1. GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has forced greater spotted eagles to change their migratory paths, making their journey more arduous and causing them to skip much-needed stopovers.

Greater Spotted Eagle

• About: It is a large raptor species.
• Scientific name: Clanga clanga
• Habitat: Open wet forests and forest edges, often adjoining marshes, swampy patches, bogs, or wet meadows, as well as river-valley woodlands and floodplain forests.
• Distribution: Eastern Europe, parts of Central Europe, central Russia, central Asia and parts of China.

oThe species has mostly vanished from western and central Europe, with a limited breeding population in Polesia, Belarus.

• Threatened by: habitat destruction, collisions with objects, and hybridization with lesser spotted eagles..
• Conservation Status:

oIUCN: Vulnerable.

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2. ADITYA L1 (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: ISRO's Aditya-L1 spacecraft's two onboard remote sensing instruments have captured the recent solar fury.

Aditya L1

• About: It is the country’s first dedicated solar mission. It is a fully indigenous effort with the participation of national institutions. 
• China, Japan, the US and European countries have similar missions that investigate solar flares, coronal mass ejections and the sun’s magnetic fields.
• It is also ISRO’s second astronomy observatory-class mission after AstroSat (2015). 
• Launched by: PSLV-XL launch vehicle.
• Aim: The mission aims to study the Sun from a halo orbit around first Sun-earth Lagrangian point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from Earth. 

oA satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses. 

• Payloads: The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.  

Lagrangian Points

• About: It is known as Lagrange points or libration points.
• Located: about 1.5 million kms inside Earth's orbit, between the Sun and the Earth.
• These are particular points in space where the gravitational forces between two
• massive objects, like a planet and its moon or a planet and the Sun, create areas of heightened gravitational stability.

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3. INDIA-MALDIVES RELATIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, the President of Maldives joined six other leaders from India’s neighborhood at the swearing-in ceremony of India's Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

India-Maldives Relations

• Strategic Importance: The Maldives, located just 70 nautical miles from Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island, is strategically positioned to secure India’s maritime borders.

oLocation Between Busy Trade Routes: Maldives is positioned between the world's busiest trade routes, including the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal.

• Economic: Trade agreement signed between India and Maldives in 1981. India is Maldives' 4th largest trade partner.

oIndia becomes Maldives' second-largest trading partner in 2021, experiencing a 31% growth in bilateral trade despite the pandemic.

oEssential Supplies: The Maldives relies heavily on imports from India, encompassing vital sectors such as food, medicine, and aircraft for search and rescue missions.

• Defence: India offers the highest number of training opportunities for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), fulfilling approximately 70% of their defence training needs.

oRole in National Security: The Indian Army's intervention in thwarting a coup attempt in Malé in 1988 underscores the depth of military cooperation between the two nations and the enduring trust it has fostered.

• Developmental Cooperation: India implements notable development projects in the Maldives, such as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Institute of Technical Education, and the National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE).

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4. LOK SABHA SPEAKER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: As the 18th Lok Sabha convenes, key allies of the ruling party are reportedly vying for the position of Speaker.

Constitutional Provisions of Speaker

• About: The Constitution of India specifically delineates the roles of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker in parliamentary proceedings.
• Article 93: It mandates the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, outlining the formal procedure for their selection.
• Election Process: The Speaker is elected by a simple majority within the House.
• Term Duration: The Speaker's term extends until the dissolution of the House, unless resignation or removal occurs prior to that.
• No-Confidence Motion: A motion of no-confidence against the Speaker can be initiated with a 14-day notice period, as stipulated in Article 94 of the Constitution.
• Disqualification: Similar to any other member of the House, the Speaker is subject to disqualification under relevant constitutional provisions.
• Salary: It is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India unlike for other MPs, which flow from a statute voted on by the House itself.

Powers of the Speaker

• Conducting the House: The Speaker holds the authority to conduct the proceedings of the House, including deciding on the conduct of government business and granting permission for member interventions.
• Impartiality in Procedure: Despite established Rules and Procedures, the Speaker wields significant power in ensuring adherence and selecting procedures, crucially ensuring impartiality for all members.
• Voice Votes & Division: In situations of sparse attendance, the Speaker can bypass division requests and pass Bills through voice votes, a decision vital for maintaining legislative efficiency.
• Money Bill: The Speaker determines whether a bill is a money bill, and their decision is final.
• Disqualifying Members: The Speaker decides on disqualification of members based on defection under the Tenth Schedule, subject to judicial review.

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5. PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Policies)

Context: Recently, the Indian Prime Minister initiated the construction of three crore additional rural and urban houses through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, marking the new Cabinet's first decision.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Scheme 

• About: The PMAY is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Funding: Both the Union and the State governments are supposed to financially contribute to it.
• Objectives:

oRehabilitation of slum dwellers with private developers’ participation.

oPromotion of affordable housing for the weaker sections through Credit Linked Subsidy Schemes (CLSS).

oAffordable housing in partnership with public and private sectors.

oSubsidy for Beneficiary-led Construction (BLC).

• Extension Granted: The government approved an extension of PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) up to December 31, 2024, to complete houses sanctioned till March 31, 2022.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin

• Launched: In 2016 to address the housing gaps existing in the rural areas.
• Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
• Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by 2022.
• Beneficiaries: SCs/STs, former bonded laborers, non-SC/ST populations, widows or the next-of-kin of defense personnel who died in action, ex-servicemen and retired paramilitary members, disabled individuals, and minorities.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U)

• Launched: 2015
• Ministry involved: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Objective: The mission's overarching goal is to provide "pucca" (durable and permanent) houses to all eligible urban households by 2022.
• Beneficiaries: The Mission addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers.

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6. NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The UN’s latest report, "Raising Ambition, Accelerating Action," highlights significant gaps in forest protection, management, and restoration within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

• About: It is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

oIt is not a legally binding or enforceable commitment.

• Paris Agreement Requirement: Each Party to the Paris Agreement is required to establish an NDC and update it every five years.

• Objective: To reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of climate change mitigation.
• Targets: NDCs are where countries set targets for mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and for adapting to climate impacts.
• Climate Finance: Since climate finance is key to implementing the plans, NDCs ideally also detail a financing strategy.

India’s Updated First Nationally Determined Contribution 

• India aims for a 33 to 35% reduction in emissions intensity (or emissions per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels by 2030.
• Renewable Energy Generation: India targets at least 40% of total electricity generation to come from non-fossil renewable sources by 2030.
• Increase in Forest Cover: India plans to increase forest cover to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.

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7. BRICS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2– IR)

Context: India warmly received Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining BRICS, as their representatives participated for the first time in a significant meeting hosted by Russia.

BRICS

• About : It is a grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies.
• Headquarters: Shanghai.
• Members: Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• Five New Members: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates
• Origin:

oThe term was originally coined in 2001 as "BRIC" by the Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in his report, Building Better Global Economic BRICs.

oForeign ministers of these countries began meeting informally in 2006, which led to more formal annual summits beginning in 2009.

oIn 2010, South Africa joined the informal group and changed the acronym to BRICS.

• First BRIC Summit: Held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in June 2009.
• Economic Significance : It contribute to around 23% of the global GDP and around 18% of Global Trade.
• Demography: It represents around 41% of global Population.
• Territory: It comprise 30% of the world’s territory.

BRICS Initiative

• New Development Bank: It  finances projects and innovates tailored solutions to help build a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for the planet.
• Members: BRICS members + Bangladesh , UAE , Egypt.
• Shareholding:  Brazil , Russia , India , China , South Africa each  have equal and larger share of 18.98% than other member country.
• Contingent Reserve Arrangement: It is a framework for the provision of support through liquidity and precautionary instruments in response to actual or potential short-term balance of payments pressures.

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8. CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: The Cascadia Subduction Zone, considered one of Earth's top hazards, is gaining increased attention.

Cascadia Subduction Zone

• About: It is a 1,000 km long dipping fault that stretches from Northern Vancouver Island to Cape Mendocino California. It separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates.
• Convergent Boundary: It is where the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate, an active convergent boundary.
• Seismic Implications: This subduction process significantly impacts seismic activity in the region.
• Earthquake and Tsunami Risks:

oMassive Earthquakes: The CSZ can generate massive earthquakes, possibly reaching magnitude 9.0 or greater.

oTsunami Potential: These earthquakes can trigger tsunamis with heights exceeding 100 feet, posing significant risks to coastal areas.

oHistorical Precedent: A similar fault off Japan caused the devastating 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Subduction Zone

• Plate Collision: It occurs when two tectonic plates collide, with one plate subducting beneath the other.
• Tectonic Plate Movement: Tectonic plates are pieces of the Earth's rigid outer layer that slowly move across the planet's surface, driven by underlying forces.
• Plate Tectonics Theory: Subduction is a fundamental aspect of plate tectonics, where portions of Earth's shell move over the lower mantle, including continents.

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9. MALABAR PIT VIPERS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Researchers have taken up a detailed radio telemetry study of the Malabar Pit Vipers to understand their habitat and activity patterns and to find their antidote.

Malabar Pit Vipers

• About: It is native to the Western Ghats, typically induces moderate pain and swelling with no reported fatalities.
• Range: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa & Maharashtra.
• Habitat: Tropical Evergreen Forests.
• Scientific Name: Craspedocephalus malabaricus (formerly Trimeresurus malabaricus).
• Features

oNocturnal, arboreal, and Ovoviviparous (give birth to live young).

oTriangular head much broader than the neck, heat sensing pits between eyes and nostrils.

oSpots in various zigzag patterns across the body.

oVariable color, often green, brown, or yellow with patterns.

oHeat-sensing pits to detect warm-blooded prey.

• Conservation Status

oWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule-2.

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10. NEW CALEDONIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 –IR)

Context: The Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in New Caledonia's south Pacific French territory urges President Emmanuel Macron to drop proposed electoral reform modifications.

New Caledonia

• About: It is a French overseas collectivity with significant autonomy under the terms of the 1998 Nouméa Accord.
• Geographical Location: Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about 900 miles (1,500 km) east of Australia.
• Origin: Unlike many Pacific islands, New Caledonia is an ancient fragment of the Gondwana supercontinent.
• Composition: It comprises the main island of Grande Terre, the four Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and some remote islands.
• Capital: Noumea
• European Union Status: New Caledonia is one of the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) but is not part of the EU, the Euro, or Schengen zones.
• Citizenship and Voting Rights: New Caledonians are French and European citizens with the right to live anywhere in France. They can participate in territorial and French national elections.

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