1. WESTERN DISTURBANCE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: The western disturbance activity witnessed a southward dip in December, causing good rainfall over central India, but either deficient or scanty rainfall over most of northern India in December.

Western Disturbance

• About: It is an important weather system causing precipitation in the Western Himalayan region during the Indian Winter months (non-monsoonal).
• Formation: Originating in the middle and upper latitudes, it is an extratropical storm system.
• Non-Monsoonal Precipitation: The precipitation pattern affecting northern India is non-monsoonal and stems from the Mediterranean region, resulting in both rainfall and snowfall.
• Impact on Surrounding Nations: Beginning as non-monsoonal precipitation in the Mediterranean, the weather system moves eastward, influencing various regions in Pakistan, India, and neighboring countries.
• Causes: When the Himalayas and western parts of central Asia intersect with the jet stream in the upper atmosphere, creating a low-pressure area and subsequent disturbance.
• Outcome: In the northern regions of India, this weather phenomenon results in rainfall in plains and snowfall in mountainous areas.
• Declining Intensity Trend: Over recent years, there has been a declining trend in the intensity of Western disturbances, with Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh experiencing 47% and 40% less rain than usual from October to December in 2023.
• Impact of Climate Change: The consequences of climate change include a diminishing intensity and frequency of western disturbances, leading to reduced post-monsoon season rainfall and snowfall. This, in turn, affects agriculture and water availability in mountainous regions.
• Decline in Apple Production: Prolonged drought and insufficient snowfall contribute to a decline in apple production, highlighting the environmental changes impacting the region.

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2. MUMBAI TRANS HARBOUR LINK Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure)

Context: Prime Minister Narendra of India will inaugurate the country’s longest bridge over the sea, the 22 km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, officially the Atal Setu Nhava Sheva Sea Link.

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link

• About: It is a 22-km-long twin-carriageway six-lane bridge over the Thane Creek in the Arabian Sea.

oThe Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) or Atal Setu, longest sea bridge in India.

• It connects:  Sewri in the island city of Mumbai to Chirle in Raigad district on the mainland.
• It Includes: A 16.5 km sea link and viaducts on land at either end with a cumulative length of 5.5 km.
• Objective: To improve connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region which comprises the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, and promote the region’s economic development.
• Agencies: MMRDA agreed with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

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3. RDSS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: THE Awarding of smart meter contracts by the state-run electricity distribution utilities (discoms) has finally gathered pace under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (FY22- 26).

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS)

• About: It will provide conditional financial assistance to strengthen the supply infrastructure of discoms (power distribution companies).
• Aim: To improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of discoms (excluding Private Sector DISCOMs).
• Scheme Duration: Until 2025-26.
• Implementation: Based on individual state action plans, avoiding a 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
• Nodal Agencies: Rural Electrification and Power Finance.

Components

• Smart Metering Ecosystem: Mandatory smart metering from electricity feeders to consumer level, covering around 250 million households.
• Prepaid Smart Meters: Proposal to install approximately 10 crore prepaid Smart Meters by December 2023 in the first phase.
• Feeder Segregation for Solarization: Funding for feeder segregation, promoting solarization under the PM-KUSUM Scheme.
• Urban Distribution System Modernization: Implementation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in all urban areas.
• Identified States and Union Territories: Recognition of Sikkim and special treatment for Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.

Objectives

• To reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% by 2024-25.
• Targeting the reduction of the cost-revenue gap to zero by 2024-25.
• Focus on enhancing institutional capabilities for modern Distribution Companies (DISCOMs).

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4. PESA ACT 1996 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj inaugurated a Two-Day Regional Conference on Strengthening of PESA at Pune.

Panchayats (Extension To The Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

• About: This provision extends Panchayats to Fifth Schedule Areas, benefiting the tribal population, and enabling self-governance through Gram Sabhas (village assemblies).
• Applicable: To the Fifth Schedule(Article 244(1)), applicable in 10 states. 
• The objective of the PESA Act: To empower tribal communities by recognizing their rights over land, resources, and self-governance within the scheduled areas.

Significance of the PESA Act

• Involving Gram Sabha: By actively involving Gram Sabha, the Act protects the tribal population from exploitation.
• Democratic Decentralisation: Gram Sabhas are given significant authority by PESA to oversee all social sectors and play a critical part in approving development plans.
• Empowerment of Tribal Communities: PESA Act empowers tribal communities by granting them autonomy and self-governance over their resources, land, and local institutions.
• Recognition of Traditional Systems: The Act recognizes and protects the traditional systems of governance, customs, and practices of tribal communities, preserving their cultural heritage.

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5. GEAC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: The Supreme Court questioned the government on whether the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had considered the reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 before approving it for environmental release.

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)

• About: Constituted under the "Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)".
• Framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Under Ministry Jurisdiction: Operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Composition

oChaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC.

oCo-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

oCurrently, comprises 24 members meeting monthly to review applications.

oMembership includes experts from various ministries and institutions like ICAR, ICMR, CCMB, etc.

• Functions

oResponsible for appraising activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants with an environmental perspective.

oAppraises proposals related to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products, including experimental field trials.

oMonitors the use, import, and export of genetically modified (GM) organisms and crops.

oEmpowered to prohibit the manufacture and use of certain hazardous recombinants for commercial purposes.

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6. CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ANTIMICROBIALS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The findings of a new survey by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) underscored the need for directing more efforts for appropriate stewardship in antibiotic use practices, particularly Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs) and in mitigation of antimicrobial resistance.

Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIA)

• Background: There is growing agreement in animal agriculture that antimicrobials that are Critically Important to human medicine – or CIAs - should be treated as a special category when finding ways to tackle the threat of antimicrobial resistance. There are three classes of antimicrobial agents that all the groups place at highest priority: fluoroquinolones, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and macrolides.
• Classification by WHO

oCIAs represent a class of antimicrobials. WHO categorizes them based on their importance in human medicine and the urgency to preserve their effectiveness against infectious diseases.

• Subcategory: HPCIAs are a subset within CIAs, signifying the highest-priority antimicrobials in terms of preserving effectiveness. They include 3rd generation cephalosporins, among others.
• Limitation and Scope: The classification is limited to antibacterial drugs, primarily used in human and veterinary medicine.

oIt focuses on antibiotics used in food animals and crops.

• Antibiotic Prescriptions: 3rd generation cephalosporins, especially Ceftriaxone, are most frequently prescribed.

oAminoglycosides, with amikacin as the top choice, rank second in overall antibiotic prescriptions.

• CIAs include: Carbapenems, penicillins, fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, and macrolides.
• Significance of Listing: Listing aids in managing antimicrobial resistance.

oIt ensures prudent use of all antimicrobials, especially CIAs, in both human and veterinary medicine.

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7. STATE SUPPORT MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: Recently, NITI Aayog organized a National Workshop on "Strengthening Mental Health Services and Care in India," as part of an initiative under the State Support Mission (SSM).

State Support Mission

• Launch: In July, NITI Aayog initiated a State Support Mission aimed at assisting states in the formulation of development strategies.
• Strategic Institutions: Under the mission, NITI Aayog will aid states in establishing Strategic Institutions Teams (SITs) or facilitating the overhaul of planning departments.
• Initial Target and Expansion Plans: The initial objective is to have 8-10 states establish such bodies, with a broader plan to extend support to all states by March 2023.
• Establishment of Mitra: In alignment with NITI Aayog's approach, the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (Mitra) was established as part of this initiative.
• Recognition of State Contributions to GDP Growth: Acknowledging that national GDP growth relies heavily on individual states, except in specific sectors, the initiative emphasizes the significance of state-specific growth rates.
• Role and Functions of Strategic Institutions Teams (SITs): SITs will play a pivotal role in crafting development strategies for states, reshaping state planning boards, formulating policy blueprints, and monitoring and evaluating government policies and programs.
• Encouraging Lateral Entry of Professionals: To enhance the analytical capacity and policy recommendations, the initiative encourages the lateral entry of professionals into SITs, fostering high-quality work and innovative policy suggestions.
  
  

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8. SWACHH SURVEKSHAN AWARDS 2022 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: Recently, Indore and Surat were honored with the Cleanest Cities Award in the country during the Cleanliness Survey-2023, in the category of cities with a population exceeding one lakh.

Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023

• Cleanest City Title: Indore (7th Time) and Surat
• Best Performing States: Maharashtra bagged the top rank, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar: Chandigarh
• Cleanest Ganga Towns: Varanasi and Prayagraj

Swacch Survekshan

• Conducted by: The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) under the Swachh Bharat Urban Mission.
• Launch: 2016, is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.
• Objective: The exercise acts as a competition among towns and cities to improve their cleanliness, and waste management service delivery to citizens.
• Theme 2023: Waste to Wealth.

Swachh Bharat Urban Mission

• About: It is the world’s largest sanitation initiative was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2014.
• Aim: To achieve an Open Defecation Free India by October 2, 2019, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

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9. NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context:  The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Centre's nodal agency responsible for the abatement of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries, has assumed new powers under which it may now permit the discharge of treated sewage and effluent that conforms to the prescribed "norms" into the river, canal or water bodies.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• About: It is a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• Formation: It was formed to act as implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986, and was established to address pollution challenges in the Ganga River.
• New Provisions of Mission Ganga: It allows NMCG to permit the discharge of treated sewage conforming to prescribed norms after considering options like direct reuse for agriculture and industry.

oPermit the discharge of treated trade effluent, which conforms to the norms prescribed under the Act, into the river, canal or water bodies after exploring the option of its direct reuse for purposes such as agricultural use, industrial use, etc.

• Organizational Structure

oNational level: Two-tier management structure and consists of: The Governing Council and Executive Committee.

oAt the state level: State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs): Act as the implementing arm.

oImplementation: It is undertaken across three phases: Entry level, medium term and long term activities.

Namami Gange Programme

• Aim: It is an integrated umbrella programme, aimed to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga and its tributaries by adopting a river basin approach.
• Implementation: It was inaugurated in June 2014.
• Two objectives: Conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga.

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10. GLOBAL RISK REPORT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Extreme weather events have scaled up the ladder from last year to emerge as the most severe risk the world needs to prepare for in 2024 through 2026, according to the Global Risks Report 2024.

Highlight of the Report

• Published by: The World Economic Forum,.
• Highlights of the report:

oIt highlighted that El Nino, or the warming phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation cycle, is projected to strengthen and endure until May 2024.

oIt suggests that this could result in the establishment of new heat records, accompanied by severe heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and flooding.

oAs per report, extreme weather events are ranked among the top five risks in the short term (next two years) in 24 countries, and in 13 countries, they are perceived as the foremost three risks during this period.

Global Risk

• About: It is defined as the possibility of the occurrence of an event or condition which, if it occurs, would negatively impact a significant proportion of global gross domestic product, population or natural resources.
• Classification: Economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological over short-term (one to two years) and long term (10-year) horizons.
• Global Risks Report: It examines some of the most serious worldwide threats that may arise over the next 10 years, taking into account the planet’s warming, economic instability, rapid technological advancement and conflict.

World Economic Forum

• About: The WEF is a Swiss nonprofit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Recognized by: Swiss authorities as the international institution for public-private cooperation.
• Some major reports published by WEF are:
• Energy Transition Index.
• Global Competitiveness Report.
• Global IT Report
• WEF along with INSEAD, and Cornell University publishes this report.
• Global Gender Gap Report.

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