1. GOLDEN LANGURS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the latest survey conducted by the Primate Research Centre NE India (PRCNE) and Assam Forest Department revealed that there are an estimated 7,396 golden langurs in India.

Golden Langurs 

• About: These are easily identified by the distinct color of their fur, which serves as the basis for their name.
• Seasonal Fur Changes: Observations indicate that the fur of Golden Langurs undergoes color changes corresponding to the seasons.
• Distinctive Young Appearance: Young Golden Langurs exhibit a nearly pure white fur, distinguishing them from the adults.
• Geographic Range: Assam and Bhutan

oGolden Langurs inhabit the regions of Assam, India, and neighboring Bhutan, residing there throughout the year.

oThe habitat of Golden Langurs is delimited by four geographical landmarks: the Bhutan foothills (north), Manas river (east), Sankosh river (west), and Brahmaputra river (south).

• Found: Moist evergreen and tropical deciduous forests, riverine areas, and savannas, showing adaptability to different environments in Assam and Bhutan.
• Conservation status

oIUCN: Endangered

oCITES: Appendix I

oWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Key Points of Survey

• Areas surveyed: Ripu Reserved Forest, recently upgraded to Raimona National Park, Chirang Reserve Forest, Manas Reserve Forest, and Manas National Park up to the western bank of the Manas River.
• Population Observation: During the survey, 7,720 individuals of golden langurs were observed.

oThese individuals were observed in 706 unique groups and 31 lone males or floating males.

• Minimum Population Estimation: The estimated minimum population size of golden langurs was found to be 7,396 individuals.

oThese individuals were distributed in 707 groups, inclusive of bisexual and male bands, along with 31 lone males, according to Jihosuo Biswas.

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2. TIGER SAFARI & REGULATION (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Supreme Court recently stated that it was "inclined to approve the establishment of the Tiger Safari at Pakhrau" within the buffer area of Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Tiger Safari

• About: Tiger safari lacks a clear definition under The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as it doesn't specifically mention such activities within its provisions.
• Evolution of Tiger Safari Concept: The concept of tiger safaris in the wild originated from the Guidelines for Tourism issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2012, which permitted such establishments in buffer areas of tiger reserves to accommodate high tourist influx.
• Purpose: Initially, tiger safaris were envisioned to accommodate injured, conflicted, or orphaned tigers in buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves, as outlined by the NTCA guidelines issued in 2016.
• Changes in Policy: In 2019, the NTCA's stance shifted as it permitted the acquisition of animals from zoos for tiger safari parks, with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) being granted the authority to select such animals.

Why build a tiger safari in a forest?

• NTCA Guidelines and Safari Parks: The 2012 NTCA guidelines justified safari parks as a means to lessen the tourism load inside tiger reserves that causes stress on wildlife.
• Concerns about Unfit Animals: Many are against packing off animals that are unfit for the wild they may be injured, orphaned, or given to conflict — to faraway zoos. Safari parks, they argue, help hold such animals captive in their natural surroundings.
• Buffer Areas and Local Development: Some stakeholders argue that buffer areas were designated to allow activities that support the livelihood and development needs of local communities — and safari parks generate money and, in turn, local goodwill for the tiger.

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3. Mahtari Vandan Yojana (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: The Prime Minister of India recently launched the Mahatari Vandana Yojana and disbursed the first installment under the scheme.

Mahtari Vandan Yojana

• About: The scheme has been launched in Chhattisgarh to provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month to eligible married women of the state as monthly DBT.
• Financial Assistance: Under the Mahtari Vandana Yojana, Chhattisgarh pledges Rs 1,000 per month to over 70 lakh married women, acknowledging their pivotal role in households and communities.
• Aim: To nurture self-reliance among women, encouraging skill development and entrepreneurial ventures alongside providing financial aid, fostering economic empowerment.
• Features:
• Application Process: The scheme offers online application processes, ensuring accessibility and convenience for potential beneficiaries.
• Eligibility Criteria: Married women aged 23 to 60 years in Chhattisgarh are eligible for the scheme.
• Expanded Eligibility: Married women aged 21 and above as of January 1, 2024, including widows, divorced, and deserted women, will benefit from the scheme, totaling approximately 70 lakh women.
• Scope and Vision: Launched in Chhattisgarh, the scheme extends Rs 1000 monthly DBT to eligible married women, promoting economic empowerment, financial security, gender equality, and reinforcing women's pivotal roles in families.

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

Context: The Kerala state is facing an outbreak of mumps, a contagious viral infection that spreads the same way as cold and flu, with over 10,000 children affected in less than 70 days.

Mumps

• About: It is a viral illness. It can involve pain, tenderness, and swelling in one or both parotid salivary glands.
• Caused by: Mumps virus, a member of the paramyxovirus group, and is highly contagious.
• Symptoms: The illness begins with mild symptoms like headache, fever, and fatigue, progressing to severe swelling in the salivary glands, leading to puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.
• Transmission: Humans are the exclusive host for the mumps virus, which spreads through direct contact or airborne droplets from infected individuals' upper respiratory tracts.
• Affected Population: Primarily affects unvaccinated children aged 2 to 12, though vaccinated adolescents and adults can also contract the disease due to waning immunity.
• Incubation Period: Mumps has an average incubation period of 16 to 18 days, with a range of 12 to 25 days.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment for mumps; however, symptomatic relief can be provided with medication.
• Mumps Vaccine: Children should get two doses of MMR vaccine:
• the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and
• The second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.

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5. LOKPAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, former Supreme Court judge Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar was administered the oath of office as the Lokpal chairperson by President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Lokpal

• About: The Lokpal of India serves as the nation's inaugural anti-corruption entity, established four years ago to probe complaints against public officials.
• Establishment: Despite the passage of the Act in 2013, the appointment of India's first Lokpal occurred on March 19, 2019, alongside the selection of eight additional members.
• Composition of Lokpal: The Lokpal is a multi-member body with one chairperson and up to eight members.

oHalf of the maximum eight members will be judges, and at least half of the members will be from the SC/ ST/ OBC/ Minorities and women groups.

• Autonomy in enquiry and prosecution: The Lokpal will have to appoint an Inquiry Wing, headed by a Director of Inquiry, and a Prosecution Wing, headed by a Director of Prosecution. 
• Appointment of Lokpal: The president appoints the members after a Selection Committee recommends them.

oA search panel of at least eight people is formed by the selection committee (Headed by PM) to select the chairperson and members.

oLokpal Chairman and Members serve for five years or until they reach the age of 70.

• Powers of the Lokpal:

oJurisdiction: The Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Groups A, B, C, and D officers and officials of the Central Government are all subject to Lokpal's jurisdiction.

oPro Active Disclosure: The Lokpal Act requires all elected officials to disclose their assets and liabilities, as well as those of their dependents.

üIt has the authority to supervise and direct CBI's operations.

üWhen Lokpal refers a case to the CBI, the investigating officer cannot be transferred without Lokpal's permission.

• Power of civil court: The Lokpal's Inquiry Wing has been given the authority of a civil court.

üIn exceptional cases, Lokpal has the authority to seize properties, proceeds, receipts, and benefits obtained through corruption.

• Ensure neutrality: Lokpal has the authority to recommend the transfer or suspension of a public servant accused of corruption.
• Preserve evidences: During the preliminary investigation, Lokpal has the authority to issue orders to avoid the destruction of documents.

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6. ASIATIC LION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently reclassified the Asiatic lion from "endangered" to "vulnerable", marking a positive shift in its conservation status since it was categorized in 2008.

Asiatic Lion

• About: It is also called the Persian or Indian Lion, was once found across West Asia and the Middle East before facing extinction in these regions.
• Morphological Distinctions: Compared to their African counterparts, Asiatic lions are slightly smaller in size and possess a distinctive longitudinal fold of skin along their belly.
• Distribution: Previously ranged from West Bengal to Madhya Pradesh, now restricted solely to Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
• Population Increase: The Gujarat Forest Department reported a rise in the Asiatic lion population within the Gir forest region in 2020.
• Threats to Survival: Vulnerability to diseases, poaching, and conflicts with locals pose significant threats to the survival of Asiatic lions, particularly around Gir National Park.
• Protection Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, categorized under Appendix I of CITES, and protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 in India.
• Conservation Initiatives: The "Asiatic Lion Conservation Project," initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, aims to involve communities and multi-sectoral agencies for the scientific management and conservation of Asiatic lions.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• About: IUCN was founded in 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN).
• In 1956, the organization was renamed IUCN.
• Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
• IUCN Red List: The most extensive record of the worldwide conservation status of plant and animal species across the globe.
• IUCN Red Data Book: It is a publicly available document designed to record endangered and rare species of plants, animals, fungi, and certain local subspecies found in a specific region.

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7. Global Navigation Satellite System (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Road Transport and Highways Minister recently announced in Parliament that the government intends to deploy a new highway toll collection system based on the global navigation satellite system before the onset of the model code of conduct for the 2024 election.

Global Navigation Satellite System

• About: A GNSS constitutes a network of satellites that broadcast timing and orbital data, serving the purpose of navigation and positioning measurements.
• GNSS measures three things:  

oLocation: accurate within millimeters 

oSpeed: User range rate error (URRE) of ≤0.006 m/sec over any 3-second period

oTiming: ≤30 nanoseconds (billionths of a second)

• Beyond Earth's Orbit: GNSS encompasses more than just orbiting satellites. Constellations, comprised of multiple satellite groups, broadcast signals to both master control stations and GNSS users globally.
• Three Key Segments: GNSS comprises three integral segments – space, control, and user. This holistic approach recognizes the satellites in space, control stations, and end-users as interconnected components within the GNSS framework.

Several GNSS constellations around the world: 

1.BeiDou – China

2.Galileo – European Union

3.GLONASS – Russia

4.GPS - United States

5.IRNSS – India (also known as NavIC)

6.QZSS – Japan

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8. TEPA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India has signed a $100bn free trade agreement with a four-member European bloc and will lift most import tariffs on industrial products from these countries in return for the investment over 15 years.

Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)

• About: TEPA represents a modern and ambitious trade agreement, marking India's first Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with four developed nations in Europe.
• Countries: Switzerland, Iceland, Norway & Liechtenstein
• Significant Commitments: India pledges a binding commitment of $100 billion investment and 1 million direct jobs over the next 15 years, a historic milestone in the realm of FTAs.
• Boost to Make in India: The agreement is poised to bolster the Make in India initiative, offering opportunities for the young and talented workforce while providing a gateway to large European and global markets.
• Comprehensive Agreement Structure: TEPA consists of 14 chapters, addressing various aspects such as market access, rules of origin, investment promotion, intellectual property rights, and sustainable development.
• EFTA's Importance and Commitments: EFTA, alongside the EU and the UK, forms a crucial economic bloc in Europe. Switzerland, followed by Norway, emerges as India's largest trading partner within the EFTA group.

Highlights of TEPA

• Services Sector Opportunities: TEPA opens avenues for India's services exports, particularly in IT services, business services, and other sectors of interest, with provisions for improved access and recognition agreements.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): The agreement upholds TRIPS-level commitments on IPR, addressing concerns related to generic medicines and patent evergreening while signaling a commitment to sustainable development.
• Job Creation and Skills Development: The agreement foresees the creation of a significant number of direct jobs for India's young workforce, coupled with provisions for vocational training and technology collaboration.
• Integration into EU Markets: TEPA offers an opportunity for Indian companies to integrate into EU markets, leveraging Switzerland's strategic position as a gateway to the European market.

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9. YAOUNDE DECLARATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: In a historic gathering in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, African health ministers, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organisations and other principal malaria stakeholders pledged to end malaria deaths, especially given the tools and systems available.

Yaounde Declaration

• About: Health ministers from the 11 countries declared their commitment to fighting malaria in the Yaoundé Declaration, emphasizing the need to address root causes and increase investments in the health sector.
• Host by: WHO and the Government of Cameroon, gathered diverse stakeholders, including Ministers of Health, global partners, funding agencies, scientists, and civil society organizations.
• Four Key Aims of the Ministerial Conference: The conference aims to review progress and challenges in achieving WHO global malaria strategy targets, discuss funding and mitigation strategies, agree on responses for accelerated malaria mortality reduction in Africa, and establish a roadmap for increased political commitment and societal engagement with clear accountability.
• Global Surge in Malaria Cases: The number of malaria cases globally surged significantly in 2022, rising from 233 million in 2019 to 249 million.
• Alarming Increase in Africa: The African region witnessed a staggering rise in malaria cases, soaring from 218 million to 233 million, with Africa bearing 94% of global cases and 95% of global malaria-related deaths in 2022.
• The Burden African Countries: Eleven African countries participating in the Yaoundé conference bear the highest burden of global malaria infections and deaths.

oBurkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania

• Action and Accountability: While the declaration marks a milestone, experts emphasize the need for concrete actions to accompany political will, especially in light of the African Union's targets to control and eliminate malaria by 2030.

Malaria 

• About: It is a mosquito-borne blood disease caused by Plasmodium parasites.
• Transmission: Spread by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.

oThe mosquito becomes infected by biting an individual already infected with malaria.

oMalaria parasites enter the bloodstream when the mosquito subsequently bites another person.

oThe parasites travel to the liver, mature, and then infect red blood cells.

• Parasite Species: There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species causing malaria in humans.

oThe most threatening species are P. falciparum and P. vivax.

• Common symptoms: Fever, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness.
• Prevention: Malaria is both preventable and curable with timely and appropriate intervention.

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10. Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently cleared a Rs 15,000 crore project aimed at designing and developing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation multirole fighter jet.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

• About: The AMCA is designed to be a fifth-generation, medium-weight, multi-role, and twin-engine aircraft.
• Stealth and Configuration: Envisaged as a 25-tonne twin-engine stealth aircraft, it features an internal weapons bay and diverterless supersonic intake, a first-time achievement in India.
• Payload and Fuel Capacity: Intended to carry 1,500 kg of internal payload, 5,500 kg of external payload, and boast a substantial 6,500 kg of internal fuel.
• Government Funding and Production: In 2009, the Central government allocated ₹90 crore for a feasibility study, with an additional ₹447 crore sanctioned later. Production is underway by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
• Features of AMCA

oStealth Capabilities: Equipped with advanced stealth features to evade enemy radar detection, surpassing the size of existing Indian Air Force fighters.

oFuel and Weapons Configuration: Equipped with a concealed 6.5-tonne internal fuel tank and an internal weapons bay for a variety of weapons, including indigenous ones.

oEngine Specifications: The AMCA Mk1 variant will use the US-built GE414 engine, while the more advanced Mk2 will feature a 110kN engine developed indigenously by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment.

oAdvanced Airflow Control: Features like a diverterless supersonic inlet and a serpentine air intake duct contribute to controlling air flow into the engines and shielding them from radar emissions.

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