1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – International Relations)

Context: Renewed clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have triggered global alarm and exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

• About: The DRC, often referred to as Congo-Kinshasa or simply the Congo is situated in Central Africa.

oIt ranks as the second-largest country in Africa in terms of land area and the 11th-largest globally.

• Population: With a population of approximately 112 million people, the DRC holds the distinction of being the most populous Francophone country worldwide.
• Capital: Kinshasa 
• Bordering Nations: The DRC shares its borders with a multitude of nations, including the Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania (across Lake Tanganyika), Zambia, and Angola.
• Marine Boundary:  it has a coastline along the South Atlantic Ocean.
• River: Congo River, or Zaire River
• Highest Mountain: Mount Stanley.

Roots of Conflict

• About: Originating in the 1990s, the conflict in the eastern region of the central African country stems from two civil wars, notably the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where extremist Hutus killed hundreds of thousands of minority ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates.

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2. UNDP’S REPORT ON HDI (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India has recently ascended a rank on the global Human Development Index (HDI), as per the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report 'Breaking the gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarised world' released.

Highlight of the Report

• India's Global Ranking Improvement: India's global ranking improved marginally from 135 in 2021 to 134 in 2022, amidst a total of 193 ranked countries in 2022 and 191 in 2021.
• Regional Disparities in Human Development: India lags behind its southern neighbor Sri Lanka (78) and China (75) in the High Human Development category, while also falling below Bhutan (125) and Bangladesh (129) in the Medium Human Development category. Switzerland holds the top position.
• Comparison with Neighboring Nations: India outperforms Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) in global rankings.
• Life Expectancy Improvement: India's life expectancy at birth saw a slight increase from 67.2 years in 2021 to 67.7 years in 2022.
• Enhancement in Expected Years of Schooling (EYS): There is an overall increase (5.88%) in expected years of schooling (EYS) from 11.9 years to 12.6 years, resulting in an improvement of 18 places in rankings when considering the EYS aspect.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• About: The UNDP's mandate encompasses ending poverty, fostering democratic governance, advancing the rule of law, and establishing inclusive institutions.
• Objective: It serves as an advocate for change and facilitates connections between countries, offering access to knowledge, experience, and resources to improve people's lives.
• Establishment: In 1966 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the UNDP has been actively engaged in global development efforts for decades.
• Focus Areas: UNDP's work is concentrated in three primary areas: Sustainable development, Democratic governance and peace building, and Climate and disaster resilience.
• Funding: The UNDP operates on voluntary contributions from member nations, relying entirely on their financial support to carry out its mission.
• Headquarters: New York, USA.

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3. ONE NATION ONE ELECTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the Kovind panel submitted its report on "One nation, one election" to the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind Committee Recommendation

• Fundamental Transformation in Governance: Simultaneous elections recommended by the Ram Nath Kovind-led committee would fundamentally transform the electoral process and governance structure.
• Constitutional Amendment Proposal: The committee proposed amending the Constitution to enable simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies by 2029.
• Unanimous Consensus: Recommendations stemmed from unanimous opinions gathered from political parties, experts, and stakeholders, emphasizing the necessity for simultaneous elections.
• Enabling Legal Mechanism: The report urged the development of a legally tenable mechanism by the Centre to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections.
• Mitigation of Governance Disruptions: Simultaneous elections aim to reduce disruptions to governance and policy paralysis caused by the Model Code of Conduct, potentially boosting economic growth.
• Adjustment of Legislative Assembly Terms: Recommendations include adjusting the terms of legislative assemblies in three phases over the next five years.

Simultaneous Elections

• About: Simultaneous elections, or "One Nation, One Election," entail holding elections for Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) concurrently.
• Historical Precedent: Simultaneous elections were first conducted in seven states—Bihar, Bombay, Madras, Mysore, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal—in 1957.
• Subsequent Changes: Despite initial success, simultaneous elections fell out of practice after the fourth general elections of 1967. 

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4. LYME DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: A case of Lyme disease has been recently reported in the Ernakulam district of Kerala.

Lyme Disease

• About: It is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
• Transmission: Primarily transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks.
• Lyme Disease Cannot Spread:

oHuman-to-Human Transmission: It does not spread between humans.

oPet-to-Human Transmission: It cannot be transmitted from pets to humans.

oAir, Food, or Water: It doesn't spread through air, food, or water.

oNot Transmitted by Other Insects: Lice, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies do not transmit Lyme disease.

• Symptoms: Early symptoms typically appear 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bite.

oManifestations include fever, headache, fatigue, and the distinctive "bull's-eye" red rash called erythema migrans (EM).

oEM serves as a crucial sign for early diagnosis and management.

• Treatment:

oStandard Antibiotic Treatment: Antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin are standard treatments, especially in early stages.

• Advanced Cases: Intravenous antibiotics may be required in later stages.

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5. PMJVK SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: The Ministry of Minority Affairs inspired by ‘Panch Pran’ of Honourable Prime Minister has approved projects under PMJVK Scheme for ‘Establishment of Centre for Jain Studies in Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore Campus with the total estimated cost of Rs. 25.Cr.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)

• About: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) aimed at developing community infrastructure and basic amenities in identified areas.
• Implementation Structure: Implemented under State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations with fund sharing, managed by respective State/UT Governments.
• Inclusive Infrastructure: Infrastructure developed benefits all residents of the designated areas, focusing on socio-economic improvement.
• Restructuring and Scope: Restructured in May 2018 to address socio-economic gaps in 1300 identified areas, now extended to all districts during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle.
• Approval Process: Proposals vetted by State Level Committee (SLC) led by Chief Secretary, further approved by the Empowered Committee (EC) in consultation with Central Ministries.
• Funding Arrangement: Funding shared between Centre and State/UT, varying from 90:10 for North East States to 60:40 for other States/UTs, with full support for UTs without Legislature and Central  Government Organisations.
• Priority Sectors and Projects: Emphasis on education, health, skill development, and women-oriented projects, including construction of educational facilities, healthcare centers, skill training institutes, and public amenities like toilets and sports facilities.

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6. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: A committee headed by Prime Minister of India has picked two retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers – Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar – as election commissioners (ECs).

Election Commission of India

• Status: Constitutional Body established on 25th January 1950 . 
• Aim: To administer elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
• Composition: The election commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and a such number of other election commissioners, if any, as the president may from time to time fix.
• Current Process of Appointment:

oArticle 324(2): The appointment of Election Commissioners are done as per the CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

oCurrent Method: It is done by the President on recommendations of a committee comprising Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition , and a Union minister.

• Tenure: Fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: They can resign anytime or can also be removed before the expiry of their term. 

oThe CEC can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of a SC judge by Parliament.

oOther member of the commission can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC.

• Powers and functions of the Election Commission of India
• Administrative:

oPowers for determining the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies.

oPreparing electoral rolls.

oNotifying the dates and schedules of elections.

oGranting recognition to political parties, allotting election symbols to parties, determine the code of conduct in times of elections etc. 

• Advisory:

oAdvise the President and Governor on matters relating to the disqualifications of the members of Parliament and state legislature respectively.

o To advise the president whether elections can be held in a state under president’s rule in order to extend the period of emergency after one year.

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7. UNICORN 2.0 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: According to a report recently released by industry body CII, new unicorns are expected to contribute to the Indian economy by adding $1 trillion, potentially propelling it to a $7 trillion size by 2030, while also generating 50 million new jobs.

Highlights of Study

• Name of Report: Unicorn 2.0: Adding the Next Trillion
• Emergence of Unicorns: The first unicorn sighting in India occurred in 2011, marking the beginning of a transformative era.
• Rapid Expansion: Within a decade, India has surged past the milestone of 100 unicorns, showcasing remarkable growth and innovation.
• Collective Valuation: As of January 2024, the combined valuation of these 113 unicorns stands impressively at $350 billion, signifying their substantial economic impact.
• Catalyst for Economic Growth: Startups have become integral to India's economy, particularly in nine key sectors ranging from manufacturing to education, fueling growth and dynamism.
• India’s economy across 9 sunrise sectors: Manufacturing; IT and digital services; agricultural ecosystems; healthcare services; travel and tourism, modern retail and e-commerce; next-generation financial services; communication, media and entertainment; and skills and education.
• CII Insights: According to the CII report, India's unicorns and startups have significantly bolstered GDP growth, accounting for 10-15% between 2016 and 2023, underlining their pivotal role in shaping India's economic trajectory.

Unicorn startup

• About: Unicorns are privately held, venture-capital backed startups that have reached a value of $1 billion. 
• The term was first popularised by: Venture capitalist Aileen Lee.
• Very rare and require innovation: Because of their sheer size, unicorn investors tend to be private investors or venture capitalists, which means they are out of the reach of retail investors. 
• Based on growth potential: The valuation of unicorns is not expressly linked to their current financial performance, but largely based on their growth potential as perceived by investors and venture capitalists who have taken part in various funding rounds.

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8. RHODAMINE B (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, Tamil Nadu govt prohibited the sale of cotton candy or candy floss after discovering the presence of Rhodamine-B, an industrial dye, in samples collected from stalls in Chennai.

Rhodamine B

• About: It is a chemical compound widely utilized in synthetic dyes across various industries, including textiles, cosmetics, plastics, and food coloring.
• Potential Health Hazards: Despite its prevalent use in food coloring, Rhodamine B has been associated with health concerns such as skin and eye irritation, respiratory issues, and debates regarding its carcinogenic properties.
• Carcinogenicity Classification: The United States' National Library of Medicine has not classified Rhodamine B as carcinogenic to humans, but concerns persist regarding its safety.
• Reasons for Ban: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibits the addition of colorants to food unless explicitly permitted by regulations. Rhodamine B is not among the permitted synthetic colorants listed in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.

oRed - Ponceau 4R, Carmoisine, Erythrosine

oYellow - Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF

oBlue - Indigo Carmine, Brilliant Blue FCF

oGreen - Fast Green FCF

• Cell Death Induction: Rhodamine-B has the potential to induce cell death within the body.
• Neurological Damage: Prolonged usage of Rhodamine-B can lead to damage to cerebellum tissue and the brainstem.
• Organ Damage: Recent evidence suggests that Rhodamine-B can harm the kidneys and liver, while also increasing the risk of stomach tumors.
• Non-Food Colorant and Carcinogenicity: Despite its use as a colorant, Rhodamine-B is not suitable for consumption and is toxic to the human body, being classified as a carcinogen.

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9. PM-SVANIDHI (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone for two new Delhi Metro corridors and distributed cheques to five beneficiaries of the PM-SVANidhi scheme.

PM-SVANidhi

• About: It is a central sector scheme to provide to provide a small working capital loan a scheme for street vendors.
• Launched: June 01, 2020
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Implementing Agency: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
• Objective:

oTo facilitate and provide working capital loans up to Rs.10,000 at a subsidised rate of interest, 

oTo incentivise regular repayment of the loan, and 

oTo reward digital transactions.

oIntroduction of 3rd term loan of up to ₹50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000 and ₹20,000 respectively.

• Lending Agencies: Microfinance Institutions, Non-Banking Financial Companies, Self Help Groups 
• Eligible for the Loan: Vendors with vending experience dating back to or before March 24, 2020, and possessing a vending certificate are eligible for the loan.
• The Street Vendors Act 2014: It mandates Town Vending Committees, consisting of local authorities and area vendors, to issue vending certificates following a comprehensive survey of all vendors.
• Funding: It is a Central Sector Scheme.
• A recent study: SBI has hailed the performance of the scheme stating that 43% beneficiaries are women street vendors. Moreover 44% of the PM SVANidhi beneficiaries belong to OBC category, while Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes account for 22%.

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10. PROJECT SOORYA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: ISRO has formalised a project team, internally named ‘SOORYA’, to start building the New Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

Project SOORYA

• About: Establishing a 3rd launch pad at Sriharikota is essential due to the differing configuration of the NGLV compared to current rockets.
• Multi-stage Launch Capability: NGLV boasts a 3-stage launch vehicle design, enhancing its efficiency and adaptability for various missions.
• Environmentally Friendly Fuel Options: Utilizes green fuel combinations like methane-liquid oxygen or kerosene-liquid oxygen, ensuring reduced environmental impact during launches.
• Enhanced Payload Capacity: Offers a payload capacity of up to 10 tonnes to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), more than doubling the capability of India's current heaviest rocket, the LVM-3.
• Reusability for Cost Efficiency: Features recoverable parts, enabling reusability and significantly reducing launch costs to around $1,900 per kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Cost-Competitive Solution: With its reusability, NGLV provides a cost-effective alternative with a lower launch cost compared to expendable configurations, contributing to economic viability.
• Aligning with India’s Space Vision 2047: Supports the national goal of establishing a space station by 2035 and eventual lunar exploration by Indian astronauts, in line with India’s Space Vision 2047.

Next Generation Launch Vehicle

• About: The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), formerly known as the Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV), is a project led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Features: The NGLV is envisaged as a three-stage rocket with partial reusability, a departure from the current operational systems like PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3.
• Purpose and Objective: Designed with the aim to modernize and enhance India's space launch capabilities, the NGLV seeks to replace existing launch platforms, ensuring better efficiency and adaptability.

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