1. DISTRICT AGRO-METEOROLOGY UNITS (DAMUS) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: India Meteorological Department (IMD) is planning to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.

District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs)

• Established in: 2018
• Collaboration with: Indian Council of Agricultural Research
• Objective: The aim was to use weather data to prepare and disseminate sub-district level agricultural advisories.

oIn March, DAMUs were shut down following an order issued by the IMD.Importance of Agro-Metrological Units

• Around 80% of Indian farmers are small and marginal, primarily depending on rain-fed agriculture, making them vulnerable to weather changes.
• Climate change has increased weather variability, altering monsoon patterns, leading to extended dry and wet spells, which directly affect crop yields.
• Agro-met advisories provide crucial weather information such as changes in monsoon onset and withdrawal dates, helping farmers adjust their farming activities accordingly.
• District Agro-Met Units (DAMUs) are housed in Krishi Vigyan Kendras, where scientists and researchers trained in meteorology and agriculture provide weather-based agricultural support.
• DAMUs utilize weather data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on factors like rainfall, temperature, and wind speed to develop tailored advisories for farmers.

Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) Scheme

• Under: Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Objective: The primary aim of the scheme is to provide accurate, crop-specific advisories to farmers.
• Implementing Agencies: The scheme is implemented by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and other bodies.
• Focus: The scheme delivers crop and location-specific, weather-based agro advisories to support the farming community.

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2. SUGAMYA BHARAT APP (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: More than 1,400 complaints related to accessibility have been lodged through the government's flagship Sugamya Bharat mobile application since its launch in 2021, with approximately 75% of those resolved, according to official data.

Sugamya Bharat App

• About: It is an initiative of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Purpose: Designed to aid people with disabilities and the elderly, the app allows users to report accessibility problems in public infrastructure, transportation, and buildings.
• Objective: The app aims to identify issues and complaints related to accessibility at public places, capturing the location through Google Maps.
• Uploading Geotagged Pictures: Users can upload geotagged pictures to identify and understand which public places have accessibility issues for disabled people.
• User Accessibility: Any person facing difficulty or issues related to accessibility in India can raise their concerns or grievances through the app.
• Registered Issues: The app accepts only accessibility-related issues concerning Buildings, Transportation Systems, and ICT (websites and TV viewing).
• Future Enhancements: The government plans to enhance the app with AI capabilities, including an AI-powered chatbot and a multilingual interface.
• Development Partnership: A partnership has been established with the NGO Mission Accessibility and the research institute I-STEM to develop the AI-enabled app.

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3. SAKTHAN THAMPURAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: The Minister of State for Tourism and Thrissur MP vowed to replace the Sakthan Thampuran statue, which was knocked over by a state transport bus in June, with a new bronze statue if the Kerala government fails to act within 14 days.

Sakthan Thampuran

• Birth and Background: Sakthan Thampuran, born Raja Rama Varma Kunjipillai in 1751, was the son of Ambika Thampuran and Chendose Aniyan Namboodiri of the Cochin royal family.
• Nickname: Raised by an aunt who called him "Sakthan," meaning 'powerful,' a reflection of his strength and leadership potential.
• Title: The title "Thampuran" is derived from the Sanskrit word "samrat," meaning emperor.
• Heir and Political Strategy:

oHeir Apparent: At age 18, in 1769, Sakthan Thampuran became the heir to the Cochin kingdom.

oDiplomatic Approach: He advised maintaining good relations with both the Dutch and the English, who were competing for control over regional trade.

oMysore Invasion Strategy: He played a role in orchestrating Mysore’s invasion of Travancore, leading to the Powney Treaty, which freed Cochin from Mysore’s dominance and formalized British relations.

• Religious and Administrative Reforms:

oTemple Management: Sakthan Thampuran abolished the institution of the Yogiatirippads, spiritual leaders who had conspired against the previous king, and transferred temple management to the government.

oCrime Reduction: Under his reign, the kingdom saw a significant decrease in crime, establishing his fearsome reputation as a just and strong ruler.

• Relocation of Capital: Sakthan Thampuran moved the Cochin kingdom’s capital from Thrippunithura to Thrissur, laying the foundation for modern-day infrastructure.
• Thekkinkadu Maidanam: This central ground and the surrounding Swaraj Round became vital elements in Thrissur's urban planning.
• Economic and Cultural Impact: The king encouraged merchants of all faiths, including British officials, to settle in Thrissur, strengthening the city’s economy.
• Revenue Management: He personally oversaw financial reforms, ensuring stable and enhanced revenues for the kingdom.
• Thrissur Pooram Festival: In 1797, Sakthan Thampuran founded the Thrissur Pooram as a grand alternative to the Arattupuzha Pooram, allowing major temples in Thrissur to honor Lord Shiva at the Vadakkumnathan Temple.

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4. PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN MAANDHAN YOJNA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture (Economy)

Context: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY) has marked five successful years, significantly benefiting farmers through its pension scheme. 

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojna (PM-KMY)

• Launched: September 2019
• About: It has been providing social security to all land-holding Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) across the country.
• Type: Voluntary and contributory old-age pension scheme.
• Enrollment and Contributions: Small and marginal farmers can enroll by paying a monthly subscription to the Pension Fund. Farmers aged between 18 and 40 years need to contribute between Rs. 55 to Rs. 200 per month until they reach 60 years of age.
• Pension Disbursement: Upon turning 60, enrolled farmers receive a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000, subject to meeting the scheme's exclusion criteria. 

oThe Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) manages the pension fund, and registration is facilitated through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and State Governments.

• Eligibility Criteria: Farmers with cultivable land holdings of up to 2 hectares and listed in state/UT land records as of August 1, 2019, are eligible. As of August 6, 2024, 23.38 lakh farmers have joined the scheme.
• Regional Registration Statistics: Bihar leads with over 3.4 lakh registrations, followed by Jharkhand with over 2.5 lakh registrations.

Key Benefits Under PM-KMY

• Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber to the scheme is guaranteed a minimum pension of Rs. 3000 per month upon reaching the age of 60 years
• PM-KISAN Benefit: SMFs can choose to use their PM-KISAN benefits to make voluntary contributions to the scheme. For this, eligible SMFs must sign and submit an enrolment-cum-auto-debit-mandate form. 
• Equal Contribution by Government: The Central Government, through the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, also contributes an equal amount as contributed by the eligible subscriber, to the pension Fund
• Monthly Contributions: Monthly contributions are in the range from Rs. 55 to Rs. 200, based on the farmer's age at the time of entry into the Scheme, according to the contribution chart.

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5. BEPICOLOMBO SPACECRAFT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission has successfully completed its fourth flyby of Mercury, moving the spacecraft closer to its final orbit around the innermost planet.

BepiColombo Spacecraft

• About: It is a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to explore Mercury.

oThe mission is named after Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo, an Italian mathematician and engineer known for his work on Mercury's orbit.

• Launched: October 2018, and is designed to study various aspects of Mercury.
• Arrival at Mercury: November 2026
• Mission Objectives:

oSurface and Composition: To investigate Mercury's surface and composition for insights into its geological history and formation.

oMagnetic Field and Magnetosphere: To study Mercury's magnetic field and magnetosphere, enhancing understanding of its internal structure and solar wind interactions.

oExosphere Analysis: To measure and understand the composition and dynamics of Mercury’s thin atmosphere.

oGeneral Relativity: To conduct experiments related to general relativity and improve our knowledge of gravity.

• Spacecraft Components:

oMercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO): Provided by ESA, the MPO focuses on mapping Mercury’s surface, studying its composition, and analyzing its topography.

oMercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO): Supplied by JAXA, the MMO investigates Mercury’s magnetic field and magnetosphere.

• Mission Complexity: BepiColombo will be the second and most complex mission ever to orbit Mercury.
• Orbital Challenges: Close to the Sun and more difficult for an orbiter to reach than Saturn, this small desert world is the least explored planet of the inner Solar System.

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6. INDIA-UAE RELATIONSHIP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India and the United Arab Emirates signed five agreements to boost cooperation in the energy sector and other areas during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's three-day visit to India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks.

India-UAE Relationship

• Political Relations: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1972. While the UAE opened its Embassy in India in 1972, the Indian Embassy in UAE was opened in 1973.
• Multilateral Cooperation: India and the UAE enjoy strong cooperation at the United Nations. Both countries are also currently part of several plurilateral platforms such as BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAEUSA) and UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral, etc. UAE was invited as a Guest Country to the G20 Summit held under India’s Presidency.
• Economic Relation: Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022. UAE is India's third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination.

oThe UAE was also the fourth largest investor in India in 2023 and the seventh largest source of Foreign Direct Investment overall.

oBilateral trade rising to USD 85 billion in 2022-23.

• Defence Cooperation: It was established in 2003 with the visit of the UAE Chief of Staff to India. Since then, the relationship has evolved, incorporating regular high-level exchanges, joint military exercises, and the establishment of an Annual Defence Dialogue. 

oThe JDCC, set up in 2006, has become a pivotal platform for advancing bilateral defence relations.

oMilitary exercises: Desert Cyclone, Air Exercise 'Desert Knight', In-UAE BILAT, Desert Eagle-II, Zayed Talwar and Exercise Desert Flag VIII.

• Cultural Relation: The Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.5 million is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly about 35% of the country’s population. 15% of the diaspora is in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the rest in 6 Northern Emirates including Dubai.

oJoint Commemorative Stamp: A stamp celebrating India's independence, UAE's formation, and bilateral relations was launched in 2022.

oIndia-UAE Cultural Council Forum: Established in 2022, it aims to deepen cultural cooperation and people-to-people interactions.

oThe BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

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7. HELIUM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner will stay on the International Space Station for months because of a faulty propulsion system whose problems included helium leaks.

Helium

• About: It is the second most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen. 
• Property: It is a colorless and odorless inert gas that has unique properties.
• Origin: Helium is a non-renewable natural resource that is most commonly recovered from natural gas deposits.
• Reason to Choose Helium:

oInert Nature: Helium is chemically non-reactive and does not combust, making it ideal for use in rocket systems.

oLightweight: As the second lightest element, helium helps reduce rocket weight, enhancing efficiency in achieving orbital speeds.

oLow Boiling Point: Helium remains a gas even in extremely cold environments, matching the storage needs of rocket fuels.

• Mechanism to Use:

oPressurization: Helium pressurizes fuel tanks, ensuring smooth fuel flow to engines.

oSafe Mixing: Its non-reactive nature allows helium to safely interact with residual tank contents.

Reason of Leaks

• Small Size, Easy Escape: Helium atoms can leak through small gaps due to their small size and low molecular weight.
• Leak Detection: Its rarity in Earth's atmosphere makes helium leaks easy to detect, aiding in spotting potential fuel system issues.
• Alternatives: Argon and nitrogen have been tested as alternatives, but helium remains more common in the industry.
• Innovative Pressurization: Systems like Ariane 6's use of liquid oxygen and hydrogen failed during a test, showing the challenges of replacing helium.

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8. APPOINTMENT OF HIGH COURT JUDGES (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The supreme court has directed the Himachal Pradesh High Court collegium to consider again the names of two judicial officers it had first recommended for elevation to the Bench 21 months ago.

Procedure for Appointing Judges of High Courts

• Article 124 of the Constitution: Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Appointments Commission.
• Article 217 of the Constitution: It states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the Governor of the State.
• Introduction to the Collegium System: It was established by the Second Judges Case (1993), where a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court made the SC collegium’s recommendations binding on the Centre.
• Judicial Appointment and Transfer Powers: The system grants the judiciary the authority to appoint and transfer judges. Although the government can delay appointments, it cannot reject the collegium's choices.
• Clarification in the Third Judges Case: In 1998, the Supreme Court clarified the collegium system’s functioning in response to queries from President K R Narayanan. This established the procedure for High Court appointments and the composition of the collegium.
• Composition of the High Court Collegium: The High Court collegium includes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the two seniormost Supreme Court judges. 

oIt must consult the Chief Justice and senior judges of the concerned High Court, the seniormost Supreme Court judge from that High Court, and any knowledgeable Supreme Court judges.

• Grounds for Challenging Recommendations: It can be challenged on two grounds: lack of effective consultation or if the candidate does not meet the eligibility criteria defined in Articles 217 and 124 of the Constitution.
• Memorandum of Procedure (MOP): Following the Third Judges Case, a MOP was created in 1998 detailing the appointment process for High Court judges, involving consultations and recommendations from the High Court collegium.
• Procedure for High Court Appointments: The Chief Justice of the High Court must consult two other seniormost High Court judges to form a collegium. Recommendations are sent to the Chief Minister, Governor, and CJI for further consideration.
• Role of the Governor and Central Government: The Governor, based on the Chief Minister’s advice, forwards the proposal to the Minister of Law and Justice, who then conducts a background check and sends the material to the CJI. The CJI reviews the recommendations with the SC collegium.

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9. KAWASAKI DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: A Bengaluru-based doctor recently reported a rise in Kawasaki disease cases among children following the devastating second wave of COVID-19.

Kawasaki Disease

• About: It is a pediatric illness characterized by inflammation of blood vessels, primarily affecting young children, and is a significant cause of heart disease in this demographic.
• Also known as: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
• First time described: Japanese pediatrician Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967.
• Risk factors: 
• Age. Children under 5 years old are at highest risk of Kawasaki disease.
• Sex. Children who are assigned male at birth are slightly more likely to get Kawasaki disease.
• Ethnicity. Children of Asian or Pacific Islander descent have higher rates of Kawasaki disease.
• Causes: The disease can lead to inflammation of coronary arteries and affect various body parts like lymph nodes, skin, and mucous membranes. 
• Its exact cause remains unidentified, with potential links to genetics, viruses, bacteria, and environmental factors.
• Symptoms: Prolonged high fever, rash, peeling skin on extremities, swelling, redness, eye inflammation, swollen glands, and distinctive oral manifestations like "strawberry tongue."
• Treatment: Intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG), which is an infusion through your child's IV and high-dose aspirin every six hours.

Study on New Syndrome

• A 2022 study published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics journal explored the impact of COVID-19 on children.
• Discovery of MIS-C: The study identified a new syndrome called multisystem inflammatory disease in children (MIS-C), reported by the WHO and CDC.
• Differences from KD: MIS-C is more frequently associated with left ventricular dysfunction (30%–40%), shock, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological symptoms compared to KD.
• Unique Characteristics: KD that follows SARS-CoV-2 infection shows distinct clinical differences from traditional Kawasaki disease.

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10. INDIA STATUS REPORT ON ROAD SAFETY 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2/3 – Gov. Policies/Infrastructure)

Context: The "India Status Report on Road Safety 2024" highlights India's slow progress in reducing road accident fatalities and underscores the vital link between road construction, mobility, and the need for a tailored approach to curb accidents.

India Status Report on Road Safety 2024

• Prepared by: TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi.
• Key findings of Road Safety in India:
• Road Safety Data Sources: The report analyses road safety in India using FIR data from six States and compliance audits with Supreme Court directives on road safety governance.
• Disparities: Significant differences in road traffic death rates across States are highlighted, with motorcyclists being particularly vulnerable and trucks contributing heavily to fatal crashes.
• Failure to Meet UN Road Safety Goals: Most Indian States are unlikely to meet the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety goal to halve traffic deaths by 2030.
• Rank of Road Traffic Injuries in 2021: Road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death and the 12th leading cause of health loss in India, as measured by DALYs.
• Top Causes of Health Loss in States: In six States (Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh), road traffic injuries ranked among the top 10 causes of health loss.
• Comparison with Developed Countries:

oGlobal Road Safety Comparison: India fares poorly compared to countries like Sweden and other Scandinavian nations, where road safety governance has made significant strides.

oRising Likelihood of Road Accident Fatalities: In 1990, Indians were 40% more likely to die in a road accident than in Sweden. By 2021, this likelihood increased to 600%, indicating worsening road safety conditions.

Steps taken by government to reduce road accidents

• Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019: Implements heightened penalties for traffic infractions, defective vehicles, and underage driving.

oEstablishes the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund to mandate compulsory insurance coverage.

• Carriage by Road Act, 2007: Governs common carriers, placing restrictions on their liability and specifying the declared value of transported goods.
• Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2000: Exercises control over land situated along National Highways, delineating rights of way and overseeing traffic flow.
• National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998: Establishes an authority responsible for the development, upkeep, and administration of National Highways.

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