1. OPERATION AJAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, the Union Ministry of External Affairs initiated 'Operation Ajay' to evacuate Indian citizens from the conflict zone amid ongoing clashes between IDF and Hamas in Israel.

• The nation came under unprecedented attack by the Hamas militant group that rules the Gaza Strip.

Operation Ajay

• India announced the launch "Operation Ajay" to help Indians stuck in Israel to return home as fresh tension triggered in the region as Hamas militants made a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns over the weekend.
• As per the external affairs ministry, around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel.

Hamas

• Hamas, founded in 1987, is a Palestinian Islamist political organization and militant group.
• Its primary goal is to establish an Islamic state in Palestine.
• Several countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
• Hamas has been responsible for various attacks on Israeli civilians and military targets, such as suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and kidnappings.

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2. LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: India and China recently held their 20th round of military talks, reaffirming their commitment to peace in the border areas through ongoing dialogue.

Line of Actual Control (LAC)

• About: The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
• Three Areas: Western (Ladakh, Kashmir),

oMiddle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and

oEastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).

• As LAC is not fully and officially demarcated, it has led to differing perceptions regarding the alignment, with China making territorial claims in the following areas.
• The countries disagree on the exact location of the LAC in various areas, so much so that India claims that the LAC is 3,488 km long while the Chinese believe it to be around 2,000 km long.
• The two armies try to dominate by patrolling the areas up to their respective perceptions of the LAC, often bringing them into conflict.

Ladakh

• Ladakh was granted Union Territory status in 2019, following the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate Union Territories.
• The administration of Ladakh is currently governed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and an elected Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).

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3. PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of India, recently approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Papua New Guinea for sharing successful digital solutions at a population scale.

Papua New Guinea

• Located: Situated in the southwestern Pacific and encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea, the world's second-largest island, along with numerous smaller offshore islands.
• Boundaries: It shares its borders with Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south, and the Solomon Islands to the southeast.
• Capital: The capital city is Port Moresby.
• Terrain: The terrain is predominantly mountainous, but there are low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.
• India is also trying to boost ties and cooperation with the Pacific Island nations, which include, apart from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

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4. UNHRC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – International Organization)

Context: Russia recently failed in its bid to return to the United Nations' top human rights body.

UNHRC

• About: The Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system.
• History: The UNHRC replaced the former UN Commission on Human Rights.
• Establishment: By the UNGA on March 15, 2006, and held its inaugural session in June 2006.
• Headquarters: Geneva
• Composition of Council: 47 UN Member States elected by majority vote in a direct and secret ballot at the UNGA.

oMembership is based on equitable geographical distribution.

oIndia is currently a council member.

• Tenure: Members serve three-year terms and cannot be immediately re-elected after two consecutive terms.
• Funding: Approximately two-thirds of UN Human Rights income relies on voluntary contributions from Member States and other donors.
• Leadership of the Council: The council is led by a five-person Bureau, featuring a president and four vice-presidents, each representing one of the five regional groups.

oTheir terms align with the council's annual cycle.

Functions

• It is tasked with enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.
• The council addresses and provides recommendations on human rights violations.
• It has the authority to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations.

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5. CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Union Cabinet recently approved royalty rates for critical minerals including lithium, niobium, and rare earth elements (REEs).

• The government’s initiative to auction critical minerals coincides with India’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. 
• Lithium is extensively used in batteries, niobium finds applications in superalloys and superconductors, and REEs are vital components in electronics and clean energy technologies.

Critical Raw Materials

• About: Critical minerals are a cluster of minerals crucial for diverse industrial sectors, carrying significant economic and security implications for a nation.
• Found: Earth’s crust
• Examples: Rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, graphite, platinum group metals, and certain minerals and metals.
• Top Producers: Chile, Indonesia, Congo, China, Australia and South Africa.
• Niobium (Nb): It is an element in the Periodic Table with atomic number 41, and it's denoted by the symbol Nb.

oIt's a gentle, stretchable transition metal that doesn't corrode easily because it has a protective oxide layer on its surface.

• Lithium (Li): A soft and shiny gray metal, that is present in the Earth's crust. It's an extremely reactive and alkaline element.

oPrimarily utilized in ceramics, glasses, greases, pharmaceuticals, air conditioners, and aluminum production.

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6. JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: The Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary.

Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan

• Born: On October 11, 1902. Jay Prakash Narayan's birthday is celebrated as "Save Democracy Day" due to his remarkable role in the anti-emergency agitation during 1975-76.
• Early Life and Ideological Journey: In 1921, he joined the Non-cooperation movement and was deeply influenced by Gandhian ideology.
• A stint in the United States exposed him to Marxist ideology, but he ultimately embraced socialism over revolution to combat capitalism.
• In 1929, he was invited to join the Indian National Congress (INC) by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Congress Socialist Party (1934): He established the Congress Socialist Party with the ideology of Democratic Socialism.

oHe participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942, advocating non-rebellion and non-violence.

• Advocating "Total Revolution" (1975): During the Emergency period in 1975, he called for "Total Revolution" or "Sampoorna Kranti" to completely transform society.
• National and International Engagement: After Jawaharlal Nehru's death, he became increasingly involved in national politics.
• During the Bangladesh crisis, JP served as India's ambassador to advocate for India's just cause.
• Advocate for Human Rights: JP's voice resonated in international crises, such as the Hungarian crisis, Czech crisis, and Tibetan crisis during his era.
• Bharat Ratna: In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.

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7. DANCING FROGS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the Wildlife Trust of India identified the dancing frogs in the Western Ghats as India's most threatened amphibian genus.

Dancing Frogs

• Endemic to the Western Ghats
• Habitat Preference: Thrives in dense canopy areas (70-80% coverage)
• Fifth Most Threatened Genus Globally, with 92% of species in the threatened category
• Behavior: Unique mating display near streams
• Males perform "foot flagging" to attract mates and deter competition due to stream noise
• Ecological Significance: Valuable in food chains and ecosystem services
• Threats: Endangered by invasive species, land use changes, temperature and humidity variations, extreme weather events, infectious diseases, water and light pollution, and infrastructure projects

Wildlife Trust of India

• About: WTI is a non-profit conservation organisation dedicated to safeguarding India’s natural heritage.

oWTI is a registered charity in India (under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961).

• Founded: In November 1998 in New Delhi, India, in response to the rapidly deteriorating state of wildlife in India.
• A team of 3 members set out on a mission to save the environment which has now increased to 150 full time professionals.

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8. WHITE GOODS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Ecomomy)

Context: The government recently tightened its oversight over the selected applicants under the Production Linked Incentive for white goods.

White Goods

• White goods encompass large household appliances like stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, and more.
• Although they're now available in various colors, they retain the name "white goods."
• These appliances are renowned for their robust construction, built to endure daily wear and tear.
• The term can also pertain to white fabrics like linen and cotton, including items such as curtains and towels, which were traditionally white.
• In the beverage industry, white goods refer to colorless spirits like vodka and gin.

Brown Goods

• Brown goods include relatively lightweight electronic consumer durables like computers, digital media players, TVs, and radios.
• Unlike large household appliances (white goods), brown goods are primarily oriented towards entertainment, communication, and convenience.
• These devices commonly incorporate electronic components and are designed to deliver audio, video, or data-related services.

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9. BAIGA TRIBES (Syllabus: GS Paper 1– Geography)

Context: The Baiga Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) became the second to get habitat rights in Chhattisgarh, after the Kamar PVTG.

Baiga Tribes

• Geographic Distribution: The Baiga Tribe, classified as one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), resides in regions spanning Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
• A total of 19 Baiga villages with a population of 6,483 people (2,085 families) have been given the habitat rights.
• Traditional Occupation: Historically, the Baiga people led a semi-nomadic lifestyle and engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture. Today, their livelihood predominantly relies on minor forest produce.
• Cultivation Method: They practice a form of shifting cultivation known as "Bewar," adapting to their ecological surroundings.
• Cultural Significance of Mahua: Mahua, derived from the fermentation and distillation of Mahua tree flowers, holds significant cultural importance in Baiga society as a source of food and an intoxicant.
• Tattooing Tradition: Tattooing is an integral aspect of Baiga culture, with specific tattoos reserved for different ages and occasions, shaping their unique cultural identity.

PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups)

• PVTGs represent the most susceptible segment among India's tribal communities, necessitating enhanced support and development efforts.
• Among the 705 Scheduled Tribes in India, 75 have garnered the PVTG classification, and their populations are dispersed across 17 states and one Union Territory.

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10. CHILIKA LAKE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, migratory birds flocked to Chilika for the upcoming winter season.

• Migratory birds, mostly from beyond the Himalayas in Northern Eurasia, the Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and the remote areas of Russia and neighbouring countries visit the Chilika every winter and start their homeward journey before the onset of summer.

Chilika Lake

• About: Asia's largest brackish water lagoon, Chilika is located in Odisha, India, at the Bay of Bengal's mouth where the Daya River flows.
• As the largest coastal lagoon in India and the world's second-largest, Chilika was declared a Ramsar site in 1981, reflecting its significance for biodiversity and socio-economic factors.
• Chilika became the first Indian waterbody to be recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Kalijai Temple - Located on an island in the Chilika Lake.
• Migratory Birds: Amur Falcons, Bar-headed Geese, Black-necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpback Whales, etc.

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