1. JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court ruling exposed the unholy nexus involving politicians, forest officials, and local contractors responsible for the felling of 6,000 trees in the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.

Jim Corbett National Park

• Location: Situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state, India.
• Establishment: 1936 during the British Raj.

oOriginally named Hailey National Park after William Malcolm Hailey, a governor of the United Provinces.

• Renamed: Corbett National Park in 1956, after the hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett.
• Tiger Reserve: Highest Number of tigers in India.  
• Geography: Spans an area of 520.8 km2, including hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, and grasslands.

oElevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft (400 to 1,220 m).

• Vegetation: Encompasses dense moist deciduous forests dominated by species like Sal (Shorea robusta). 
• Fauna: Home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Bengal tigers, Asiatic elephants, leopards, deer species, sloth bears, Indian pythons, and various bird species.

oMore than 550 species of resident and migratory birds documented.

• River: Ramganga (A tributary of Ganga River).

Supreme Court Judgement

• Court Bans Tiger Safaris in Core Areas: The court directed the banning of tiger safaris in core areas across India, not just limited to Jim Corbett.
• Formation of Committee: A committee was constituted to explore the feasibility of permitting tiger safaris in peripheral areas.
• Disagreement with NTCA Guidelines: The court disagreed with the 2019 guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) regarding tiger safaris resembling zoos in national parks.
• Emphasis on Local Sourcing: Stressing on conservation, the court mandated that tigers for safaris should be sourced from the same landscape as the safari location, prohibiting sourcing from outside tiger reserves.

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2. DRAGON'S EGG NEBULA (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Two large stars residing inside a spectacular cloud of gas and dust nicknamed the "Dragon's Egg" nebula have presented a puzzle to astronomers.

New Research Findings

• Star Cannibalism Revealed: A recent study in Science suggests that a larger star devoured a smaller sibling, resulting in a merger that generated a magnetic field through the mixing of their materials.
• Violent Stellar Merger: Astronomer of the study, indicates that the merger was likely turbulent, potentially ejecting material and forming the observed nebula.
• Binary System Discovery: The two remaining stars, now a binary system, are situated approximately 3,700 light-years away in the Milky Way galaxy's Norma constellation, with a light-year representing about 9.5 trillion kilometers.
• Stellar Characteristics: The magnetic star, 30 times more massive than the Sun, and its companion, 26.5 times more massive, orbit each other at varying distances, ranging from seven to 60 times the Earth-Sun distance.

Dragon's Egg Nebula

• About: The Dragon's Egg nebula surrounds a pair of stars and is named after its proximity to the 'Fighting Dragons of Ara' nebula complex.
• Birth of the Triple Star System: The stars within the Dragon's Egg nebula formed approximately 4-6 million years ago as a triple system, originating from the same stellar birth event.
• Composition: The triple system comprised a larger star, possibly 25 to 30 times the mass of the Sun, and a smaller star, estimated to be five to 10 times the Sun's mass.
• Evolution and Merger: The larger star evolved faster, leading to its outer layers engulfing the smaller star, culminating in a merger event that ejected gas and dust, forming the nebula.
• Recent Cosmic Event: The merger event occurred relatively recently in cosmic terms, around 7,500 years ago, based on the expansion velocity of the nebular material.
• Unusual Composition: The nebula primarily consists of hydrogen and helium but contains a notable amount of nitrogen, attributed to the merger event.
• Magnetic Fields: Many stars similar in size to the Sun produce magnetic fields, contributing to the dynamics within the Dragon's Egg nebula.

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3. JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: Prime Minister of India paid tribute to the people killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 and shared a video defining the incident and showcasing the unparalleled courage and sacrifice of the victims.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• About: It was a culmination of British colonial policies, including the introduction of laws like the Defence of India Act and the Rowlatt Act, granting extraordinary powers to the government.
• Return of Gandhi and Rising Unrest: Gandhi's return to India and his opposition to the Rowlatt Act heightened tensions, leading to widespread protests and strikes across the country.
• Tense Situation in Punjab: Punjab, with its strategic importance and significant presence in the British Indian Army, was a focal point of unrest, especially with the imposition of martial law in certain areas.
• Events Leading to the Massacre

oProclamation and Disobedience: Despite General Dyer's proclamation prohibiting public gatherings, thousands defied the order and gathered at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919.

oBrutal Response: General Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd, leading to a massacre that lasted for about ten minutes.

• Immediate Effects of the Massacre

oPublic Outrage and International Response: The brutality of the massacre shocked the nation and drew condemnation worldwide, with figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore taking significant actions in protest.

oImpact on British Rule: The incident shattered the perception of British justice and fueled the resistance against colonial governance, marking a turning point in India's struggle for independence.

• Aftermath and Long-term Consequences

oIneffective Inquiry and Lack of Accountability: Despite condemnations, the British government's response, including the ineffective Hunter Commission, failed to hold General Dyer accountable, exacerbating the sense of injustice among Indians.

oLegacy of Resistance: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre galvanized the Indian populace, leading to movements like the Non-cooperation movement and contributing to the eventual downfall of British colonial rule in India.

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4. ELECTION SYMBOL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Election symbols are a critical component of elections. They are a party’s identity, and help voters recognise candidates. When parties split, a battle is fought for its election symbol.

Election Symbol

• About: Election symbols were recognized as crucial tools in a low literacy rate environment like India pre-1951, prompting the Election Commission to prioritize their selection carefully.
• Criteria for Symbol Selection: Symbols had to be easily recognizable and devoid of any religious or sentimental connotations, such as national flags or religious symbols, to ensure neutrality and inclusivity.
• Limited Choices: Recognized national and state parties were presented with a selection of 26 pre-approved symbols by the Election Commission, reflecting a diverse yet restricted range of options.
• Allotment of symbols

oRegulatory Framework: Rules 5 and 10 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, outline the Election Commission's authority to specify permissible symbols for candidates and the associated regulations.

oReserved Symbols: The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, categorizes symbols as either "reserved" for exclusive use by recognized political parties or "free" for general use, ensuring fairness and order in symbol allotment.

• Under Paragraph 15 of the Order:  EC can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol.
• Authority of the Election Commission: The EC is the only authority to decide issues on a dispute or a merger under the order, as upheld by the Supreme Court.

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5. DOXXING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Cyber Security)

Context: Recently, a woman in Mumbai filed a case of doxxing against a man with the police station, alleging that her video had been reposted without her permission.

Doxxing

• Definition: Doxxing involves revealing intimate information about someone with the intent of harassment, often targeting individuals with opposing views or public figures.
• Real-life Consequences: Doxxing can have severe real-life consequences, including sending armed police or SWAT teams to victims' homes.
• Private Information: This information typically includes addresses, phone numbers, and financial details, posing a serious threat to personal safety and security.
• Impact on Security: Doxxing attacks encompass physical, digital, and emotional security, necessitating various actions for protection.
• Immediate Responses: Victims of doxxing must manage multiple tasks simultaneously, such as relocating, informing employers, securing finances, and seeking legal assistance.
• Broader Implications: Doxxing can endanger not only the victim but also those in their proximity, potentially leading to eviction or termination.

Twitter's New Policy on Doxxing

• Live Location Disclosure: Twitter's updated policy now explicitly prohibits the sharing of an individual's live location, recognizing it as a potential serious safety and security risk.
• Evolution of Policy: The inclusion of live location disclosure marks a significant shift from the previous policy, highlighting Twitter's efforts to combat doxxing and protect its users.
• According to the policy: Violation of these can result in the account getting locked and continued violations can result in a permanent suspension.

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6. LAKHPATI DIDI SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Vulnerable Section)

Context: The ruling party recently pledged to create 30 million 'Lakhpati Didis', a significant increase from the 10 million rural women who have already attained this status.

Subset of the Program

• Drone Didi: Within this initiative, approximately 15,000 women SHGs will receive drones for agricultural activities. Drones hold the potential to transform agriculture by facilitating precision farming, crop monitoring, and pest control.
• Skill training: Women enrolled in this program undergo training in various skills, including LED bulb manufacturing, plumbing, and others.

Lakhpati Didi Scheme

• About: The announcement to promote women's engagement in micro-enterprises was made during the Independence Day speech.
• Launched in: 2023
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of rural development
• Objective: The government, through the Lakhpati Didi Initiative, aims to train two crore women, fostering the creation of micro-enterprises within their respective villages.
• Sustainable Income Goals: To train women in self-help groups (SHGs), empowering them to generate a sustainable annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh per household.
• Target: Train two crore women
• Diverse Skill Development: Women under the scheme will receive training in various skills like plumbing, LED bulb making, drone operation and repair, tailoring, and weaving.
• Transformative Rural Economy Vision: The Ministry of Rural Development is adopting a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to bring about maximum impact and convergence, aiming to transform the rural economy by empowering 'Lakhpati Didis.'

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7. GLOBAL FOREST WATCH (GFW) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, according to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project.

Global Forest Watch (GFW)

• About: It  is an open-source web application developed to monitor global forests in near real-time.
• Development and Affiliation: It is a project of the Washington-based nonprofit research organization, the World Resources Institute (WRI).
• Accessibility and Functionality: GFW is free and user-friendly, allowing individuals to create custom maps, analyze forest trends, subscribe to alerts, and download data for specific regions or the entire globe.
• Monitoring Metric: In assessing forest extent, loss, and gain, GFW primarily utilizes the metric of tree cover. This metric is advantageous as it can be readily measured from space using freely available, medium-resolution satellite imagery.

Highlights of the GFW

• Decline in Primary Forest:  Loss of primary forests in the tropics decreased by 9% in 2023 compared to 2022.
• Magnitude of Tropical Forest Loss: Approximately 37,000 square kilometers of tropical primary forest were lost globally in 2023, almost equivalent to the size of Switzerland.
• Top Countries: Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bolivia led in tropical countries with the most primary forest losses.
• Global Deforestation Trend: Deforestation increased by 3.2% worldwide in 2023.
• Tree Cover Loss in India: India witnessed a loss of 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, marking a 6% decrease during this period.
• Loss of Humid Primary Forest in India: India lost 414,000 hectares of humid primary forest from 2002 to 2023, comprising 18% of its total tree cover loss.
• Carbon Emission and Sequestration: Indian forests emitted 51 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually between 2001 and 2022, while removing 141 million tons annually, indicating a net carbon sink of 89.9 million tons per year.
• Regional Distribution of Tree Cover Loss in India: Five states accounted for 60% of all tree cover losses between 2001 and 2023, with Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur experiencing significant losses.

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8. KUKIS TRIBES (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Vulnerable Section)

Context: Recently, as the Manipur Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union Government to abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, which has been in effect since 2008, uncertainty loomed over the extension of the agreement.

Kukis

• About: These are an ethnic group consisting of multiple tribes originally from North-Eastern India, parts of Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
• Origin of the Term: "Kuki" is a term used generically for tribes associated with the group under colonial rule, not coined by the ethnic group itself.
• Presence: Present in all Northeast Indian states except Arunachal Pradesh.
• Recognition: About fifty Kuki tribes in India are recognized as scheduled tribes.
• Kindred Tribes: The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis, collectively known as the Zo people.
• History:
• Resistance to British Rule: The Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19 marked the first resistance to British hegemony by the Kuki people.

oSubjugation by British: After the rebellion, Kuki territory was subjugated by the British and divided between British India and British Burma.

oFormer Independence: Prior to their defeat in 1919, the Kukis were independent people ruled by their chieftains.

• Marriage Practices: Traditionally, they do not arrange marriage alliances outside their community.
• Religious Practices: Initially animist, the majority have embraced Christianity over the last 90 years.

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9. NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: Recently, the ruling party's 'Sankalp Patra' was released without the promise to roll out the National Register of Citizens (NRC), while it did include a pledge to reduce the geographical area covered by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in northeastern states.

National Register of Citizens (NRC)

• About: The NRC is the register containing names of Indian citizens. 
• Prepared by: Recording particulars of all the persons enumerated during that Census.
• The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India and since then it has not been updated until recently.
• About: The NRC in Assam is a roster of Indian citizens residing in the state, aiming to distinguish them from foreign nationals, especially those from neighboring Bangladesh.
• Historical Context: The first NRC in Assam was crafted in 1951 amid concerns over migration from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
• Initiation and Legal Mandate: The process to update the register commenced after a directive from the Supreme Court in 2013, with the task of verifying the citizenship status of approximately 33 million individuals in Assam prior to March 24, 1971..
• How does one prove citizenship?

oCriteria for Proof: Applicants in Assam were required to demonstrate familial ties to individuals listed in the 1951 NRC or in electoral rolls up to March 24, 1971.

oDocumentary Evidence: Alongside lineage evidence, applicants could submit various documents such as birth certificates, land records, government-issued licenses, passports, and educational certificates.

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10. PM-AJAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Recently, there have been discussions about expanding the scope of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), potentially encompassing all citizens above the age of 70 and the transgender community, if the ruling party returns to power this year.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)

• About: It is also known as Jan Arogya Abhiyaan, or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) or Modicare.
• This initiatives has been created with the goal of aligning with SDG principles, which is “leave no one behind”.
• Ministry:  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• Implementing Agency: National Health Authority (NHA)
• Aim: To make significant changes in healthcare by addressing all aspects of health (like prevention, promotion, and outpatient care) across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
• Launched by: National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Funding: Centrally Sponsored Scheme  (expenditure incurred in premium payment will be shared between Central and State governments).
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): It was introduced in 2021 with the aim of issuing Unique Digital Health IDs (UHID) to every Indian citizen. 

oThis initiative facilitates electronic access to health records for hospitals, insurance companies, and citizens as needed.

• Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs.

oAbout: Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is an account/ number used to link all the health records of a person. 

oABHA is an integral component of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which is India's flagship national health protection scheme.

oAny individual can enroll in Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to generate a Health ID or ABHA, free of cost.

oABHA number is a 14-digit number that will uniquely identify you as a participant in India’s digital healthcare ecosystem.

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