1. GROUP OF 77 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Minister of State for External Affairs of India will be on a three-day visit to Kampala in Uganda to participate in the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 and China (G-77).

Group of 77 and China (G-77)

• Formation: The G77 was established at the United Nations (UN) on June 15, 1964, by 77 non-aligned nations during the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
• Expansion: Originally consisting of 77 members, it has now expanded to include 134 developing countries.
• Chairmanship: Cuba assumed the chairmanship of the G77 in 2023, succeeding Pakistan.
• First Meeting: Algiers in 1967, leading to the adoption of the Charter of Algiers and the establishment of permanent institutional structures.
• Global Presence: The G77 has chapters in various international locations, including Geneva (UN), Rome (FAO), Vienna (UNIDO), Paris (UNESCO), and Nairobi (UNEP), with an additional Group of 24 in Washington, D.C. (IMF and World Bank).
• China's Involvement: China is officially recognized as a member of the G77 and is listed among its 134 member countries.

oDespite not considering itself a member, China consistently provides political support and financial contributions to the G77 since 1994.

• Joint Declarations: The G77 delivers official statements under the banner of "The Group of 77 and China" or "G77+China," reflecting their collaborative representation at the UN.

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2. GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Supreme Court directed the Centre to come clean on its plans to save the critically-endangered Great Indian Bustard.

Great Indian Bustard

• About: It is the State bird of Rajasthan and is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
• Flagship species: It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
• Habitat: Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Protection Status:

oIUCN: Critically Endangered

oCITES: Appendix 1

oConvention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix 1

oWildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1

• Concerns: As Rajasthan shares the international border with Pakistan's Sindh and Punjab provinces, the birds will become easy prey for the gun-toting poachers there.

Initiatives taken to protect GIB

• Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats: GIB is kept under the species recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Conservation Breeding Facility: MoEF&CC, Rajasthan government and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have established a conservation breeding facility in Desert National Park at Jaisalmer in June 2019.
• Project Great Indian Bustard: It has been launched by the Rajasthan government with an aim of constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing infrastructure to reduce human pressure on its habitats.

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3. CORAL REEF (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Scientists have mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic coast.

Coral Reef

• About: Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
• Structure: Coral reefs are massive structures made of limestone deposited by coral polyps.
• Referred to as: Rainforests of the sea. Coral reefs support approximately 25 percent of all known marine species
• Condition of its growth:

oWarm water temperature: Corals generally live in water temperatures of 20–32° C.

oSunlight: Corals need to grow in shallow water where sunlight can reach them. Zooxanthellae (algae) needs sunlight for photosynthesis.

oSalinity: Corals need saltwater to survive.

• Sunlight: Abundant sunlight available. 
• Temperature: The temperature of the water should be around 20°C. 
• Types of coral reef: Fringing Reefs, Barrier Reefs, Atolls.
• Coral reef in India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Strait and the Lakshadweep islands.

Coral Bleaching: When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae microscopic algae called zooxanthellae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white.

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4. ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Sea-level rise driven by climate change could significantly release arsenic a cancer-causing agent into Bangladesh’s drinking well water, according to a new study.

Arsenic

• About: Arsenic, a tasteless and odorless metalloid, occurs naturally in the earth's crust and groundwater.
• Toxicity: In its inorganic form, arsenic is highly toxic, leading to arsenic poisoning with severe health consequences.
• Arsenic-affected areas: Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Health Implications: Arsenicosis, characterized by the accumulation of high arsenic levels, results in adverse health effects, potentially causing multi-system organ failure and death.
• Global Initiatives: Efforts under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development focus on ensuring safely managed drinking water, free from arsenic contamination.
• National Mission: The Jal Jeevan Mission, targeting 2024, aims to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural and urban India, addressing the arsenic threat.

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5. FAO COFI SUB COMMITTEE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India has been elected as the First Vice Chair of the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management. 

Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management

• About: It is a forum for discussing fisheries management issues at national, regional and global levels.

oIt deals with technical and policy matters in line with FAO's mission, and actively collaborates with relevant regional and international organizations, countries, stakeholder groups, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), forging new collaborations where needed.

• Establishment: During the Thirty-Fifth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI).
• Membership: It is open to all Member Nations of the Organization.
• Observers: Entities and registered COFI observers can join the Sub-Committee.
• Functions

oTo provide essential technical and policy guidance on fisheries governance and management, with the aim of advancing the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

oIt identifies significant global issues and trends in fisheries management and sustainable development that require urgent measures, offering guidance and recommendations for addressing them.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):

• About: It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its sister bodies are the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
• Formation: 16th October, 1945.
• Headquarter: Rome (Italy).
• Goal: To achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 
• Members: 195 members - 194 countries and the European union
• World Food Day: Celebrated every year on 16th October. 

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6. KEN-BETWA LINK PROJECT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Recently, the 5th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Ken Betwa Link Project Authority was conducted at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

Ken-Betwa Link Project

• About: It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for interlinking of rivers. 
• It envisages transferring water from the Ken River to the Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna. 
• Length: will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
• Implementing Agency: Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA).
• Benefits: The project lies in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It will provide water of irrigation, drinking water, groundwater recharge etc.

Ken and Betwa River

• Ken River: Originated in Katni district, Madhya Pradesh. 

oMerged with: Yamuna in Banda district in Uttar Pradesh. 

oPasses through: Panna tiger reserve.

• Betwa River: It rises in the Vindhya Range (Raisen) in Madhya Pradesh. 

oMerged with: Yamuna rivers is in Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

oMajor Dams on Betwa: Rajghat Dam, Matatila Dam, Parichha Dam, Dhurwara Dam, Halali Dam.

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7. GANGETIC DOLPHIN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, a fisherman in Odisha's Balasore district made a noteworthy discovery when he captured a rare and endangered Gangetic dolphin in the Jalaka river.

Gangetic Dolphin

• About: The Gangetic Dolphin, is a freshwater species and among the rare river dolphins globally.
• Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica.
• Also known as: “SUSU” or Sisu.
• Distribution: It resides in the river systems of Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu, spanning Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
• Other Name: Blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, side-swimming dolphin, or South Asian River Dolphin.
• Honour: India's National Aquatic Animal.
• Conservation Status

oIUCN: Endangered

oWildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule-I 

oCITES: Appendix I

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8. GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India recently launched the "Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality" at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos.

Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality

• About: Originating from the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India's commitment to women-led development, the Alliance takes shape under Prime Minister of India’s vision.
• Objectives: To consolidate global best practices, facilitate knowledge sharing, and attract investments in critical areas such as women’s health, education, and enterprise.
• G20 Commitments: Aligned with G20 leaders' commitments, the Alliance builds upon the activities of engagement groups like Business 20, Women 20, and G20 EMPOWER for the global community's benefit.
• Partnerships: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CII Centre for Women Leadership, World Economic Forum, and Invest India.
• Alignment with Global Initiatives: Rooted in India's commitment to "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and the principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas," the Alliance focuses on gender equity and equality on a global scale.
• Women Leadership Lounge at WEF: A unique initiative at WEF, the 'We Lead' lounge facilitated conversations on women-led development, digital gender gap, women’s health, and showcased products by women entrepreneurs.

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9. CASTE CENSUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government initiated a comprehensive caste census to enumerate all communities in the state.

Caste Census

• About: The caste census entails the categorization of India's entire population by caste, with a focus on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), rather than solely on Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Background: Caste was last included in the Indian Census in 1931 at the time by the Britishers. 
• From 1951 to 2011, every census in independent India provided data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but not on other castes. 

oThe Britishers ended the practice in the 1941 Census, citing cost restrictions.

• Caste Survey: As only the central government can conduct a census, states like Bihar and Odisha have been conducting socio-economic caste surveys to inform policy-making by assessing the social and economic conditions of various castes.

Importance of Cast Census:

oEquitable representation

oEnumerating the marginalised

oRemoves caste rigidities

oData for Policy Making

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10. NAGAR STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art nd Culture)

Context: The ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 22. Designed by Chandrakant Sompura, 81, and his son Ashish, 51, it is being built in the Nagara style of temple architecture.

Nagara Style

• About: The Nagara style of temple architecture originated in the fifth century CE during the late Gupta period in northern India, contemporaneously with the Dravida style in the south.
• Features: Nagara temples are characterized by their towering shikhara, constructed on a raised plinth. 
• The sanctum sanctorum, or garbha griha, holds the deity, with the shikhara towering above it as the most distinctive feature of the Nagara style.
• Shikhara: Shikharas in Nagara temples serve as symbolic representations of the natural and cosmological order, rooted in Hindu tradition. 
• They embody concepts like Meru, Mandara, and Kailasa, reflecting the axis of the world.
• The Temple's Cosmic Connection: The names Meru, Mandara, and Kailasa, central to early texts, signify the temple's role as the axis and destination of the world edifice.
• Architectural Components: A typical Nagara temple includes a raised plinth, a garbha griha, a shikhara, a circumambulatory passage around the sanctum, and one or more mandapas on the same axis. 
• Five modes of Nagara temple architecture: Valabhi, Phamsana, Latina, Shekhari, and Bhumija.

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