1. MARS (RED PLANET) (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: According to new research, Mars experiences frequent impacts from space rocks, creating seismic waves and forming 8-meter-wide craters, revealing a more dynamic activity level than previously understood.

Mars

• About: It is the fourth planet from the Sun, derives its name from the Roman God of war and is commonly referred to as the "Red Planet" due to its distinctive reddish appearance.
• Characteristics and Composition: The reddish coloration of Mars is attributed to the presence of a significant amount of iron oxide, commonly known as rust, in its surface rocks and soil.
• Size: Mars is almost half the size of Earth, with a diameter of 6,791 kilometers, making it the second smallest planet in our solar system after Mercury. 
• Moons: It is also home to the moons Phobos and Deimos.
• Temperature: Due to its considerable distance from the sun, Mars experiences extreme temperatures, with equatorial temperatures reaching 20°C and polar parts dropping as low as -140°C.
• Volcano: Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, is located on Mars.
• Similarity to the Earth (Orbit and Rotation):

oMars completes one rotation every 24.6 hours, similar to Earth's 23.9-hour day.

oThe axial tilt of Mars is 25 degrees, comparable to Earth's 23.4 degrees.

oMars experiences distinct seasons, which are longer than those on Earth.

oMartian days are known as sols.

Mars Mission of India

• Launched: Mangalyaan (MOM) was launched aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C25) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Mission Duration: The spacecraft spent over 300 days cruising in deep space before successfully entering Mars orbit on September 24, 2014.
• First Attempt Success: India achieved Martian orbit insertion on its very first attempt, marking a historic first for any Asian space agency.
• Global Achievement: The mission made India the first Asian country and the fourth in the world to reach Mars, after Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency.
• International Recognition: China hailed India's successful Mangalyaan mission as the "Pride of Asia".
• Payloads: Mangalyaan carried 850 kg of fuel and five science payloads, including a Mars Color Camera (MCC) for studying the Martian surface and atmosphere post-orbit insertion.

Other Countries Mars Missions

• Mars Express- European Space Agency (2003)
• Curiosity-NASA (2011)
• InSight lander- NASA (2018)
• Hope Mars Mission- United Arab Emirates (2020)
• UAE’s Hope Mars Mission (UAE’s first-ever interplanetary mission) (2021)

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2. IMD COLOUR CODED WARNINGS (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted intensified rains for Mumbai, issuing a yellow alert in its five-day district forecast.

IMD Colour-Coded Warnings

• Green Alert (No Warning)

oThe Green alert signifies rainfall less than 64 mm in 24 hours.

oIt indicates that no advisory needs to be issued due to minimal impact from weather conditions.

• Yellow Alert (Be Updated)

oA Yellow alert is issued for expected rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm.

oIt warns that current weather conditions could worsen, prompting people to stay updated with the latest information.

• Orange Alert (Be Prepared)

oAn Orange alert is issued for extremely severe weather conditions.

oIt impacts transportation systems such as roads, railways, and air travel, urging preparedness measures to mitigate risks.

• Red Alert (Take Action)

oA Red alert is issued when rainfall exceeds 204.5 mm in 24 hours.

oIt signals extremely severe weather conditions that can disrupt transport, power supply, and pose significant risks to life, requiring immediate action and precautionary measures.

India Meteorological Department:

• About: It is a principal government agency for meteorology and related matters.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Organization Structure: Director General of Meteorology heads IMD.

oThere are 20 Deputy Directors General of whom 10 are at New Delhi.

• Headquarters: New Delhi

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3. KRISHI KATHA PLATFORM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare launched a web portal aimed at expediting bank settlements for interest subsidy claims under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

Krishi Katha Platform

• About: It amplifies the experiences, insights, and success stories of Indian farmers.

oIt aims to provide a dedicated space for comprehensive and immersive storytelling, highlighting the narratives of India's agricultural community.

• Objectives:

oRaise awareness about farmers' issues.

oFacilitate knowledge exchange among farmers.

oFoster collaboration within the agricultural sector.

oEmpower farmers by highlighting their achievements.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme

• Launch Year: The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme was launched in 2020 to bolster agricultural infrastructure in India.
• Objectives: It focuses on developing post-harvest management infrastructure to reduce losses, increase farmers' income, promote agricultural innovation, and attract investments in agriculture.
• Financial Outlay: The scheme has a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore, with funding facilitated through banks and financial institutions until 2025-26.
• Interest Subvention and Support: Beneficiaries can avail a 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹2 crore, provided by banks for a maximum period of 7 years. Additionally, banks receive reimbursement for credit guarantee fees paid.

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4. TEESTA TREATY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: During the recent state visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India, the Prime Minister of India announced that a technical team would soon visit Bangladesh to discuss conservation and management of the Teesta river.

Teesta Treaty

• Background of Dispute: The Teesta River disputes trace back to the 1947 Boundary Commission report by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, delineating boundaries between West Bengal (India) and East Bengal (Pakistan, later Bangladesh).

oDuring East Bengal's period as part of Pakistan, there was minimal dialogue on water issues between India and East Pakistan.

• Geographical Context: The Teesta River originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal and Bangladesh. India claims 55% of its water.
• Interim Water-Sharing Arrangement (1983): An interim agreement allocated 36% of Teesta’s waters to Bangladesh, 39% to India, with 25% remaining unallocated.
• Recent Developments: Post the Ganga Water Treaty, a Joint Committee of Experts prioritized the Teesta. In 2010, a draft agreement presented by Bangladesh was accepted by both countries.

Proposal for Teesta River Water Sharing

• Origin and Flow: The Teesta river originates from Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim at an elevation of 5,280 meters. It flows approximately 150 km in Sikkim and 123 km in West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
• Geographical Coverage: In Bangladesh, the Teesta river travels 140 km and finally empties into the Bay of Bengal. Its floodplain in Bangladesh spans 2,750 square kilometers.
• Catchment Area Distribution: The river's catchment area is primarily in India, covering 83%, with the remaining 17% in Bangladesh. Despite this, it significantly supports Bangladesh's agriculture and population.
• Water Sharing Agreement: In 2011, a proposed agreement suggested India would receive 42.5% and Bangladesh 37.5% of the Teesta river's waters from December to March annually.
• Current Status: Since 2011, the Teesta water-sharing agreement remains pending, affecting bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh and impacting water management strategies in both countries.

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5. DECENTRALIZING EDUCATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity/Education)

Context: The NEET-UG exam has faced controversies over grace marks, allegations of paper leaks, and other irregularities. Additionally, the government cancelled the UGC-NET exam post-conduct, and postponed the CSIR-NET and NEET-PG exams.

Historical Background of Education 

• Federal Structure: The Government of India Act, 1935, created a federal structure, distributing legislative subjects between the federal legislature and provinces.
• Education in the Provincial List: Education, an important public good, was placed under the provincial list during the British rule and continued in the State list post-independence.
• Emergency and the Swaran Singh Committee: During the Emergency, the Swaran Singh Committee recommended placing ‘education’ in the concurrent list to evolve all-India policies on the subject.
• 42nd Constitutional Amendment: The 42nd CAA 1976 implemented this recommendation, shifting ‘education’ from the State list to the concurrent list without detailed rationale or adequate state debate.
• 44th Constitutional Amendment Attempt: The Former government attempted to reverse this through the 44th amendment (1978), but the proposal to bring ‘education’ back to the State list passed in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha.

International Practices

• United States: State and local governments set educational standards, mandate tests, and supervise institutions, with the federal department focusing on financial aid, key issues, and equal access.
• Canada: Education is completely managed by provinces.
• Germany: The constitution vests legislative powers for education with landers (States).
• South Africa: Governed by two national departments for school and higher education, with provincial departments implementing policies and addressing local issues.

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6. MENINGOENCEPHALITIS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Unhygienic and stagnant water resources, coupled with high temperatures, are likely contributing factors to the recent increase in rare but fatal cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Kerala.

Meningoencephalitis

• Definition: This is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by simultaneous inflammation of the meninges (protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord) and brain tissue (encephalitis).
• Also known as: Encephalomeningitis.
• Types of meningoencephalitis

oBacterial meningoencephalitis

oCryptococcal meningoencephalitis

oHerpetic meningoencephalitis (HME)

oPrimary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)

• Symptoms: Common symptoms include headache, stiff neck or neck pain, fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, and speech issues.
• Infectious Agents: Mainly caused by infectious agents including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and the amoeba Naegleria fowleri.
• Modes of Transmission: These infections can spread through air, water, food, or close contact with infected individuals.
• Risk Factors: Children under 5 years old and individuals over 65 are particularly vulnerable due to weaker immune systems.

oSpecific Conditions: People with conditions like HIV, which weaken the immune system, are at higher risk. For instance, cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is common among those with advanced HIV disease.

• Treatment: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, for example, requires antifungal medication. Providers use antiviral medications (like acyclovir) for herpetic meningoencephalitis.

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7. NET ZERO TARGET (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context: Three years after India declared its goal to become a net-zero economy by 2070, the policy design for achieving the target has begun, with the NITI Aayog forming dedicated multi-sectoral committees to prepare a transition plan.

Net-Zero Target

• About: It refers to achieving carbon neutrality, where a country's greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by absorption and removal from the atmosphere.
• Carbon Neutrality Clarification: Net-zero does not mean complete elimination of emissions but rather achieving a balance with offsetting measures.
• Methods of Achieving Net Zero: Increasing carbon sinks like forests to enhance natural absorption.

oDeveloping advanced technologies like carbon capture and storage for direct removal of greenhouse gases.

• Global Commitments: Over 70 countries have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 to combat climate change.

oEarly Adopters: Countries like the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, and New Zealand have committed to ambitious net-zero targets aligned with the Paris Agreement.

oGlobal Examples: Bhutan and Suriname are already carbon-negative due to their significant carbon absorption capabilities from forests and natural ecosystems.

• India's Target: India aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, as announced at the COP-26 summit.
• Scope: Targets can refer to overall greenhouse gases or specifically to CO2 emissions, depending on national strategies and agreements like the UK Climate Change Act.

Negative Emissions

• Nature-Based Solutions: Natural methods include reforestation and afforestation to increase CO2 absorption through plant growth.
• Technological Solutions: Advanced technologies such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air capture are engineered to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

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8. EUROPEAN COUNCIL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The Prime Minister of India extended congratulations to H.E. António Costa on his election as the next President of the European Council.

European Council

• About: It is a collegiate body (directorial system) that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union. The European Council is part of the executive of the European Union (EU), beside the European Commission.

oIt ensures strategic coherence among member states in EU policies.

• Composition: The European Council consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, alongside its own President and the Commission President (both non-voting).

oThe High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also participates in its meetings.

• Evolution: Originating as an informal summit in 1975, it gained institutional status with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009.
• Decision-Making: Chaired by its president at least biannually in Brussels.
• Decisions are made by consensus among member states, except where specified otherwise by treaties.
• Powers and Responsibilities

oDefined as an official EU institution under the Lisbon Treaty, tasked with advancing EU development.

oInfluential in shaping EU policy, especially in high-profile areas like foreign policy.

oExercises powers such as appointing key EU officials and proposing the President of the European Commission to the European Parliament.

oThe European Council provides strategic guidance and crisis management for the EU.

oLegislative initiatives are proposed solely by the European Commission.

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9. FAUNA OF INDIA CHECKLIST PORTAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: India has compiled a comprehensive checklist of its entire fauna, encompassing 104,561 species, marking a global first in this achievement.

Fauna of India Checklist Portal

• About: The portal is the first extensive record of faunal species reported from India.
• Launched by: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
• Objective: It serves as a crucial resource for taxonomists, researchers, academicians, conservation managers, and policymakers.
• Taxonomic Coverage: Includes 121 checklists encompassing all known taxa across 36 phyla.
• Inclusion Criteria: Highlights endemic, threatened, and scheduled species within its comprehensive list.
• Mammalian Diversity in India

oRegional Distribution: Meghalaya, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Sikkim, and Kerala boast the highest number of mammalian species.

oUnion Territories: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, and Delhi exhibit notable mammalian diversity among Union Territories.

oEndemic Species: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala house a significant portion of India's endemic mammal species.

• Endemism in Specific Regions

oWestern Ghats: Noteworthy for high endemism in hill streams across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

oAndaman & Nicobar Islands: Also recognized for significant endemic species presence.

• Unique Genera and Species

oMonotypic Genera: India hosts unique genera such as Anathana, Latidens, and Nilgiritragus, each found exclusively within its borders.

oLatidens salimalii: Salim Ali’s fruit bat, a rare megabat species, is an example of the unique fauna found in India.

oAnathana: The Madras Treeshrew belongs to this monotypic genus, showcasing India's distinctive biodiversity.

• Avian Diversity in India

oTotal Species: India is home to 1,358 bird species.

oEndemic Birds: 79 species are endemic, with the Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Islands as significant areas of endemism.

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10. MINIATURE PAINTINGS IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: Delhi endured heavy rainfall, with artist Arpana Caur overseeing the assessment and preservation of centuries-old miniature and folk art paintings in the museum located at the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature in Siri Fort Institutional Area, amidst the flooding.

Miniature Paintings in India

• Origin: The term "miniature" derives from the Latin "minimum," meaning red lead paint, reflecting its early association with small-scale painting.
• Emergence in India: Indian miniature paintings have a rich history on the subcontinent, with distinct regional schools developing diverse styles and compositions.
• Regional Development: The Western Himalayas saw the emergence of Indian miniature paintings around the 17th century, influenced by earlier mural traditions.
• Patronage and Influence: Throughout the Mughal era, Indian miniature paintings flourished with support from Deccan Muslim rulers, Malwa kings, and Hindu Rajas of Rajasthan, blending Persian artistic traditions with indigenous styles.
• There are two renowned institutions of higher learning.

oPala School of Art: Flourished from 750 to 1150 AD, known for paintings on vellum paper or palm leaf manuscripts.

oApabhramsa School of Art: Originated in Gujarat and Mewar, dominated western Indian art from the 11th to 15th centuries, later integrating Vaishnava and Jain motifs.

• Features:

oArtistic Craftsmanship: Miniature paintings are meticulously handcrafted, renowned for intricate details and vibrant colors despite their small size.

oBrushwork: Indian miniatures are characterized by delicate brushwork that defines their unique style and aesthetic appeal.

oTraditional Materials: These paintings use hand-mixed paints sourced from natural elements like gold, silver, minerals, plants, and precious stones.

oTechnical Requirements: Miniature paintings are limited to 25 square inches and depict subjects at no more than 1/6th of actual size, adhering to specific guidelines.

oStylistic Characteristics: Common features include side-profile human figures with distinctive traits like bulging eyes, sharp noses, and thin waists, varying by regional school.

• Examples: The portrait of Jahangir. This miniature is in the collection of the National Museum, New Delhi.

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