1. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Union Council of Ministers was recently sworn in, comprising the Prime Minister, 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State.

Council of Ministers

• Article 74: It provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers (COM) headed by the Prime Minister (PM) to aid and advise the President.

oThe real executive powers lie with the Council of Ministers (COM).

• Article 75: It states that the President appoints the Prime Minister. Based on the PM’s recommendation, the President also appoints other ministers. The article mandates that the size of this council should not exceed 15% of the strength of the Lok Sabha, or the House of the people.
• Criteria for Ministers: A Minister should be a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha and if not, should become one within six months of his/her appointment.

oA similar setup prevails in States with a Council of Ministers (COM) headed by the Chief Minister (CM).

• Composition: The COM consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge, Ministers of State (MoS), and Deputy Ministers.
• Article 88: It  empowers the ministers to speak or otherwise participate in proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as any joint session of both houses or any Parliamentary committee they may be a part of.

• Cabinet Ministers: These are ranked as the senior-most in the council, second only to the Prime Minister. They oversee the strategic and important ministries of the Central government – related to Home Affairs, Finance, Defence, etc. 
• Ministers of State (Independent Charge): These are junior members of the COM. A Minister of State (Independent Charge) is empowered to administer their respective ministry without oversight from cabinet ministers or other members of the Union government.
• Ministers of State: As opposed to a Minister of State (Independent Charge), a Minister of State does not enjoy the foremost administerial duties over a ministry, but assists a cabinet minister with the same, and is responsible for specific functions as delegated to them by their superior.

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2. GANDHI SAGAR SANCTUARY (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary will be the second home for cheetahs in India, after the Kuno National Park.

Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

• Location: It is situated at eastern Madhya Pradesh.
• Spread: It is spread over two districts of Madhya Pradesh, i.e., Mandsaur and Nimach.
• Area: It covers 368 square kilometres and has an additional 2,500 sq km area surrounding it.
• Establishment: The sanctuary was notified in the year 1974 and added to the list of sanctuaries in 1984.
• Presence of Water Bodies: The Gandhi Sagar dam, constructed on the river in 1960, lies within the area of the sanctuary, and so does parts of its reservoir, which is 726 sq km large in area and the third largest in the country.
• River: The Chambal River flows through this sanctuary, dividing it into two parts.
• Flora: The principal tree species found here are Khair, Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, and Palash.
• Fauna: Herbivores like Chinkara, Nilgai, and Spotted Deer, and carnivores like the Indian Leopard, Striped Hyena, and Jackal are found in good numbers in the region.
• Comparison It looks like Maasai Mara [a national reserve in Kenya known for its savanna wilderness and wildlife including lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos, elephants, and, of course, cheetahs].

Kuno National Park

• Situated: Between the Aravallis and the Madhav National Park, Kuno serves as an important wildlife corridor
• Establishment: It was notified as a sanctuary in 1981 and then upgraded to a national park in 2018. 
• Area: 750 kilometers of pristine wilderness.
• Vegetation: The tropical dry deciduous forest mainly consists of Anogeissus pendula (Kardhai), Senegalia catechu (Khair) Boswellia serrata (Salai), and associated flora.

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3. SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT, 1954 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: A problematic order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court has given rise to the likelihood of a misinterpretation of the law around inter-faith marriages and a calling into question the scope of the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

Special Marriage Act, 1954

• About: It is an Indian law that establishes a legal framework for marriages between individuals of diverse religions or castes.
• It lays down the procedure for both solemnization and registration of marriage, where either of the husband or wife or both are not Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, or Sikhs.
• Written Notice: According to this Act, the couples have to serve a notice with the relevant documents to the Marriage Officer 30 days before the intended date of the marriage.
• Civil Regulation: It primarily regulates civil marriages, with the state's endorsement rather than religious institutions.
• Age Limit: The minimum age to get married under the SMA is 21 years for males and 18 years for females.
• Parallel with UK Law: In India, the legal recognition of both civil and religious marriages mirrors the provisions of the UK's Marriage Act of 1949.
• Applicability: The Act is applicable to individuals of all faiths, encompassing Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists, throughout India.
• Prohibition of Polygamy: It forbids polygamy and declares a marriage null and void if either party had a spouse living at the time of the marriage or if either of them is incapable of giving valid consent to the marriage due to unsoundness of mind.
• Succession Rights: Section 26 deals with succession under the SMA, recognising the validity of children born to people married under the SMA.

oMohammed Salim vs Shamsudeen (2019): It dealt with the issue of property succession arising out of a marriage between a Muslim man and Hindu woman under the Mohammedan Laws. This judgment should never have been considered as a precedent in either deciding the validity of an inter-faith marriage or for police protection.

• Property Rights: Offspring of such marriages are not entitled to ancestral property but can obtain a share of their parents’ self-owned or inherited property.

Differentiation from Personal Laws

• Conversion Requirements: Personal laws, such as the Muslim Marriage Act, 1954, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, require either spouse to convert to the religion of the other before marriage.
• Retention of Religious Identity: The SMA enables marriage between inter-faith or inter-caste couples without them giving up their religious identity or resorting to conversion.
• Impact on Family Rights: Once married as per the SMA, an individual is deemed severed from the family in terms of rights like the right to inheritance.

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4. SNOW UPDATE REPORT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: New research by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reveals that unusually low snowfall this year in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) may have significant consequences for downstream communities.

Hindu Kush Himalaya

• About: The HKH region spans 3,500 km, covering parts of eight countries from Afghanistan to Myanmar.
• Area: 3500 kilometres 
• Countries:  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan.
• Significance of the HKH Region: It serves as the origin of ten major Asian river systems, including the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra (Yarlungtsanpo), Irrawaddy, Salween (Nu), Mekong (Lancang), Yangtse (Jinsha), Yellow River (Huanghe), and Tarim (Dayan).
• Ecosystem Services: The region supplies water and ecosystem services crucial for sustaining livelihoods to approximately 240 million people residing within its boundaries.

Key findings of Snow Update Report 2024

• Decline in Snow Persistence: Research indicates that 2024 marks the year with the lowest snow persistence for the Ganga since 2003, measuring 17% below normal.
• Implications for the HKH Region: The unprecedentedly low snow cover in 2024 will have profound implications for downstream communities across the entire HKH region.
• Snowmelt Contribution to River Basins: It contributes significantly to water flow in 12 major river basins originating from the high HKH ranges, accounting for approximately 23% of total water flow.
• Impact on River Systems: The contribution of snowmelt to water supply varies greatly among rivers: 74% for the Amu Darya, 77% for the Helmand, and 40% for the Indus.

oThe Gangetic basin has experienced significant variability in snow persistence over the past 22 years, with 2018 recording the lowest at 15.2% below normal and 2015 the highest at 25.6% above normal.

oIn 2024, the Gangetic basin has recorded its lowest snow persistence at 17% below normal, highlighting potential implications for its over 600 million inhabitants.

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5. PLANET NINE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Astronomers have been searching the outer solar system for nearly a decade for signs of a theoretical ninth planet, with no success so far. However, experts suggest we may be on the verge of a breakthrough in discovering it.

Planet Nine

• About: It is a theoretical celestial body situated in the outer reaches of our solar system.
• Origin: Proposed by Batygin and Brown, Planet Nine might be a remnant core of a giant planet disrupted by Jupiter early in the Solar System's history.

oOther theories suggest it could have been captured from another star, started as a rogue planet, or originally formed on a distant orbit.

• Hypothesis of Gravitational Influence: It is proposed to explain the unusual clustering and alignment of extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) in the outer Solar System, suggesting a massive, unseen celestial body shepherding their orbits.
• Characteristics

oMass: Planet Nine is estimated to possess a mass that ranges from 5 to 10 times that of Earth.

oOrbit: The hypothesized orbit of Planet Nine is highly elliptical, with a semi-major axis spanning approximately 400 to 800 astronomical units (AU).

oOrbital Period: It is projected that Planet Nine's orbital period could vary significantly, ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 years.

oDistance: At its nearest approach to the Sun, Planet Nine may be about 200 AU away, while at its farthest, it could extend to around 1,200 AU.

• Existing Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
• Future: The search for Planet Nine is set to receive a major boost with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory scheduled to begin operations in 2025. 

oThis observatory's enhanced capabilities may soon provide conclusive evidence either confirming the existence of Planet Nine or debunking the hypothesis altogether.

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6. BAYESIAN CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has developed a Bayesian Convolutional Neural Network to predict the emergence of El Niño and La Niña conditions they are different phases of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) up to 15 months in advance.

Bayesian Convolutional Neural Network

• About: It is the new product uses the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), deep learning, and machine learning (ML) to improve forecasts related to the ENSO phases.
• Focus: To enhance forecasts related to ENSO phases (El Niño Southern Oscillation).
• Model Operation: BCNN operates by leveraging the relationship between El Niño or La Niña and the slow oceanic variations coupled with atmospheric conditions.
• Mechanism: The model predicts ENSO phases by calculating the Niño3.4 index value.

ENSO

• About: It is a climate phenomenon which involves changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, coupled with fluctuations in the overlying atmosphere.
• Found: It occurs in irregular cycles of 2-7 years and has three different phases — warm (El Niño), cool (La Niña), and neutral.

oIn India, while El Niño conditions usually lead to a weak monsoon and intense heatwaves, La Niña conditions result in a strong monsoon.

Comparison of BCNN with Existing Weather Models

• Types of Existing Weather Models:

oThere are two main types of weather models: statistical models and dynamic models.

oStatistical models rely on diverse datasets from various sources for generating forecasts.

oDynamic models utilize 3D mathematical simulations of the atmosphere using High Performance Computers (HPC).

üDynamic models generally provide more accurate forecasts compared to statistical models due to their detailed simulations.

• Forecasting Abilities of BCNN: It is capable of forecasting the onset of El Niño and La Niña conditions with a lead time of 15 months.

oIn contrast, other existing models typically provide predictions up to six to nine months in advance.

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7. DIVYA DRISHTI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: DRDO has achieved a breakthrough with its new AI tool "Divya Drishti," which combines face recognition technology with immutable physiological parameters like gait and skeleton characteristics.

Divya Drishti

• About: It integrates face recognition with immutable physiological parameters such as gait and skeleton, developed by Ingenious Research Solutions Pvt Ltd.
• Development by: Ingenious Research Solutions Pvt Ltd, highlighting advancements in biometric authentication technology.

oDeveloped under the technical guidance of CAIR (Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics), a DRDO lab in Bangalore, ensuring robust technical oversight and mentoring.

• Accuracy and Reliability: This solution marks a significant advancement by offering enhanced accuracy and reliability in identifying individuals, minimizing false positives and identity fraud.
• Applications Across Sectors: Its dual approach enhances identification accuracy, making it suitable for Defence, Law Enforcement, Corporate, and Public Infrastructure sectors.

Technology Development Fund (TDF)

• About: The TDF scheme is a flagship programme under the Ministry of Defence's 'Make in India' initiative, executed by DRDO.
• Objectives: Aimed at building Indian industries' capacity and capability in defence technology development, fostering a culture of design and development, and creating an R&D ecosystem.

oIt supports niche technology development and prototype creation, contributing to achieving self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in defence technology.

• Focus Areas:

oEnhancing existing products and processes, advancing technology readiness from TRL 3 to meeting Tri-Services needs.

oInnovating futuristic technologies for defense applications and substituting imports with domestically developed components, aimed at strengthening national defense capabilities.

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

Context: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has proposed a Solid Waste Management (SWM) Cess of ₹100 per month for each household.

Waste Management Rules and Guidelines in India

• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016: The rules emphasize the importance of waste segregation at the source, hold manufacturers accountable for packaging and sanitary waste disposal, and suggest implementing user fees for waste collection, processing, and disposal.
• Environment Protection Act (1986): It was enforced in 1986 to safeguard and enhance the environment.

oResponsibility Mandate: Industrial units and corporations are obligated to act responsibly to safeguard the environment and regulate waste generation.

• Hazardous Waste Management Rules: Notified to ensure safe handling, processing, transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste.
• E-Waste Management Rules: Aimed at preventing the leakage of e-waste into informal sectors at all stages of its management.

oApplicability: Applicable to producers, consumers, recyclers, and all involved in the e-waste lifecycle.

• Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016): Focuses on minimizing plastic waste, source segregation, and involving stakeholders in waste management.
• Bio-medical Waste Management Rules (2016): Applies to entities generating, collecting, storing, transporting, and handling biomedical waste.

Solid Waste Management (SWM)

• Solid Waste: It refers to the undesired or nonessential solid materials produced from human activities in residential, industrial, or commercial zones.
• Examples of Solid Waste: Common examples of solid waste include paper, plastics, glass, metal, textiles, food scraps, yard waste, and electronic waste.
• Present Status: India currently generates 62 million tons of waste annually, as reported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Growth Rate: The waste generation shows an average annual growth rate of 4%.
• SWM Cess by ULBs: It levy user fees or SWM cess as per the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

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9. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has sent a proposal to the government to amend Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in the Companies Act (2013) to include donations made by companies through Social Stock Exchanges (SSEs).

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Meaning: It is a law in India, that mandatorily obliged corporates in the country have to do social work.

oIt suggests: The responsibility of the corporations operating within society to contribute towards economic, social and environmental development that creates positive impact on society at large.

• Statutory Backing: Under the Companies Act, 2013, introduced in April 2014.
• Four types of CSR are prevalent: Ethical responsibility, environmental responsibility, economic responsibility and philanthropic responsibility.
• CSR Applicability in India: Under Section 135 of the Act, certain companies are required to comply with CSR provisions. 

oObjective: It aims to promote responsible business practices and contribute towards the welfare of society. The criteria for CSR applicability are based on the company’s net worth, turnover, and profit.

oCSR applicability criteria, if a company: 

üNet worth: More than Rs 500 crore or,

üTurnover: More than Rs 1,000 crore or,

üNet profit: More than Rs 5 crore.

• CSR Committee: Every company to which CSR criteria are applicable shall constitute a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee.

oThe CSR Committee should consist of 3 or more directors, out of which at least 1 director must be an independent director.

Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility

• CSR helps companies be socially responsible and give back to society.
• It improves the company’s reputation.
• CSR activities attract and retain employees.
• It helps build long-term stakeholder relationships.
• CSR can have a positive impact on the environment.
• It can also benefit the communities in which the company operates.

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10. TRADITIONAL MEDICINES (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad as a WHO Collaborating Centre for ‘Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine’.

Traditional Medicines

• About: It is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures.
• Uses: These skills are used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement, or treatment of physical and mental illness.
• Literature and Records: Some traditional medicine systems are supported by huge volumes of literature and records of the theoretical concepts and practical skills.
• Global Used: The most widely used traditional medicine systems today include those of China, India, and Africa.

WHO's Perspective on Traditional Medicine

• Global Centre and Collaboration: WHO has established the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India to enhance traditional medicine's integration with modern science.

oIndia hosts 58 WHO Collaborating Centres, including the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH).

• Gujarat Declaration: World Health Organization (WHO) has released the outcome document of first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 in form of “Gujarat Declaration”. The declaration reaffirmed global commitments towards indigenous knowledges, biodiversity and traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. WHO underlined that the application of rigorous scientific methods is needed to better understand, assess and, where appropriate, apply more holistic, context-specific, complex and personalized approaches for health and well-being for all.

Efforts by India

• Ministry of AYUSH: India's Ministry of AYUSH promotes Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy for holistic health and well-being.

oIt oversees the development of safe, effective, and quality traditional medicines accessible to the public.

• Digital Initiatives and Portals: AMAR Portal, SAHI Portal, e-Books of Ayush, NAMASTE Portal and Ayush Research Portal.

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