1. FOREST CONSERVATION ACT 1980 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked Assam’s Chief Secretary to provide details of officers who let polling stations, schools, and other construction activities in a wildlife sanctuary and a reserve forest in gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Forest Conservation Act 1980

• About: It was enacted on October 25, 1980, to regulate forest conservation and related matters.
• Objectives: To guarantee the preservation and upkeep of forests.

oTo manage the redirection of forest land for alternative purposes like mining and infrastructure advancement.

• Restriction: No State Government or authority can convert forest land for non-forest purposes without prior approval from the Central Government.
• Non-Forest Purposes: It include the use of land for activities like cultivating horticultural crops or any other purpose besides reafforestation.
• Appeals Process: Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the State Government or other authority can appeal to the National Green Tribunal established under the NGT Act, 2010.
• Advisory Committee: The Central Government has the authority to constitute a Committee with members deemed fit to advise on matters concerning forest conservation.
• Power to Centre: The Central Government is empowered to create rules necessary for implementing the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act.

 National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• Background: The NGT was established by an Act of the Parliament i.e., National Green Tribunal, Act, 2010.
• Objective: NGT was established for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forestsand other natural resources.
• Principal Place of Sitting: New Delhi.
• The other four places: Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.

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2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NUTRITION (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) recently updated its "Dietary Guidelines for Indians," providing revised recommendations for optimal nutrition.

National Institute of Nutrition

• About: It is an Indian public health, nutrition and translational research centre.
• Establishment: 1918
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Headquarter: Hyderabad
• Functions:

o To evolve effective methods of management and prevention of nutritional problems.

o To conduct operational research connected with planning and implementation of national nutrition programmes. 

o To dovetail nutrition research with other health programmes of the government.

NIN Guidelines

• An estimated 56.4% of India’s total disease burden is linked to unhealthy diets, as per guidelines.
• According to the National Nutrition Survey 2019, around 5% of children aged 5-9 and 6% of adolescents were overweight or obese.
• Almost 2% of children and adolescents were diagnosed with diabetes, with another 10% having pre-diabetes.
• 37.3% of children aged 5-9 had high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides).
• 19.9% of pre-teens and teens aged 10-19 also exhibited elevated bad cholesterol levels.
• NIN recommends earthen pots as the safest cookware option, which is eco-friendly and requires less oil for food preparation.
• Earthen pots are noted for their ability to preserve the nutrition of food.
• NIN has issued guidelines for the use of metal, steel, non-stick pans, and granite stones.

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3. ARTICLES 15 AND 16 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: A political slugfest has emerged over the reservation issues with the ruling party making outlandish remarks about the opposition party’ demand for caste census by linking it to religion.

Articles 15 and 16

• Article 15: The state is prohibited from discriminating against any citizen solely based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.

o No citizen shall face any form of disadvantage or limitation solely due to religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth in accessing public spaces.

• Article 16: This provision ensures equal opportunities for all citizens regarding employment or appointment to any state office.

o Citizens cannot face discrimination or be disqualified from employment or state office based solely on religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, or residence.

• Special Provisions: These articles allow for special provisions for OBC, SC, and ST for social advancement.
• Classification of OBC and MBC: OBC refers to socially and educationally backward castes, while some states further classify certain castes as Most Backward Classes (MBC), varying reservation percentages accordingly.
• Supreme Court Rulings on Reservation: In the Indra Sawhney case (1992), the Supreme Court upheld 27% reservation for OBC, recognizing caste as a determinant of backwardness.
• Reservation Cap and Exclusions: While upholding equality, the court imposed a 50% cap on reservations, with exceptions for extraordinary circumstances.
• Janhit Abhiyan Case (2022): In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Economic Weaker Section (EWS) reservation, recognizing economic criteria as a legitimate basis for reservation.

Affirmative action

• About: It is an active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and for women.
• In the U.S., there is ‘affirmative action’ that consists of government-approved and voluntary private programs granting special consideration to racial minorities like African-American and Latin-American.

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4. E2E ENCRYPTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: WhatsApp recently declared during a Delhi High Court proceeding that it would be forced to exit India if legally mandated to compromise its end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

Encryption

• About: It is the act of changing some consumable information into an unconsumable form based on some rules.
• It involves: Converting human-readable plaintext into incomprehensible text, which is known as ciphertext.
• Technology: It involves using a cryptographic key, a or made available to the public at large. set of mathematical values both the sender and recipient agree on. 

E2E Encryption

• About: E2E is encryption that refers to particular locations between which information moves.
• Encryption in Data Privacy: The term "encryption" is commonly associated with ensuring the privacy of stored data.
• Data Protection: Encryption safeguards data from unauthorized access or tampering by converting it into a secret code decipherable only by the intended recipient.
• Versatile Applications: Encryption proves beneficial in securing online communications, storing sensitive information, and verifying digital identities across various scenarios.
• Symmetric Encryption: In this encryption, the same key is used for both encrypting and decrypting data, ensuring that the key used for encryption is also required for decryption.
• Asymmetric Encryption: In this encryption utilizes a pair of keys - one public and one private. The public key can be shared openly, while the private key must be kept confidential.

Information Technology Rules, 2021

• About: The IT Rules 2021 require significant social media intermediaries like WhatsApp to facilitate the identification of the first originator of information upon legal requests from competent authorities.
• Legal Authority: Section 87 of the Information Technology Act grants the government the authority to establish rules like Rule 4(2), which are designed to curb such content in the legitimate state interest of maintaining national security and communal harmony.
• Coverage: The IT Rules 2021 not only apply to social media intermediaries (SMIs) but also extend to online gaming intermediaries.

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5. ARAVALLI RANGE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court barred Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi from issuing new mining leases in the beleaguered ecosystem of India's oldest mountain range, following Haryana government's revelation that there is no specific definition of areas qualifying as the Aravali range.

Aravalli Range

• Location: North-western of India, stretching from Delhi to Gujarat through Haryana and Rajasthan
• Historical Significance: It stands as one of the oldest fold mountains globally, bearing witness to millions of years of Earth's history.
• Length: 670 km 
• Formation: Its formation is deeply rooted in the collision of tectonic plates during the Proterozoic era, shaping the landscape we see today.
• Geological Context: As part of the Indian Shield, it represents a significant geological formation formed through ancient cratonic collisions.
• Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar Peak (1722m) on Mount Abu.
• Rivers: Major rivers like Banas, Sahibi, and Luni originate from the Aravalli, contributing to the rich hydrology of the region and its surrounding areas.
• Erosional History: Despite once towering to great heights, the Aravalli has weathered over millions of years, attesting to the relentless forces of erosion.
• Minerals: The range boasts abundant mineral resources like copper, zinc, lead, and marble, contributing to economic activities and historical significance.
• Division: It can be classified into two main sections: the Sambhar-Sirohi ranges, featuring notable peaks like Guru Shikhar, and the Sambhar-Khetri ranges, characterized by discontinuous ridges.

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6. FLiRT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that there is an unfamiliar set of COVID-19 variants spreading across the US, which they collectively called FLiRT.

FLiRT

• About: It is an element of genetic drift, a phenomenon that caused a new variation called KP. 1. 

o Overall, 1 is about 7, and the depression will greatly continue if interventions are not taken. 

o Following CDC findings, these cases constituted as much as 5% of cases in the two-week period.

o Origin: KP.2 and KP1.1 sublineages originate from the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2.

o FLiRT Group Nickname: The variants are dubbed the FLiRT group due to specific spike mutations, where F (Phenylalanine) is replaced by L (Leucine) at position 456 and R (Arginine) is supplanted by T (Threonine) at position 346.

• Symptoms of FLiRT: This variant closely resemble those of JN.1.

o Fever or chills, persistent cough, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, headache, muscle aches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, new loss of taste or smell, mental fog (feeling less alert and focused), gastrointestinal issues.

• Transmission: This variant spreads via respiratory droplets of the person to others, or touching infected surfaces such as faucets, furniture, elevator buttons etc.
• Prevention: It is essential to prevent the infection of this variant, by following Covid-appropriate steps of practicing social distancing, masking, hand sanitising, avoiding public places.

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7. ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING (Syllabus: GS Paper 2– IR)

Context: The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environment Protection (CEP) will be held in Kochi from May 20-30.

 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM)

• About: The meeting occurs annually as part of the Antarctic Treaty System, providing a platform for Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and stakeholders to address various environmental, scientific, and governance concerns related to Antarctica.
• Importance of Meeting: It plays a crucial role in protecting Antarctica's delicate ecosystem and advancing scientific exploration in the area.
• Held: Every two years.

Antarctic Treaty

• Origins:  The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on December 1, 1959, by 12 countries involved in the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-58.
• Global Acceptance: Enacted in 1961, the Treaty has garnered adherence from 56 nations, showcasing broad international support and recognition.
• Diverse Representation: The Treaty's signatories encompass a diverse range of nations worldwide, emphasizing a global consensus on its principles.
• Participation Criteria: Nations are eligible to partake in Consultative Meetings upon demonstrating substantial research activity in Antarctica.
• Framework and Governance: Comprising 14 articles, the Treaty establishes a comprehensive framework for governing activities in Antarctica.
• Peaceful Utilization: Central to the Treaty is the stipulation that Antarctica must be utilized solely for peaceful purposes, forbidding any militaristic endeavors while allowing for military involvement in scientific or peaceful pursuits.

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8. REPORT ON SNAKE MIGRATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A recent report revealed that climate change could prompt significant geographical shifts in venomous snake populations, potentially leading to mass migrations of various species.

Climate change-related distributional range shifts of venomous snakes Report

• The study focused on 209 medically important venomous snake species recognized by the WHO.
• Ecosystem Role of Snakes: Apart from medical applications, snakes contribute to ecosystems by preying on mammals, birds, and other snakes.
• Favorable Climatic Conditions: Researchers modeled snake migration patterns in relation to climate change projections up to 2070.
• Warning of Loss in Specific Regions: The report warns of a decline in venomous snake populations in the Amazon and South Africa.
• Population Increase: Conversely, regions like the United States, northern Europe, and Southeast Asia are projected to experience an increase in snake populations.
• Snake-Enriched Agricultural Areas: Agricultural regions in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, Lithuania, Liberia, and Ukraine have observed an increase in snake populations.

Legally Protected Indian Reptiles

• Venomous snake species such as King Cobra, Monocled Cobra, Spectacled Cobra and Russell’s Viper are protected by law under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Non-venomous snake species such as the Indian Rock Python is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This implies that the Python is granted the same level of protection as the Asian Elephant in the country.
• Red Sand Boa: Legally protected - Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV, CITES: Appendix II
• Rat Snake and water snakes such as Checkered keelback and Olive keelback are classified under Schedule II (Part II).

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9. INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Two Australian weather agencies recently forecasted the potential re-emergence of the Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), or Indian Nino, for the second consecutive year in the latter half of 2024.

Indian Ocean Dipole

• About: It sometimes dubbed as the "Indian Nino," occurs in the Indian Ocean between the Indonesian and Malaysian coastline in the east and the African coastline near Somalia in the west.
• Discovery and Recognition: The Indian Ocean Dipole was independently identified as a distinct climatic phenomenon in 1999.
• Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): It is characterized by cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures (SST) in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and warmer than normal SSTs in the western tropical Indian Ocean.
• Negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): It displays warmer than normal SSTs in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and cooler than normal SSTs in the western tropical Indian Ocean.
• Relationship with El Nino and La Nina: A positive IOD often coincides with El Nino, while a negative IOD is sometimes associated with La Nina.
• Impact: Positive IOD events enhance rainfall along the African coastline and the Indian sub-continent but suppress rainfall over Indonesia, southeast Asia, and Australia. Conversely, the impacts reverse during negative IOD events.

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10. FUJIAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, has successfully completed its eight-day maiden sea trials.

Fujian

• About: The Fujian, a Type 003 class vessel, marks a significant leap forward for China's naval capabilities, boasting 80,000 tonnes.
• Technological Advancements: Equipped with electromagnetic catapults, the Fujian enables more frequent sorties, enhancing operational efficiency.
• Expansion Plans: China aims to bolster its naval strength by expanding its blue-water fleet to six aircraft carriers by 2035, positioning itself as a formidable maritime power.
• Size: With a displacement of nearly 80,000 metric tons.
• Design: The Fujian represents China's first CATOBAR aircraft carrier, featuring a fully indigenous design and three electromagnetic catapults, diverging from the ski-jump flight decks of previous carriers.
• EMALS Implementation: Fujian will utilize the upgraded Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), similar to the technology employed by the US Navy on its advanced super carriers.
• China’s First aircraft carrier: Liaoning was commissioned in 2012 and the 
• Second aircraft carrier: Shadong was launched in 2017.

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