1. OPERATION NANHE FARISTEY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Policies)

Context: Under Operation ‘Nanhe Farishte’, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has rescued over 84,119 children. This initiative highlights their ongoing efforts in child safety and protection.

Operation ‘Nanhe Faristey’

• About: A dedicated child-rescue initiative by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) across the country.

oIt also identifies and prevent the inflow of children who are illegally brought to the city, mainly to work as child labourers                              

• Aim: To work towards ending Human Trafficking through Railways.
• Dedicated authority: Railway Protection Force (RPF)
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Railways.
• Railway Protection Force (RPF): An armed railway police force of the Union under railway ministry.

Railway Ministry Other Initiatives

• Operation Jeevan Raksha: The RPF's vigilant and swift action saved the lives of 233 passengers who had accidentally fallen while de-boarding or boarding moving trains, narrowly avoiding being caught under the wheels, at platforms and railway tracks in the month of January 2024, under Operation 'Jeevan Raksha.'
• Meri Saheli" Initiative: RPF takes the security of women passengers seriously and launched the "Meri Saheli" initiative. Providing security to women passengers.
• Operation "Uplabdh": In the fight against touts, RPF arrested 379 individuals in the month of January 2024 and took legal action against them as per the law. Additionally, they seized future reserved railway tickets, valued at Rs. 44.46 lakhs.
• Operation Sanraksha: In a resolute effort to maintain passenger safety and protect railway services, RPF arrested 53 individuals involved in the perilous act of stone pelting on running trains in January 2024.
• Operation Seva: With a humanitarian approach, RPF provided assistance to 227 elderly, sick or injured passengers during their rail travels in the month of January 2024.

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2. FINANCE COMMISSION (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The sixteenth Finance Commission headed by former Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya has begun its work by inviting suggestions from the public on the mandate set for it by the Centre.

Finance Commission

• About: It  is a constitutional body that recommends how tax revenues collected by the Central government should be distributed among the Centre and various States in the country.
• Article 280 of the Constitution of India provides for a Finance Commission as a quasi judicial body. 
• Constituted by: President of India every fifth year or at such earlier time as he considers necessary.
• Composition: Chairman and four other members to be appointed by the president.
• Tenure: They hold office for such period as specified by the president in his order.
• Recommendation of Commission: The recommendations made by the Finance Commission are only of advisory nature, not binding on the government.
• Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted: On November 27, 2017
• Function:

oGrants-in-aid: The principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

oConsolidated Fund of a State: The measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State.

oPresident reference: Any other matter referred to the Commission by the President in the interests of sound finance.

How does the Commission decide?

• Vertical Devolution: The Finance Commission decides what proportion of the Centre’s net tax revenue goes to the States overall.
• Horizontal Devolution: The Commission determines how the States' share of the overall tax revenue is distributed among various States.
• Recent Recommendations on Vertical Devolution: The last few Finance Commissions have recommended increasing vertical devolution of tax revenues to States.
• Specific Recommendations by Past Commissions

o13th Finance Commission: Recommended 32% of funds to States.

o14th Finance Commission: Recommended 42% of funds to States.

o15th Finance Commission: Recommended 41% of funds to States.

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3. NABFID (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The government wants to increase the capital base of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, or NaBFID, to 1 trillion through support from banks.

National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID)

• Established in: NaBFID was founded by The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021.
• Objective: Focuses on filling gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure.

oStrengthening Bond Markets: Aims to bolster the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India.

• Boosting the Economy: Intends to sustainably enhance the country’s economy.
• Mission: To be the leading enabler for infrastructure financing with a focus on innovation, environmental sustainability, and overall sustainability.
• Vision: To achieve global recognition as a strong impact investor, driving transformative infrastructure funding in India.
• Funding: NaBFID may borrow money from: (i) central government, (ii) Reserve Bank of India (RBI), (iii) scheduled commercial banks, (iii) mutual funds, and (iv) multilateral institutions such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
• Functions:

oFinancial Objectives: Includes lending, investing, or attracting investments for infrastructure projects within or partially in India.

oDevelopmental Objectives: Focuses on developing markets for bonds, loans, and derivatives for infrastructure.

oLoan and Advance Extensions: Provides loans and advances for infrastructure projects.

oRefinancing Existing Loans: Takes over or refinances existing infrastructure loans.

oAttracting Investments: Seeks investments from both private and institutional investors.

oFacilitating Foreign Participation: Organizes and promotes foreign involvement in infrastructure projects.

oDispute Resolution: Assists in negotiations with government authorities to resolve disputes in infrastructure financing.

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4. NATIONALIZATION OF BANKS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: On this day in 1969, the Indira Gandhi government nationalized the 14 largest commercial banks, transforming India's banking sector.

Nationalization of Banks

• Enactment of the SBI Act, 1955: The Government of India, with the enactment of the SBI Act, 1955, partially nationalized the three Imperial Banks.
• Creation of State Bank of India: These Imperial Banks, mainly operating in the three Presidencies of the past with their 466 branches, were renamed the State Bank of India, making it the first public sector bank in India.
• Banking Nationalisation Act, 1969: With the help of the Banking Nationalisation Act, 1969, the Government nationalized a total of 20 private banks in two phases.

oFirst Phase: Fourteen banks with deposits of at least Rs 50 crore each were nationalised on the midnight of July 19, 1969, hours after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s address to the nation regarding this.

oSecond Phase: A second round of nationalisation of six more commercial banks — with deposits of more than Rs 200 crore each — followed in 1980.

Impact

• Due to the nationalization of banks, the efficiency of the banking system in India improved.
• The nationalization of banks also boosted the confidence of the public in banks.
• The sectors that were lagging behind, like small-scale industries and agriculture, got a boost.
• Increased funds to these sectors led to an increase in the economic growth of India.
• The nationalization of banks also increased the penetration of banks, particularly in rural areas of India.

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5. CEPI (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Union Minister for Science & Technology recently inaugurated Asia’s first health research "Pre-clinical Network Facility" under CEPI in Faridabad.

Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI)

• About: It was founded in Davos, Switzerland, by the governments of Norway and India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Economic Forum.
• Launch and Partnership: CEPI was launched in 2017 as an innovative partnership among public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations.
• Mission: CEPI’s mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats to ensure accessibility for all people in need.
• Vaccine Development Support: CEPI has supported the development of over 50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies targeting multiple high-risk pathogens or potential future threats, known as Disease X.
• Five-Year Plan: CEPI’s five-year plan for 2022-2026 includes the ‘100 Days Mission,’ aiming to reduce the time required to develop safe, effective, and globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.

CEPI and India Collaboration

• Ind-CEPI Mission: The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, supports the implementation of the Ind-CEPI Mission, focusing on rapid vaccine development for epidemic preparedness.
• Program Management: The initiative is managed through a dedicated Program Management Unit (PMU) at the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

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6. MASCHO PIRO (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - Geography)

Context: Indigenous rights NGO Survival International has released rare pictures of the Mashco Piro tribespeople, one of the world’s 100-odd uncontacted tribes.

Mashco Piro (Uncontacted Tribes)

• Habitat: Almost all of them live in the jungles of Amazon and Southeast Asia.
• Largest Tribe: The Mashco Piro, possibly numbering more than 750, are believed to be the largest of such tribes.
• Location: These nomadic hunter-gatherers live in the Amazon jungles of the Madre de Dios Region, close to Peru’s border with Brazil and Bolivia.
• Prohibition of Contact: Peru’s government has forbidden all contact with the Mashco Piro, fearing the spread of a disease among the population to which it has no immunity.
• Reclusiveness: The tribe is very reclusive, only occasionally contacting the native but contacted Yine people.
• Territorial Reserve: In 2002, the Peru government created the Madre de Dios Territorial Reserve to protect the territory of the Mashco Piro.
• Outside the Reserve: Large parts of their traditional ground lie outside the reserve.
• Logging Concessions: Swathes of land have since been sold off as logging concessions, giving companies the right to fell the evergreen forests for timber and other produce.
• Canales Tahuamanu: The most prominent logging company, Canales Tahuamanu, has been allotted an area of 53,000 hectares in the forests of Madre de Dios to extract cedar and mahogany by Peru’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
• Defense of Rights: Canales Tahuamanu has aggressively defended its logging rights, and clamped down on critical voices in courts.

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7. EEHV-HD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: According to WHO-UNICEF, India had the highest number of unvaccinated children for measles in 2023, totaling 1.6 million cases. 

• Additionally, a rise in calf deaths linked to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses – Haemorrhagic Disease (EEHV-HD) has been reported.

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses – Haemorrhagic Disease (EEHV-HD)

• About: It is responsible for one of the most devastating viral infectious diseases in elephants worldwide, particularly affecting young Asian elephants.
• Classification: EEHV is classified in the family Herpesviridae.
• Prevalence in Captive Elephants: The prevalence of EEHV in captive Asian elephants in North America and Europe has been well documented.
• First Incidence Reported in India: The incidence of EEHV-HD was first reported in India in 1997, with 9 of 15 potential cases confirmed from Southern India, including wild free-ranging calves in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu forest reserves, and Madras Zoo.
• Transmission Pathways: 

oSaliva

oBreast milk

oNasal secretions

oVaginal secretions

oTrunk-to-trunk contacts

oHost Specificity

• The disease exclusively affects elephants and is not infectious to humans or other animals.
• Symptoms of EEHV-HD: Lethargy, Selective appetite to complete anorexia, Pyrexia, Edema of the head, trunk, and limbs, Reduced trunk movement, Lacrimation (sometimes) etc.
• Diagnosis: Encephalomyocarditis virus, Clostridial Enterotoxaemia, Anthrax, Pasteurellosis, Salmonellosis, and Hypovitaminosis E.
• Diagnostic Testing: Detection of EEHV and its subtypes is confirmed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays.

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8. MEASLES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – S&T - Dieases)

Context: According to WHO-UNICEF, India reported the highest number of unvaccinated children for measles in 2023, with 1.6 million cases. This underscores a critical public health challenge in the country.

Measles

• About: A highly contagious, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by measles virus.
• Spreads:

oAn airborne disease which spreads easily from one person to the next through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

oMeasles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.

oIt may also be spread through direct contact with mouth or nasal secretions.

• Affect: Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.
• Symptoms:  

oUsually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days.

oA high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.

oComplications can include: blindness, encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage), Severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, ear infections, severe breathing problems including pneumonia

• Measles virus: Belongs to the paramyxovirus family and it is normally passed through direct contact and through the air.
• Vaccine:  Measles vaccine. And Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

• Recent Findings from WHO-UNICEF
• In 2023, India was among the top 10 countries where 55% of children were not vaccinated against measles, despite 90-94% vaccination coverage. 
• The number of 'measles zero dose' children in India increased in 2023 compared to 2022. 
• India has the third highest number of unvaccinated children against measles, following Nigeria and Congo.

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9. MAIZE PRODUCTION IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: India has experienced a remarkable revolution in maize production, with annual output soaring from 11.5 million tonnes in 1999-2000 to over 35 million tonnes in 2023-24.

Maize Production in India

• Ranking: India ranks 4th in maize cultivation area and 7th in production globally, contributing around 4% of the world’s maize area and 2% of its total production.
• Global Production Leader: The United States is the largest producer of maize, contributing nearly 36% of global production.
• Climate Requirements

oTemperature: Between 21-27°C and requires high rainfall.

oSoil Type: Maize is predominantly grown in old alluvial soil.

oUsage: Maize serves as both food and fodder.

• Growing Seasons: In India, maize is primarily grown in two seasons: kharif (rainy) and rabi (winter). Kharif maize covers about 83% of the maize-growing area, whereas rabi maize accounts for 17%.
• Cultivation Conditions: Over 70% of kharif maize is cultivated under rainfed conditions, facing numerous biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Regional Distribution: Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka have the largest maize areas in India, each with 15%, followed by Maharashtra (10%), Rajasthan (9%), and Uttar Pradesh (8%). Bihar is a major producer after Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, while Andhra Pradesh leads in maize productivity.

New Breeding Strategies

• Maize Doubled Haploid Facility: CIMMYT has inaugurated a maize doubled haploid (DH) facility at Kunigal in Karnataka.
• Partnership for Development: The facility was established in collaboration with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
• Production of Homozygous Lines: It produces 100% homozygous and genetically pure inbred lines of maize.
• Use in Hybrid Breeding: These inbred lines are used as parents for further crossing and hybrid breeding.

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10. SPEEDY TRIAL AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: An SC bench ruled that speedy trial is a fundamental right of an accused, stating that prolonged incarceration with no near-term trial completion justifies granting bail, even for serious charges.

• The court's ruling assumes significance in view of stringent bail conditions prescribed under different laws, including Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Speedy Trial

• Inherent in Article 21: It guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, which inherently includes the right to a speedy trial.
• First time mentioned in: British Law
• Interpretation of "Life and Liberty": The phrase encompasses various rights essential for a free and dignified life, among which is the right to a timely judicial process.
• Legal Protection: Any denial of the right to speedy trial can be challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 32 or in High Courts under Article 226.
• The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS): The BNSS aims to expedite justice by mandating sessions courts to frame charges within 60 days of the first hearing and deliver judgments within 30 days after completing arguments (extendable to 60 days). 
• Plea bargaining applications must be submitted within 30 days of charges being framed.

Landmark Cases Related to Speedy Trial

• Babu Singh v. State of UP 1978: The court remarked, “Our justice system even in grave cases, suffers from slow motion syndrome which is lethal to ‘fair trial’ whatever the ultimate decision.
• Hussainara Khatoon & Ors. vs Home Secretary, State of Bihar 1979: No procedure which does not ensure a reasonably quick trial can be regarded as ‘reasonable, fair or just’ and it would fall foul of Article 21. 
• Katar Singh vs State of Punjab: A constitution bench of the Supreme Court unequivocally construed the right of speedy trial as a fundamental right. “The concept of speedy trial is read into Article 21 as an essential part of the fundamental right to life and libert guaranteed and preserved under our Constitution.
• Abdul Rehman Antulay Vs RS Nayak, (1992): Right to speedy trial is implicit in Article 21 of the Constitution and is also reflected in Section 309 of the CrPC, 1973; that it encompasses all stages.

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