1. SMART CITIES MISSION (SCM) (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Policies/Schemes)

Context: The Smart Cities Mission (SCM) has taken a back seat in this year’s list of poll promises and achievements.

Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

• Launched by: June, 2015.
• Ministry: Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
• Objective: To promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment, and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
• Focus Area: Sustainable and inclusive development by the creation of replicable models that act as lighthouses to other aspiring cities.
• Two main aspects: Area-based development consisting of three components — redevelopment (city renewal), retrofitting (city improvement), and green field projects (city extension); and pan-city solutions based on ICT.
• Coverage: 100 cities
• Funding: This Mission is operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Extension: June 2023 to June 2024.

Other Key Initiatives of the Smart Cities Mission include:

• Assessment Frameworks created under the Smart Cities Mission include Ease of Living Index, Municipal Performance Index, Data Maturity Assessment Framework and Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework.
• National Challenges: Such as ‘Placemaking Marathons’, ‘Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge’, ‘Transport4All’ and ‘EatSmart cities’ etc.
• National Urban Digital Mission: pilot launched in February 2021 to foster a national urban digital ecosystem that delivers accessible, inclusive, efficient and citizen centric governance.
• Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP): MoHUA and MHRD launched ‘TULIP to match opportunities in ULBs and Smart Cities with learning needs of recent graduates. The program intends to fulfil the twin goals of providing hands-on learning experience to recent graduates as well as benefitting States, ULBs and Smart Cities with infusion of fresh energy and ideas to solve critical challenges. 

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

Context: The first recipient of a pig kidney recently passed away two months after the surgery, with his family and doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital not associating his death with the transplant.

Xenotransplantation

• About: It involves transplanting living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.
• Origin: Derived from the Latin term 'xeno,' meaning 'foreign.'
• Scope: Encompasses procedures involving nonhuman animal sources into human recipients, as defined by the US FDA.
• Working technology:

o Surgical Procedure: Resembles standard organ transplant procedures.

o Genetic Modification: Animal organs undergo genetic alterations to prevent rejection in humans.

o Technological Intervention: CRISPR-Cas9 technology used for gene editing.

o Modification: It involves removal of pig genes producing immune-reactive sugars and addition of human genes for improved compatibility.

Why are pigs often used for xenotransplantation?

• Due to their anatomical and physiological similarity to humans.
• The widespread and cost-effective breeding of pigs makes them an accessible source of organs, and the variety of pig breeds allows for matching organ sizes with human recipients' needs.

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3. COUPLES RIGHTS UNDER ARTICLE 21 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court recently ruled that a Muslim cannot assert rights in a live-in relationship if they already have a living spouse.

Background of the Issue 

• The couple claimed protection under Article 21 for their live-in relationship, but the court ruled against it, citing Islamic tenets.
• The judges emphasized that while constitutional morality may protect such couples in certain cases, it wouldn't automatically support their rights under Article 21.
• The court differentiated between unmarried couples and those already in a subsisting marriage, denying protection under Article 21 to the latter.

Legal Provisions in Relation to Live in Relationships

• Article 21 of the Constitution: Guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
• Lata Singh v. State of UP (2006): Supreme Court ruled that cohabitation of two individuals of opposite sex is not illegal.
• Velusamy v. D Patchaimal (2010): Supreme Court established criteria for legal recognition of live-in relationships:

oCouples must present themselves to society as akin to spouses.

oBoth individuals must be of legal marriage age and unmarried.

oThey must be otherwise qualified for marriage.

oThey must have cohabited and held themselves as spouses for a significant period.

• Article 19: It affirms every citizen's right to reside and settle anywhere within India's territory. Therefore, individuals, regardless of marital status, cannot be refused accommodation if they choose to live together as adults.

Legal Status of Live-in Relationships in India

• Absence of Specific Laws: India lacks laws directly addressing live-in partnerships, leaving them unregulated by legislation.
• Judicial Perspective: The Supreme Court recognizes the right to life includes the freedom for unmarried couples to cohabit without facing legal repercussions.
• Court Rulings: Courts presume cohabiting couples, even without formal marriage, as legally bound in long-term relationships. 

oIn cases like Payal Sharma versus Nari Niketan, the judiciary distinguishes between societal morality and legal validity, affirming the legality of live-in relationships.

• Badri Prasad v. Dy. Director of Consolidation (1978): It underscores the legality of live-in relationships, subject to conditions like age, consent, and mental capacity.

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4. CHABAHAR PORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, India and Iran signed a 10-year contract for the operation of the Chabahar port, eight years after finalizing the general cooperation framework.

Chabahar Port

• Meaning: Chabahar is made of the Persian words Chahar meaning four; and bahar meaning spring.
• History: Indo-Iranian collaboration on Chabahar port dates back to 2003. It is only during the PM visit in 2016, he pledged up to $500 million to develop and operate Iran's Chabahar port as part of a trilateral engagement between India, Iran and Afghanistan.
• Location: Chabahar port is located in Iran’s south-eastern Sistan and Baluchestan province. 
• Consist of two ports: Chabahar Port consists of two separate ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.

o Its geographic proximity to countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, as well as its status as a key transit centre on the burgeoning International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), gives it the potential to develop into one of the most important commercial hubs in the region. 

Significance Of The Port

• Bypass Pakistan: India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.
• Connectivity: Chabahar port will boost India's access to Iran, the key gateway to the INSTC that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.
• Countering China: It will be beneficial to India in countering Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea which China is trying to ensure by helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port.
• Import: There will be a significant boost in the import of iron ore, sugar and rice to India. The import cost of oil to India will also see a considerable decline.

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5. TYPES OF BANKS IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The last financial year, 2023-24 (FY24), was good for private banks and excellent for public-sector banks (PSBs).

Types of Banks in India:

• Central Bank: RBI serves as the Central Bank of India and is responsible for regulating and controlling the monetary and banking system in the country.
• Commercial Banks: These banks are organized under the Banking Companies Act 1956. The main objective of commercial banks is to make a profit and include public sector banks, private sector banks, and foreign banks. Types:

o Public Banks: Owned and operated by the government, examples include State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), and Bank of Baroda (BOB).

o Private Sector Banks: These are privately owned and managed banks, such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank. IndusInd was the first pvt. bank in India.

o Foreign Banks: These banks have branches in India and are headquartered in foreign countries. Some examples are Citibank, Standard Chartered, and HSBC.

• Regional Rural Banks (RRBs): These banks cater to rural and semi-urban areas and are owned by the government, commercial banks, and state governments.
• Co-operative Bank is registered under the Co-operative Societies Act of 1912 and is run by an elected managing committee. It works on a non-profit, no-loss basis and mainly serves entrepreneurs, small businesses, self-employment, and more in urban areas.
• Payment banks: They are a relatively new banking model in the country that has been conceptualized by the RBI. This bank is allowed to accept a restricted deposit with restricted functions.
• Small Finance Banks: These banks primarily serve the unserved and underserved sections of the population, including small businesses and low-income individuals.

o This type of bank is licensed under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949, and it is governed by the Provisions Act of 1934.

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6. EXO-PLANET: 55 CANCRI E (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Astronomers have recently found a "super-Earth" or say an exo-planet, that orbits perilously close to a star dimmer and slightly less massive than our sun.

Rocky Planet

• Name of the planet: 55 Cancri e, also called Janssen, a so-called super-Earth, a rocky planet significantly larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.
• About rocky planets: These planets are Earth-like planets.

o Earth, Mars, Mercury and Venus are terrestrial, or rocky, planets.

o Also known as: Terrestrial Planet.

• Finding were done after an observation of: James Webb Space Telescope.
• Atmosphere of the exo-planet: The atmosphere is likely rich in carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, but can also have other gases such as water vapor and sulfur dioxide. The current observations cannot pinpoint the exact atmospheric composition.
• Size: 8.8 times more massive than Earth, with a diameter about twice that of our planet.
• Its star and orbit: It orbits its star at one-25th the distance between our solar system's innermost planet Mercury and the sun. 

o The planet is probably tidally locked, meaning it perpetually has the same side facing its star, much like the moon does toward Earth.

o The planet is located in our Milky Way galaxy about 41 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Cancer. 

Exo-planets:

• About: An exoplanet is any planet beyond our solar system. Most orbit other stars, but free-floating exoplanets without any star is called rogue planets.

o Almost all planets detected so far are within the Milky Way. However, there is evidence that extragalactic planets, exoplanets located in other galaxies, may exist.

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7. ZERO-DAY VULNERABILITY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Cyber Security)

Context: Google Chrome has been hit with another zero-day vulnerability, which has set the alarm bells ringing among users and cyber experts.

Zero-day Vulnerability

• About: It refers to a system or software vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor and lacks any available patch or mitigation.
• Zero-Day Attack: This term denotes an attack occurring immediately after the vulnerability's discovery, leaving no time for mitigation.
• Zero-Day Exploit: It describes the method hackers employ to exploit the vulnerability, often via malware, to execute an attack.
• Nature of Attacks: Threat actors develop and release malware promptly to target ZDVs, initiating zero-day attacks before security professionals and developers can respond with patches.
• zero-day vulnerabilities pose a higher risk to users for the following reasons:

o Cybercriminals race to exploit these vulnerabilities to cash in on their schemes

o Vulnerable systems are exposed until a patch is issued by the vendor.

• Example: In April 2020, a zero-day vulnerability was discovered in Zoom that made it possible for attackers to gain remote access to users’ computers under certain conditions.

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8. SOLID WASTE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The Supreme Court recently criticized the absence of immediate plans to address over 5,600 tonnes of untreated solid waste daily in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Faridabad, calling it a dire situation amidst discussions of development and environmental concerns.

Solid Waste

• About: It refers to the undesired or nonessential solid materials produced from human activities in residential, industrial, or commercial zones.
• Categorized in three ways:

o Origin (domestic, industrial, commercial, construction or institutional)

o Contents (organic material, glass, metal, plastic paper etc)

o Hazard potential (toxic, non-toxin, flammable, radioactive, infectious etc).

• Types of Solid Waste

o Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Includes household waste, construction debris, sanitation residue, and street waste from residential and commercial areas. It encompasses solid or semi-solid waste from municipal or notified areas, excluding industrial hazardous waste but including treated biomedical waste, according to the MoEF.

o Industrial Solid Waste (ISW): Often classified as hazardous due to containing toxic substances, being corrosive, highly flammable, or reactive.

o Biomedical Waste or Hospital Waste: Comprises infectious waste like sharps, soiled disposables, anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, and chemical waste, typically found in disposable syringes, bandages, body fluids, and human excreta. Improper management poses serious health risks.

Waste Management Rules and Guidelines

• The Bio-Medical Waste (Management And Handling) Rules, 1998
• Municipal Solid Waste (Management And Handling) Rules 2000
• The Plastic Waste (Management And Handling) Rules, 2011
• E-Waste (Management And Handling) Rules, 2011

There are other court cases that find their importance in terms of Solid Waste Management in India:

• Almitra Patel vs. Union of India
• B.L Wadhera vs. Union of India.
• Judgement of Karnataka High Court towards Mandatory Segregation at Source.

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9. PENCH TIGER RESERVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A leopard cat has been spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve for the first time, a senior forest official said recently.

Pench Tiger Reserve

• Location: situated in Maharashtra.
• Geographical Features: The sanctuary spans across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

o The Madhya Pradesh portion lies in the Satpura ranges.

• National Park: Comprising the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer zone.

o Designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of India.

• Rivers: The Pench river flows through the middle of the park.
• Flora: Southern dry broadleaf teak forests and tropical mixed deciduous forests, shrubs, climbers, and medicinal trees, Bamboo plantations thrive near water banks.
• Fauna: Sloth bear, jackal, nilgai, peafowl, magpie robin, and myna.
• Significance:

o Represents the wilderness of the Central Indian Highland.

o Offers excellent habitat for the highly endangered Tiger species.

o Critical for water storage in Totladoh reservoir, supplying Nagpur and generating electricity for Madhya Pradesh.

Leopard Cat

• About: It is a solitary species but has been observed in pairs or with dependent young. It is mainly described as nocturnal and crepuscular.
• Found: Itt occurs throughout most of India, west into Pakistan and Afghanistan, into the Himalayan foothills, across most of China, and north to the Korean peninsula and into the Russian Far East
• Scientific name: Prionailurus bengalensis
• Habitat: forests and jungles in both low country and in hilly, even mountainous areas up to 3,254 metres.
• IUCN Status: Least Concernz.

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10. UNODC (Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Security)

Context:  According to the 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report recently released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the rhino and cedar were the species most impacted by global illegal wildlife trade between 2015 and 2021.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

• About: It stands as a prominent global figure in combatting illegal drugs and international crime, while also overseeing the execution of the primary United Nations initiative on counterterrorism.
• Establishment: In 1997.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
• Focus: Helping to make the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism.

o The UNODC's efforts are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 16, which aims to advance peace, justice, and robust institutions.

• Functions:

o Drug Control: The UNODC endeavors to combat illicit drug production, trafficking, and abuse. It fosters global collaboration, drug demand reduction, and alternative development initiatives.

o Crime Prevention: The organization aids member states in preventing and tackling diverse criminal activities such as organized crime, human trafficking, smuggling, and cybercrime.

o Corruption: The UNODC aids nations in combating corruption, money laundering, and financial offenses detrimental to economic progress and stability.

o Terrorism Prevention: The agency contributes significantly to aiding member states in preventing and countering terrorism, including addressing terrorism financing.

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