1. INDIA’S HEAT ACTION PLAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: The IMD has also predicted an increase in the maximum temperature and the frequency of heatwave conditions in the forthcoming days over eastern and southern India, raising the question of India’s readiness to face this hazard.

Heat Waves

• Meaning: It is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. 
• Seasonal Occurrence: Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July.
• Regional Variability: In certain countries, it is defined in terms of the heat index based on temperature and humidity or based on extreme percentile of the temperatures.

Criteria for Declaring Heat Waves:

• Maximum Temperature Thresholds: Declared when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C.
• Departure from Normal Heat Wave: Departure from normal temperature ranges from 4.5°C to 6.40°C.
• Actual Maximum Temperature Heat Wave: Declared when the actual maximum temperature is equal to or exceeds 450°C.

Tackling Heatwaves

• Increasing Preparedness: Governments at various levels have devised Heat Action Plans (HAPs) to enhance readiness and mitigate the adverse effects of heatwaves.
• Collaborative Efforts: The National Disaster Management Authority and IMD are collaborating with 23 States to develop HAPs, demonstrating a coordinated approach.
• State and City Initiatives: While there's no centralized database, at least 23 HAPs are in place at the state and city levels, with some states, like Odisha and Maharashtra, extending plans to the district level.
• Standardized Framework: HAPs in India follow a standardized framework, providing insights into past heatwave occurrences, annual temperature trends, vulnerability assessments, and response plans.

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2. SPECIAL RUPEE VOSTRO ACCOUNT (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India has simplified the payment mechanism for traders importing pulses from Myanmar, requiring them to use the Rupee/Kyat direct payment system through the Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA).

Vostro Account: It  is an account that domestic banks hold for foreign banks in the former’s domestic currency, such as the rupee.

• International Banking Services: Domestic banks utilize Vostro Accounts to offer international banking services to clients with global banking needs.

Nostro accounts: A nostro account is a bank account held in another country by a domestic bank, denominated in the currency of the overseas country.

Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)

• About: SRVA is an additional arrangement for settling international trade using Indian Rupees (INR), complementing existing systems of freely convertible currencies.
• Freely Convertible Currency: U.S. Dollar or Pound Sterling, are permitted for conversion by the country's regulations.
• Aim: To reduce reliance on hard (freely convertible) currencies for international trade settlements.
• RBI Approval Requirement: Unlike Rupee Vostro accounts, SRVA requires prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before opening.
• Functionality of SRVA: The SRVA framework operates through three key components: invoicing, exchange rate determination, and settlement.

Mechanism of SRVA

• Invoicing in INR: All exports and imports must be denominated and invoiced in Indian Rupees (INR).
• Market-Determined Exchange Rate: Exchange rates between partner countries' currencies are determined by the market.
• Role of Domestic Banks: Authorized domestic dealer banks open SRVA accounts for correspondent banks of partner countries.
• Payment Procedures: Domestic importers pay in INR into the correspondent bank's SRVA for goods or services.

oDomestic exporters receive export proceeds in INR from the correspondent bank's designated account.

• Regulatory Compliance: All cross-border transactions are reported as per Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 guidelines.

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3. HERPES B VIRUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: A 37-year-old man wounded by a wild monkey in Hong Kong is in intensive care suffering from infection with B virus.

Herpes B Virus

• About: B-virus, formerly known as Macacine herpesvirus, is a type of Simplexvirus that infects macaque monkeys.
• Similarity to HSV-1: B virus bears significant resemblance to HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1).

• Rare Occurrence in Humans

oHistorical Context: Since its identification in 1932, B virus infections in humans have been exceptionally rare.

oLimited Cases: Only 50 documented cases of B virus infections in humans have been recorded, with a notable mortality rate.

oModes of Transmission: Human infections typically occur through direct contact with infected monkeys, such as bites, scratches, or exposure to bodily fluids through breaks in the skin.

• Symptoms: Fever and chills, muscle ache, fatigue and headache
• Transmission: It can spread from infected macaque monkeys to people. Macaque monkeys commonly have this virus, and it can be found in their saliva, feces (poop), urine (pee), or brain or spinal cord tissue.
• Prevention: There are no vaccines that can protect you against B virus infection.

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4. DEPRECIATION OF RUPEE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The rupee has fallen to a new low of 83.5 against the dollar.

Depreciation of Rupee

• About: It refers to the decline in the value of the Rupee compared to the dollar, indicating that the Rupee has decreased in worth and strength relative to the dollar.
• Reasons for the fall:

oGeopolitical Instability: It impacts investors, triggering a chain reaction affecting currency value.

oConflict Escalation: The Iran-Israel conflict, alongside ongoing Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, threatens global supply chains.

oSupply Chain Disruption: Conflict escalation could disrupt global supply chains, leading to increased commodity prices and fueling inflation.

oInflationary Pressure: Rising commodity prices contribute to inflation, diminishing the likelihood of a US Fed interest rate cut.

oImpact on Interest Rates: Diminished chances of a US interest rate cut prompt investors to move funds to the US, affecting global financial flows, including those to India.

Impact of Weaker Rupee on Indian Economy

• Imports Become Costlier: A weaker rupee results in increased costs for importing goods and services into India.
• Benefit for Exporters: Exporters gain an advantage as their goods become more competitively priced in international markets.
• Broad Range of Affected Products: Various sectors, including electronics, machinery, plastics, and chemicals, face higher prices due to the depreciation of the rupee.
• Direct Impact on Oil Prices: The weakening of the rupee directly influences the cost of imported oil, affecting energy prices domestically.

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5. PRIMARY PLASTIC POLYMERS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: In the context of the ongoing negotiations within the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to end plastic pollution, the term “primary plastic polymers” refers to the types of plastic resins or polymers that are commonly used in the production of plastic products.

Primary Plastic Polymers

• About: A solid material which contains as an essential ingredient one or more high-molecularmass polymers and which is formed (shaped) during either manufacture of the polymer or the fabrication into a finished product by heat and/or pressure. 

oPlastics have material properties ranging from hard and brittle to soft and elastic.

• Also known as:  'virgin plastics,' these are polymers directly manufactured from fossil- or bio-based feedstocks, forming the basis of plastic products.
• Plastic Polymers: These are large synthetic molecules made of smaller units called monomers, bonded together with chemicals.

oComposition: Plastic materials consist of plastic polymers, chemical additives, and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS).

• Secondary Plastics: Also called 'recycled plastics,' these materials are formed by reshaping plastic waste, with the polymers remaining the same as those in the original material.

Polymers

• About: It is a natural or synthetic chemical compound composed of repeating strings of large, chemically-bonded molecules, or monomers.
• Types of Polymers: Homopolymers (consisting of one type of monomer) or copolymers (consisting of two or more monomers).
• Constituents of Polymers: These are made of chemically-bonded chains of molecules or monomers, which can vary from simple atoms to complex functional groups of atoms.

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6. UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)

Context: India's population is estimated to have reached 1.44 billion, with 24 per cent in the 0-14 age bracket, according to a recent report by the UNFPA.

Key Point of State of World Population - 2024 Report

• India leads globally with an estimated population of 1.44 billion, followed by China at 1.425 billion, according to the report.
• India's population was recorded at 1.21 billion during the last census, conducted in 2011.
• The report further detailed that an estimated 24 per cent of India's population is aged 0-14 while 17 per cent is within the 10-19 age range.
• The segment aged 10-24 is estimated to constitute 26 per cent, with the 15-64 age group making up 68 per cent. Additionally, 7 per cent of India's population is aged 65 years and above, with men having a life expectancy of 71 years and women 74 years.

United Nations Population Fund

• About: It is an international development agency dedicated to addressing population and sexual and reproductive health issues.
• Establishment: 1968

oUNFPA has been operating in India since 1974.

• Mission: To advocate for a world where every pregnancy is desired, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is realized.
• Renaming: Originally known as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), it was officially renamed the United Nations Population Fund in 1987, while retaining its original abbreviation.
• Headquarters: New York, United States.
• Areas of Focus: UNFPA funds assistance, research, and advocacy programs primarily in three major areas: reproductive health (including family planning and safe motherhood), population issues (in both developed and developing countries), and women's status (addressing the gender gap in education).
• Program Implementation: UNFPA assistance programs are initiated and carried out in response to requests from governments, ensuring alignment with national priorities and strategies.

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7. DTAA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The recent amendment signed at Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, has essentially inserted the "principal purpose test (PPT)" clause in the India- Mauritius DTAA.

Double Taxation

• About: It refers to the imposition of two or more taxes on the same source of income, often occurring across borders or jurisdictions.

Principal Purpose Test (PPT)

• About: The tax administration can reject the tax treaty benefit if obtaining a benefit was one of the main objectives of the action taken by the taxpayer.

Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)

• About: It is an accord between two nations aimed at promoting capital investment, trade, and economic activities by preventing International Double Taxation.
• Mechanism of DTAA: It entails agreed-upon tax rates and jurisdictions for specific types of income originating in one country and received by tax residents of another.
• Coverage of DTAA: Depending on the types of businesses/holdings, DTAA may encompass all income types or focus on particular categories, as outlined in the agreement.
• Addressing Double Taxation: The primary concern of DTAA is to mitigate the impact of double taxation on international income, ensuring that individuals or entities engaged in cross-border activities are not unfairly taxed in multiple jurisdictions.
• Importance of DTAA: Discrepancies in tax collection globally necessitate DTAA to facilitate international business activities, preventing individuals from being subjected to taxation on the same income in both their home country and the nation where the income is generated.
• Indian Taxation Rate: Dividend income in India is taxed at a rate of 20%, with applicable surcharge and cess, resulting in an effective rate exceeding 42% for High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs).
• Mauritian Tax Advantage: Shareholders from Mauritius benefit from a lower withholding tax rate of only 5% on dividend income if the Mauritian investor entity, as the beneficial owner, holds at least 10% of the Indian company's capital.
  
  

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

Context: Recently, SpaceX has initiated a crackdown on users accessing its Starlink high-speed internet service from unauthorized countries, taking measures to curb the growing black market for the company's satellite kits.

Satellite internet venture Starlink

• About: It is the world's largest satellite constellation utilizing low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver broadband internet, supporting activities like streaming, online gaming, and video calls.
• Features: Unlike traditional satellite internet services relying on geostationary satellites at 35,786 km, Starlink's LEO satellites orbit at approximately 550 km, significantly reducing latency to around 25 ms compared to 600+ ms.
• Satellite Lifespan: Approximately five years.
• Current Operational Satellites: 5,504 (as of March 2024).
• Planned Satellite Constellation: Up to 42,000 satellites.

Satellite Internet Working:

• Internet service providers (ISPs) launch multiple satellites into space that orbit around the earth (low-earth orbit or high-earth orbit). 
• A satellite dish is then installed on the exterior of your home free from any obstructions like trees or buildings so your satellite dish can receive the signal from space after your internet service provider routes the signal through your modem. 
• By installing a Wi-Fi router, you can use that signal to power the internet devices in your home.
• Licensing Mechanism:

o Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) services license: A company must get this license to offer satellite internet in India

o OneWeb and Jio have already obtained GMPCS licenses.

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9. C-C NOZZLE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently said that it has successfully developed a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines.

C-C nozzle

• About: It is a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) innovation designed to optimize rocket engine performance.
• Developed by: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the C-C nozzle represents cutting-edge advancements in rocket technology.

• Key Feature: 

o Anti-Oxidation Coating: The nozzle boasts an anti-oxidation coating of Silicon Carbide, significantly expanding its operational capabilities in oxidizing environments.

o Enhanced Durability: This coating minimizes thermally induced stresses and enhances corrosion resistance, allowing for extended operational temperature limits in challenging environments.

o Potential Application in PSLV-4: The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-4 currently employs twin engines with nozzles made from Columbium alloy.

o Mass Reduction Potential: By substituting these engines with the C-C nozzle, a substantial mass reduction of approximately 67% can be achieved.

o Increased Payload Capability: This substitution is estimated to increase the payload capability of the PSLV by 15 kg, enhancing its efficiency and versatility.

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10. CLOUD SEEDING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Recently, the arid nation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced the "heaviest rain ever," resulting in flooding in Dubai, with the widespread rain believed to have been induced by "cloud seeding," among other factors.

Cloud Seeding

• About: It is a weather modification technique that improves a cloud’s ability to produce rain or snow by introducing tiny ice nuclei into certain types of subfreezing clouds.
• Cloud Seeding Methods

o Static Cloud Seeding: It involves the dispersion of a chemical, like silver iodide, into clouds. This substance acts as a crystal around which moisture can condense, enhancing the efficiency of rain clouds in releasing water.

o Dynamic Cloud Seeding: It focuses on amplifying vertical air currents, promoting increased water passage through clouds, resulting in more rainfall. This method employs up to 100 times more ice crystals compared to the static approach [source: Cotton].

o Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding: It utilizes salts dispersed through flares or explosives in the lower sections of clouds. These salts grow in size as they merge with water. 

• Process of Cloud Seeding: 

oWeather forecasters monitor atmospheric conditions and identify suitable clouds for seeding based on precipitation patterns. 

oThis technique can increase rainfall by up to 30-35 per cent in clear conditions and 10-15 per cent in more humid conditions.

• UAE's Pioneering Cloud Seeding Program: The UAE initiated its cloud seeding program in the late 1990s, making it one of the first Middle Eastern countries to use this technique.

Environmental Impact of Cloud Seeding

• Cloud seeding changes the expected rainfall distribution, potentially depriving neighboring ecosystems of precipitation originally destined for them.
• Introduction of seeding agents may disrupt natural processes like soil moisture levels, groundwater recharge, and river flows.
• Silver iodide, a common seeding agent, raises worries about silver toxicity, which could harm aquatic life and soil health if cloud seeding becomes widespread.

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