1. INDIA-GREECE RELATIONSHIP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Greek PM emphasized the importance of strengthening the EU-India partnership at the Raisina Dialogue, highlighting India's role as a consensus builder.

India - Greece Relations

• Ancient Democracies and Cultures: Both India and Greece boast ancient democratic traditions and rich cultural heritages.
• Mauryan-Era Trade: During the Mauryan era, India maintained significant trade connections with Greece, indicating early diplomatic and economic exchanges.
• Strengthening Diplomatic Ties: The upgrade to a strategic partnership between India and Greece was initiated by the Indian External Affairs Minister during his official visit to Greece in 2021.
• Ratification of ISA: The Greek parliament ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a treaty-based organization proposed by Prime Minister Modi in 2015.
• Expansion of Bilateral Cooperation:: New avenues have emerged to enhance cooperation in trade, joint military exercises, and connectivity projects between India and Greece.
• Strategic Location: Greece's strategic position serves as a pivotal gateway to Europe for India and Gulf countries, forming the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) with linkages through Haifa in Israel and Piraeus in Greece.
• Mutual Support and Alignment: Greece welcomes India's stance on Cyprus and reciprocally supports India's bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
• Enhanced Defense Relations: Since 1998, India and Greece have continually bolstered defense cooperation, including joint programs, periodic visits of warships, and signing of MoUs.
• Participation in INIOCHOS 23: In a significant milestone, the Indian Air Force joined the multinational exercise INIOCHOS 23 hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, showcasing growing defense collaboration between the two nations.The

Greece

• Location: Greece is a country in Southeast Europe, situated on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula.
• Bordering Nations: It shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east.
• Surrounding Seas: The Aegean Sea is situated to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Sea of Crete and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
• Extensive Coastline: Greece boasts the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin, adorned with thousands of islands.
• Population: As of 2024, Greece has a population of nearly 10.3 million people.
• Capital: Athens

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2. FALI S NARIMAN Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Judiciary)

Context: Eminent jurist and senior advocate of the Supreme Court Fali S Nariman has died. He was 95.

Fali S Nariman

• Early Life: Born in Rangoon in 1929.
• Education: He completed schooling from the prestigious Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and then completed a Bachelor's in Arts from Mumbai's St Xavier's College. He got his law degree from Government Law College, also in Mumbai.
• Legal Career Trajectory: He started his legal career in 1950 as an advocate, practising in Bombay High Court. His exceptional expertise earned him the designation of senior advocate in 1961. He moved to the Supreme Court as a Senior Advocate in 1971, a position he retained till the end.
• Political Stand and Noteworthy Actions: He served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 1972 to 1975, when he stepped down to protest the Emergency imposed by the then Indira Gandhi government. 

oA crucial case he was part of was the legal battle in the aftermath of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy that killed at least 3,800 people and affected lakhs.

• Legal System and Judicial Independence: He was part of was the challenge to the Constitutional amendment to set about a National Judicial Appointments Commission to replace the Collegium system for appointing judges. Arguing against the new system, the jurist had said the proposed commission would be a "complete anathema to judicial independence".
• Recognition: He was a nominated member of Rajya Sabha between 1999 and 2005 and served on multiple legal panels.
• Honours: Highest civilian awards, including the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

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3. FMBAP (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister of India approved the proposal of Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)” with total outlay of Rs. 4,100 crore for a period of 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 (15th Finance Commission period).

Flood Management and Border Areas Programme

• About: In order to protect human life, land and property from flood fury in the country, State Governments undertake flood management works.
• Components: The scheme "FMBAP" emerges from the fusion of components from two ongoing XII Plan schemes, namely "Flood Management Programme (FMP)" and "River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas (RMBA)".
• Objective: To aid State Governments in offering a reasonable degree of protection against floods in critical areas.
• Strategy: 

oStructural and Non-Structural Measures: The strategy involves adopting a mix of structural and non-structural measures while enhancing the capabilities of officials from State and Central Governments in relevant domains.

oCompletion of Ongoing Projects: The scheme prioritizes the completion of existing projects sanctioned under the FMP.

oHydro-meteorological Observations and Forecasting: Collaboration for hydro-meteorological observations and flood forecasting on shared rivers with neighboring countries is a key strategy.

• Coverage: Across the entire country, benefiting towns, villages, industrial establishments, communication links, agricultural fields, and infrastructure from floods and erosion.
• Funding Pattern: 

oGeneral Funding: Works in general category States follow a funding pattern of 50% from the Centre and 50% from the State.

oSpecial Funding: Projects in North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand maintain a funding ratio of 70% (Centre) to 30% (State).

oRMBA Funding: Activities related to border areas with neighboring countries continue to receive 100% grant-in-aid or central assistance.

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4. FSDC (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs recently chaired the 28th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi.

Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

• About: It is a non-statutory apex council under the Ministry of Finance constituted by the Executive Order in 2010.
• Origins: The Raghuram Rajan Committee (2008) on financial sector reforms first proposed the creation of FSDC.
• Composition: The Chairman of the Council is the Finance Minister and its members include the heads of financial sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA & FMC) Finance Secretary and/or Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, and Chief Economic Adviser.
• Sub-committees and Roles: The FSDC Sub Committee is Chaired by the Governor of the RBI.
• All the members of the FSDC are also members of the Sub-committee.
• Objectives:

oTo strengthen and institutionalize the mechanism of maintaining financial and macroeconomic stability.

oTo enhance inter-regulatory coordination and promote financial sector development.

oIt also focuses on financial literacy and financial inclusion.

oCoordinating India’s international interface with financial sector bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB).

Functions

• Strengthening Financial Stability: The mechanism aims to fortify financial stability within the system.

oIt seeks to mitigate risks and prevent crises through proactive measures.

• Institutionalizing Coordination: It fosters collaboration among regulatory bodies to address systemic risks effectively.
• Promoting Sector Development: The mechanism works towards the development of the financial sector.

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5. NATIONAL LIVESTOCK MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved further modification of National Livestock Mission by including the additional activities.

National Livestock Mission

• About: Since April 2019, the scheme has been executed as a subsidiary program under the White Revolution - Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana.
• Launch: 2014-15
• Controlling Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
• Aim: To boost livestock production and improve its quality across India.
• Objective: 

oGeneration of Employment: The expansion of the small ruminant, poultry, piggery, and fodder sectors stimulates job creation.

oEnhancing Animal Productivity: Breed improvement initiatives lead to increased productivity per animal.

oIncrease in Animal Product Output: The growth strategy targets higher yields in meat, eggs, goat milk, wool, and fodder production.

oEnhancing Fodder Availability: Strengthening the fodder seed supply chain reduces dependency and boosts availability.

oEstablishment of fodder processing units bridges the demand-supply gap.

oPromotion of Risk Management: Livestock insurance schemes provide crucial risk management support for farmers.

• Sub-Missions:  (i) Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development (ii) Sub-Mission on Livestock Development (ii) Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North-Eastern Region (iii) Sub-Mission on Skill Development, Technology Transfer and Extension having 50 activities.

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6. GLOBAL INITIATIVE ON DIGITAL HEALTH (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Recently, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare virtually addressed the public launch event of the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)

• About: The GIDH is a WHO managed network which was unanimously adopted by all G20 countries, invited countries and international organizations.
• Core areas of work: assessing and prioritizing Member States’ needs, evaluating the availability and reporting of country-level digital health resources and identifying under-funded priorities, supporting technically and financially the accelerated achievement.
• Membership: It is open to all institutions engaged in digital health.
• Four main components

oCountry Needs Tracker: Facilitating digital health investments to be informed by country priorities;

oCountry Resource Portal: Identifying traditional as well as innovative resource opportunities, and promoting transparency, while reducing the risk of duplication for enabling a standards-based prospective and retrospective analysis of resourcing gaps in digital health.

oTransformation Toolbox: Advocating for quality-assured tools and resources that strengthen country capacity and autonomy to manage the national digital health transformation.

oConvening and Knowledge Exchange: Promoting strengthened collaboration and knowledge exchange across global, regional, and national networks in digital health.

• Objectives of the Initiative:

oAssess and prioritize the country’s needs for sustainable digital health transformation.

oIncrease the alignment of country-level digital health resources and unfunded priorities.

oSupport the accelerated achievement of the strategic objectives of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025.

oBuild capacity and converge efforts to encourage local development, maintenance, and adaptation of digital health technologies to continuously changing needs.

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7. IMEC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Despite the recent Israeli war in Gaza destabilizing plans for the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC), the Greek Prime Minister urged India and Greece to persevere with the peace project during his visit to New Delhi.

India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

• About: The IMEC is being envisioned as a network of transport corridors, including railway lines and sea lanes, that is expected to aid economic growth through integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe.
• Aim: The arrangement will include a railway route that, upon completion, will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes. 

oThis will enable goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe.

• Part of: The project is a part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII).
• Countries involved: India, USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, European Union, Italy, France and Germany.
• Significance of the IMEC

oAlternative to BRI: This project reflects emerging geopolitical trends as it offers an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)..

oDeepening Arabian Peninsula: The Indian government’s efforts to strengthen political and strategic ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia can now be further solidified by creating enduring connectivity between India and the Arabian Peninsula.

oIntegration of Europe: The corridor signifies Europe’s active involvement in infrastructure development in the region.

oEngagement with Africa: The U.S. and the EU have proposed plans to establish a Trans-African corridor connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.

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8. FDI IN SPACE SECTOR (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Centre has approved an amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment, FDI policy, allowing 100% foreign investment in the space sector. 

Foreign Direct Investment

• About: FDI is the investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India (a) in an unlisted Indian company; or (b) in 10% or more of the post issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company.
• Examples: - It includes foreign currency convertible bond, certain foreign institutional investment, 
• Control: Investors gain substantial control and influence over the management and decision-making processes of the foreign business.
• objective: FDI is often associated with strategic objectives, such as expanding operations or accessing new markets.
• Regulatory body:  Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and finance ministry.
• Prohibited items:  Atomic Energy Generation, Nidhi Company, Lotteries (online, private, government, etc.), Investment in Chit Funds, Trading in TDR’s Any Gambling or Betting businesses, Cigars, Cigarettes, or any Housing and Real Estate (except townships, commercial projects, etc.).
• Special case: - An entity of a country, which shares a land border with India, can invest only under the Government route.
• Government policies:  under two routes- (1) Automatic route (2) through government approval. Liberalisation of FDI norms.
• Trend in FDI: - In the fiscal year 2022–23, FDI stood at $71.3 billion, which marked a 16 percent decrease compared to the previous fiscal year (2021–22). however there has been a general increase in FDI in the past decade.

Space Sector In India

• ISRO is the 6th largest space agency in the world and holds an exceptional success rate
• Rank 5: With over 400 private space companies, India ranks fifth globally in no. of space companies.
• Growth Projections: India currently contributes 2-3% to the global space economy. However, projections suggest that it aims to expand its share to over 10% by 2030, signifying significant growth potential.
• Amendments to Private Sector Participation: The government's amendments aim to bolster private sector involvement, leading to increased employment opportunities, technological advancements, and self-reliance within the sector. 
• Vision for the Future: With the recent liberalization of the space sector, India envisions a robust $40 billion space economy by 2040.
• Indian Space Policy 2023: This Policy  aims to augment space capabilities, foster commercial presence in space, drive technology development, facilitate international relations, and create an ecosystem for effective space application implementation.

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9. CRYOGENIC ENGINE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the performance of the key cryogenic engine, slated for use on board the LVM3 launch vehicles for India’s Gaganyaan missions, has been qualified and certified for missions aimed at transporting humans into space.

Cryogenic Engine

• About: The CE-20 is a homegrown cryogenic engine developed by ISRO for the GSLV Mk III, now termed LVM-3, launch vehicle.
• Advantages of Liquid Fuels for Rocket Motors: Engineers favor liquid fuels due to their compactness and superior flow compared to solid fuels.
• Hydrogen stands out as a desirable fuel due to its high exhaust velocity upon combustion.
• ISRO has utilized three cryogenic engines: KVD-1, CE-7.5, and CE-20, with the latter two being domestically developed.
• Operational Mechanisms: Cryogenic engines necessitate cryopumps, specialized storage tanks, and turbopumps for fuel movement.
• The CE-7.5 engine follows the staged-combustion cycle, while the CE-20 engine operates on the gas-generator cycle, enhancing ease of construction and testing for ISRO.

Gaganyaan Mission

• About: Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth.
• Expected Launch: In 2025)
• Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk-lll (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) the three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle will be used for carrying the orbital module.
• India’s heaviest rocket consists of solid stage, liquid stage and cryogenic stage.
• Objective: To demonstrate the capability to send humans to low earth orbit on board an Indian launch vehicle and bring them back to earth safely.

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10. SHOMPEN TRIBE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geograohy)

Context: Recently, India's president embarked on a whistle-stop tour of an island designated for multi-billion-dollar development, raising concerns among experts about the potential threat to the indigenous Shompen tribe, who have inhabited it.

Shompen Tribe

• About: The Shompen reside in the dense tropical rainforest of the Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands.
• Community: They are one of the least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India, despite their historical significance.
• Population: While the Census (2011) estimated their population at 229, the exact number of Shompen remains unknown, shrouded in mystery till today.
• Isolationist Lifestyle: Most Shompen live uncontacted, adamantly refusing interactions with outsiders, preserving their cultural integrity.
• Community Structure: Living in small groups, their territories are demarcated by the rivers coursing through the rainforest, fostering close-knit communities.
• Semi-Nomadic Traditions: They subsist as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting, gathering, fishing, and rudimentary horticultural activities for sustenance.
• Hunting and Gathering Practices: Traditional hunting targets include wild pig, python, monitor lizard, crocodile, sea turtle, among others, sustaining their dietary needs.
• Language: Shompen speak a distinct language with multiple dialects, rendering inter-band communication challenging due to linguistic barriers.
• Physical Characteristics: Short to medium stature, round or broad head shapes, narrow noses, and distinctly Mongoloid features, they exhibit a unique physical appearance.
• Family Structure: Shompen families follow a nuclear structure, with the eldest male member assuming authority over all household affairs, including women and children.
• Marital Norms: Monogamy is prevalent within Shompen society, although polygamy is permitted, reflecting the nuances of their cultural traditions.

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