBARAM PILLAI......................................106 21. UNIFIED LOGISTICS INTERFACE PLATFORM
3. DADABHAI NAOROJI......................................................107 (ULIP) HACKATHON 2.0................................................... 127
4. GOVIND BALLABH PANT.............................................108 22. POUMAI NAGA TRIBE................................................ 128
5. M VISVESVARAYA............................................................108 23. ABHED LIGHTWEIGHT BULLET PROOF JACKETS.
128
6. ISHWAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR............................109
7. THIRUVALLUVAR............................................................ 109
8. SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH..........................................110
9. SUDAN................................................................................. 110
10. POLTAVA...........................................................................111
11. MEXICO.............................................................................111

4
 1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. RULE 170 OF THE DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court pulled up the AYUSH ministry for its notification asking state licensing
authorities “not to initiate/take any action under” Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

RULE 170 OF THE DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT

● Rule 170 governs the manufacture, storage, and sale of medicines in the country, “specifically

for controlling inappropriate advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines”.

● It prohibits AYUSH drug manufacturers from advertising their products without approval and

allotment of a unique identification number from the state licensing authority.

● The manufacturers have to submit details such as textual references and rationale for the

medicine from authoritative books, indication for use, evidence of safety, effectiveness, and
quality of drugs.

CHALLENGES IN REGULATING AYUSH DRUGS

● The phase I, II, and III trials are not necessary for AYUSH drugs.

● Most AYUSH drugs can be approved based on the rationale provided in authoritative texts.

● Safety trials have to be conducted only for around 60specified formulations - snake venom,

heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury, and compounds such as copper sulphate.

REASON FOR IGNORING THE RULE

Similar Act: As per Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board (ASUDTAB),
Rule 170 could be omitted as amendments in Drugs and Magic Remedies Act were being taken up
by the health and AYUSH ministries.

2. MEASURES TAKEN FOR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY

CONTEXT
The Centre said that LGBTQIA+ couples and partners in Queer relationships will now be considered
as part of the same household for the purposes of ration cards.

INTERIM MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR LGBTQIA+

● All States and Union Territories have been directed to take measures necessary to ensure that

partners in Queer relationships are not discriminated against in the issuance of ration cards.
● The couples in Queer relationships and LGBTQIA+ couples cannot be prevented from opening

joint bank accounts and that they can nominate each other as beneficiaries.
● The Health Ministry has framed guidelines on medical interventions for intersex children or

children with disorders of sexual differentiation so that they can “have a medically normal life
without complications”.
● The Health Ministry is working on guidelines for addressing issues of mental health and

well-being of the Queer community.

5
 MEASURES FOR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
● Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India decriminalised all consensual sex among adults, including

homosexual sex. It unanimously struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
● The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 prohibits the discrimination

against a transgender person.

● Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020 specify the manner, form and

process by which persons may be recognised as transgender.

● The National Portal for Transgender Persons provides a platform for transgender person to

apply online for transgender identity Certificate and Identity card.

3. LAW COMMISSION
CONTEXT
Centre notifies the constitution of 23rd Law Commission.

LAW COMMISSION
● It is a non-statutory body and is constituted

by a notification of the Ministry of Law &

Justice with a definite term of reference. It
functions as a advisory body.
● It carries out research in the field of law and

the Commission makes recommendations to

the Government.
● Tenure: The term will be for period of three

years till 31st August 2027.

● Composition: It will have a full-time
chairperson and four full-time members
including a member-secretary.
● The secretary of the Department of Legal

Affairs and the secretary of the Legislative

Department are ex-officio members of the
panel. There can be five part-time members
in the Commission.
● Serving Supreme Court and High Court Judges will be chairperson and members of the Law

Commission.
● History: The first Law Commission was constituted in 1834 as a result of the Charter Act of

1833. It was chaired by Lord Macaulay, and advocated the codification of the Penal Code and
the Criminal Procedure Code.
● After Independence, the first Law Commission was constituted in 1955 under M.C.Setalvad.

● The Commission had submitted 277 reports.

4. PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE
CONTEXT
The CBI is planning to conduct a psychological profile of the accused in the Kolkata junior doctor’s
rape and murder case.

6
 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE
● A psychological profile is a character assessment of the accused, which can be produced in a

court of law.
● It is aimed at ascertaining not just the mental state of the accused but also trace what prompted

the accused to allegedly indulge in the violence.

TESTS FOR ASSESSING THE CHARACTER OF AN ACCUSED

● Polygraph is a lie detector test that measures and records several physiological indicators, such
as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity, while a person is asked a series of
questions.
● Brain mapping is an analysis of brainwave frequency bandwidths. Forensic experts apply
unique neuroscience techniques to find out if an accused brain recognises things from a crime
scene. It is done by measuring EEG signals in the brain.
● A Narco-analysis test involves intravenous administration of a drug that causes the subject to
enter into a stage of anesthesia, during which the person becomes less inhibited and is more
likely to divulge information, which would usually not be revealed in the conscious state.
● The consent of the accused is needed as per Selvi vs State of Karnataka judgment of the
Supreme Court in 2010.
● There should be standard operating guidelines for conducting psychological profile.
ISSUES
● Reliability of the polygraph test: Trained person is able to control or suppress his/her
arousal symptoms through relaxation exercises, Yoga, meditation, etc.
● Not 100% accurate: In Narco-analysis, some persons are able to retain their ability to deceive
even in the hypnotic state, while others can become extremely suggestible to questioning.
● It raises serious concerns related to the professional ethics of medical personnel involved in
the administration of these techniques and violation of human rights of an individual.

5. ARTICLE 254
CONTEXT
The Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal
Criminal Laws and Amendment Bill 2024) needs
the President's assent to become a law under
Article 254.

ARTICLE 254
● It deals with inconsistency between laws

made by Parliament and the Legislatures of

States.
● According to clause (1), if a State legislature enacts a law on a subject covered by the

Concurrent List that is “repugnant” to the provisions of an existing central law, then that
repugnant or inconsistent portion of the state law will be considered “void”.
● However, if the State legislation is reserved for the President’s consideration and receives his

or her assent, then its validity can be upheld.

7
 ● With the President’s assent, the state law will take precedence within the State and override the
provisions of the central law in their applicability to the State only.

6. CENTRALIZED PENSION PAYMENT SYSTEM (CPPS)

CONTEXT
The Union Minister of Labour and Employment has approved the proposal for a Centralized Pension
Payment System (CPPS) for Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.

CENTRALIZED PENSION PAYMENT SYSTEM (CPPS)

● It is a national-level centralized system, enabling pension disbursement through any bank,

any branch across India.

● It is launched as part of EPFO’s IT modernization project Centralized IT Enabled System

(CITES 2.01) from 1st January 2025.

● In the next phase, CPPS will enable a smooth transition to Aadhaar-based payment system

(ABPS).

BENEFITS
● It is expected to benefit more than 78 lakh EPS pensioners of EPFO.

● By harnessing advanced IT and banking technologies, it will offer a more efficient, seamless, and

user-friendly experience for pensioners.

7. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

CONTEXT
The Public Accounts Committee will hold a performance review of regulatory bodies established by
Act of Parliament, such as the SEBI.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

● It is constituted by Parliament each year for the purpose of auditing the revenue and the

expenditure of the government of India.

● Members: The Committee consists of not more than 22 members, comprising 15 members

elected by Lok Sabha and seven members by Rajya Sabha.

● The members are elected according to the principle of proportional representation by means of

single transferable vote.

● The chairperson is appointed by the Speaker from amongst its members of Lok Sabha.

● Member of the Opposition as Chairperson: The Speaker, for the first time, appointed a

member of the Opposition as the chairperson of the Committee for 1967-68. This practice has
been continuing since then.
● A minister is not eligible to be elected as a member of the Committee.

● It serves as a check on the government especially with respect to its expenditure bill and its

primary function is to examine the audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)
after it is laid in Parliament.

FINANCIAL COMMITTEES
● It is one of the three financial committees of selected Members of Parliament.

● The other two are the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU).

8
8. COLLEGIUM
CONTEXT
The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that High Court (HC) Chief Justice cannot Individually reconsider
Judges' Appointment, and it must be collectively done by collegium.

COLLEGIUM SYSTEM
● The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to

Supreme Court and transfers of judges of High Courts and Apex Court are decided by a forum
of the Chief Justice of India and the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court or high court.
● The Collegium at HC consists of the Chief Justice of HC and two senior judges of the

concerned HC.
● Collegium at SC consists of CJI and two senior-most Judges of the SC.

● There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in

successive amendments.
● The recommendations of the Collegium are binding on the Central Government; if the

Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time.

9. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL

LANGUAGE
CONTEXT
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation
has been re-elected as the Chairperson of the
Parliamentary Committee on Official Language.

9
 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
● It was constituted under the provisions of Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, in

1976.
● The duties entrusted to the Committee are to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for

the official purposes of the Union and to submit a report to the President while making
recommendations on it.
● The President will get that report laid before every House of Parliament thereafter and send it

to all the State Governments.

After the expiry of ten years from commencement of section 3, a committee related to the
official language was to be constituted on the basis of a resolution proposed in any house with
the President's prior approval and passed by both the Houses.
● It is chaired by the Union Home Minister.

● Membership: It comprises 30 members of Parliament, out of which 20 are from the Lok

Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

● The members will be elected according to the system of proportional representation through

single transferable vote.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT, 1963

● It is an act to provide for the languages which may be used for the official purpose of the Union,

for transaction of business in Parliament, for Central and State Acts and for certain purpose in
High Courts.

10. STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS

CONTEXT
The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation have dissolved the Standing
Committee on Statistics (SCoS).

STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS

● On July 13, 2023, the government had
constituted a 14-member Standing Committee
on Statistics (SCoS), after renaming and
expanding the scope of coverage of the
Standing Committee on Economic Statistics
(SCES) formed in December 2019.
● It is a committee formed to oversee all

statistical surveys by the Ministry of Statistics

and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
● Terms of Reference: It was set up to review the

extant framework and to address the issues

raised from time to time on the subject/ results/
methodology, etc. related to all surveys as
brought before the SCoS by MoSPI;
● To advise on survey methodology including sampling frame, sampling design, survey

instruments, etc. and to finalise tabulation plan of surveys; finalisation of survey results.
● The committee was also mandated to provide guidance to conduct pilot surveys/ pre-testing, if

necessary, before finalising schedules for data collection along with providing guidance for
studying and exploring the availability of administrative statistics relating to surveys/statistics

10
 and provide guidance to study/identify data gaps/additional data requirements, if any, for
surveys/statistics and suggest appropriate strategies for improvement.
● Reason for dissolution: The work done by the committee is similar to the work done by the
Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys.

11. ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

CONTEXT
The Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the Governing Board of Anusandhan National
Research Foundation.

ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ANRF)

● It has been established to promote research and development and foster a culture of research

and innovation throughout India’s Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, and R&D
laboratories.
● It has been established with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2023

Act.
● ANRF acts as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the

country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy.

● ANRF forges collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and

research institutions.
● The Governing Board of the ANRF is headed by the Prime Minister and members includes

Union Ministers of Science and Technology, Education as Vice Presidents, The Principal
Scientific Advisor as Member Secretary, and Secretaries to the Departments of Science and
Technology, Biotechnology, and Scientific and Industrial Research.
● It repealed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of

Parliament in 2008 and subsumed it into NRF.

12. INNER LINE PERMIT (ILP)

CONTEXT
In Nagaland, the State Government has
approved the implementation of the Inner
Line Permit (ILP) in Chumoukedima,
Niuland, and Dimapur districts.

INNER LINE PERMIT (ILP)

● Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official

travel document issued by the state

government concerned to allow inward
travel of an Indian citizen into a
protected area for a limited period.
● It is obligatory for Indian citizens from

outside those states to obtain a

permit to enter the protected state.
● The document is an effort by the

government to regulate movement to

11
 certain areas located near the international border of India.
● This is an offshoot of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873

13. GRAM NYAYALAYAS

CONTEXT
The Supreme Court recently said the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas across the country would
help improve access to justice.

GRAM NYAYALAYAS
● These have statuary backing under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008

● It is established for every Panchayat at intermediate level or a group of contiguous

Panchayats at intermediate level in a district.

● The State Government, in consultation with the High Court, notified the boundaries of the

area under the jurisdiction of a Gram Nyayalaya.

● It can hold mobile courts in villages falling under its jurisdiction and the State Government shall

extend all required facilities.

● The State Government shall appoint a presiding officer called Nyay Adhikari for every Gram

Nyayalaya in consultation with the High Court, who will be a person eligible to be appointed as a
Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.
● The salary and other allowances along with the other terms and conditions of service shall be

on the same lines as well.

● It shall be given to the members of the SC, ST, women and others.

● The Gram Nyayalaya shall exercise the powers of both Criminal and Civil Courts.

● Gram Nyayalayas are authorized to handle criminal cases, civil suits, claims, or disputes as

outlined in the First and Second Schedules of the Act.

● Gram Nyayalayas aim to settle disputes by fostering conciliation between the parties

involved, whenever possible..

● Gram Nyayalaya is not bound by the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 but is guided by the

principles of natural justice and is

subject to any rule made by the High
Court.

14. ‘ONE NATION, ONE

ELECTION’
CONTEXT
The One Nation, One Election is to be
implemented in the current
government’s tenure.

‘ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION’

● Earlier in this year, the High level

Committee (HLC) led by former

President Ramnath Kovind
submitted its report on One Nation,
One Election (ONOE).

12
 HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
● The Committee recommended amendments to the Constitution to enable simultaneous

elections in two steps: Simultaneous elections will be held for the House of the People (Lok
Sabha) and the State Legislative Assemblies.
● Elections to the municipalities and the panchayats will be synchronised with the Lok Sabha and

the State Legislative Assemblies in such a way that municipal and panchayat elections are held
within a hundred days of holding Lok Sabha elections and the State Legislative Assemblies.
● The panel also recommended amendments to the Constitution to enable the Election

Commission of India to prepare a single electoral roll and EPIC in consultation with the
State Election Commissions.
● These amendments will require ratification by not less than one-half of the States.

● In the event of a hung House, no-confidence motion, or any such event, fresh elections should

be held to constitute the new House of the People or State Legislative Assembly for the
unexpired term of the House of the People.

15. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS

CONTEXT
The spate of violence in Manipur has triggered the discussion around Centre-State relations.

CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS
● India is a federation with governments at the Centre and the States.

● The Seventh Schedule to the Indian Constitution distributes the power between the Union and

States.
● Under this scheme, it is the domain of the State governments to maintain law and order in

their respective States.

EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
● It is provided in Part XVIII of the Constitution.

● Article 355 imposes a duty on the Centre to protect every State from external aggression and

internal disturbance.
● Article 356 allows for the imposition of the President’s rule if a State’s government cannot

function in accordance with constitutional provisions.

● Article 355 was incorporated to check any arbitrary or unauthorised use of Article 356.

● Article 356 was misused on several occasions.

● It was only after the Supreme Court’s categorical judgement in the S R Bommai case (1994)

that such misuse was restricted.

● The court held that Article 356 should be imposed only in the event of a breakdown of

constitutional machinery, as distinguished from an ordinary breakdown of law and order.

● It held that the imposition of the President’s rule is subject to judicial review and should not be

misused for political reasons.

● Imposition of the President’s rule under Article 356 must be used as a last resort in situations

of utmost gravity and urgency.

SITUATION IN MANIPUR
● Article356 is not being invoked in Manipur.

● Under Article 355, all possible instructions and actions should continue to be pursued to restore

normalcy at the earliest.

13
16. LOK ADALAT
CONTEXT
Over one crore cases were settled during the third National Lok Adalat conducted by the
NALSA.
LOK ADALAT
● It is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms.

● It is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are

settled/ compromised amicably.

● Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

● It is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal

against such an award lies before any court of law.

● There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat.

● The persons deciding the cases in the Lok Adalats are called the Members of the Lok Adalats,

they have the role of statutory conciliators only and do not have any judicial role.
● The national Lok Adalats are organized simultaneously in all Taluks, Districts and High Courts

on a pre-fixed date.
● In the recent Lok Adalat, a total of 1,14,56,529 cases settled, 94,60,864 were pre-litigation cases

and 19,95,665 were cases pending in various courts.

17. NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (NCoE) FOR

ANIMATION
CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence
(NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).

NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (NCoE) FOR ANIMATION

● It aims to advance Indian animation, visual effects and gaming.

● It is to be established in Mumbai.

● This centre will operate as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013.

● The IIIC is designed to be a premier institution offering state-of-the-art infrastructure and

technology.
● The centre will provide specialised training in immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality

(VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and 3D modelling and animation.
● It will function as an incubation centre by providing resources for nurturing startups and

early-stage companies in the AVGC-XR field.

● The centre aims to generate around 5 lakh jobs. By offering world-class infrastructure and

specialised skills, the NCoE will build a strong talent pool and create significant opportunities
for employment and innovation.

18. FACT CHECK UNIT (FCU)

CONTEXT
The Bombay High Court struck down a key provision of the amended Information Technology (IT)
Rules, 2021 which empowered the “Fact Check Unit” (FCU).

14
 FACT CHECK UNIT
● The FCU is mandated to counter misinformation on Government policies, initiatives and

schemes either suo motu or under a reference via complaints.

● The FCU actively monitors, detects, and counters disinformation campaigns, ensuring that false

information about the Government is promptly exposed and corrected.

● It was challenged on the grounds of the constitutional validity of the Rules, terming them

arbitrary, unconstitutional, and in violation of fundamental rights.

BOMBAY HIGH COURT OBSERVATIONS

● The expressions “fake, false or misleading” in the Rule are “vague and overbroad”

● The amended Rule 3(1)(b)(v) was violative of Articles 14 (equality before law), 19(1)(a)

(freedom of speech and expression) and 19(1)(g) (right to practise a profession or trade) of the
Constitution.
● It was not a responsibility of the state to ensure that the citizens are entitled only to

‘information’ that was not fake, false or misleading as identified by FCU.

19. ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD (AOR)

CONTEXT
The Supreme Court pulled up an
Advocate-on-Record (AoR) for filing a
frivolouscase and dismissed the
public interest litigation.
ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD (AOR)
● Only an AoR can file cases before the

Supreme Court.
● An AoR might engage other lawyers

including senior counsels to argue before

the Court but the AoR is essentially the

15
 link between the litigant and the highest court of the country.
● The lawyer with special qualifications, picked by the Supreme Court itself, is equipped to appear
for a litigant because it is a court of the last opportunity for the litigant.
● Under Article 145 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is empowered to make rules and
regulate its own procedure for hearing cases.
● Order IV rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 lays down the requirements to be fulfilled to
become an AoR.

20. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL

OFFENSES
CONTEXT
Viewing child porn punishable under POCSO, says the Supreme Court.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENSES (POCSO) ACT 2012

● Enacted in 2012, it is a comprehensive legal framework designed to safeguard children from

sexual abuse and exploitation.

● It specifically protects minors under the age of 18 from various forms of sexual offences,

including sexual assault, harassment, and pornography.

● The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years.

● Offences under the POCSO act include: Penetrative Sexual Assault or Sexual assault, Sexual

Harassment, Child Pornography.

● The act is gender-neutral, both for children and for the accused.

● A sexually abused child is considered a "child in need of care and protection" under Juvenile

Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

o Police officers should therefore inform the Child Welfare Committee about every case under
the Act within 24 hours.
o The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) may recommend immediate payment for essential
needs.

16
21. ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT (AFSPA),
1958
CONTEXT
The periodic six-month extension of the AFSPA in Manipur comes to an end on September 30.The
Centre and State is set to review scope of AFSPA in Manipur.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958

● It is an act that grants special powers to the Armed forces to maintain public order in "disturbed

areas" under Section 3.

● The Act defines these as areas that are “disturbed or dangerous condition that the use of armed

forces in aid of the civil power is necessary’’.

● Who declares: Governor of State, or the Administrator of a Union Territory, or the Central

Government can notify parts of or the whole of a State or a Union Territory as a ‘disturbed area’.
● According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976, once a region is labelled

“disturbed”, it must preserve status quo for a minimum of three months.

POWERS
● AFSPA allows security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without a

warrant.
● It gives the military the ability to use force or even open fire after issuing a warning to someone

who is found to be breaking the law.

● Under section 4(a), the personnel can even prohibit assembly of five or more persons and can

prohibit carrying of “things capable of being used as weapons.”

● It is in force in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur except Imphal, and Arunachal

Pradesh.

17
22. CLAUSE 6 OF ASSAM ACCORD
CONTEXT
Assam government to implement most recommendations of the Assam Accord.

CLAUSE 6 OF ASSAM ACCORD

● Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement between the Union government and the

leadership of the Assam Movement, primarily the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which was
signed in 1985.
● The accord ended the six-year-long agitation in Assam against the entry of Bangladeshi

migrants into the state.

● Clause 6 of the accord states that “Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as

may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social,
linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”

JUSTICE BIPLAB SARMA COMMITTEE

● In July 2019, the Union Home Ministry constituted a 14-member committee chaired by retired

Assam High Court Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma, and comprising judges, retired bureaucrats,
writers, AASU leaders and journalists, to suggest ways to implement the clause6 of Assam
Accord.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
● The definition of “Assamese people”, for the purpose of implementing Clause 6, should include
“Indigenous Tribals”, “Other Indigenous Communities of Assam”, “Indian citizens residing in the
territory of Assam on or before January 1, 1951” and their descendants, and “Indigenous
Assamese” people.
● Based on this, the committee made several recommendations for reservations for “Assamese
people”, including in Parliament, the state Assembly, local bodies, and jobs.
● The 67 recommendations can be divided into three categories:
o 40 comes under the domain of the State government,
o 12 which requires the concurrence of the Centre, and
o 15 which are in the exclusive domain of the Centre.
● As per Assam government, the 52 recommendations will be implemented by April 2025.
● The 52 recommendations largely deal with safeguards on language, land, and cultural
heritage.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS
● Accepted 1951 as the cut-off date for the specific recommendations of the report.
● Keeping Assamese as the official language throughout the state as per the 1960 Assam Official
Language Act “with provisions for use of local languages” in the Barak Valley, Hill districts, and
the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District.
● Establishing an autonomous authority for the development of sattras (neo-Vaishnavite
monasteries), which will, among other things, provide financial assistance to them.

18
 2. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND
CONVENTIONS
1. FORUM ON CHINA–AFRICA COOPERATION (FOCAC)
CONTEXT
Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion of funding to African countries at the ninth edition
of the FOCAC in Beijing.

FORUM ON CHINA–AFRICA COOPERATION (FOCAC)

● It was established in 2000 to formalise the strategic partnership between China and African
nations.
● A summit is conducted every three years, with the host alternating between China and an
African member.
● Members: The FOCAC counts 53 African nations as its members – the entire continent except
Eswatini, which has diplomatic ties with Taiwan against Beijing’s “One China” Policy.
● The African Union Commission is also a member.
● The theme this year is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level
China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.”
● Focused areas: Expected to address state governance, industrialisation, agricultural
upgradation, and improved cooperation over China’s infrastructure financing via the Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI).
● The main focus will be on establishing consensus and an action plan for improving China-Africa
cooperation over the next three years.

2. INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

(IMEC)
CONTEXT
The Minister of External Affairs, while addressing CII India Mediterranean Business Conclave, said
that IMEC will be a cornerstone of global connectivity.

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

19
 ● 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.

3. BARAKAH NUCLEAR ENERGY PLANT

CONTEXT
The United Arab Emirates has
successfully completed the Barakah
Nuclear Energy Plant.

BARAKAH NUCLEAR ENERGY

PLANT
● It is the Arab world's first nuclear
power plant.
● Location: The Barakah Nuclear
Energy Plant is situated in Al
Dhafra, within the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi on the Arabian Gulf.
● The four-reactor plant will provide
25 percent of the electricity
required by theUnited Arab
Emirates. It is equivalent to New
Zealand's annual electricity
consumption.
● It is a major step towards achieving
50% of UAE’s electricityneeds
with renewable energy by 2050.

20
4. INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE
CONTEXT
Natural geographic isolation is occurring among Asiatic lion populations in Gujarat, and there is
currently no need to translocate them, according to the director general of the International Big Cat
Alliance.

INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE

● During Global Tiger Day in 2019, Prime Minister had first called for an alliance of global leaders
to curb poaching in Asia.
● During 50 years commemoration of India’s Project Tiger on April 9, 2023, India formally
announced the launch of an IBCA.
● The India-headquartered alliance was conceived as a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of
96 big cat range countries and others to establish a common platform for conservation.
● Big Cats: Out of the seven big cats (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and the
cheetah), five - tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah are found in India.
● Funding: The Cabinet has cleared a one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for the IBCA
for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
● It aims for cooperation among countries for mutual benefit in furthering the conservation
agenda.
● IBCA would have a multi-pronged approach in broad-basing and establishing linkages in several
areas and help in knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, networking, advocacy, finance and
resources support.
● Current Partnering nations: The 16 nations that have expressed interest in joining the alliance
are Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria & Peru.
● Current Partnering organisations: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
from Switzerland; Science and Conservation International Snow Leopard Trust from
Kyrgyzstan; The Amur Tiger Centre from Russia include nine partner organisations have also
agreed to join the IBCA as partner organisations.

5. OPERATION SADBHAV
CONTEXT
India launches Operation Sadbhav to provide
humanitarian assistance to Typhoon Yagi affected
countries.

OPERATION SADBHAV
● India has launched Operation Sadbhav to
provide humanitarian assistance to
typhoon Yagi affected countries – Myanmar,
Laos and Vietnam.
● Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam are reeling under
massive floods after Asia’s most powerful
storm this year hit the three countries.

21
 ● 10 tonnes of aid were dispatched to Myanmar, 35 tonnes of aid to Vietnam and 10 tonnes of
relief materials to Laos.
● India has been among the first responders in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster
Relief (HADR) to impacted countries.
● Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN
region, in line with its long standing ‘Act East Policy’.

6. INDUS WATER TREATY

CONTEXT
India has issued a notice to Pakistan seeking modification of the Indus Waters Treaty.

MORE ON NEWS
● The notice was issued under Article XII (3) of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
● Article XII (3) says: The provisions of this Treaty may from time to time be modified by a duly
ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two Governments.

INDUS WATER TREATY

● The treaty between India and Pakistan was signed on
September 19, 1960, for the use of water in the Indus and its
tributaries. The negotiations were arranged by the World
Bank.
● The Indus river basin has six rivers - Indus, Jhelum,
Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
● It allocated the three western rivers - Indus, Chenab and
Jhelum to Pakistan for unrestricted use and the three
Eastern rivers - Ravi, Beas and Sutlej allocated to India
for unrestricted usage.
● It gave India about 30% of the water carried out by the Indus Rivers while Pakistan got 70%
of the waters.

THREE STEP GRADED DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISM

● Permanent Indus Commission: It required both the countries to establish a Permanent
Indus Commission constituted by permanent commissioners on both sides.
The functions include serving as a forum for exchange of information on the rivers, for
continued cooperation and as a first stop for resolution of conflicts.
● Neutral Expert: In case of unresolved questions either side can approach the World Bank to
appoint a Neutral Expert (NE).
● Court of Arbitration: If either party is not satisfied with the NE’s decision or in case of
“disputes” in the interpretation and extent of the treaty, matters can be referred to a Court of
Arbitration.

DISPUTES OVER MAJOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS

● Kishenganga Hydro Electricity Project (KHEP) on the Kishanganga river, a tributary of
Jhelum and
● Ratle hydroelectric power project (850 megawatt) on the Chenab river.

22
7. INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR
PROSPERITY (IPEF)
CONTEXT
India signs IPEF’s clean and fair economy agreements.

MORE ON NEWS
● The agreement on clean economy intends to accelerate efforts of IPEF partners towards
energy security, GHG emissions mitigation, developing innovative ways of reducing dependence
on fossil fuel energy and promoting technical cooperation.
● The agreement on a fair economy intends to create a more transparent and predictable
business environment, which can spur greater trade and investment in the markets of member
countries.
● The agreements focus on enhancing information sharing among partners, facilitating asset
recovery, and strengthening cross-border investigations and prosecutions.

INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROSPERITY (IPEF)

● IPEF was launched in Tokyo by the US and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region on 23
May 2022.
● It currently includes 14 partner countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India,
Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
● The economic framework broadly rests on four pillars:
1. Trade
2. Supply chain resilience
3. Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure
4. Taxes and anti-corruption measures
● The IPEF is not a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but it allows members to negotiate the parts
they want to.
● India has decided to opt out of the trade pillar of the IPEF as most issues promoted by the
IPEF do not align with India's trade policies.

8. QUAD GROUPING
CONTEXT
Recently, the Prime Minister attended the 6th Quad summit hosted by US President Joe Biden.

QUAD GROUPING
● 'Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) or the Quad is an informal strategic forum comprising
four nations, namely the United States of America (USA), India, Australia and Japan.
● Australia withdrew from the forum due to the political pressure from the Chinese government
and in the wake of the growing conflict between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific region. In
2010, enhanced military cooperation between the US and Australia was resumed, leading to
Australia's comeback to the Quad's naval exercises.
● The objective of the Quad is to work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific
region.

23
 ● It aims to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading
system. The coalition aims to offer alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific
region.
● The group met for the first time in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN).
● The Quad leaders exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging
technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian
assistance, disaster relief, climate change, pandemic and education.
● China has consistently opposed the Quad’s existence.
● Mutual cooperation: Malabar naval exercise and Leaders summits.
● Quad Plus: Quad members have also indicated a willingness to expand the partnership through
a so-called Quad Plus that would include South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam, amongst
others.

9. QUAD CANCER MOONSHOT

CONTEXT
The Quad group launches the Quad Cancer Moonshot in
the Quad summit.

QUAD CANCER MOONSHOT

● The Quad is launching the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a
collective effort to leverage public and private
resources to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer
in the Indo-Pacific, with an initial focus on cervical
cancer.
● It will serve to strengthen the overall cancer care
ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific by improving health
infrastructure, expanding research collaborations,
building data systems, and providing greater support for cancer prevention, detection,
treatment, and care.

INDIA’S CONTRIBUTION
● India will share technical expertise in digital health through its National Non-Communicable
Disease (NCD) portal.
● As part of its $10 million commitment to support the World Health Organization (WHO) led
Global Initiative on Digital Health, India will provide technical assistance to the Indo-Pacific
region.
● India commits to providing HPV sampling kits, detection tools and cervical cancer vaccines
worth $7.5 million to the Indo-Pacific region.
● India is scaling up population-based screening for oral, breast, and cervical cancers through its
National Progamme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
● In particular, India uses the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) method for cervical cancer
screening, which is simple, cost effective and efficient and allows healthcare workers to detect
early signs of cervical cancer without the need for advanced laboratory infrastructure.

10. SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE

24
 CONTEXT
United Nations adopts Pact for the Future at the UN Summit of the Future.

SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE

● The Summit of the Future brought together world leaders and international organizations to
discuss the future of global governance, emerging global challenges, and strengthening
multilateral cooperation.
● Held on: 22nd September 2024.
● Theme: “Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow.”
● The Summit adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a
Declaration on Future Generations.
● The Global Digital Compact outlined a framework for collaboration in the digital space, focusing
on artificial intelligence (AI) governance.
● Declaration on Future Generations laid out concrete steps to ensure that future generations are
considered in decision-making.
● It makes clear commitments and achieves concrete deliverables on a range of issues, with
strong attention to human rights, gender and sustainable development.
● Global leaders agreed on a step-change in financing for the SDGs and closing the SDG financing
gap.

11. MINERALS SECURITY FINANCE NETWORK

CONTEXT
India joins the US-led Mineral Security Network to secure critical minerals.

MINERALS SECURITY FINANCE NETWORK

● It is a US-led initiative aiming to
strengthen cooperation among
members to secure supply chains for
critical minerals.
● The network aims to bring together
Development Finance Institutions
(DFIs) and Export Credit Agencies
(ECAs) from the Indo-Pacific region
and Europe, promoting cooperation,
information exchange, and
co-financing.
● The partnership includes 13
countries and the European
Commission. These are the United
States of America, Australia, Canada,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, Norway, Sweden, the United
Kingdom, and the European Union.
● Challenges: China dominates rare
earth production, controlling about 70% of global output.

25
12. GLOBE NETWORK
CONTEXT
India elected to the anti-corruption GlobE Network steering committee in Beijing.

GLOBE NETWORK
● The Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE
Network) is an initiative launched under the G20 framework to address international
corruption and financial crime.
● The network was officially launched on June 3, 2021, during a UN General Assembly Special
Session against Corruption (UNGASS).
● The network enables global agencies to exchange best practices, share criminal intelligence, and
devise strategies to combat corruption.
● It is led by a chair, vice-chair, and thirteen committee members who provide guidance to the
organization.
● The GlobE Network includes 121 member countries and 219 member authorities.
● Central Authority: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) serves as the Central Authority for
GlobE Network in India, while the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) represent India as
member authorities.
● During India's G20 presidency, two high-level principles for combatting corruption were
adopted.

26
 3. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS
1. ‘NAVRATNA’ STATUS
CONTEXT
Government accorded ‘Navratna’ status to four Central Public Sector Undertakings.
These are Railtel Corporation of India, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam,
and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

‘NAVRATNA’ STATUS
● The Indian government accords the navratna status to top-tier public sector undertakings
(PSUs) and these organisations are authorised to undertake substantial investments of
upto ₹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,
o net profit to net worth
o manpower cost to total cost of production/services
o profit before depreciation, interest and taxes to capital employed
o profit before interest and taxes to turnover
o earning per share
o inter-sectoral performance

2. VADHAVAN PORT
CONTEXT
Prime Minister lays foundation stone for Vadhvan Port
under Sagarmala Program.

VADHAVAN PORT
● The port is being developed as a joint venture by
the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)
and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).
● It is slated to be the 13th major port in India
● The Vadhavan port will be constructed by a joint
venture in which JNPA will have 74% stakes and
MMB at 26%.
● The Vadhavan port has a natural draft of 20
metres depth at a distance of 5 km, and 3,600
acres of land will be reclaimed for this port.
● The port will handle 15 million TEU containers
in the first phase and 23.2 million TEUs after
the commissioning of its second phase.

27
 JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PORT
● Jawaharlal Nehru Port,
also known as JNPT and
Nhava Sheva Port, is the
second largest
container port in India
after Mundra Port.
● Operated by the
Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Trust Authority (JNPTA),
it is located on the eastern
shores of Arabian Sea in
Navi Mumbai, Raigad
district, Maharashtra.
● This port can be accessed
via Thane Creek, a nodal
city of Navi Mumbai

MAJOR PORTS
● India has a coastline
spanning 7516.6
kilometres, forming one of the biggest peninsulas in the world. According to the Ministry of
Ports, Shipping and Waterways, around 95 per cent of India's trading by volume and 68 per cent
by value is done through maritime transport.
● It is serviced by 13 major ports (12 Government-owned and one private) and 187 notified
minor and intermediate ports.
● Port Blair which was notified as major port in 2010 was removed of its status recently.
● The total 200 major and non-major ports are present in the following States: Maharashtra
(53); Gujarat (40); Kerala (20); Tamil Nadu (15); Karnataka (10) and others (63).
● Government of India plans to modernise these ports and associated infrastructure through the
2015 established Sagarmala project, and National Maritime Development Programme
● All except Kamarajar Port Limited are government administered, but private sector
participation in ports has increased.

3. DIGITAL AGRICULTURE MISSION

CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission.

DIGITAL AGRICULTURE MISSION

● The mission aims to create Digital Public Infrastructure in the agriculture sector.
● It aims to create a tech-based ecosystem, the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES),
which will provide accurate estimates of agricultural production.
● Budgetary allocation: Rs 2,817 crore and Centre Share: Rs 1,940 crore.

Three major components of DPI:

28
 ● AgriStack consists of three foundational databases: Farmers’ Registry, Geo-referenced Village
Maps, and Crop Sown Registry, all of which will be created and maintained by state/ UT
governments.
a) FARMERS’ REGISTRY: Farmers will be
given a digital identity (‘Farmer ID’)
similar to Aadhaar, which will be linked
to records of land, ownership of
livestock, crops sown, demographic
details, family details, schemes and
benefits availed, etc.
b) CROP SOWN REGISTRY: It will provide
details of crops planted by farmers. The
information will be recorded through
Digital Crop Surveys mobile-based
ground surveys in each crop season.
c) GEO-REFERENCED VILLAGE MAPS:
The maps will link geographic
information on land records with their
physical locations.
● Krishi Decision Support System
(DSS)will create a comprehensive
geospatial system to unify remote
sensing-based information on crops, soil,
weather, and water resources, etc.
✔ Under the Mission, detailed Soil Profile Maps (on a 1:10,000 scale) of about 142 million
hectares of agricultural land are envisaged to be prepared.
● The Mission has provision for Digital crop estimation, Digital yield modeling, Connect for crop
loan, Modern technologies like AI and Big Data and Connecting with the buyers.

4. INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK

CONTEXT
Recently, India Post Payments Bank celebrated the 7th
Foundation Day.

INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK

● It was established on September 01, 2018, under the
Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication
with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
● Headquarters: New Delhi.
● Vision: To build the most accessible, affordable and
trusted bank for the common man.
● The mandate is to remove barriers for the unbanked &
underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging the Postal network with 1,61,000+ Post Offices
(1,43,000 in rural areas).

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 ● The IPPB’s reach and its operating model is built on the key pillars of India Stack - enabling
paperless, cashless and presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the customers'
doorstep, through a CBS-integrated smartphone and biometric device.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF IPPB
● Financial inclusion: Acquired over 9.88 crore customer accounts.
● On-boarded more than 12 lakh merchants.
● Successfully disbursed over ₹45,000 crore in Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to beneficiaries.
● Facilitated mobile number updates for Aadhaar cards for over 7.10 crore customers.
● Enabled Digital Life Certificate services for more than 20 lakh pensioners.

5. WINDFALL TAX
CONTEXT
The Centre cuts windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil.

WINDFALL TAX
● Windfall taxes are designed to tax the profits a company derives from an external or
unprecedented event. Example: Russia-Ukraine conflict, when Oil companies benefits.
● The tax rates are reviewed every fortnight based on average oil prices in the previous two
weeks.
● Sectors widely used: oil, gas, and coal.

ADVANTAGES OF WINDFALL TAX

● Redistribution of unexpected gains, when high prices benefit producers at the expense of
consumers.
● To fund social welfare schemes, to help fund support programmes for those most affected by
inflation. It acts as a supplementary revenue stream for the government.

30
 DRAWBACKS
● Retrospective in nature: Companies are confident in investing if there is certainty and stability
in a tax regime. Since windfall taxes are imposed retrospectively and are often influenced by
unexpected events, they can brew uncertainty in the market about future taxes.
● It has the potential of reducing domestic oil production and increasing imports.
● Uncertainty over implementation: Only the big companies responsible for the bulk of
high-priced sales or smaller companies and whether producers with revenues or profits below
a certain threshold should be exempted or not.

6. PERPETUAL BOND
CONTEXT
India's first additional Tier I perpetual bond issuance after recent rule changes was sold at a
lower-than-expected coupon, indicating a revival in demand for such papers.

PERPETUAL BOND
● These are bonds issued with no maturity date.
● It provides interest payments indefinitely.
● The issuers of perpetual bonds are not under any obligation to ever repay the bond
purchaser's principal amount.
● The Perpetual bonds can be bought and sold in the Secondary market by the investor.

BENEFITS
● It helps to raise cheap capital particularly for the banking sector.
● It provides a steady stream of income for investors.

7. FINANCIALISATION
CONTEXT
Chief Economic Advisor, V Anantha Nageswaran warns of financialisation of capital markets.

FINANCIALISATION
● It refers to the increase in size and importance of a financial sector relative to its overall
economy.
● The dominance of the role of financial markets in public policy, might distort macroeconomic
outcomes.
● Why does it happen? It has occurred as Countries have shifted away from industrial
capitalism to financial activities.
● Reason: India’s stock market capitalisation is about 140% of the GDP.
● Consequence: Surge in inequality, Unprecedented levels of public and private debt, and
Economic growth increasingly dependent on continued asset-price inflation.
● It caused incomes to increase more in the financial sector than in other sectors of the economy.

8. VERTICAL FISCAL IMBALANCE

CONTEXT
The financial relationship between the Union and the States in India is asymmetrical that leads to
Vertical fiscal imbalance.

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 TYPES OF FISCAL IMBALANCES
● Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance occurs when revenues do not match expenditures for different
regions of the country.
● A vertical fiscal imbalance occurs when revenues do not match expenditures for different
government levels.

VERTICAL FISCAL IMBALANCE

● It is a situation in which revenues do not match expenditures for different levels of
government.
● As per the 15th Finance Commission, States incur 61% of the revenue expenditure but collect
only 38% of the revenue receipts.
● It indicates that the ability of the States to incur expenditures is dependent on transfers from
the Union government.

9. SUKANYA SAMRIDDHI ACCOUNT SCHEME

CONTEXT
The government has made changes to the rules which are planned to come into force from the 1st of
October 2024.

THE SUKANYA SAMRIDDHI ACCOUNT (SSA) SCHEME

● It is a small deposit scheme meant exclusively for a girl child.
● It was launched on 22nd January 2015 as a part of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.
● The scheme is meant to meet the education and marriage expenses of a girl child.

SALIENT FEATURES
● Account can be opened in the name of a girl child till she attains the age of 10 years.
● Only one account can be opened in the name of a girl child.

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 ● A family is limited to opening a maximum of two
accounts.
● Any post office and bank can authorize opening an
account with a minimum of ₹250 as a deposit by the
parents or the guardian. Maximum deposit limit is
1.5 lakh per year.
● The account is considered mature when the girl is
21 and she gets the total amount plus interest.
● The withdrawals are allowed up to 50% once the
girl turns 18 for educational purposes.

BENEFITS
● Higher Interest Rate - 8.2% for the quarter of
January-March 2024.
● Tax Benefit under Section 80C.Tax-Exempt Interest
and Proceeds.
● Interest payment even after maturity if the account
is not closed.

NEW GUIDELINES
● As per the new guidelines, if the account has not been opened by the legal guardian like the
parents it has to be transferred to the legal guardian by 01-10-2024.
● If it is not done, the account will be closed and this will be a permanent closure.
● Benefits: It enhances the management of the funds to protect the financial well-being of the girl
child in the future.

10. CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITS (CD)

CONTEXT
As per RBI, Banks are issuing Certificate of Deposits (CDs) to meet their temporary mismatch
between assets and liabilities, amid dwindling low-cost deposits.

MORE ON NEWS
● In July, CDs issued by banks grew by more than 38% year-on-year to ₹4.3 lakh crore, data from
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows.
● During the same period, deposits grew by 11.8% to ₹186.8 lakh crore.

CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITS (CD)

● CDs are negotiable money market instruments issued as Promissory Notes.
● CDs are negotiable and are often referred to as Negotiable Certificates of Deposit.
● CDs normally give a higher return than Bank term deposit
● CDs may be issued by Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Small
Finance Banks.
● Maturity: From seven days (minimum) to one year (maximum).
● CDs are issued in denominations of Rs.5 Lac and in the multiples of Rs. 5 Lac thereafter.

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11. STATE FINANCE COMMISSION
CONTEXT
Kerala Cabinet clears proposal to constitute seventh State Finance Commission.

FINANCE COMMISSION
● The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that determines the method and formula for
distributing the tax proceeds between the Centre and states, and among the states as per the
constitutional arrangement and present requirements.
● Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to constitute a Finance
Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.
● Under Article 281 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to cause laying of the
Finance Commission report before each House of Parliament along with an explanatory note
and the action taken by the government on the Commission’s recommendations.

FINANCE COMMISSION FUNCTIONS

● The Commission makes recommendations to the President of India on the distribution of tax
proceeds between the Union and the States and the share of each state.
● The Commission also decides the principles that govern the payment of grants-in-aid to states
from the Consolidated Fund of India under article 275.
● The President of India can also refer any other matter to the Finance Commission in the interest
of building a sound financial system.

STATE FINANCE COMMISSIONS

● The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 created the Panchayati Raj institutions as
the third level of a three-tier democratic governance system at the village level, intermediate
level and district level.
● It mandated the constitution of a Finance Commission every five years by state governments
to decide the division of resources (tax proceeds) between a state government and Panchayati
Raj institutions at all levels.
● Article 243I of the Constitution empowers the Governor of a state to constitute a Finance
Commission every five years.
● Article 243Y provides that SFC shall make similar recommendations for municipalities

12. NATIONAL BANK FOR FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE

AND DEVELOPMENT (NABFID)
CONTEXT
The Central Government, under Companies Act, 2013, notified NaBFID as a Public Financial
Institution (PFI).

NATIONAL BANK FOR FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT

(NABFID)
● The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) is a specialized
Development Finance Institution in India.

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 ● NaBFID was set up in 2021, by an Act of the Parliament (The National Bank for Financing
Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021)
● the objectives of addressing the gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure
development, strengthening the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India,
and sustainably boosting the country’s economy.
● NaBFID has both developmental and financial objectives.
● NaBFID is a specialised development finance institution in India
● It supports the country's infrastructure sector by bridging the financing gap in the
infrastructure sector, enabling credit flow through innovative instruments such as longer
tenor loans, blended finance, partial credit enhancement, takeout financing, and facilitate
crowding-in of infrastructure finance.
● The authorised share capital of the Institution is ₹ 1 lakh crore

13. CO-LOCATION CASE

CONTEXT
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has disposed of proceedings against the National
Stock Exchange (NSE) in the alleged co-location case.

CO-LOCATION
● Co-location allows a member to set up his server in a specifically earmarked data centre within
the NSE’s exchange premises for a certain price.
● And even though this data centre is located in a different wing from the exchange’s trading
systems, the relative proximity allows members wishing to gain access to the entirety of buy
and sell orders sent to the exchange by market participants. It gives a head start of a few
microseconds or nanoseconds.

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 IS CO-LOCATION ILLEGAL?
● Co-location per se is not illegal. Stock exchanges across the world allow the practice to flourish
as a paid service.
● The SEBI, in fact, had allowed exchanges to offer co-location in 2008.

CO-LOCATION CASE
● The NSE co-location scam was a case involving brokers gaining an unfair advantage by
accessing the National Stock Exchange of India's (NSE) systems, data, and trading facilities.
● The case began in 2015 and has involved several investigations. The scam was based on
allegations that NSE officials allowed certain brokers to access the exchange's servers and data
faster, which gave them an advantage over other traders.
● It alleged that the NSE had allowed non-empanelled Internet Service Providers (ISP) to lay fibre
cables on its premises for a select set of traders who were reaping huge amounts of profits.
● The SEBI investigation found that the NSE had violated several provisions of the SEBI Act and
the Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations (SECC) Regulations.
● In 2019, SEBI passed an order directing the NSE to disgorge Rs 625 crore plus interest, and also
imposed a penalty of Rs 1,000 crore on the exchange.
● In 2023, the Supreme Court of India directed SEBI to refund Rs 300 crore to the NSE, which the
exchange had deposited under disgorgement orders.
● However, the apex court refused to stay the Securities Appellate Tribunal's (SAT) order, which
had struck down SEBI's disgorgement order, directing NSE to pay Rs 625 crore plus interest.

14. BHASKAR PLATFORM

CONTEXT
The Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, is set to launch the Bharat Startup
Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) platform.

BHARAT STARTUP KNOWLEDGE ACCESS

REGISTRY (BHASKAR) PLATFORM
● BHASKAR is designed to foster a conducive
environment for networking, collaboration, and
growth within the startup ecosystem.
● It is under the Startup India program, is a
platform designed to centralize, streamline, and
enhance collaboration among key stakeholders
within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including
startups, investors, mentors, service providers,
and government bodies.
● The goal of BHASKAR is to build the world’s
largest digital registry for stakeholders within
the startup ecosystem.

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 KEY FEATURES OF BHASKAR
● Networking and Collaboration: BHASKAR will
bridge the gap between startups, investors,
mentors, and other stakeholders, allowing for
seamless interaction across sectors.
● Providing Centralized Access to Resources: By
consolidating resources, the platform will provide
startups with immediate access to critical tools and
knowledge, enabling faster decision-making.
● Creating Personalized Identification: Every
stakeholder will be assigned a unique BHASKAR ID,
ensuring personalized interactions and tailored
experiences across the platform.
● Enhancing Discoverability: Through powerful
search features, users can easily locate relevant
resources, collaborators, and opportunities, ensuring faster decision-making and action.
● Supporting India’s Global Brand: BHASKAR will serve as a vehicle for promoting India’s
global reputation as a hub for innovation, making cross-border collaborations more accessible
to startups and investors alike.

15. JUTE PRODUCTION

CONTEXT
Jute production is expected to drop by 20% this financial year, as per the National Jute Board.

JUTE PRODUCTION
● India is the world’s biggest
producer of jute (70%), followed by
Bangladesh.
● Jute is grown in West Bengal (73%),
Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura
and Andhra Pradesh.
● Reason for decline: Cultivation was
affected in West Bengal & Assam
because of natural
calamities (floods).
● Kharif crop: They are harvested
between July and August.
● There are about 70 jute mills in the
country, of which about 60 are in
West Bengal along the banks of river
Hooghly.
● It is a labour intensive industry. It
employs 4 lakh workers across the
country.
● It requires very little water and
fertiliser. It is largely pest-resistant.

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 ● Jute can be used: for insulation (replacing glass wool), geotextiles, activated carbon powder,
wall coverings, flooring, garments, rugs, ropes, gunny bags, handicrafts, curtains, carpet
backings, paper, sandals, carry bags, and furniture.

GOVERNMENT MEASURES
● The Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act was enacted
in 1987 to protect the jute sector from the plastic packaging segment.
● Golden Fibre Revolution and Technology Mission.
● In October 2020, the government decided that 100% food grains and 20% sugar will
be mandatorily packaged in jute bags.

16. ECONOMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE PRIME

MINISTER
CONTEXT
A working paper released by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister shows the
contribution among the States to the Centre.

WORKING PAPER’S OBSERVATIONS

● The paper titled ‘Relative Economic Performance of Indian States: 1960-61 to 2023-24’
released following observations
● Five southern states - Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala
and Tamil Nadu accounted for over
30 per cent of India’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) in
2023-24.
● Poor performer: West Bengal saw
its share shrink from the
third-largest of 10.5 per cent in
1960-61 to only 5.6 per cent in
2023-24.
● Relative per capita income
remained the highest in Delhi
(250%), Telangana, Karnataka and
Haryana, and the lowest in Bihar.
● Punjab’s per capita income was
106.7 per cent of the national
average in 2023-24, down from
119.6 per cent in 1960-61. Reason:
Green Revolution in 1960’s.
● Smaller States: Sikkim’s per capita income surged from 93 per cent of the national average in
1990-91, to 319 per cent in 2023-24.
● Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana have shown steady performance over the last six
decades.

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 ● Kerala seems to be the only southern state which saw its share in the GDP dip from 3.4 per
cent in 1960-61 to a peak of 4.1 per cent in 2000-01, it has since dipped to 3.8 per cent in
2023-24.
● Eastern states remain a concern. The maritime states have clearly outperformed the other
states, except West Bengal.

17. GOPALPUR PORT

CONTEXT
The Odisha cabinet approves transfer of Gopalpur Port to Adani Group.

GOPALPUR PORT
● Location: It is a deep sea port of Gopalpur in the Ganjam District of Odisha.
● It has been developed on the banks of the Bay of Bengal.
● Port capacity -20 MMT.
● Gopalpur Port caters to a vast mineral and industrial belt in the hinterland spread across
Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
● It is connected to NH-16 (Kolkata-Chennai) at a distance of about 6 km through NH 516.
● Its strategic location and proximity to Golden Quadrilateral will provide cost advantage for the
dealers.
● The Odisha government approved a proposal to transfer 95 per cent of the equity shares of
Gopalpur Port to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) from Shapoorji Pallonji Port
Maintenance and Orissa Stevedores.
● It is the second port owned by Adani in Odisha, as APSEZ also owns the Dhamra port.

18. WHITE REVOLUTION 2.0

CONTEXT
Recently, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister announced plans for “White Revolution 2.0”.

WHITE REVOLUTION
● Operation Flood, launched in 1970, ushered
in the White Revolution and transformed
the dairy sector in India.
● Dr. Verghese Kurien was the architect of
White Revolution, known as the Father of
White Revolution.

WHITE REVOLUTION 2.0

● The idea of White Revolution 2.0 revolves
around cooperative societies.
● Expanding coverage and reach of
cooperatives: Dairy cooperatives procured
660 lakh kg of milk per day in 2023-24; the
government wants to increase this to 1,007 lakh kg/ day by 2028-29.
● Since it was created in 2021, the Ministry of Cooperation has focused on expanding the
network of cooperatives, in particular dairy cooperatives.

39
 ● Financial assistance will be provided to set up village-level milk procurement systems,
chilling facilities, and training and capacity-building.

MILK PRODUCTION
● India is the world’s top milk producer, with production having reached 230.58 million tonnes
during 2022-23.
● In 1951-52, the country produced 17 million tonnes of milk.
● The average yield is only 8.55 kg per animal per day for exotic/ crossbred animals, and 3.44 kg/
animal/ day for indigenous animals.
● Regional variations: The yield in Punjab is 13.49 kg/ animal/ day, but only 6.30 kg/ animal/ day
in West Bengal.
● Top milk producing States: As per the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2023, the top
5 milk producing states are UP (15.72%), Rajasthan (14.44%), Madhya Pradesh (8.73%),
Gujarat (7.49%), and Andhra Pradesh (6.70%), which together contribute 53.08% of the
country’s total milk production.
● Slowing annual growth rate: Total milk production increased from 187.75 million tonnes in
2018-19 to 230.58 million tonnes in 2022-23, the annual growth rate of production came down
from 6.47% to 3.83%.
● About two-thirds of the marketable milk is in the unorganised sector. In the organised sector,
cooperatives account for the major share.

19. FOOD IMPORT REJECTION ALERT (FIRA)

CONTEXT
Government launches a portal to send alerts
on food import rejections.

FOOD IMPORT REJECTION ALERT

(FIRA)
● The portal will generate alerts on food
consignments rejected by India due to poor
safety standards.
● It was launched by FSSAI on the second
edition of Global Food Regulators Summit
(GFRS 2.0).
● It will enable relevant food authorities to
take immediate action for prevention and
control of risks before it causes harm.
● It has an online interactive interface for
rapid dissemination of information to
ensure enhanced traceability and
transparency.
● It serves as a valuable database for tracking
rejected food products and for further

40
 strengthening of the risk management system.

20. WINDFALL TAX

CONTEXT
Government scraps windfall tax on crude oil.

WINDFALL TAX
● A windfall tax is levied by governments when an industry unexpectedly earns large profits,
mainly due to an unprecedented event.
● The tax is levied in the form of special additional excise duty (SAED) and is notified fortnightly
based on average oil prices in two weeks.
● The new rates are effective from September 18.
● India had imposed windfall tax since July 19, 2022.
● Last time on April 4, 2023, the centre had reduced it to zero.
● These taxes are often imposed on sectors like oil, gas, or natural resources when market
conditions lead to exceptionally high revenues.

21. CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP (CDS)

CONTEXT
SEBI allows the mutual fund industry to buy, sell credit default swaps.

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP (CDS)

● A credit default swap (CDS) is a financial derivative that allows an investor to swap or offset
their credit risk with that of another investor.
● Credit Default Swaps are like insurance contracts that protect against default by a borrower.
● In a credit default swap contract, the buyer pays an ongoing premium similar to the payments
on an insurance policy. In exchange, the seller agrees to pay the security’s value and interest
payments if a default occurs.
● Credit default swaps can be used for speculation, hedging, or as a form of arbitrage.
● SEBI’s move is aimed at increasing liquidity in the corporate bond market.
● As per SEBI, the total CDS exposure for a scheme cannot exceed 10 per cent of the scheme's
assets.

22. ICAR-NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SECONDARY

AGRICULTURE (NISA)
CONTEXT
The President of India graced the centenary celebration of the ICAR-National Institute of
Secondary Agriculture (NISA) in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

ICAR-NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SECONDARY AGRICULTURE (NISA)

● It operates as a part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare.
● It was established on September 20, 1924.
● It was previously known as the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG) until 2022,
and encompasses all facets of secondary agriculture.

41
 ● Secondary agriculture includes the value addition of primary agricultural products as well as
other agriculture-related activities like beekeeping, poultry farming, agricultural tourism etc.
● It helps in using all parts of an agricultural produce (e.g. crop residues, animal hair, bones,
viscera, etc), processing to enhance shelf-life, increasing total factor productivity, and generating
additional jobs and income for farmers.

23. GST COMPENSATION CESS

CONTEXT
The Goods and Services Tax
(GST) Council recently set up a
10-member GoM to decide on the
compensation cess.

MORE ON NEWS
● The Goods and Services Tax
(GST) Council has set up a
10-member Group of Ministers
(GoM), chaired by Minister of
State for Finance Pankaj
Chaudhary, to decide on the
taxation of luxury, sin and
demerit goods once the
compensation cess ends in
March 2026.
● The Group of Ministers (GoM)
will submit its report to the
Council by December 31.

CESS
● A cess is a tax on tax, levied by the government for a specific purpose.
● Under Article 270, proceeds of a cess can be retained exclusively by the Union and need not be
shared with States.

COMPENSATION CESS
● In the GST regime, compensation cess at varied rates is levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods
over and above the 28 per cent tax.
● It is levied under Section 8 of The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to State) Act, 2017.
● The proceeds from the cess, which was originally planned for five years after GST roll-out or till
June 2022, were used to compensate states for revenue loss incurred by them post the
introduction of GST.
● In 2022, the Council decided to extend the levy till March 2026 to repay the interest and the
principle amount of the Rs 2.69 lakh crore worth loan taken in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years to
make good states' revenue loss during Covid years.
● The GST Council in its 54th meeting decided to set up a GoM to decide the future course of the
cess.

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24. CENTRAL SILK BOARD
CONTEXT
Union Textiles Minister unveils commemorative
coin to celebrate Platinum Jubilee of Central Silk
Board.

CENTRAL SILK BOARD

● It is a statutory body under the administrative
control of the Ministry of Textiles.
● Head quarters: Bengaluru.
● The mandated activities are Research and
Development, leadership role in commercial
silkworm seed production, standardizing and instilling quality parameters in the various
production processes, and advising the Government on all matters concerning sericulture and
silk industry.

25. AGRISURE FUND

CONTEXT
Government launches AgriSure fund for supporting agricultural startups.

THE 'AGRI FUND FOR START-UPS & RURAL ENTERPRISES' (AGRISURE)

FUND
● It is designed to boost innovation and sustainability in India's agriculture sector.
● It aims to target high-risk, high-impact activities across the agriculture value chain.
● Initial corpus: ₹750 Crore. Contributions include ₹250 Crores each from NABARD and the
Ministry of Agriculture, and ₹250 Crores from other institutions.

43
 ● The fund will be established as a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF),
offering both equity and debt support.
● The fund will focus on supporting start-ups and agripreneurs and supports Farmers Producer
Organizations (FPOs).

BENEFITS
● The fund would help foster innovation in agriculture, enhance the value chain of farm produce,
improve rural infrastructure, generate employment opportunities, support IT-based solutions
and machinery rental services for farmers.

KRISHI NIVESH
● It is the Agriculture Investment Portal to boost agriculture investment.
● The portal is an Integrated, centralized one-stop Portal for all Agri-investors to avail benefits
from various Government schemes.

26. INVESTOR EDUCATION AND PROTECTION FUND

AUTHORITY (IEPFA)
CONTEXT
The IEPFA launched a toll-free number (14453) to enhance claimant support services.

INVESTOR EDUCATION AND PROTECTION FUND AUTHORITY (IEPFA)

● It was established on September 7, 2016, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
● It was established under the provisions of section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013.
● IEPFA is responsible for managing the Investor Education and Protection Fund, which
focuses on safeguarding investor interests by facilitating the refund of shares, unclaimed
dividends, and matured deposits/debentures.

BENEFITS
● It ensures transparency, protects investors' rights, and promotes financial literacy across the
country.

27. 10 YEARS OF MAKE IN INDIA

CONTEXT
The “Make in India” initiative has completed 10 years. It was launched on September 25, 2014.

MAKE IN INDIA
● It was launched in September 2014 to transform India into a global design and manufacturing
hub. It is led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
● Its objectives were to facilitate investment, encourage innovation, and develop world-class
infrastructure.

PILLARS OF ‘MAKE IN INDIA’

● New Processes: It identified 'ease of doing business' as a crucial factor for promoting
entrepreneurship.

44
 ● New Infrastructure: The government focused on developing industrial corridors and smart
cities, integrating state-of-the-art technology and high-speed communication to create
world-class infrastructure.
● New Sectors: Foreign Direct Investment was significantly opened up in various sectors
including Defence Production, Insurance, Medical Devices, Construction, and Railway
infrastructure.
● New Mindset: The government embraced a role as a facilitator rather than a regulator,
partnering with industry to drive economic development.

MAJOR INITIATIVES TAKEN TO ENABLE MAKE IN INDIA

PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE (PLI) SCHEMES
● It was introduced to enhance the s manufacturing capabilities and boost exports.
● It aims to attract substantial investments, incorporate advanced technology, and ensure
operational efficiency. The 14 sectors are covered under PLI scheme.
PM GATISHAKTI
● Launched on October 13, 2021, it is aimed at the creation of multimodal and last-mile
connectivity infrastructure.
● It promotes holistic planning and coordination among 36 Ministries, integrating progress, and
synchronizing project implementation.
● It is driven by 7 engines, namely Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport
and Logistics Infrastructure.
SEMICONDUCTOR ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
● The Semicon India programme aims to provide a impetus to semiconductor and display
manufacturing by facilitating capital support and promoting technological collaborations.
NATIONAL LOGISTICS POLICY
● It was launched on September 17, 2022, aims to drive economic growth and competitiveness
through an integrated, efficient, and sustainable logistics network by leveraging advanced
technology, improved processes, and skilled manpower.
STARTUP INDIA
● Launched on January 16, 2016, it is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, building a robust
startup ecosystem, and transforming India into a country of job creators instead of job seekers.
● As of September 25, 2024, India boasts the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world.
TAX REFORMS
● The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017, unified the country
into a single common market, simplifying the tax structure and reducing the cascading effect of
multiple taxes.
UNIFIED PAYMENTS INTERFACE
● UPI has emerged as a frontrunner in the global digital payments landscape.
RECORD FDI TO BOOST ‘MAKE IN INDIA’
● It is driven by the simplification of FDI rules and improvements in ease of doing business.
EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
● India made progress in improving its business environment, climbing from 142nd in 2014 to
63rd in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (DBR) 2020
FEW MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
● Vande Bharat Trains and INS Vikrant, the country's first domestically made aircraft carrier.

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28. PRECISION FARMING
CONTEXT
The Centre is contemplating to earmark Rs 6,000 crore to promote precision farming across the
country.

PRECISION FARMING
● It is a modern approach that uses smart technology such as Internet of Things, Artificial
Intelligence, drones and data analytics to boost production through maximal use of resources
while minimising environmental impact.
● Benefits: Increased productivity, resource optimization and environmental sustainability.
Challenges: High cost, digital divide and technical expertise.

SCHEME FOR PRECISION FARMING

● National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture aims at making agriculture more productive,
sustainable and climate resilient by promoting location specific integrated farming systems.
● Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through
precision/ Micro Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation).
● Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)was launched during Covid-19, has provisions for
financing infrastructure projects for smart and precision agriculture. The individual farmers
and Farmer Producer Organization, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies and SHGs are eligible
for loans with interest subvention of 3% for using technological solutions in farm practices.
PRECISION FARMING DEVELOPMENT CENTRES (PFDCs)
● The Centre has set up 22 Precision Farming Development Centres across the country to test
new technologies and modify them according to local needs.
PLANNED SCHEMES
● The Smart Precision Horticulture Programme is planned under the Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme.
● It will cover 15,000 acres of land in five years from 2024-25 to 2028-29 and is expected to
benefit about 60,000 farmers.

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 4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. GENOME MAPPING OF CHANDIPURA VIRUS
CONTEXT
The Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre has
published the only fully mapped genome of the
Chandipura virus.

CHANDIPURA VIRUS
● CHPV is a virus that belongs to the Rhabdoviridae
family, which includes rabies.
● It is transmitted by sandflies and mosquitoes,
including Aedes aegypti.
● Symptoms: fever, vomiting, altered mental state,
convulsions, diarrhoea, neurological deficits, and
meningeal irritation.
● The infection can lead to encephalitis and
inflammation of the brain.
● Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available.

KEY FINDING
● No major change in genetic makeup, no ‘selection pressure to escape immunity’.
● Low viral load, but deadly – Cycle threshold (Ct) value is the number of times the genetic
material of the sample has to be amplified in order to detect the pathogen. A high Ct value
implies that the viral load is quite low.
● Not imported from abroad.

2. BEPICOLOMBO MISSION
CONTEXT
For the first time, Earth receives an image of
Mercury's South Pole from BepiColombo.

BEPICOLOMBO MISSION
● It is a joint mission of the European Space
Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet
Mercury.
● The three components of the mission
1. Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) for
propulsion, built by ESA.
2. Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) built by ESA.
3. Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) or Mio
built by JAXA.
● It was launched in 2018 and is expected to enter
Mercury's orbit by November 2026.

47
 ● It will perform a comprehensive study of Mercury, including characterization of its magnetic
field, magnetosphere, and both interior and surface structure.
● It is named after Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo (1920–1984), who first proposed the interplanetary
gravity assist manoeuvre.

3. CHAMRAN-1 SATELLITE
CONTEXT
Iran successfully launched its Chamran-1 research satellite
into orbit.

CHAMRAN-1 SATELLITE
● Iran successfully launched the Chamran-1 research
satellite.
● It weighs 60 kilograms, was placed into a 550-kilometer
orbit and it is designed to test hardware and software
systems for orbital maneuver technology in the height
and phase.
● The carrier is Iran's first three-stage solid-fuel satellite launcher.
● The Ghaem-100 rocket is manufactured by the aerospace organisation of Iran's Revolutionary
Guard Corps.
● It is the first launch under Iran’s new reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian.

CONCERNS
● Western nations particularly the U.S warned Iran, saying the same technology can be used for
ballistic missiles, including ones designed to deliver a nuclear warhead.
● However, Iran has denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear
and space programs are intended for peaceful purposes.

4. POLARIS DAWN MISSION

CONTEXT
Polaris Dawn’s five-day space mission concludes with a successful and safe landing.

POLARIS DAWN MISSION

● The Polaris Dawn mission is the first of three testing and development private missions under
the Polaris Program, which is jointly executed by Isaacman and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
● It was launched on September 10, 2024, has successfully completed its groundbreaking
five-day journey in space.

ACHIEVEMENTS
● First-ever commercial spacewalk: The mission commander Jared Isaacman and SpaceX
engineer Sarah Gillis conducted the first-ever commercial spacewalk
● Highest altitude: The crew reached an altitude of 1,400 kilometers above Earth, surpassing the
previous record set by NASA's Gemini 11 mission in 1966.
● Radiation Belt research: By venturing into the lower Van Allen radiation belt and South
Atlantic Anomaly, the crew conducted valuable research on the effects of space radiation on
human health.

48
 ● South Atlantic Anomaly is a region where the
intensity of the magnetic field is lower. It extends
from South America to southwest Africa.
● Van Allen radiation belts is a regions in space that
encircle the Earth and are highly radioactive —
which begins at around 1,000 km altitude.
● Science experiments: Throughout their mission,
the four-person crew performed approximately 40
scientific experiments. It includes laser-based
communication experiment.
● These studies focused on the effects of microgravity
and space radiation on the human body,
contributing to the understanding of long-term
space travel's impact on astronaut health.

SIGNIFICANCE
● Radiation Belt Research data will be crucial for
planning future long-duration missions to the Moon
and Mars, as astronauts will need to pass through
these radiation belts.
● It demonstrates the potential for private
companies to perform complex space operations.

5. 2024 PT5 MINI-MOON

CONTEXT
Earth is set to witness a ‘mini-moon’ called 2024 PT5 from September 29 to November 25.

2024 PT5 MINI-MOON

● Mini-moons are asteroids that fail to escape Earth’s
gravity and end up orbiting the planet temporarily.
● The asteroid 2024 PT5 will be temporarily captured by
Earth's gravity for two months.
● It is known as a “temporarily captured flyby” since it
won’t complete a full orbit.
● In contrast, mini-moons that do complete a full orbit are
known as “temporarily captured orbiters”.
● The 2024 PT5 likely originated from the Arjuna asteroid
belt.
● It is detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last
Alert System (ATLAS).

SIGNIFICANCE
● It will help scientists expand the knowledge of asteroids that pass close to the Earth and those
that sometimes collide with it.
● Many asteroids contain minerals and water.

49
 ASTEROID TERRESTRIAL-IMPACT LAST ALERT SYSTEM (ATLAS)
● It is an asteroid detection system. Funded by NASA, and operated by the University of Hawaii's
Institute for Astronomy.
● It consists of four telescopes. It is capable of searching the entire dark sky every 24 hours for
near-Earth objects (NEOs).

6. VENUS ORBITER MISSION

CONTEXT
Cabinet approves a mission to Venus - Venus Orbiter Mission.

VENUS ORBITER MISSION

● The Venus Orbiter Mission, tentatively
named "Shukrayaan-1," is India's first
planned mission to Venus.
● This will be India’s second mission to a
planet, after the Mars Orbiter Mission
in 2014.
● Budget: The project has been
approved for R 1,236 crore.
● The mission will place a spacecraft in
orbit around Venus to collect critical
data on the planet’s climate,
atmospheric composition, and
its potential for volcanic or seismic
activity.
● Major Objectives includes
Investigating surface processes and
subsurface stratigraphy,Studying the
structure, composition, and dynamics
of Venus's atmosphere and exploring
solar wind interactions with the
Venusian ionosphere.
● The mission will provide key insights
into the thick clouds that shroud
Venus, composed primarily of carbon
dioxide and sulfuric acid, and explore whether there are any signs of active volcanoes.
● The mission is expected to be accomplished during March 2028.

REASONS FOR RENEWED RESEARCH

● The discovery of phosphine gas in Venus’s atmosphere, a potential biomarker, in 2020,
reignited speculation about the possibility of microbial life in its clouds.
● Focus on Planetary evolution, climate change and the potential for life in extreme conditions.

50
7. SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY
CONTEXT
The Square Kilometer Array telescope
becomes partially functional.

SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY

● It is a network of thousands of
radio antennas, 197 of them
located in South Africa and more
than 1.3 lakh in Australia,
designed to function as one single
unit.
● It will be the world’s largest
radio telescope.
● The SKAO consortium was
founded in Rome in March 2019.
● Its headquarters are at the
Jodrell Bank Observatory in the
UK.
● 16 consortium members -
Australia, South Africa, Canada,
China, India, Japan, South Korea,
the UK, Spain, Portugal,
Switzerland, France, Germany, the
Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy.

51
 ● In 2022, the National Centre for Radio Astronomy, Pune and SKAO signed a cooperation
agreement.
● It will observe and map galaxies at the edge of the observable universe, going back in time.
● The telescope will study magnetism and radiation from distant galaxies and map them. This will
provide details about galaxy formation and evolution.
● It aims to detect and understand the role of dark matter and dark energy in the universe.

8. CRITICALITY IN NUCLEAR REACTOR

CONTEXT
Third indigenous pressurized heavy water reactor attains criticality.

MORE ON NEWS
● It is the first of a new series of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to be built
at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project in Rawatbhata.
● Already two 700 MWe PHWRs started commercial operation at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station
(KAPS) in Gujarat.

CRITICALITY
● Criticality is the state in which a nuclear chain reaction is self-sustaining.
● Criticality is the normal operating condition of a nuclear reactor, in which nuclear fuel sustains
a fission chain reaction.
● A reactor achieves criticality when each fission releases a sufficient number of neutrons to
sustain an ongoing series of nuclear reactions.
SUPERCRITICALITY
● The rate of fission neutron production exceeds all neutron losses, and the overall neutron
population increases.
● It is the condition of increasing the level of operation of a reactor.

NUCLEAR FISSION
● It is a reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei.
● The fission process produces gamma photons, and releases a very large amount of energy.

9. TRISHNA MISSION
CONTEXT
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is collaborating with the French Space Agency
(CNES) on a satellite mission called Trishna.

TRISHNA MISSION – (Thermal infraRed

Imaging Satellite for High-resolution
Natural resource Assessment)
● Trishna is engineered to deliver high spatial and
temporal resolution observations of Earth's surface
temperature, vegetation health, and water cycle
dynamics.

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 ● It is set for launch in 2025, Trishna will be a game-changer in using space-based thermal
infrared imaging to study the impacts of climate change and support sustainable management
of precious natural resources like water.
● It will operate from a sun-synchronous orbit at 761 km altitude.
● Primary objectives are to monitor the energy and water budgets of the continental biosphere,
quantifying terrestrial water stress and water use efficiency.
● It will provide high-resolution observations of coastal and inland water quality dynamics.

PAYLOADS:
● The Thermal Infrared (TIR) instrument developed by CNES will map surface temperatures
and emissivities across four thermal bands.
● ISRO's Visible-Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR) sensor will complement this with observations
across 7 spectral bands for vegetation monitoring.

BENEFITS
● In agriculture, it will help optimize irrigation, improve crop productivity, and enable sustainable
water management practices.
● Urban planners will benefit from detailed urban heat island mapping, while water resource
managers can monitor pollution in rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
● The mission will support sectors like disaster management by detecting forest fires and volcanic
activity.

10. EUROPA CLIPPER MISSION

CONTEXT
NASA Europa Clipper Mission is set to launch on October 10.

EUROPA CLIPPER MISSION

● It is a space probe development by NASA.
It will Study Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa.
● The Europa Clipper mission will be
conducting an in-depth exploration of
Jupiter’s moon Europa.
● It will investigate whether the icy moon
can have suitable conditions for sustaining
life and insights in astrobiology.
● It is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever
developed for a planetary mission.
● The spacecraft will use gravity assists from Mars in February 2025 and Earth in December
2026, before arriving at Europa in April 2030.
● Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter and conduct 49 close flybys of the moon to gather data needed
to determine whether there are places below its thick frozen crust that could support life.
● It will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
● The mission is designed to last four years and could reveal important information about
Europa's subsurface ocean.
● Intense radiation around Jupiter is a key challenge for Europa Clipper.

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11. PULSARS
CONTEXT
Using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), astronomers have observed a globular cluster known as
Terzan 6.They detected a new millisecond pulsar that is likely associated with this cluster.

GREEN BANK TELESCOPE

● It is the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope.
● Located in the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia, U.S.
● It can detect cosmic phenomena billions of light years away from Earth.

12. ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI (AGN)

CONTEXT
IIA researchers find evidence of interaction between a radio jet and interstellar gas.

MORE ON NEWS
● Researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have found evidence of an
interaction between a radio jet emitted from a special kind of galaxy called Active Galactic
Nuclei (AGN) and the surrounding interstellar medium.
● This interaction has been detected for the first time in a dwarf galaxy situated at a distance of
about 14 million light years.
● A radio jet is material that is spewed from the centre of some galaxies almost at the speed of
light and sends out strong radio waves.

ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI (AGN)

● AGN are galaxies that have a supermassive black hole in their center, which accretes matter and
emits radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to gamma-rays.

54
● A galaxy hosting an AGN is called an active galaxy.
● The non-stellar radiation from an AGN is theorized to result from the accretion of matter by a
supermassive black hole at the center of its host galaxy.
● Active galactic nuclei are the most luminous persistent sources of electromagnetic radiation
in the universe and, as such, can be used as a means of discovering distant objects.
● The most powerful AGN are classified as quasars.
● A blazar is an AGN with a jet pointed toward the Earth, in which radiation from the jet is
enhanced by relativistic beaming.

55
 5. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT
1. NAZCA RIDGE
CONTEXT
A team of oceanographers recently discovered and mapped a new seamount on the Nazca Ridge in
international waters, 900 miles off the coast of Chile

NAZCA RIDGE
● The Nazca Ridge is a submarine ridge, located on the Nazca
Plate off the west coast of South America.
● This plate and ridge are currently subducting under the
South American Plate at a convergent boundary known as
the Peru-Chile Trench at approximately 7.7 cm (3.0 in) per
year
● The Nazca Ridge is approximately 200 km (120 mi) wide,
1,100 km (680 mi) long, and has 1,500 m (4,900 ft) of
bathymetric relief.
● The gradient of the slopes is 1-2 degrees
● The ridge is primarily composed of mid-ocean ridge basalt,
which erupted on the Nazca Plate when the plate was already
5-13 Ma old.
● It was formed by volcanic activity associated with a hotspot
in the Earth's mantle.
● The ridge is composed of abnormally thick basaltic ocean
crust.

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2. SATKOSIA TIGER RESERVE
CONTEXT
Four-and-a-half years after suspending the country’s first big cat relocation project in Satkosia Tiger
Reserve, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has finally given a green signal to the
state government to resume the programme.

SATKOSIA TIGER RESERVE

● Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a
tiger reserve located in the
border of Angul and
Nayagarh district of Odisha,
India covering an area of
988.30 km²
● Satkosia Gorge Wildlife
Sanctuary was created in
1976, with an area of 796
km².
● Satkosia Tiger Reserve was
designated in 2007, and
comprises the Satkosia
Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary
and the adjacent Baisipalli
Wildlife Sanctuary
● It is located where the
Mahanadi River passes
through a 22 km long
gorge in the Eastern Ghats mountains.
● The tiger reserve is located in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion.
● The major plant communities are mixed deciduous forests including Sal (Shorea robusta), and
riverine forest
● The National Tiger Conservation Authority, which had approved the transfer of six tigers from
the wild of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha National Park to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha
● The translocation program was suspended in 2019

3. MIMETUS SPINATUS AND MIMETUS PARVULUS

CONTEXT
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovers 2 new spider
species from Western Ghats

MIMETUS SPINATUS AND MIMETUS

PARVULUS
● Discovered in: Mimetus spinatus is collected from the
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka and and
Mimetus parvulus is collected from the Ernakulam
district of Kerala.

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 ● Mimetus spinatus characteristics: Pale yellow head
and dull grey-white abdomen, with scattered light
green mottling.
● It possesses long, black, flattened spine-like hairs on
the dorsal head.
● Mimetus parvuluscharacteristics: Pale creamy-rose
head with dense grey-black mottling and a
triangular-shaped, dull grey-white abdomen.
● Uniqueness: Both species belong to the spider family
Mimetidae, commonly known as pirate or cannibal
spiders due to their predatory behaviour.
● Significance: It marks the report of the genus
Mimetus after 118 years of the discovery of last
Mimetus species (i.e. Mimetus indicus).

4. THE LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND

CONTEXT
In the wake of the landslide, Kerala seeks compensation. Focus shifts towards the UNFCCC’s Loss
and Damage Fund (LDF).

THE LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND (LDF)

● It is a financial mechanism to provide crucial support to vulnerable nations facing the brunt of
climate-related challenges.
● When established: It was established at the 2022 UNFCCC Conference (COP27) in Egypt.
● The LDF is overseen by a Governing Board that determines how the Fund’s resources are
disbursed, with the World Bank serving as the interim trustee.
● The Board is currently developing mechanisms to facilitate access to the Fund’s resources,
including direct access, small grants, and rapid disbursement options.
● The decentralized method of fund disbursement is needed.

INDIAN CONTEXT
● India has suffered over $56 billion in damages from weather-related disasters between 2019
and 2023.
● India has prioritized mitigation over adaptation in its National Climate Action Policy and
budgets.

ISSUES IN LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND

● Unassessed events: The absence of a standardized method for conducting comprehensive
assessments of disaster-related damages, particularly from slow-onset events. It impedes
India’s ability to access the LDF.

5. DELAY IN THE ONSET OF LA NIÑA

CONTEXT
All leading global agencies were significantly off the mark in their La Niña predictions this year.

MORE ON NEWS

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 ● One of the strongest El Niño events of all time ended this June, following which ENSO entered
the neutral phase.
● Initial projections made by multiple global weather models suggested that the onset of La Niña
conditions would occur around July.
● But by mid-July, it was clear that La Niña would be delayed.
El Nino Southern Oscillation
● It has three phases
1. El Nino, as is commonly known, refers to an abnormal warming of surface waters in
equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is known to suppress monsoon rainfall.
2. The opposit
3. e phase, La Nina, which is the abnormal cooling of sea surface waters in the same region,
is known to aid rainfall over India.
4. The neutral phase in which the sea surface temperatures remain roughly in line with
long-term averages.
● Occurred in irregular cycles of between two to seven years.

IMPACT FOR INDIA

● Since the monsoon has reached its fag end, and La Niña conditions are yet to emerge in the
equatorial Pacific Ocean, the climatic phenomenon will play no direct role in the country’s
rainfall at the moment.
● La Niña’s onset will begin by late September-October, year, it could influence rainfall during the
northeast monsoon season (October – December).

6. SATURN’S RINGS TO DISAPPEAR TEMPORARILY

CONTEXT
Saturn's rings will disappear in March 2025.

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 SATURN
● It is the sixth planet from the Sun, and the second
largest in the solar system.
● It is made mostly of hydrogen and helium. It’s
surrounded by rings.Saturn has 146 moons.
● One day on Saturn goes by in just 10.7 hours and One
year on Saturn is the same as 29.4 Earth years.

SATURN’S RINGS TO DISAPPEAR TEMPORARILY

● In March 2025, Saturn's rings will no longer be visible from Earth due to the planet’s axis
tilt.Saturn's axis tilts around 27 degrees.
● During one half of the year (1 Saturn year equals 29.4 Earth years), the planet tilts in the
Sun’s direction. That causes the upper part of its rings to shine.
● In the other half, the Sun lights up the southern side of Saturn and its rings' underside.
● Twice in Saturn’s orbit, the rings face directly towards the Sun, an event called the equinox.
● Reason: The equinox causes the rings to become nearly invisible when observed from Earth.
After March 2025, they'll become visible again due to Saturn's axial tilt.

7. ELONGATED TORTOISE
CONTEXT
It was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis.

ELONGATED TORTOISE (Indotestudo elongata)

● Features: It is medium-sized with a yellowish brown or olive
shell and distinct black blotches at the centre of each scute.
● The tortoise has on its nostril a pink ring, which appears in the
breeding season.
● Mature individuals of both sexes develop a distinct pinkish
colouration surrounding the nostrils and eyes during the
season.
● It is found in the Sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests.
● Distribution: Across Southeast Asia from northern India,
Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh in the west, eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, and all of
Indochina, north to Guangxi Province of China and south to Peninsular Malaysia.
● IUCN Red list: Critically Endangered.
● Threats: Hunted for food and traditional medicine.

8. AHAETULLA LONGIROSTRIS
CONTEXT
A new snake species with an unusually long snout, Ahaetulla
Longirostris, has been discovered.

AHAETULLA LONGIROSTRIS
● It has distinctive triangular heads with “very long” snouts,
accounting for about 18% of the length of the head.

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 ● Features: The long-snouted vine snake can grow up to 4 feet in length and are typically bright
green or orange-brown, with an orange belly.
● Their unique physical features, especially the long snout, distinguish them from other vine
snakes.
● The species has been observed inhabiting not only forests but also human-dominated areas.
● It was found on the outskirts of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar.

9. MIKANIA MICRANTHA
CONTEXT
The Mikania micrantha is spreading rapidly in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve.

MIKANIA MICRANTHA
● It is a perennial climber, originally from tropical America.
● It is a major invasive in several parts of south-east Asia and
the Pacific islands.
● It was introduced in India in the 1940s as ground cover in
tea plantations, and is now a serious threat to plantation
crops and forest areas.
● It intercepts the light and enters into competition for water
and nutrients. It is allelopathic to other species.
● It’s seeds are wind-dispersed and have the ability to reproduce vegetatively through its roots.

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10. MYRISTICA SWAMP FOREST
CONTEXT
A group of researchers from Dodamarg, a few kilometers away from Goa-Maharashtra border have
discovered a sacred grove— a Myristica swamp forest in Kumbral, which is protected by the local
community.

MYRISTICA SWAMP FOREST

● Myristica magnifica is a species of plant native to Karnataka and Kerala, and is classified as
endangered.
● Tree-covered wetlands found within the evergreen forests in the Western Ghats, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, and Meghalaya.
● These forests of the Western Ghats are considered one of the primaeval ecosystems

SACRED GROVES
● Sacred groves refer to a piece of natural vegetation that is protected by a certain community
due to religious reasons.
● The area is usually dedicated to a local deity. As a result, local communities tend to take
responsibility to protect and nurture the area.
● According to these protections, hunting and deforestation in these areas are banned but other
activities with a more sustainable process such as honey and deadwood collection are allowed.
● The introduction of Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002, provides government
protection to these lands.
● selfless devotion and exceptional professionalism.

11. SALT PAN LAND

CONTEXT
Centre approved transfer of 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to Dharavi Redevelopment
Project Pvt Ltd

SALT PAN LAND

● They comprise parcels of low-lying lands where seawater flows in at certain times, and
leaves behind salt and other minerals.
● Along with Mumbai’s mangroves (also at risk due to development), this ecosystem is
instrumental in protecting the city from flooding.
● According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, the ecologically
sensitive salt pans fall under CRZ-1B category, where no economic activity is allowed with the
exception of salt extraction and natural gas exploration.
● Nationally, some 60,000 acres have been demarcated as salt pan lands, spread across
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh
(20,716 acres) boasts the largest expanse of such land, followed by Tamil Nadu (17,095 acres)
and Maharashtra (12,662 acres).
● Salt pans are situated in low-lying areas, and water received during heavy rain gets
accumulated here. Water from Thane creek also flows in during high tide and gets collected in
the salt pans, preventing flooding.

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12. TYPHOON YAGI
CONTEXT
Typhoon Yagi causes widespread destruction across southern China & Southeast Asia.

TYPHOON YAGI
● Typhoon Yagi is the strongest tropical cyclonein Asia
this year and the second most powerful storm in the world
this year after Hurricane Beryl.
● Typhoon Yagi has severely impacted the Philippines,
China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, andVietnam.

CLIMATE CHANGE MAKING TROPICAL

CYCLONES STRONGER
● With rising global temperatures, tropical cyclones are
becoming more intense.
● As per study, tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia are now
forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly, and
lingering longer over land.
● Major reason: warmer surface temperatures of the
ocean.
● Higher sea surface temperatures cause marine heat
waves, an extreme weather event, which can also make
storms like hurricanes and tropical cyclones more intense.

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.
● 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).

63
 ● They are known as:
o Cyclones in the Indian Ocean.
o Hurricanes in the Atlantic.
o Typhoons in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea.
o Willy-willies in Western Australia.

13. INTEGRATED OCEAN ENERGY ATLAS

CONTEXT
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has launched the integrated
ocean energy atlas.

INTEGRATED OCEAN ENERGY

ATLAS
● The integrated ocean energy atlas
highlights the vast renewable energy
potential within India's Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ).
● The atlas encompasses marine
meteorological energy sources like
solar and wind, and hydrological
energy forms such as waves, tides,
currents, ocean thermal, and salinity
gradients.
● It identifies areas with high energy
generation potential, serving as a vital
resource for policymakers, industries,
and researchers.
● According to Incois, the atlas includes
detailed annual, monthly, and daily
estimates of these ocean energy
components.
● Additionally, energy estimates for five
sectors within the Indian EEZ have been provided, with the total integrated ocean energy
projected at approximately 9.2 lakh terawatt-hours (TWh) per annum.

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14. SYNTRETUS PERLMANI
CONTEXT
Researchers have discovered a new species of parasitoid wasp that matures inside living adult fruit
flies before bursting out.

SYNTRETUS PERLMANI
● The new species is the first wasp found to infect adult fruit
flies.
● The female S. perlmani uses their needle-like ovipositor organ
- the stinger in stinging wasps to stab and deposit an egg
within a fruit fly's abdomen.
● The egg then hatches into a tiny wasp larva, which grows
inside the fly for about 18 days before leaving its host for
dead.
● Reason for its unique adoption: The juvenile stages of
insects are far more vulnerable. They aren't equipped with a thick exoskeleton like adults, and
without wings, they're far less mobile.
● These fruit fly invaders are considered parasitoids rather than parasites because they always
kill their hosts unlike the latter, which generally leave them alive.

15. AMUR FALCON

CONTEXT
Ahead of Amur falcon’s arrival, Manipur’s Tamenglong bans
hunting.

AMUR FALCON(Falco amurensis)

● It is a small sized raptor from the falcon family.

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 ● It breeds in Siberia and Northern China but migrates to the warmer climate of the Southern part
of Africa via India every year.
● Their migration over the Arabian Sea coincides with the timing of the migration of dragonflies
and these are thought to provide food.
● It is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
● IUCN conservation status: Least Concern.
● Threats: hunting for food and habitat loss.

16. SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL

CONTEXT
Union Civil Aviation Minister called for increased adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL

● SAF is a biofuel used to power aircraft
that has similar properties to
conventional jet fuel but with a smaller
carbon footprint.
● Unlike traditional jet fuels, SAF is
produced from renewable sources such
as agricultural waste, municipal solid
waste, and forestry residues.
● This means that SAF has the potential to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up
to 80% compared to conventional jet
fuel.
● Many SAFs contain fewer aromatic
components, which enables them to burn cleaner in aircraft engines.
● SAFs lower carbon intensity makes it an important solution for reducing aviation GHGs.
● Benefits: Growing, sourcing, and producing SAF from renewable and waste resources can
create new economic opportunities in farming communities, improve the environment, and
even boost aircraft performance.
● Biomass crops can control erosion and improve water quality and quantity. They can also
increase biodiversity and store carbon in the soil.

17. VALMIKI TIGER RESERVE

CONTEXT
A leopard was found dead in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district of Bihar.

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18. INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE
HABITATS
CONTEXT
Cabinet approved Continuation of Wildlife Habitat Development Scheme for 15th Finance
Commission Cycle.

INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE HABITATS (IDWH)

● It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the development of wildlife habitat in India.
● Under IDWH, the financial assistance is provided to State/UT Governments for protection and
conservation of wildlife and its habitats in Protected Areas (PAs) as well as outside PAs and also
for the recovery programmes of the critically endangered species.

COMPONENTS OF THE SCHEME

● Support to Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and
Community Reserves)
● Protection of Wildlife Outside Protected Areas
● Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats

Project Elephant
● It was launched in the year 1991-92 with the objective of protecting elephants, their habitat
and corridors, addressing issues of man-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated
elephants.
Project Tiger
● It is a tiger conservation programme launched in 1973. It has achieved commendable success,
making significant strides in tiger conservation.
● India currently harbors almost 75% of the world’s wild tiger population.

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 ● The Project Tiger and Project Elephant Scheme has been merged from FY 2023-24 and now
known as Project Tiger & Elephant.
● Development of Wildlife Habitat component:Project Dolphin and Project Lion are
implemented as its Sub-schemes.

19. STATE OF RHINO 2024 REPORT

CONTEXT
The International Rhino Foundation published the State of the Rhino 2024 report.

STATE OF RHINO 2024 REPORT

● It is released annually on September 22 (World Rhino Day)

KEY FINDINGS
● The number of white rhinos
increased, but the black and
greater one-horned rhino stayed
the same.
● All five subspecies combined,
there are just under 28,000
rhinos left in the world, from
500,000 at the beginning of the
20th century.
● A total of 586 rhinos were killed
in Africa in 2023, most of them in
South Africa.
● Major Threats: habitat loss and poaching.

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20. COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
(CAQM)
CONTEXT
Recently, the Supreme Court sought an explanation from CAQM on Stubble burning.

COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT (CAQM)

● It is a statutory body under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital
Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
● The Commission has been set up for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and
Adjoining Areas for better co-ordination, research, identification and resolution of problems
surrounding the air quality.
● Adjoining areas have been defined as areas in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar
Pradesh, adjoining the National Capital Territory of Delhi and NCR.
● Composition: consist of: (i) a Chairperson, (ii) an officer of the rank of a Joint Secretary as the
member-secretary and Chief Coordinating Officer, (iii) a serving or former Joint Secretary from
the central government, (iii) three independent technical members with expertise in air
pollution, and (iv) three members from non-government organisations.
● The Chairperson and members will have tenure of three years or till the age of seventy years,
whichever is earlier.

FUNCTIONS
● Coordinating actions by concerned state governments (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and
Uttar Pradesh),
● Planning and executing plans to prevent and control air pollution in NCR,
● Providing a framework for identifying air pollutants,
● Preparing action plans such as increasing plantation and addressing stubble burning.

21. PROJECT CHEETAH

CONTEXT
Recently, Project Cheetah completed 2 years.

PROJECT CHEETAH
● Launched in 2022
● Cheetah, the fastest land animal, was declared
extinct in India in 1952.
● Two objectives:
o To establish a stable, breeding population of
cheetahs in central India.
o To use cheetahs as an umbrella species to
restore open natural ecosystems such as
scrubs, savannahs, grasslands, and degraded
forests.
o The intercontinental translocation of
African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to the Kuno National Park in Madhya
Pradesh.

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 ● World’s first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project and is a part of the
Project Tiger. This translocation took place in two batches of eight and then 12 cheetahs.
● As of today, 24 cheetahs (12 adults and cubs each) survive.
● The next batch of 6-8 African cheetahs will be translocated to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife
Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.
● Implementing Agency: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and assisted by The Cheetah
Conservation Fund (CCF).
● African Cheetah – Vulnerable in IUCN Status
● The Asiatic cheetah is classified as a “critically endangered” species by the IUCN Red List, and
is believed to survive only in Iran.
● African cheetahs are bigger in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah

22. EXOSTOMA SENTIYONOAE

CONTEXT
New species of catfish discovered in Dzuleke River, Nagaland.

EXOSTOMA SENTIYONOAE
● A new species of glyptosternine catfish, Exostoma
sentiyonoae, has been identified from the Dzuleke River, a
tributary of the Barak River in Nagaland.
● The species can be distinguished by unique characteristics,
including an adipose fin attached to the upper procurrent
caudal-fin rays, tubercles on the dorsal-fin spine, a slender
head, a long distance between the dorsal and adipose fins,
small eyes, and 41 vertebrae.
● Exostoma sentiyonode is the first known member of this
genus discovered from the Dzuleke River in Nagaland.

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23. OPERATION BHEDIYA
CONTEXT
The forest department launched Operation Bhediya and
caught four wolves.

OPERATION BHEDIYA
● The Uttar Pradesh government launched Operation Bhediya
to capture a pack of wolves in Bahraich district, Uttar
Pradesh.
● Location: Bahraich, with Ghaghara river flowing on one
side and forests on the other, has been a wolf habitat.

INDIAN WOLVES (CANIS LUPUS PALLIPES)

● It is a subspecies of gray wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent.
● It is intermediate in size between the Himalayan wolf and the Arabian wolf, and lacks the
former's luxuriant winter coat due to it living in warmer conditions.
● It travels in smaller packs.

CONSERVATION STATUS
● IUCN Red list: Least concerned.
● Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I.
● CITES: Appendix 1.
● Indian wolves have been known to act as scavengers, preying on dead livestocks.
● Habitat loss: They are known to feed on livestock when natural prey is scarce. This causes
human-wolf conflicts.

24. FJORDS
CONTEXT
Fuel slick from the sunk ship spreads to Greenland fjord.

FJORD
● A fjord is a long, deep,
narrow body of water that
reaches far inland.
● Fjords are often set in a
U-shaped valley with
steep walls of rock on
either side.
● The opening toward the
sea is called the mouth of
the fjord, and is often
shallow. The fjord's inner
part is called the sea
bottom.
● Formation: Fjords were
created by glaciers.

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 Glaciers move very slowly over time, and can greatly alter the landscape once they have moved
through an area. This process is called glaciation.
● The features of fjords include coral reefs and rocky islands called skerries.
● Distribution: They are found in Norway, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, Greenland, and the U.S.

25. MISSION MAUSAM

CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet has approved ‘Mission Mausam’.

MISSION MAUSAM
● It is envisaged to be a multi-faceted and transformative initiative to boost India's weather and
climate-related science, research, and services.
● India will expound research and development, and capacity in atmospheric sciences, especially
weather surveillance, modelling, forecasting, and management.
● It will integrate advanced observation systems, high-performance computing, and cutting-edge
technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
● Implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (nodal body) along with the India
Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National
Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting
● Critical elements includes the deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems
with advanced sensors and supercomputers, the development of improved Earth system
models and a GIS-based automated Decision Support System for real-time data dissemination.
● It improves monsoon forecasts, alerts for air quality, extreme weather events and cyclones,
weather interventions for managing fog, hail, and rain, etc., capacity building and generating
awareness.
● Benefits in various sectors: Agriculture, disaster management, defence, environment, aviation,
water resources, power, tourism, shipping, transport, energy, and health. Enhance data-driven
decision making in areas such as urban planning, road and rail transport, and environmental
monitoring.

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 6. HISTORY AND CULTURE
1. THE BATTLE OF SARAGARHI
CONTEXT
September 12 marks the 127th anniversary of the Battle of
Saragarhi.

SARAGARHI
● Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort
Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.
● The two forts in the rugged North West Frontier
Province (NWFP), in Pakistan were built by Maharaja
Ranjit Singh.

THE BATTLE OF SARAGARHI

● On September 12 in 1897, 21 soldiers were pitted against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal
militants and managed to hold down the fort for seven hours.
● The soldiers of 36th Sikhs (now 4 Sikh) regiment, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought till their
last breath, killing 200 militants and injuring 600.
● The post of Saragarhi fell into Afghan hands.
● The British, who regained control over the fort after a few days, used burnt bricks of Saragarhi
to build an obelisk for the martyrs.
● It was a critical post for the British, helping to monitor the aggressive moves by the Afghans.

HEROES OF SARAGARHI HONOURED

● In 2017, the Punjab government decided to observe Saragarhi Day on September 12 as a
holiday.
● The Khyber Scouts regiment of the Pakistani army mounts a guard and salutes the Saragarhi
memorial close to Fort Lockhart.

2. KARAM PARV
CONTEXT
The Karam Parv was celebrated on September 14-15.

KARAM PARV
● It is the harvest festival and a tribute to the Karam tree.
● Tribal populations in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Assam, and Odisha celebrated the Karma or Karam Parv.
● The festival is popular among the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal peoples.
● It is traditionally celebrated on the Ekadashi tithi (eleventh day) of the lunar fortnight in the
month of Bhado/ Bhadra, which corresponds to August-September in the Gregorian calendar.
● The Karam tree is seen as a symbol of Karam Devta or Karamsani, the god of strength, youth,
and vitality.
● The festival concludes with the immersion of the Karam branch in a river or pond, and the jawa
is distributed among the devotees.

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3. NAGA KING CHILLI FESTIVAL
CONTEXT
Recently, Seiyhama village in Nagaland celebrated the third edition of the Naga king chilli festival.

NAGA KING CHILLI (Capsicum chinense Jacq)

● Naga king chilli, also known as raja mircha, a spice
renowned for its extreme heat, which exceeds 1 million
Scoville heat units (SHU).
● It was certified by Guinness World Records in 2006 for its
intense heat.
● It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008 by
Nagaland.

NAGA KING CHILLI FESTIVAL

● The king chilli Festival, first held in 2022, is a revival of
Seiyhama’s community spirit along with the agricultural fair.
● The peak harvest of king chilli occurs in August and September, with the final harvest in
November and December.
● It has long been used to preserve food in Nagaland’s hot, humid climate, extending the shelf life
of food and reducing waste.

4. KOODIYATTOM
CONTEXT
Cholliyattom is an informal platform for the younger generation of Koodiyattom artists following
different styles to collaborate and to keep alive various Koodiyattom traditions and styles.

MORE ON NEWS
● The collective recently conducted the second edition of
Natya Yauvanam-2024, a Koodiyattom festival, at
Ammannur Gurukulam in Irinjalakuda.

KOODIYATTOM
● Koodiyattom or Kutiyattam, is a Sanskrit theatre,
which is practised in Kerala, is one of India’s oldest
living theatrical traditions.
● Originating more than 2,000 years ago, Kutiyattam
represents a synthesis of Sanskrit classicism and
reflects the local traditions of Kerala.
● In its stylized and codified theatrical language, neta
abhinaya (eye expression) and hasta abhinaya (the
language of gestures) are prominent.
● They focus on the thoughts and feelings of the main character.
● There are different styles or traditions in Koodiyattom, chiefly Kalamandalam or Painkulam
style, Ammannur style, and Mani Gurukulam style.
● Kutiyattam is traditionally performed in theatres called Kuttampalams, which are located in
Hindu temples.

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 ● The main musical instruments used in koodiyattam are the mizhavu, kuzhitalam, edakka,
kurumkuzhal, and sankhu.
● It is officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of
Humanity.

5. SANT TUKARAM
CONTEXT
The Maharashtra government has approved the proposal to rename Pune International Airport to
'Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport'.

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 7. SCHEMES AND PROJECTS IN NEWS
1. INDIA SEMICONDUCTOR MISSION (ISM)
CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal of Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd to setup a semiconductor unit
in Sanand, Gujarat.

INDIA SEMICONDUCTOR MISSION (ISM)

● It is an Independent Business Division within Digital
India Corporation.
● It has autonomy to formulate for developing
semiconductors and semiconductor design ecosystems.
● Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology
● It serves as the nodal agency for the implementation of
the programme for development of semiconductor and
manufacturing ecosystem in India.
● ISM has been working as nodal agency for
the Schemes approved under Semicon
India Programme.
● It aims to provide financial support to
companies investing in semiconductors,
display manufacturing and design
ecosystems.
● The four schemes have been introduced
under the programme
✔ Modified Scheme for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India - Setting up semiconductor
wafer fabrication facilities.
✔ Modified Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India - Manufacturing TFT LCD or
AMOLED based display panels.
✔ Modified Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors
Fab / Discrete Semiconductors Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and
Packaging (ATMP) / OSAT facilities in India
✔ Semicon India Future Design: Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.

2. POSHAN TRACKER INITIATIVE

CONTEXT
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has received the National Award for e-Governance
2024 (Gold) for the Poshan Tracker initiative.

POSHAN TRACKER INITIATIVE

● Important tool for women & child development and last mile delivery of nutritional services.
● It tracks a child's growth pattern over time through WHO growth charts, to monitor children's
growth and development.

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 ● It is one of the key pillars of Poshan Abhiyaan.
● Provides real-time monitoring and tracking of beneficiaries and duty bearers.
● Linked with Education and Health Programmes for proactive service delivery.

POSHAN ABHIYAAN (NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION)

● It was launched in March 2018 to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from
0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner.
● It aims to achieve reduction in stunting and wasting in children (0-6 years) and reduction in
anemia in women, children and adolescent girls.

BENEFITS
● Provide nutritional service to 101 Million beneficiaries.
● Tracks last mile service delivery through 1.3 Million Anganwadi Workers.
● Serve 12 Millionwomen& 89 Million children up-to the age of 6 years.

3. NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPING AND

HARNESSING INNOVATIONS (NIDHI)
CONTEXT
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates 8 new NIDHI i-TBIs across India.

NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPING AND HARNESSING INNOVATIONS

(NIDHI)
● National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) is an umbrella
programme conceived and developed by the Technology Translation and Innovation (TTI)
Division, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, for nurturing ideas and
innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.
● Umbrella programme developed in 2016.
● The programme works in line with national priorities and goals, focusing on building an
innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem with the objective of socio-economic development
through wealth and job creation.
● National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under DST is
funding agency.
● NIDHI Programmes are implemented through Technology Business Incubators (TBIs).

4. SWACHH BHARAT MISSION

CONTEXT
A recent study reveals that the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM has contributed significantly to
reducing infant and under-five mortality rates across the country.

KEY FINDINGS
● Reducing child mortality with increasing toilet coverage: The districts with over 30% toilet
coverage experienced reductions of 5.3 in the IMR and 6.8 in the under-five mortality rate
(U5MR) per thousand live births i.e, 60,000 – 70,000 infant lives annually.
● Broader Public Health Benefits: The study highlights that expanded access to toilets reduced
exposure to fecal-oral pathogens, contributing to lower incidences of diarrhea and malnutrition.

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 SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (SBM)
● It was launched on October 2, 2014,
represents a paradigm shift towards
achieving universal sanitation coverage in
India.
● Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen:
Phase I (2014–2019) aiming to end open
defecation through awareness campaigns,
education, and infrastructure development.
● Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Drinking Water
and Sanitation.
● Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen:
Phase II (2019–2025) was launched to
sustain the ODF status and manage solid
and liquid waste by 2025.
● As of September 2024, over 5.87 lakh
villages across India have achieved ODF Plus status, with over 3.92 lakh villages implementing
solid waste management systems and over 4.95 lakh villages establishing liquid waste
management systems.

5. 'INDIASIZE' INITIATIVE
CONTEXT
The government is set to launch the 'INDIAsize' initiative to create standardized measurements for
Indian body types

'INDIAsize' INITIATIVE
● It aims to arrive at a standard Indian Size for the ready-to-wear clothing industry, on the lines
of the standardized sizes available in countries such as the USA and the UK.
● A size chart that is specific to Indian consumers' measurements will be developed.
● Reason: Western body types differ from Indians in terms of height, weight or specific
measurements of body parts, which sometimes causes fitting issues.
● It is being undertaken by the Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with The Clothing
Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI).
● Benefit to the consumer: Standardized sizes, better-fitting clothes, reduction in prices,
reduced hassles of purchase returns and reduction of wasteful expenditure due to incorrect
purchases.
● Benefit to the manufacturer: Minimization of wrong inventory and expenses on returned
goods and improving sales and increase exports from India.

VisioNxt INITIATIVE
● It is India's first-ever initiative that combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional
Intelligence (EI) to generate fashion trend insights and forecasts.
● It is designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology.

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 ● Its mission is to identify, map, and analyze geo-specific trends, reflecting the positive plurality,
cultural diversity, andsocio-economic nuances of India while collating comprehensive trends
and insights.
● Advantages: It reduces dependence on global forecasting agencies, provides unique insights
into domestic fashion consumers, integrates the country's strength in information technology
with textiles, and combines artificial and human intelligence.

6. PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN MAANDHAN YOJANA

CONTEXT
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan dhan Yojana has successfully completed five years.

7. INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE

CONTEXT
Union Home Minister addressed the first foundation day of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination
Centre at New Delhi.

INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE (I4C)

● It was established in October 2018 under the Central Sector Scheme within the Cyber and
Information Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
● It provides a framework for Law Enforcement Agencies for dealing with Cybercrime in a
coordinated and comprehensive manner.
● It is envisaged to act as the nodal point to curb Cybercrime in the country.
● The Components of the scheme include

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 ✔ National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU)
✔ National Cybercrime Reporting Portal
✔ Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team
✔ National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory Ecosystem
✔ National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC)
✔ Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit
✔ National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre

OTHER INITIATIVES LAUNCHED ON THIS DAY

● Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) was established with representatives from major banks,
financial intermediaries, payment aggregators, telecom service providers, IT intermediaries, and
law enforcement agencies from states and union territories (UTs).
● Samanvaya is aweb-based module, a platform for cybercrime data repository, sharing,
mapping, and analytics, as well as a coordination tool for law enforcement agencies.
● Cyber Commandos program is establishing a wing of trained specialists in states/UTs and
central police organizations to enhance cybersecurity.
● The Suspect Registry is an initiative to strengthen fraud risk management by creating a registry
of identifiers based on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal in collaboration with banks and
financial intermediaries.

8. PM E-DRIVE SCHEME
CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet has approved the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle
Enhancement (PM E-Drive) Scheme with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore for two year.

PM E-DRIVE SCHEME
● It is said to replace the flagship Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric
Vehicles (FAME) programme.

Components of the scheme

● Subsidies and Demand Incentives: The scheme allocates Rs 3,679 crore to incentivise the
purchase of electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws), three-wheelers (e-3Ws), electric ambulances,
trucks, and other emerging EV categories.
● E-Vouchers for EV Buyers: Buyers of electric vehicles will be issued an e-voucher under the
scheme to avail demand incentives.
● E-Ambulance Deployment: A budget of Rs 500 crore has been allocated to deploy electric
ambulances
● Incentives for E-Trucks: Under this component Rs 500 crore has been allocated to promote the
deployment of e-trucks, a major contributor to air pollution. Those who hold a scrapping
certificate from authorised MoRTH Vehicle Scrapping Centres (RVSFs) will be eligible for the
incentives.

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 ● Charging Infrastructure: Rs 2,000 crore will be used to install public charging stations
(EVPCS) in cities with high EV penetration and along selected highways.

9. NPS VATSALYA SCHEME

CONTEXT
The Finance Minister will launch the NPS Vatsalya scheme in line with the announcement made in
the Union Budget 2024-25.

NPS VATSALYA
● It allows parents to save for
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND
their children’s future by
investing in a pension account
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (PFRDA)
● It is the regulatory body for overall supervision and
and ensuring long-term wealth
regulation of pensions in India.
with the power of
● It is the statutory body under the Pension Fund
compounding.
Regulatory & Development Authority Act, 2014.
● NPS Vatsalya offers flexible
● It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
contributions and investment
Finance.
options, allowing parents to
● It regulates pension funds, protects subscriber interests,
make an investment of Rs.
and establishes norms for fund management.
1,000 annually in the name of
the child, thus making it
accessible to families from all economic backgrounds.
● Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Finance.
● The Scheme will be run under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
(PFRDA).
● Benefits: Financial security for children and improves saving habits.

10. SUBHADRA SCHEME

CONTEXT
Recently, the Prime Minister launched Odisha Government's flagship Subhadra scheme.

SUBHADRA SCHEME
● It is a flagship initiative by the Government of Odisha aimed at financially empowering women,
improving their socio-economic status, and promoting their safety and well-being.
● Eligibility: Applicants must be residents of Odisha, aged 21 years or more and less than 60
years, and Women from economically well-off families, government employees, and income-tax
payees will not be eligible.
● Five years: Eligible beneficiaries will receive Rs. 50,000 in total, distributed as Rs. 10,000
annually over five years from 2024–2025 to 2028–2029.
● The annual instalment of Rs. 10,000 will be credited in two instalments: Rs. 5,000 on Rakhi
Purnima and Rs. 5,000 on International Women’s Day (8th March).
● The Subhadra Card is an ATM-cum-debit card provided to all beneficiaries to create a sense of
identity and facilitate financial transactions.

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 VARIOUS STATE GOVERNMENT’S SIMILAR INITIATIVES
● Tamil Nadu (Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam): Eligible Women receive Rs 1,000 monthly.
● Andhra Pradesh (Jagananna Ammavodi Scheme): Rs. 15,000 per annum is given to poor and
needy mothers.
● Assam (Orunodoi Scheme): A monthly assistance of Rs 830 is transferred to women members
of marginalised families.
● Himachal Pradesh (Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana): Rs 1500 per
month to eligible women from 18- 60 years of age
● Karnataka (Gruha Lakshmi scheme): financial assistance of Rs.2,000 every month to eligible
women.
● Madhya Pradesh (Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana): Eligible women in 23-60 age group
will be given Rs 1,000 per month.
● Rajasthan (Lakhpati Didi Scheme): A mortgage of Rs. 5 lakhs is available for every eligible girl.
● Telangana (Mahalakshmi scheme): Women and transgender persons free travel on state-run
non-AC buses
● West Bengal (Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme): Empowerment of women in the age group of
25-60 years and enrolled in ‘Swasthya Sathi’ provides ₹ 1000/- every month to women from
SC/ST households and ₹ 500/- per month from others.

11. PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY SANRAKSHAN

ABHIYAN (PM-AASHA)
CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan
Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).

PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY SANRAKSHAN ABHIYAN (PM-AASHA)

● It aims to provide remunerative prices to farmers and to control price volatility of essential
commodities for consumers.
● Budget Allocated: Rs. 35,000 crore upto 2025-26.
● The Government has converged the Price Support Scheme (PSS) & Price Stabilization Fund
(PSF) schemes in PM AASHA.

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12. ‘BIO-RIDE’ SCHEME
CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet approved the Bio-RIDE scheme.

‘BIO-RIDE’ SCHEME
● It is designed to foster innovation, promote bio-entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s
position as a global leader in biomanufacturing and biotechnology.
● It aims to accelerate research, enhance product development, and bridge the gap between
academic research and industrial applications.
● Budget outlay: Rs.9197 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
● Three components:
1. Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D);
2. Industrial & Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED)
3. Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry
● Two umbrella schemes merged as one scheme-‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Development (Bio- RIDE)’ with Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry.
● Promote Bio-Entrepreneurship for startups by providing seed funding, incubation support,
and mentorship to bio-entrepreneurs.
● Advance Innovation: It will offer grants and incentives for cutting-edge research and
development in areas like synthetic biology, biopharmaceuticals, bioenergy, and bioplastics.
● Facilitate Industry-Academia Collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of bio-based
products and technologies.
● Encourage Sustainable Biomanufacturing in biomanufacturing, aligned with India’s green
goals.

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 ● Support researchers through Extramural funding to research institutions, universities, and
individual researchers in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, bioenergy, and environmental
sustainability.
● Nurturing Human Resource in Biotechnology sector: Bio-RIDE will provide holistic
development and support to students, young researchers and scientists working in the
multidisciplinary areas of Biotechnology.

13. FAST TRACK IMMIGRATION-TRUSTED TRAVELLER

PROGRAMME (FTI-TTP)
CONTEXT
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to expand special fast-track immigration
programme

FAST TRACK IMMIGRATION-TRUSTED TRAVELLER PROGRAMME (FTI-TTP)

● Under the FTI-TTP programme, eligible passengers are allowed to utilise e-gates and bypass
regular immigration queues for a seamless experience.
● It will be available for pre-verified Indian nationals and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
cardholders.
● The FTI registration will be valid for either a maximum of five years or till the passport's
validity expires, whichever comes first, with a passport validity of minimum six years
necessary before applying.
● It was first launched at Delhi’s IGI Airport on June 22, and work is in progress at seven major
airports.
● It has been introduced with the purpose of facilitating international mobility with faster,
smoother and secure immigration clearances.
● It is similar to the United States’ Global Entry Program, which allows fast-tracked clearance
for pre-approved and low-risk travelers upon their arrival at select airports in the US.
● Benefits: It ensures faster immigration clearance.

14. VIVAD SE VISHWAS SCHEME 2024

CONTEXT
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme,
2024, which will take effect on October 1, 2024.

DIRECT TAX VIVAD SE VISHWAS SCHEME

● It aims to reduce income tax litigation by enabling taxpayers to resolve pending income tax
appeals, writs, and petitions before various appellate authorities, including the Supreme Court
and high courts, as of July 22, 2024.
● The new appellants will receive lower settlement amounts compared to the old appellants.
● Additionally, taxpayers who submit their declarations by December 31, 2024, will also be
eligible for reduced settlement amounts.
● It applies to cases where appeals have been filed with the Commissioner (Appeals), Dispute
Resolution Panel (DRP), Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), High Court, or Supreme Court.
● The scheme is open to both taxpayers and tax authorities involved in the disputes.

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 ● Around 2.7 crore direct tax demands totalling about Rs 35 lakh crore are being disputed at
various legal foras.

15. INSPIRE – MANAK

CONTEXT
The selected students of INSPIRE- MANAK
competition felicitated for their innovative
NATIONAL INNOVATION FOUNDATION
● It is an autonomous body of the Department of
ideas.
Science and Technology (DST). It was set up in
INSPIRE - MANAK (Million Minds 2000.
Augmenting National Aspirations ● It is an initiative to strengthen the grassroots
and Knowledge) technological innovations and outstanding
● It is executed by the Department of traditional knowledge.
Science and Technology (DST) with ● Its mission is to help India become a creative
National Innovation Foundation – and knowledge-based society by expanding
India (NIF). policy and institutional space for grassroots
● It aims to motivate students in the age technological innovators.
group of 10-15 years and studying in
classes 6 to 10.
● MANAK is an initiative to attract talented school students at an early age to study science and
pursue research careers apart from fostering a culture of innovation among them.
● The INSPIRE-MANAK scheme targets ten (10.0) lakh ideas from more than five (05) lakh middle
and high schools across the country every year. Out of these, one lakh ideas are eligible for
INSPIRE Award of Rs. 10,000/-each.

16. SPICED SCHEME

CONTEXT
The Spices Board launched the SPICED Scheme to boost exports and cardamom productivity.

SPICED SCHEME
● It stands for the Sustainability in Spice Sector
through Progressive, Innovative and
Collaborative Interventions for Export
Development - (SPICED) Scheme.
● It is aimed at enhancing the export of spices
and value-added spice products as well as
improving the productivity of cardamom and
upgrading the post-harvest quality of spices for
exports.
● It will be implemented during the 15th Finance
Commission cycle, till FY 2025-26, with a outlay
of ₹422.30 crore.
● It is expected to facilitate value-addition and to
drive innovation and sustainability in the spice
sector by introducing new sub-components like
the Mission Value Addition, Mission Clean and

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 Safe Spices, promotion of GI spices, support for entrepreneurship through Spice Incubation
Centres, etc.
● The post-harvest quality improvement of spices is addressed through initiatives like Mission
Clean and Safe Spices, which focuses on post-harvest improvements by groups in identified
clusters, promoting sustainable production, certification systems, and extension advisory
services.

17. PARYATAN MITRA AND PARYATAN DIDI

CONTEXT
The Tourism Ministry launches ‘Paryatan Mitra’ and ‘Paryatan Didi’ on World Tourism Day.

PARYATAN MITRA AND PARYATAN DIDI

● It aims to connect tourists with locals who act as proud Ambassadors and Storytellers of their
regions.
● It focuses on enhancing the tourist experience.
● Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tourism.
● Participants receive training on the value of tourism, safety, sustainability, and high-quality
hospitality, all guided by the ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ philosophy.
● It was piloted in six key tourist destinations - Orchha (Madhya Pradesh), Gandikota (Andhra
Pradesh), Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Aizawl (Mizoram), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), and Sri Vijaya Puram
(Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

18. PRADHAN MANTRI JAN AROGYA YOJANA (PM-JAY)

CONTEXT
The Union Cabinet approves health cover for all aged 70 and above.

MORE ON NEWS
● The Union Cabinet has approved health coverage of ₹5 lakh for all senior citizens aged 70 and
above, regardless of their income.
● It is expected to benefit an additional 6 crore elderly people from 4.5 crore families.

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19. WOMEN IN SPACE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
(WISLP)
CONTEXT
India and the UK launched a Women in Space Leadership Programme (WiSLP) to create a
gender-inclusive environment in space sciences.

WOMEN IN SPACE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME (WISLP)

● It aims to promote women's leadership in science and research.
● Women make up only 14% of the total workforce in STEM fields in India.
● The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has collaborated with the British Council to
launch the 'Women in Space Leadership Programme' (WiSLP).
● It is set to create a framework for women's leadership that assists institutions in enhancing
their gender-inclusive policies and practices, particularly in the fields of space sciences.
● It is based on three key pillars:
1. Recognising the various aspects of women’s identities.
2. Addressing the unique opportunities and challenges faced in India.
3. Applying insights from both social science and STEM to empower female scientists and
boost their confidence in their leadership skills.
● The programme will incorporate mechanisms for networking and peer-to-peer mentoring.
● The DST launched the programme in collaboration with the British Council of the UK, as part of
the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).

UK-INDIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INITIATIVE (UKIERI)

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● It is the UK and India’s flagship bilateral collaboration programme on education and research.
● Since then UKIERI has been recognized as a key multi stakeholder programme that has
strengthened the research, leadership, education and skill sector relations between the two
countries.
● UKIERI has been implemented in three phases from 2006 to 2011, 2011 to 2016 and 2016 to
2022. The fourth phase of UKIERI was launched in 2023.

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 8. SECURITY
1. PROJECT NAMAN
CONTEXT
The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN.

PROJECT NAMAN
● A project designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence Pensioners,
Veterans and their families
● Project NAMAN is centered around the implementation of the SPARSH (System for Pension
Administration Raksha), digital pension system, which streamlines pension related
processes for Defence Pensioners, addressing the critical need for accessible facilitation points
for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across the country.
● the importance of the project in ensuring that veterans and their families receive the care and
support they deserve.
● In the first phase of Project NAMAN, 14 Common Services Centres have been established
● The project is set to expand significantly and aims to establish approximately 200 centres
nationwide over the next 2 to 3 years.
● Project NAMAN stands as a testament to the Indian Army’s dedication to the welfare of its
veterans and their families.
● By providing SPARSH centric facilitation, commonly required e-Governance services, and
banking solutions at a single location, the project also creates entrepreneurial opportunities for
Veterans and NOKs, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

2. COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE

CONTEXT
The Member States of the CSC signed the Charter and the MoU for the Establishment of the CSC
Secretariat.

COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE

● The Colombo Security Conclave was formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security
grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
● The roadmap of activities was later expanded, with Mauritius joining as the fourth member
and Seychelles participating as observer countries.
● The Conclave underlines regional cooperation and shared security objectives concerning all
littoral nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
● The CSC, focusing on maritime safety and security, countering terrorism, combating
transnational crime, cyber security, and humanitarian assistance, has since evolved into a
pivotal alliance.

3. SAMUDRA PRATAP
CONTEXT
Recently, Goa Shipyard launches India's first pollution control vessel Samudra Pratap for Indian
Coast Guard.

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 SAMUDRA PRATAP
● It is India's first pollution control vessel.
● It is designed and built indigenously by Goa
Shipyard Ltd for the Indian Coast Guard.
● Features: It boasts a length of 114.5 meters, a
breadth of 16.5 meters, and a displacement of 4,170
tons.
● State-of-the-art technology for pollution control:
It features side-sweeping arms to contain oil spills
while in motion, an advanced radar system for oil
spill detection, and facilities to recover and store
various types of oil.

SIGNIFICANCE
● 72 percent ‘atmanirbhar’: It is a significant contribution to India’s goal of self-reliance in
defense manufacturing.
● It enhances India’s capability in mitigating oil spills.
● This is one of the two vessels Goa Shipyard Ltd is constructing for the Coast Guard.

4. EXERCISE VARUNA
CONTEXT
A P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy has reached France to participate in ‘Exercise Varuna’ with the
French Navy.

EXERCISE VARUNA
● It is the bilateral exercise between the French Navy
and the Indian Navy.
● When & Where: The 2024 edition is scheduled from
September 2 to 4 in the Mediterranean Sea.
● The Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft deployment comes 63
years after the Indian Navy's Alize aircraft, operating from the erstwhile INS Vikrant, last flew
at Hyeres Airbase.
● History: Indian & French Navy bilateral naval exercise was initiated in 1993.
● The exercise was later christened as 'Varuna' in 2001.
● It is held either in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean Sea.
● France is the Littoral State of the Indian Ocean through the French Overseas region of Réunion,
Mayotte and Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean.

5. AGNI-4 MISSILE
CONTEXT
Recently, India conducted a successful test of the intermediate range ballistic missile Agni-4.

MORE ON NEWS
● The test, carried out under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command, marked a
significant milestone in the country’s missile development program.
● It is launched from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the Odisha coast.

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AGNI-4 MISSILE
● It is a surface-to-surface missile developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO).
● It has a strike range of 4,000-km,making it an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).
● It has a length of 20 metres and weighs 17 tonnes. The missile can carry both conventional and
nuclear warheads.
● It uses indigenous-built ring laser gyroscope with the Micro Inertial Navigation System
(MINGS).
● The Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear weapons-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missiles
developed by India.

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6. YUDH ABHYAS 2024
CONTEXT
India-US joint military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2024' begins in Rajasthan.

YUDH ABHYAS 2024

● Location: The 20th edition of India-USA Joint
Military Exercise commenced at Foreign
Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges,
Rajasthan.
● It has been held annually since 2004, alternating between India and the USA.
● The exercise is scheduled from 9th to 22nd September 2024.
● It aims to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism
operations in a sub conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
● The exercise will focus on operations in the semi-desert environment.
● 600 Indian troops, 1-24 US Battalion involved in the exercise.
● It provides an opportunity to exchange best practices in joint operations, improving
interoperability, camaraderie, and cooperation between their armies

7. EXERCISE AL NAJAH
CONTEXT
The Indian Army contingent departed for the Joint Military Exercise AL NAJAH.

EXERCISE AL NAJAH
● It is the Joint Military Exercisebetween India and
Oman.
● It is scheduled from 13th to 26th September
2024.
● Where: At Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah,
Oman.
● It will focus on operations in the Desert environment.
● It has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and Oman.
● Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.
● Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake
counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
● Tactical drills to be rehearsed include Joint Planning, Cordon and Search Operation, Fighting in
Built Up Area, establishment of Mobile Vehicle Check Post, Counter Drone and Room
Intervention.

8. VERTICAL LAUNCH SHORT RANGE SURFACE TO AIR

MISSILE (VLSRSAM)
CONTEXT
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have conducted
back-to-back successful flight tests of the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile
(VLSRSAM).

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 VERTICAL LAUNCH SHORT RANGE SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE (VLSRSAM)
● The flight test was carried out from a land-based vertical launcher, targeting a high-speed
aerial target flying at a low altitude.
● The missile system successfully tracked and engaged the target.
● It is a vertically launched surface to air missile with all-weather capability for use by Indian
Navy.
● It is a ship borne weapon system designed to neutralise various aerial threats

9. INDUS-X DEFENCE INITIATIVE

CONTEXT
The third edition of the INDUS-X Summit concluded in the United States.

INDUS-X DEFENCE INITIATIVE

● INDUS-X, which stands for enhanced
strategic and defence partnership
between India and the U.S.
● In its first year, INDUS-X has advanced
both countries' commitment to build a
defence innovation bridge under the
initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technology (iCET)
● INDUS-X has strengthened private
sector cooperation between the
United States and India by facilitating
partnerships among defence
technology companies, investors, and
researchers
● The third INDUS-X Summit will take
place in Silicon Valley in September
2024 with a focus on harnessing private capital for defence innovation
● The summit will be co-hosted by the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and
Stanford University.

● The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) is a framework

agreed upon by India and the U.S. for cooperation on critical and emerging
technologies in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing,
semiconductors and wireless telecommunication.
● It was officially launched in January 2023 and is being run by the National Security
Council of both countries.
● It was launched to strengthen their strategic partnership and drive technology and
defence cooperation.

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10. OPERATION CHAKRA-III
CONTEXT
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as part of an ongoing Operation CHAKRA-III has
successfully dismantled a cyber-enabled financial crime network.

OPERATION CHAKRA-III
● The operation CHAKRA-III was initiated
by the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) to combat and dismantle
organized cyber enabled financial
crime networks through a globally
coordinated law enforcement response
INTERPOL channel.
● According to the CBI, the accused has
been targeting victims in foreign
countries since 2022.
● It was executed with cooperation from
other international law enforcement
agencies including the FBI (USA) and
INTERPOL.
● Operation Chakra Phase I was
launched in 2022 and Operation Chakra
phase II was launched in 2023.

11. EXERCISE AIKYA

CONTEXT
National Symposium on Disaster Management - ‘Exercise AIKYA’ concludes in Chennai.

EXERCISE AIKYA
● It is a two-day symposium on disaster
management organized in Chennai.
● Organized by: The National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) and the
Southern Command of the Indian Army. Date: 18th-19th September 2024.
● The primary aim is to enhance disaster preparedness and foster robust collaboration among
key stakeholders.
● The exercise featured simulations, technology discussions, and expert insights into various roles
of disaster management.

NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

● It is the apex body for Disaster Management in India, constituted under the Disaster
Management Act, 2005.
● It consists of the Prime Minister of India as its chairperson and 9 other members.
● It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. NDMA is mandated to lay down the policies,
plans and guidelines for Disaster Management.

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12. EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE - VII
CONTEXT
Indian Air Force completes Exercise Eastern Bridge - VII with
Oman.

EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE - VII

● The Indian Air Force has completed Exercise Eastern
Bridge - VII with the Royal Air Force of Oman in Masirah,
Oman.
● It is aimed to strengthen military cooperation and enhance the interoperability of both forces.
● The exercise included complex air operations, air-to-air combat drills, and mission scenarios
designed to improve strategic and tactical capabilities.

13. CSIRT-POWER
CONTEXT
Recently, the Union Power Minister inaugurated the Computer Security Incident Response Team –
POWER (CSIRT–POWER).

COMPUTER SECURITY INCIDENT

RESPONSE TEAM – POWER
(CSIRT–POWER)
● The objective of CSIRT-Power is to build and
enhance the cybersecurity resilience in the
Indian Power Sector, through a structured
and coordinated approach.
● In alignment with the National Cyber
Security Policy of 2013, the Ministry of
Power, in collaboration with CERT-In has
launched the initiative.
● It aims to collect, analyze, and share
information regarding power sector-specific
cyber threats.
● It ensures implementation of proactive measures to increase cybersecurity awareness and
improve the overall cybersecurity posture of the power sector.
● It promotes sector specific best practices, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and security
policies.
● It will enhance cybersecurity in the power sector through capacity building measures like
training, development of standards, and incident response drills.

14. GROM-E1 MISSILE

CONTEXT
Russian Aerospaces Forces use Kh-36 Grom-E1 for the first time in Ukraine.

GROM-E1 MISSILE
● The Kh-36 Grom-E1 is an air-to-surface cruise missile developed byRussia.

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● It is designed to strike long-range targets with high precision.
● Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
● It combines the features of both a missile and an aerial bomb.
● It has a range of approximately 120 kilometers, and uses a combined guidance system.
● The bomb weighs 594 kg, with a 315 kg warhead.
● This system includes inertial guidance for basic navigation using the GLONASS system.
● The effectiveness of the Grom-E1 depends on the altitude and speed of the aircraft.
● This weapon can be deployed by Russian aircraft such as the MiG-35, Su-34, Su-35, Su-57, and
helicopters.

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 9. HEALTH
1. NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK
CONTEXT
It is observed annually from September 1 to September 7.

NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK

● National Nutrition Week is observed annually from September 1 to September 7.
● The theme for 2024 is ‘Nutritious Diets for Everyone.’
● Aim: It is dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role of nutrition in maintaining overall
health and well-being.
● Organized by: The Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Food
and Nutrition Board (FNB).
● It originated in the US in March 1973.
● In India, National Nutrition Week was first celebrated in 1982, to address malnutrition and
promote balanced diets.

2. VALLEY FEVER
CONTEXT
As per research, California drought boosts dangerous airborne fungus, valley fever to peak.

VALLEY FEVER
● It is a fungal infection caused by coccidioides.
● These fungi are commonly found in soil in specific regions. It is endemic to the western
United States including California.

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 SYMPTOMS
● The initial form is often mild, with few or no symptoms.
● They tend to be similar to flu symptoms like Pnuemonia, Fluid in lungs (pleural effusion or
empyema).
● Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and Ruptured pockets of fluid or air in lungs
(hydropneumothorax).
● Spreading season: Recent research found that most cases occur between September and
November,
● Left untreated, the fungus can cause severe respiratory damage and potentially spread to
other parts of the body, such as the skin, bones, and brain (coccidioidal meningitis).
● In more-severe cases, doctors treat the infection with antifungal medications.
● Climate change impact: As droughts become more frequent and severe, the net effect is an
increase in Valley fever cases over time.

3. LEPTOSPIROSIS
CONTEXT
Kerala records an increase in leptospirosis cases and
deaths in 2024, with over 1900 cases and 121 deaths
reported.

LEPTOSPIROSIS
● The disease is caused by a bacterium called
Leptospira interrogans, or leptospira.
● It is a zoonotic disease. The carriers include
rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs. Person to person
transmission is very rare.
● It is transmitted in the urine of infected animals.
SYMPTOMS
● Fever, Headache, Body or muscle aches, Vomiting
or nausea, Jaundice, Stomach pain and Diarrhea
TREATMENT
● It is treated with antibiotics, such as
doxycycline or penicillin.
● The disease is considered as an occupational
hazard for people working in agricultural
settings.
● The seasonal patterns such as the onset of the
monsoon can facilitate the disease’s transmission.

4. HEPATITIS A VACCINE
CONTEXT
Indian Immunologicals Limited launched pediatric (for children) dose of India’s first indigenous
Hepatitis A vaccine, Havisure

HEPATITIS A VACCINE, 'HAVISURE'

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 ● This indigenously developed vaccine is poised to play a crucial role in preventing Hepatitis A, a
highly contagious liver infection that poses a significant public health challenge.
● Hepatitis A is a viral infection primarily
spread through the fecal-oral route,
meaning that it is transmitted through
the ingestion of contaminated food or
water.
● It is a two-dose vaccine wherein the
first dose is administered at 12 months
of age and the second dose is given at
least 6 months after the first dose.
HEPATITIS
● Hepatitis is an inflammation of the
liver that is caused by a variety of
infectious viruses and noninfectious
agents
● There are five main strains of the
hepatitis virus, referred to as types A,
B, C, D and E.
● In particular, types B and C lead to
chronic disease
● WHO’s global hepatitis strategy,
endorsed by all WHO Member States,
aims to reduce new hepatitis infections
by 90% and deaths by 65% between
2016 and 2030.

5. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
CONTEXT
Night time light pollution is linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk.

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 ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
● Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, an umbrella term for a range of conditions
that involve the loss of cognitive functioning.
● It involves the formation of plaques and
tangles in the brain, and the accelerated
aging of certain neurons concerned with
storage and processing of memory.
● Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible,
progressive brain disorder that slowly
destroys memory and thinking skills and,
eventually, the ability to carry out the
simplest tasks.
● In most people with the disease—those
with the late-onset type—symptoms
first appear in their mid-60s.
● Early-onset Alzheimer’s occurs between
a person’s 30s and mid-60s and is very
rare. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults
● The disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the
brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness.
● Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior.
● After she died, he examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid
plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary, or tau, tangles).
● Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease, as the death of brain cells cannot be reversed.
● Women have a higher risk of having Alzheimer’s disease than men.

6. TUBERCULOSIS
CONTEXT:
Union Health Ministry approves
introduction of new shorter and
more efficacious treatment
regimen for drug-resistant TB in
India.

TUBERCULOSIS - NEW
DRUG
● This regimen includes a
new anti-TB drug namely
Pretomanid in
combination with
Bedaquiline & Linezolid
(with/without
Moxifloxacin).
● Pretomanid has earlier
been approved & licensed
for use in India by Central

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 Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
● The BPaLM regimen, which consists of a four-drug combination – Bedaquiline, Pretomanid,
Linezolid and Moxifloxacin, has been proven to be safe, more effective and a quicker treatment
option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure.

7. ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)

CONTEXT
WHO releases its first-ever Guidance to tackle Antibiotic pollution from manufacturing processes.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)

● Survey shows a range of antibiotic prevalence in hospitals, from 37% to 100%
● Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the phenomenon by which bacteria and fungi evolve and
become resistant to presently available medical treatment
● The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of
the top threats to public health.

NATIONAL ANTIBIOTIC CONSUMPTION NETWORK (NAC-NET)

● The NCDC is the nodal agency for India’s national programme on AMR containment, of
which one of the key components is the surveillance of antibiotic usage.
● To achieve this goal, it has established the National Antibiotic Consumption Network (NAC-NET)
through which network sites compile data on antibiotic consumption in their respective
health facilities and send it to NCDC.
AWaRe tool
● The AWaRe tool was developed by the WHO Essential Medicines List to contain rising
resistance and make antibiotic use safer and more effective by providing guidelines (over the
effective use of antibiotics) to the policy-makers and health workers.
● It classifies antibiotics into three groups:
o Access— antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections.
o Watch— antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system.
o Reserve— antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort.

8. CELLULITIS DISEASE
CONTEXT
Cellulitis disease, which used to affect during the rainy season, is
now widespread in the Karimnagar district.

CELLULITIS DISEASE
● Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection caused by two
types of bacteria, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus.
● It is caused when bacteria enter through a crack or break in the
skin.
● Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, but the most
common location is the lower leg.

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 ● Major symptoms: Swollen skin, red rashes that appear suddenly on the skin, pain or
tenderness in the affected area, fever with chills and sweating.
● It is not contagious (rarely possible) and doesn’t spread easily from person to person.
● Cellulitis can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
● It can prove fatal if not diagnosed early and treated. It could cause serious problems if it enters
into the blood and spreads to other body parts.

9. MVA BN VACCINE
CONTEXT
WHO prequalifies the first vaccine against mpox.

MVA BN VACCINE
● It prequalifies as the first vaccine against mpox.
● Manufacturers: Bavarian Nordic A/S.
● It can be administered in people over 18-years of age as a 2-dose injection given 4 weeks apart.
● After prior cold storage, the vaccine can be kept at 2–8°C for up to 8 weeks.
● The single-dose vaccine gives 76% effectiveness, with the 2-dose vaccine gives 82%
effectiveness.
Over 120 countries have confirmed more than 103 000 cases of mpox since the onset of the
global outbreak in 2022.
● Mpox was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO.
● The prequalification approval will facilitate timely and increased access to the vaccine for
communities with urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak.

MONKEYPOX
● The m-pox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to smallpox.
● It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the
Poxviridae family
● The virus has two distinct subtypes: The more virulent Clade 1, endemic to the Congo
Basin in central Africa, and the less severe Clade 2, which is common in West Africa.
● It can be transmitted through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions (mouth,
genitals). It spreads through sexual contact.
● Rashes, Fever, Sore throat, Muscle ache, Back pain, low energy and swollen Lymph Nodes.
● Currently there is no treatment approved specifically for monkeypox virus.
● There are at least two vaccines currently in use for m-pox, recommended by the WHO’s
Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.
● While they are not available in India, experts suggest that those who are vaccinated
against smallpox or chickenpox are immune to m-pox.

10. NECROTISING FASCIITIS

CONTEXT
A British Man develops flesh-eating disease after being bitten by a deadly spider.

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 NECROTISING FASCIITIS
● Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, is a bacterial infection that affects the
tissue under the skin called fascia.
● Early symptoms include Fever, Chills, Nausea, Diarrhea and Severe pain at the site of injury.
● Later symptoms include discolored skin, Swelling of affected tissues, Unstable blood flow,
Blisters filled with bloody or yellowish fluid, Tissue death (necrosis) and Sepsis.
● Two types of necrotizing fasciitis: Polymicrobial (also called Type I) and Monomicrobial (also
called Type II).
● Bacteria can enter the skin through cuts, scrapes or burns and insect bites.
● Treatment involves immediate delivery of antibiotics. Surgical removal of dead or infected
tissue from the wound is often required.
● There are no vaccines to prevent necrotizing fasciitis.

11. DENGUE
CONTEXT
The surge in Dengue cases is reported globally in 2024.

DENGUE
● Dengue is a viral infection which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
● Other infections such as chikungunya and zika, are also transmitted by Aedes aegypti
mosquito.
● Mild symptoms: fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea and vomiting, pain
behind the eyes, and rashes.
● Severe symptoms: Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums
or nose , fatigue, restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, being very thirsty and pale and cold skin.
● In severe cases, the infection can lead to internal bleeding, and if not managed properly, even
death.
● There is no specific treatment for dengue.
● The mosquitoes that spread dengue are active during the day.
● Vaccine: Dengvaxia.

SURGE IN DENGUE CASES

● The 12.06 million cases reported globally in 2024 are more than twice the number recorded all
of last year.
● India had seen an almost 50% rise in the number of dengue cases reported this year, as
compared to the same period in 2023.
● Reasons: Climate Change - An increase in temperatures allows mosquitoes to breed in places
where they previously could not.
● Unseasonal rains with warm spells in between, which are the best conditions for the mosquito
to proliferate.

12. OPERATION AMRITH

CONTEXT
With Operation Amrith, Kerala has seen a sharp decline in the irrational use of antibiotics.

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OPERATION AMRITH (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention for Total
Health)
● Operation Amrith aims to check antibiotics abuse in the State of Kerala.
● The State Health department plans to completely stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics
without prescriptions by the end of 2024.
● With Public participation: People can pass on information on pharmacies selling antibiotics
without prescription to the Drugs Control department of Kerala.
● Kerala has seen a sharp decline in the irrational use of antibiotics in people.
● The World Health Organisation considers antimicrobial resistance to be a silent pandemic.

2011 H1 RULE
● Kerala enforced the Indian government’s 2011 H1 rule to prohibit OTC sale of antibiotics
without a prescription.
● The 2011 H1 rule prohibits the sale of all antibiotics - first, second, and third-line without a
prescription.
● Even when the Indian government in 2013 tweaked the rule to allow first-line antibiotics to
be sold over-the-counter without a prescription, Kerala went ahead and enforced the 2011 H1
rule.

CHALLENGES
● No other State in India (Except Kerala) has enforced the 2011 H1 rule and the modified 2013
H1 rule.
● Not very effective: Kerala imports at least 60% of broiler chicken, eggs and vegetables from
neighbouring States, many of which have no AMR regulations in place.
● As a result, the production and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria will continue to be a
major problem.

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 10. PLACES AND PERSONS IN NEWS
1. MAJOR DHYAN CHAND
CONTEXT
National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major
Dhyan Chand.

2. V. O. CHIDAMBARAM PILLAI
CONTEXT
The Prime Minister has paid tributes to V.O. Chidambaram Pillai on his birth anniversary.
● V. O. Chidambaram Pillai - ‘Kappalottiya Tamilan’ & ‘Sekkizuththa Semmal’

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3. DADABHAI NAOROJI
CONTEXT
Remembering Dadabhai Naoroji on his birth anniversary.

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4. GOVIND BALLABH PANT
CONTEXT
The Prime Minister paid tributes to Govind Ballabh Pant on his birth anniversary.

5. M VISVESVARAYA
CONTEXT
India remembers Sir M Visvesvaraya on the occasion of Engineers Day (15th September).

ENGINEERS DAY
● It is an annual observance dedicated to honouring the contributions and achievements of
engineers around the world.

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 ● 15th September marks the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

6. ISHWAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR

CONTEXT
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar birth anniversary is observed on September 26 every year.

7. THIRUVALLUVAR
CONTEXT
India established the Thiruvalluvar Chair for Tamil Studies at the University of Houston, USA.

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8. SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH
CONTEXT
Shaheed Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary is celebrated on 28 September.

9. SUDAN
CONTEXT
The war in Sudan has been raging for more than 500 days, becoming one of the worst
humanitarian crises.

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10. POLTAVA
CONTEXT
More than two hundred civilians were hospitalized following the Russian attack on Poltava.

POLTAVA
● It is a city located in east central Ukraine.
● It lies along the Vorskla River.
● It is the focus of a fertile agricultural region and has
a range of industries processing farm produce
including the largest cotton mills.
● History: Battle of Poltava, (1709), the decisive
victory of Peter I the Great of Russia over Charles XII
of Sweden in the Great Northern War.
● The battle ended Sweden’s status as a major power and marked the beginning of Russian
supremacy.
● In World War II, Germany occupied Poltava. Later it was freed.
● The city became an important centre of military education in the Soviet Union era.

11. MEXICO
CONTEXT
Mexico became the first country to approve popular election of judges.

12. SRI VIJAYA PURAM

CONTEXT
The centre renamed Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as Sri Vijaya Puram.

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 PORT BLAIR
● The city of Port Blair is the entry point of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
● It served as the headquarters of the Azad Hind government under Subhas Chandra Bose.
● It was named after Archibald Blair, a naval surveyor and lieutenant in Bombay.
● Blair was the first officer to carry out a thorough survey of the Andaman Islands.

HISTORY - IMPORTANCE OF PORT BLAIR

● The British decided to colonise the islands, mainly to
establish as a safe harbour from which it could check
the activities of the Malay pirates.
● The island served as a refuge for shipwrecked people
and a place where their officers could take shelter in
case of hostilities with other powers.
● With several convicts being transported to the islands to
serve unpaid labour, the island soon became a penal
colony.
● A cellular jail was established here by 1906. Popularly
known as Kaala Paani, it housed several freedom
fighters.
● A cellular jail is Andaman's UNESCO world heritage
site and a three-storeyed prison.

CONNECTION WITH CHOLAS

● As per an inscription found at Thanjavur dated to 1050
CE, the Cholas referred to the island as
Ma-Nakkavaram land (great open/ naked land), which
possibly led to the modern name of Nicobar under the
British.
● According to inscriptional records, after attacking Srivijaya, Rajendra I captured king
Sangrama Vijayottunggavarman, and looted a large amount of treasures from the Buddhist
Empire, including the Vidhyadara Torana, the jewelled war gate of Srivijaya.

13. PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR

CONTEXT
Netanyahu has made control of the strip
between Gaza and Egypt a condition in
ceasefire negotiations.

PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR
● It is a ribbon of land about 14 kms in
length and 100 metres wide along Gaza’s
border with Egypt, including the Rafah
crossing.
● It is also known as the Salah al-Din axis.
● It was designated as a demilitarized
border zone after the withdrawal of

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 Israeli settlements and troops from Gaza in 2005 and runs from the Mediterranean to the
Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel.
● Reasons for Israel’s demand: Smuggling weapons by Hamas via underground routes has
persisted.
● Egypt continues to reject a heavy Israeli military presence directly at the Philadelphi
Corridor.
● Technological solutions like surveillance and ground sensors could effectively control the
corridor.

14. TAIWAN STRAIT

CONTEXT
A Japanese warship asserts freedom of navigation in Taiwan Strait amid escalating tensions with
China.

STRAIT
● A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
● It is vital for navigation and can significantly impact trade routes.
● In Indian region:Palk Strait, inlet of the Bay of Bengal between southeastern India and
northern Sri Lanka.

TAIWAN STRAIT
● Location: The Taiwan Strait is a
180-kilometer wide strait separating the
island of Taiwan and the Asian continent
(China).
● It is also called Formosa Strait.
● The strait is part of the South China Sea and
connects to the East China Sea to the north.
● Major Ports: Amoy in China and Kao-hsiung
in Taiwan.
● Major rivers draining into the Taiwan Strait:
Jiulong and Min rivers.
● It is influenced by the Kuroshio Current and
is a major fishing ground in the world.
● It serves as a busy navigational waterway.

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 11. Reports and Indices
1. GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY INDEX 2024
CONTEXT
Recently, Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 was
released by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU).

GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY INDEX 2024

● It uses a five-tier analysis, a shift that allows
a greater focus on each country's advances
with cybersecurity commitments and
resulting impacts.
● It is assessed along five pillars – (i) Legal
Measures, (ii) Technical Measures, (iii)
Organizational Measures, (iv) Capacity
Development, and (v) Cooperation.

KEY FINDINGS
● The report placed 46 countries in Tier 1,
the highest of the five tiers, reserved for
“role modelling" countries that demonstrate
a strong commitment in all five
cybersecurity pillars.
● India was placed in Tier 1. India topped the chart for adopting measures like legal, technical,
capacity development and cooperation as areas of relative strength. Organisational measures
was a listed as an area of potential growth for the country.
● Legal measures are the strongest cybersecurity pillar for most countries: 177 countries have
at least one regulation on either personal data protection or privacy protection.
● Most countries are either “establishing" (Tier 3) or “evolving" (Tier 4) in terms of
cybersecurity.
● Worrisome threats highlighted included ransomware attacks targeting government services
and other sectors, cyber breaches affecting core industries, costly system outages, and
breaches of privacy for individuals and organisations.
● A "cybercapacity Gap" – characterised by limitations in skills, staffing, equipment and
funding – was evident in many countries and across all regional groups.

2. ASIA POWER INDEX

CONTEXT
India surpasses Japan to become 3rd largest power in Asia power index.

ASIA POWER INDEX

● Launched by the Lowy Institute in 2018, the Asia Power Index evaluates 27 countries
across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on their ability to shape and respond to external
geopolitical challenges.

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 ● The Index evaluates nations based on eight
thematic measures: military capability, defence
networks, economic capability and relationships,
diplomatic and cultural influence, resilience, and
future resources.

INDIA’S RANKING
● India becomes 3rd largest power in Asia power
index.
● India experienced a 4.2-point boost in Economic
Capability, primarily driven by its strong GDP
growth and status as the world’s third-largest
economy in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms.
● India’s Future Resources score saw a notable
increase of 8.2 points, highlighting its potential
demographic advantage.
● India's active participation in groups like the Quad
and its leadership in regional dialogues have
bolstered its position in regional security.

3. GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2024

CONTEXT
India climbs to 39th rank in the Global Innovation Index 2024.

GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2024

● It evaluates the innovation ecosystem
performance of 133 economies and tracks the
latest global innovation trends.
● It is considered a reliable tool for governments
to assess innovation-led social and economic
changes in their countries.
● It is published by the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) in
partnership with the Portulans Institute.
● World’s most innovative economies:
Switzerland, Sweden, the US, Singapore, and
the UK.
● Fastest climbers: China, Turkey, India,
Vietnam, and the Philippines.

INDIA’S PERFORMANCE
● India ranked 1st among lower-middle-income
economies.
● Indiais placed 4th in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Science &
Technology (S&T) Cluster Ranking.
● Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai are listed among the World’s Top 100 S&T clusters.
● India is 7th globally in intangible asset intensity.

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 12. ALSO IN NEWS
1. TEACHERS DAY
CONTEXT
India celebrates Teachers' Day annually on
September 5.

MORE ON NEWS
● September 5 is the birth anniversary of former
President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
● Since 1962, Teachers’ Day is observed to pay
tribute to all teachers.
● The President of India will present the National
Award to Teachers on Teachers’ Day.

2. BONDA TRIBE
CONTEXT
Recently, a 19-year-old student cracked the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), who is
set to become the first member of the Bonda tribal community.

BONDA TRIBE
● The Bonda (also known as the Bondo, Bondo Poraja, Bhonda, or Remo) are a Munda ethnic
group approximately 12,000 (2011 census) who live in the isolated hill regions of the
Malkangiri district of southwestern Odisha, India, near the junction of the three states of
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.

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 ● There are two different Bonda tribes: the Upper Bondas with a population of 6,700 who are the
most isolated from mainstream Indian society, and the Lower Bonda with a population of
17,000. Upper Bondas have almost no connection to the outside world.
● Only 6% of Bondas are literate.
● The life expectancy of the tribe is so low they are nearly extinct.
● The Bonda are a scheduled tribe of India and are also known as the Remo (meaning "people" in
the Bonda language).
● The tribe is one of the oldest and most primitive in mainland India
● They are one of the 75 Primitive Tribal Groups identified by the Government of India.
● Their language belongs to the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family.
● It is most closely related to the Gutob language.

3. ESHRAM PORTAL
CONTEXT
The eShram portal achieved over 30 crore registrations in the span of 3 years.

ESHRAM PORTAL
● It aims to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers verified and
seeded with Aadhaar.
● The Ministry of Labour & Employment launched eShram portal on 26th August 2021.
● It provides a Universal Account Number (UAN) and eShram cards.
● The eShram - One Stop Solution will serve as a facilitator to ensure seamless access of various
Government schemes to the unorganized workers.
● Integration with major schemes: Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY),
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), PM-SVANidhi, MGNREGA
and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin.

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4. DIGI YATRA
CONTEXT
Union Minister for Civil Aviation, inaugurated the Digi Yatra facility for nine airports.

DIGI YATRA
● Digi Yatra is an identity management system for Indian airports aimed at enhancing the
country's civil aviation infrastructure.
● It digitizes manual processes, improves security, and reduces operational costs at airports,
making travel more efficient.
● This initiative is expected to further streamline airport operations, offering passengers a
more seamless journey.
● As more airports embrace Digi Yatra, it is expected to become the norm for boarding pass
systems across India.
● Launched in December 2022
● By leveraging facial recognition, it allows passengers to clear various airport checkpoints
without the need for physical documents, speeding up the process.

5. SAHARIYA TRIBE
CONTEXT
At least 172 cases of malnourished children have been identified among Sahariya tribals in Baran
district, Madhya Pradesh.

SAHARIYA TRIBE
● The Sahariya tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) is spread across the states of
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
● Other names: Seher, Sair, Savar, Saonar, Sahra etc.
● They are one of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups in the country.
● They inhabit clusters of houses in areas called saharana outside the main villages.
● Economy: The Sahariyas are expert woodsmen and forest product gatherers such as forest
wood, gum, tendu leaf, honey, mahua and medicinal herbs.

6. SWACHH VAYU SURVEKSHAN AWARDS

CONTEXT
Recently, the Union Environment Minister presented the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award, 2024.

SWACHH VAYU SURVEKSHAN AWARDS

● It is an initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to rank cities on the
basis of implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in
130 National Clean Air Program (NCAP) cities.
● This is part of the National Mission for Clean Air and is awarded on September 7th each year,
in celebration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
● PRANA portal has been launched for monitoring implementation of NCAP.

OBJECTIVES
● To create awareness among all sections of the society.

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 ● Inform citizens about the health impacts related due to exposure.
● Comparing air quality conditions at different locations/cities.
● To achieve the goal of NCAP “Clean air for all”.
● Criteria: Control of biomass, Municipal solid waste burning, Road dust, Dust from construction
and demolition waste, Vehicular emissions, Industrial emissions, Public awareness and
improvement in PM10 concentration,

WINNERS
● Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards were presented to the best performing NCAP cities under
1. Category-1 (population over 10 Lakhs) to Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra;
2. Category-2 (population between 3 and 10 Lakhs) to Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi;
3. Category-3 (population under 3 Lakhs) to Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh.

7. TRADE CONNECT E-PLATFORM

CONTEXT
It was launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

TRADE CONNECT E-PLATFORM

● The single window initiative developed in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME, EXIM Bank,
TCS, Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has
brought almost everything related to exports under one umbrella.
● Beginning with the certificate of origin (CoO), which certifies that goods in a shipment are
wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in a particular country, the portal
enables exporters to apply for it and add amount to their CoO wallet.
● The portal also provides information about global demand, international standards, foreign
buyer information and opportunities for the product such as required certifications for
exporting to different countries, export risks, export-import statistics to analyse market trends,
buyer details, new market discovery, tariff barriers.
● Exporters can also discover worldwide trade events, explore free trade agreements, and
connect with international trade experts for queries.

8. NATIONAL FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARDS

CONTEXT
The President of India presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2024
The award, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973, is given to recognise
the meritorious services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to society.

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9. RANGEEN MACHHLI APP
CONTEXT
The Union Government launches ‘Rangeen Machhli’ app for the ornamental fisheries sector.

RANGEEN MACHHLI APP

● Developed by ICAR-Central Institute of
Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) with
support from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana, the app is designed to
meet the growing needs of the ornamental
fisheries sector, providing crucial
knowledge resources for aquarium shop
owners, and fish farmers.
● Accessible to all: It provides multilingual
information in eight Indian languages.

KEY FEATURES
● Find Aquarium Shops tool allows users to locate nearby aquarium shops through a dynamic
directory updated by shop owners, promoting local businesses and connecting users with
reliable sources for ornamental fish and aquarium-related products.
● The "Basics of Aquarium Care" module covers essential topics such as types of aquariums,
fishes, water filtration, lighting, feeding, day to day maintenance.
● The "Ornamental Aquaculture" module focuses on breeding, rearing of different ornamental
fish.

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10. IRULAS TRIBE
CONTEXT
The Irula community plays a crucial role in public health by supplying nearly 80% of the venom
used for antidotes in India.

IRULAS TRIBE
● Irulas are a dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and
Karnataka.
● They belong to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVGT).
● Language: The Irula speak the Irula language, a Dravidian language that is closely related to
Tamil.
● Occupation of the Irulas has been snake and rat catching, and honey collection.
● Irulas are specialists in traditional herbal medicine and healing practices.
● The Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society, a cooperative society of Irula
tribals is located in Tamil Nadu.
● It gains a global attention for making a profit of ₹2.36 crore by extracting and selling 1800 gm
of snake venom over the last three years.

11. EID MILAD UN NABI

CONTEXT
The Eid Milad un Nabi will be observed from the evening of September 15 to the evening of
September 16, 2024.

EID MILAD UN NABI

● The day marks the birth and death of Prophet Muhammad.
● As the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, the exact date of the observance varies each
year.
● Prophet Muhammad is believed to have been born in Mecca around 570 AD.
● According to Sunni Islamic scholars, his birth took place on the 12th day of Rabi' al-awwal,
the third month of the Islamic calendar, while Shia scholars observe it on the 17th day.
● The occasion not only celebrates the Prophet's birth but also mourns his passing, which
occurred in 632 AD.
● The first recorded large-scale observance of Eid Milad un Nabi took place nearly 600 years
after the Prophet’s death, predominantly in Egypt during the Fatimid dynasty.
● While Eid Milad un Nabi is widely celebrated in many Islamic countries, some conservative
Islamic groups, such as those following Wahhabism, Deobandism, and Ahl-i Hadith,
consider the observance to be a religious innovation, referred to as bid'ah.
● As a result, countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not recognize or celebrate the
occasion, citing its absence from early Islamic practices.

12. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

CONTEXT
It is celebrated around the world on 15 September each year.

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 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY
● It is celebrated every year on September 15 to promote and uphold the principles of
democracy worldwide.
● It was established through a resolution
passed by the UN General Assembly in
2007, encouraging governments to
strengthen and consolidate
democracy.
● The theme focused on the importance
of Artificial Intelligence as a tool for
good governance.
● The International Day of Democracy
owes its existence to the Universal
Declaration on Democracy, which was
adopted on September 15, 1997 by the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

13. SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY

CONTEXT
Tamil Nadu celebrates Thanthai Periyar's birthday as Social
Justice Day.

DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

● Tamil Nadu observes the birthday of Erode Venkata
Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, on September
17 each year as the 'Day of Social Justice.'
● Social Justice Day is being celebrated from 2021 by Tamil
Nadu.
● Periyar was an Indian philosopher, politician, and social activist who played a crucial role in
advocating for equality and justice.

SELF-RESPECT MOVEMENT
● It was started by E.V. Ramaswamy in Tamil Nadu in 1925.
● The Self-Respect Movement was a dynamic social movement aimed at destroying the
contemporary Hindu social order in its totality and creating a new, rational society without
caste, religion and god.

THE WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

● It is celebrated every year on February 20.
● It is assigned by the Unified Nations to promote attempts towards accomplishing civil rights
for all.
● The theme is "Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances."

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14. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
CONTEXT
On September 21, the United Nations commemorates the International Day of Peace.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

● The International Day of Peace or World Peace Day, is observed annually on September 21.
● It recognises the need for worldwide solidarity in creating a peaceful and sustainable society.
● The theme for this year is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace."
● The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations General Assembly in
1981 and has been observed globally ever since.
● This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of
the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
● This day serves as a reminder of the necessity of global peace and an end to conflicts.

15. RETRACTION
CONTEXT
According to the ‘Retraction Watch’ database, an Indian scientist at an institute in Lucknow has
racked up 45 retractions.

RETRACTION
● A retraction is a mechanism that kicks in when a scientific paper published in an academic
journal is found to be so flawed as to merit being removed from scientific literature.
● Between 2020 and 2022, 2.5 times more papers were retracted than they were between
2017 and 2019.

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 ● Reasons for retraction: Plagiarism, editorial conflicts, image manipulation, and the use of
paper mills.
● Retraction Index is the number of retractions in a given time period multiplied by 1,000 and
divided by the total number of published articles.
● Paper mills are enterprises that churn out fake or low-quality journal papers and sell them to
scientists.
● Major reason: The research institutes’ desire to improve their national and international
university rankings, where the primary criterion is research output.

16. MANKIDIA TRIBE

CONTEXT
Mankidia community becomes 6th PVTG to get habitat rights over forests in Odisha.

MANKIDIA TRIBE
● The Mankidia are a nomadic ethnic group that live in Odisha. They constitute a section of the
Birhor tribe.
● They are primarily a food gathering and hunting community.
● They have been identified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Odisha.
● Traditionally skilled in rope making, catching, and hunting of monkeys, they are often
employed by local people to drive away invasive monkeys in rural areas.
● They wander inside forest in small bands and stay at different tandas- the temporary
makeshift settlements consisting of temporary dom shaped leaf hut known as Kumbhas.
● Language: They speak a form of Mundari language, and some can also speak Odia.
● Each Tandia is headed by a religious head man called Dehuri. The Dehuri has an assistant
called Naya.
● The Mankidia people's religious beliefs are polytheistic. Their supreme deities are Logobir
and Budhimai.

17. GOA MARITIME SYMPOSIUM

CONTEXT
The Indian Navy hosted the fifth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium at Naval War College,
Goa.

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 GOA MARITIME SYMPOSIUM
● It is a forum for fostering collaborative thinking, cooperation, and mutual understanding
between India and key maritime nations of the Indian Ocean Region.
● It was held from 23-24 September 24.
● Theme: Common Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region: Progressing Lines
of Efforts to Mitigate Dynamic Threats such as illegal and unregulated fishing and other illegal
maritime activities.
● Participation of 12 Indian Ocean Littoral countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia,
Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, the Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand.
● The Symposium featured discussions on collaborative information-sharing mechanisms,
various measures to strengthen regional cooperation, and mitigating emerging non-traditional
threats.
● The observers from Kenya and Tanzania attended the event.
● It was conceptualised and instituted by the Indian Navy in 2016.

18. WORLD TOURISM DAY

CONTEXT
World Tourism Day is celebrated on
September 27.

WORLD TOURISM DAY

● The day was established in 1980 by the
UNWTO, celebrates the global impact of
tourism and raises awareness about its
economic, social, and cultural
significance.
● The September 27, was chosen to
commemorate the adoption of UNWTO
statutes in 1975.
● The theme for World Tourism Day 2024
is “Tourism and Peace”. It highlights the vital role of the tourism sector in fostering peace.
● The day focuses on responsible tourism practices, celebrating diverse cultural heritage, and
addressing environmental sustainability and fair distribution of benefits.

UN TOURISM (UNWTO until 2023)

● It is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
● Its headquarters are in Madrid, Spain
● It promotes responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism.
● It serves as a global forum for tourism policy and a source of tourism research and knowledge.
● The six official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

19. KEFFIYEH SCARVES

CONTEXT
Jhumpa Lahiri declined an award from Noguchi Museum after it fired three employees for
wearing keffiyeh scarves.

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 KEFFIYEH SCARVES
● keffiyehs are worn across the Middle East and identified as a
symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance.
● Usually made of cotton and white in colour, it features some
patterns.
● keffiyeh serves as a crucial link to Palestinian culture. keffiyeh
became a Palestinian symbol
● Historical link: The British gained control of Palestine in 1917
after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
● Opposition to British rule led to the keffiyeh’s use for depicting
national unity in the 1930s.
● It becomes a symbol of resistance and existence.
● Palestine Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat popularised the scarf in the 1970s.
● South African leader Nelson Mandela wore the keffiyeh in solidarity.

20. SASTRA RAMANUJAN PRIZE 2024

CONTEXT
Recently, Alexander Dunn has been awarded the prestigious 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize.

SASTRA RAMANUJAN PRIZE 2024

● It was founded by Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA)
located near Kumbakonam, India.
● It is awarded every year to a young mathematician judged to have done outstanding work in
Ramanujan's fields of interest.
● The age limit for the prize has been set at 32 (the age at which Ramanujan died), and the
current award is $10,000.

ALEXANDER DUNN’S CONTRIBUTION

● Dunn is being recognized for his outstanding contributions to analytic number theory,
particularly his joint work with Maksym Radziwill in solving the Kummer-Patterson
Conjecture on bias related to cubic Gauss sums.

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21. UNIFIED LOGISTICS INTERFACE PLATFORM (ULIP)
HACKATHON 2.0
CONTEXT
NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL) launched the Unified Logistics Interface Platform
(ULIP) Hackathon 2.0.

UNIFIED LOGISTICS INTERFACE PLATFORM (ULIP) HACKATHON 2.0

● It is a competitive event aimed at fostering innovation and developing digital solutions to
tackle pressing challenges in the logistics industry.
● It focuses on addressing key logistics challenges such as sustainability, complex supply chain
processes, unified documentation, and multimodal logistics optimization.
● It invites developers, start-ups, and industry players to come together.

UNIFIED LOGISTICS INTERFACE PLATFORM (ULIP)

● It is a digital gateway that allows industry players to access logistics-related datasets from
various Government systems through API-based integration.
● It integrates with 37 systems from 10 ministries via 118 APIs, covering over 1800 data fields.
NICDC LOGISTICS DATA SERVICES LTD. (NLDSL)
● It was established on December 30, 2015, with the primary objective of harnessing Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance efficiency in the Indian logistics sector.
● It is a joint venture between the Government of India represented by National Industrial
Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) and Japanese IT major NEC
Corporation.

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 ● Its innovative solutions - Logistics Data Bank (LDB) and ULIP.
TRACK YOUR TRANSPORT (TYT) APPLICATION
● NLDSL announced the launch of the Track Your Transport (TYT) application powered by ULIP.
● This app is designed to empower small-scale transporters and traders by addressing various
facets of logistics management, from providing tracking of cargo via all modes to verification of
vehicles and drivers.
● TYT eliminates the need for heavy IT infrastructure investments, making it a cost-effective and
user-friendly tool for the unorganized sector.

22. POUMAI NAGA TRIBE

CONTEXT
The Poumai Naga tribe has banned hunting, trapping, and killing of wild animals and birds within
their territory to protect the region’s biodiversity.

POUMAI NAGA TRIBE

● They are the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group inhabiting the States of Manipur and Nagaland.
● They predominantly live in the Senapati District of Manipur.
● They speak their own language - POULA.
● Major Religion: They are generally Christian.
● The traditional Poumai Naga People are basically agrarian.
● Major festivals: Paonii, Donii, Laonii, Daonii, Rounii, Duhnii, Loukanii, Thounii, Khiinii,
Taithounii.

CONSERVATION MEASURES BY POUMAI NAGA TRIBE

● They decided to designate a particular area of the forest as a conservation reserve by the Purul
(Hiimai) Union.
● The tribe enforced a ban on forest fires and other harmful activities in and around the village
and forests.

23. ABHED LIGHTWEIGHT BULLET PROOF JACKETS

CONTEXT
DRDO, IIT Delhi develops lightweight bullet proof jackets.

ABHED (ADVANCED BALLISTICS FOR HIGH ENERGY

DEFEAT)JACKETS
● It is a Lightweight Bullet Proof Jacket.
● With minimum possible weight of 8.2 kgs and 9.5 kgs for
different Bureau of India Standards (BIS) Levels, these
modular-design jackets having front and rear armours provide
360 degree protection.
● The jackets have been developed at the DRDO Industry
Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT, Delhi.
● These jackets have been created from polymers and
indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.

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● The jackets meet the highest threat levels, and are lighter than the maximum weight limits
stipulated in respective General Staff Qualitative Requirement of the Indian Army.

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