1. CABO VERDE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Places in news)

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde (also known as Cape Verde) as a malaria-free country, becoming the third country to acquire the status in the global health organisation’s African region.    

Cabo Verde

• About: It is an archipelago and island country of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean
• Bordered by: Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal.
• Comprise: Ten volcanic islands with a combined land area.
• Capital: Santiago

Malaria

• About: It is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected femaleAnopheles mosquitoes.

oAfrica has the highest malaria burden and accounted for roughly 95 per cent of global malaria cases and 96 per cent of related deaths in 2021.

• Two Other Malaria Free Countries: Mauritius and Algeria.

WHO’s Certification

• WHO’s certification of Cabo Verde being malaria-free is testament to the power of strategic public health planning, collaboration, and sustained effort to protect and promote health
• The certification is WHO’s official recognition of a country’s malaria-free status. 
• It is granted after a country has demonstrated, using rigorous, credible evidence, that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been disrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years. 
• A country must also demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

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2. INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Environment/Disaster)

Context: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recently marked the commencement of its 150th year, steadfast in its commitment to providing weather and climate services to the country.

India Meteorological Department

• Establishment: IMD was established in 1875 and serves as the National Meteorological Service of India. 
• Purpose: It is the principal government agency for all matters related to meteorology and associated subjects.
• Administrative Affiliation: Operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India, IMD functions as an agency dedicated to meteorological activities.
• Headquarters: IMD is headquartered in New Delhi, functioning as a central hub for meteorological operations.

Global Recognition:

• IMD is recognized as one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.

Roles and Responsibilities

• IMD plays a crucial role in various sectors, providing meteorological information and warnings for optimal functioning in weather-sensitive activities.
• One of IMD's primary roles is to conduct meteorological observations and offer current and forecasted information. This supports activities such as agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, and offshore oil explorations.
• IMD issues warnings against severe weather phenomena, including tropical cyclones, norwesters, dust storms, heavy rains, snow, cold and heat waves. These warnings aim to prevent destruction of life and property.
• IMD contributes to various sectors by providing meteorological statistics essential for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil exploration, and other nation-building activities.

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3. ZERO DEFECT ZERO EFFECT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) scheme by the MSME Ministry has achieved the 1 lakh certification milestone, the ministry said recently.

Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED)

• About: The ZED scheme offers environmentally conscious manufacturing certification with gold, silver, and bronze levels based on 20 performance parameters.
• Launched in: October 2016.
• Revamped in: April 2022 .
• Aim: To enhance MSME competitiveness, make them sustainable and transform them as National and International Champions.
• Objectives of the ZED Scheme

oCreate awareness about ZED manufacturing.

oMotivate MSMEs for ZED rating assessment.

oDrive manufacturing with Zero-Defect processes.

oEmphasize environmental impact minimization (Zero Effect).

oEncourage MSMEs to upgrade quality standards in products and processes.

oContribute to the "Make in India" campaign.

• Applicability: Currently applicable exclusively for manufacturing MSMEs.
• MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification: It is an extensive drive to create awareness amongst MSMEs about Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) practices and motivate & incentivise
• Certification Levels: Level 1: BRONZE, Level 2: SILVER, Level 3: GOLD

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4. CPGRAMS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) 17th monthly report for States/UTs for December, 2023.

Key Points

• Uttar Pradesh has received the maximum number of grievances in December, 2023 with the number standing at 20,732 grievances. 
• 15 States/UTs have received more than 1000 grievances in the month of December, 2023. Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat disposed the maximum number of grievances in December, 2023, with the number standing at 22,874 and 4,687 grievances respectively. 
• 16 States/UTs have disposed more than 1000 grievances in the month of December, 2023.

Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

• About: It is an online platform available to the citizens 24x7 to lodge their grievances to the public authorities on any subject related to service delivery. 
• Connected: It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and States. 
• Accessible: Every Ministry and States have role-based access to this system. 

oIt is also accessible to the citizens through standalone mobile applications downloadable through Google Play store and mobile applications integrated with UMANG.

• Tracking of Status

oThe status of the grievance filed in CPGRAMS can be tracked with the unique registration ID provided at the time of registration of the complainant. 

oCPGRAMS also provides an appeal facility to the citizens if they are not satisfied with the resolution by the Grievance Officer.

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5. ARTICLE 30 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Supreme Court's recent attempt aimed to strike a balance by remarking that the intent of Article 30 of the Constitution was not to recently ghettoise minorities by insisting they had the upper hand in administration of the institution.

Article 30

• Right to Establish Educational Institutions: All minorities, whether based on religion or language, have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
• Minority Educational Institutions: (1A): In the event of compulsory acquisition of property from a minority educational institution, the State must ensure that the amount fixed does not impede the rights guaranteed under clause (1).
• Non-Discrimination in Granting Aid: The State is prohibited from discriminating against any educational institution, managed by a minority based on religion or language, when providing aid to educational institutions.

Categories 

• Category 1: Institutions that request both state recognition and financial assistance.
• Category 2: Institutions that request neither recognition nor financial assistance.
• Category 3: Institutions that do not request either recognition or financial assistance.
• Objective: To safeguard the educational rights of minority communities in India and uphold their freedom to preserve culture and language through education.

Features of Article 30

• Article 30 safeguards the right of minority communities to establish and manage educational institutions according to their preferences.
• Discrimination in admission to these institutions is explicitly prohibited under this article.
• The provision extends to state funding or assistance for such institutions, ensuring they can claim rights and benefits comparable to those granted to government-aided or government-operated institutions.
• These educational institutions, while exercising their rights, are obligated to comply with state regulations. These regulations, imposed in the interest of national security, public order, or morality, must be reasonable and non-discriminatory.

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6. HIMALAYAN WOLF (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Himalayan Wolf has been assessed for the first time in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List.

Himalayan Wolf

• Scientific name: Canis lupus chanco
• Habitat: Found living in Ladakh in the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau,[9][10] and the mountains of Central Asia.

oIndia has 227-378 mature individuals in its section of the Himalayas. 

• Characteristics: The Himalayan wolf has a thick, woolly fur that is dull earthy-brown on the back and tail, and yellowish-white on the face, tummy, and limbs. 

oIt has closely spaced black speckles on the muzzle, below the eyes, and on the upper cheeks and ears.

oLarger than the Indian and common European wolves.

• Threat: Illegally hunted for trade in its fur and body parts including paws, tongues, heads, and other parts.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I

Suggestions to enhance the protection of Himalayan wolves

• Securing and restoring healthy wild prey populations and landscapes and setting aside wildlife habitat refuges;
• Improving livestock guarding methods, such as predator-proof corral pens and using sustainable livestock herding practices, including reduced livestock loads, adapted herding, and developing novel but tradition-based holistic management practices
• Management of feral dog populations
• Trans-boundary efforts in conservation of the species in range countries through research and monitoring.

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7. ANUBHAV AWARDS SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: On the directions of the Prime Minister of India, DOPPW had launched an online platform entitled ‘Anubhav Portal’ for sharing experiences of retiring/retired Central Government employees while working with the Government.

ANUBHAV Award

• About: It is a means for retiring employees to showcase significant achievements made during their service period. 
• It also provides them with an opportunity to convey information related to contribution in enhancing the effectiveness of the various Government policies.
• Launch: March 2015
• Conferred by: Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare
• Objective: It is envisaged that this culture of leaving notes by retirees will become the foundation stone of good governance and administrative reforms in future.
• Categories: 20.
• Cash award:  Rs. 10,000/- a Medal.
• ANUBHAV Awards Portal: It provides a Platform to retiring Government Employees for sharing their experiences while working in different Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

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8. AKASH MISSILE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful flight-test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.        

AKASH Missile

• Indigenous Development: Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• Characteristics: A mid-range surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile capable of supersonic speeds ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5, with nuclear capability.
• Multi-Target: A multi-target, multi-directional, all-weather air-defense system equipped with surveillance and tracking radars.
• Propulsion System: Powered by a Ramjet-rocket propulsion system.
• Operational Range and Altitude: Capable of engaging aerial threats up to a maximum range of 25 km and an altitude of 18 km, operating at speeds between 1.8 to 2.5 Mach.
• Export Approval by Cabinet: The Cabinet has granted approval for the export of the Akash missile.

Akash-NG Variant 

• About: A new-generation Surface-to-Air Missile designed for use by the Indian Air Force.
• Purpose: Specifically designed to intercept high-maneuvering, low radar cross-section aerial threats. It features an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) multi-function radar combining search, track, and fire control functions.
• Extended Range Capability: While the earlier variant has a maximum range of 25-30 km, the Akash-NG variant can effectively strike targets up to 70 km.

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9. TB SURVEILLANCE MILESTONE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: With 25,37,235 TB cases notified in 2023, India has bettered the TB notification number achieved in 2022.

About Tuberculosis (TB)

• About: It is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. 
• Symptoms: prolonged cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.
• Caused by: bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs, but can also attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
• Transmission: TB is highly contagious and spreads from person to person through the air.
• Treatment: It is curable and preventable. TB can usually be treated with a course of 4 standard, or first-line, anti-TB drugs.

KEY INITIATIVES TO COMBAT TB

• India: National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP): launched in 1997, aims at achieving universal access to TB diagnosis and treatment, National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017 - 2025: to eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2025 and NI-KSHAY- (Ni=End, Kshay=TB).
• Global: SDG Target 3.3 - By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases and WHO End TB Strategy: As compared with 2015, 80% reduction in the TB incidence rate by 2030; 90% reduction in the annual number of TB deaths by 2030; No households affected by TB face catastrophic costs by 2020.

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10. PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Places in News)

Context: Recently, Papua New Guinea's prime minister declared a state of emergency, suspending government and police officials, in response to the tragic events that unfolded with the killing of 16 people during rioting in the Pacific island nation.

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.
• Bounderd by: Indonesia to the west, 

oAustralia to the south, 

oand the Solomon Islan0ds 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.
• Torres Strait: It is also known as Zenadh Kes, is a strait between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea.
• Economy: Copper and gold are the main mineral resources of the island.

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