1. RARE METAL TANTALUM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, researchers from IIT Ropar discovered the presence of tantalum, a rare metal, in the sand of the Sutlej River in Punjab.

• According to experts, the presence of tantalum is significant not only for Punjab, but also India, as the metal is widely used in electronics and semiconductors.

Tantalum

• About: Tantalum is a rare metal with the atomic number 73 - the number of protons found in one atom of the element. 
• Physical Features: It's grey, heavy, very hard, and one of the most corrosion resistant metals in use today. 

oIt possesses high corrosion resistance because when exposed to air, it forms an oxide layer that is extremely difficult to remove, even when it interacts with strong and hot acid environments.

• Notably, tantalum also has an extremely high melting point, exceeded only by tung- sten and rhenium.
• Discovered by: Anders Gustaf Ekenberg, a Swedish chemist, in 1802 in minerals obtained from Ytterby, Sweden.
• Name: The rare metal has been named after the Greek mythological figure Tantalus-the rich but wicked king of a town above Mount Sipylus in Anatolia.
• Uses: Tantalum is most prominently used in the electronic sector. Use in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and digital cameras.

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2. SATHEE PORTAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: Recently, the Education Ministry announced plans to write to all states, urging aspirants for the upcoming Joint Entrance Examination to utilize the newly launched portal SATHEE for effective exam preparation, with the exam just 45 days away.

SATHEE Portal

• About: SATHEE has launched a 45-day crash course for aspirants to test their level of preparation.
• Number of Students Registered: About 5,000 students from the Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have registered on the platform so far.
• Developed by: University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education and IIT, Kanpur
• Available Languages: The SATHEE site will offer study materials in a variety of languages, including English, Hindi, and other regional tongues.
• Use of AI: The portal uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interact with students, and can be customized to each student’s pace of learning. 
• SATHEE’s integrated AI chatbot helps students align their learning needs.
• The initiative is in line with the National Education Policy, with the goal to provide inclusive, high-quality education even to remote parts of the country.

National Education Policy 2020

• The NEP 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986.
• Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• It aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower that suited to 21st century needs.

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3. VAJRA PRAHAR 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, the 14th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise "VAJRA PRAHAR 2023" commenced at the Joint Training Node, Umroi.

Key Highlights of 2023 Exercise

• Combat free fall insertion of troops from stand-off distances
• Waterborne insertion of troops
• Precision engagement of targets at long ranges
• Combat air controlling of fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft
• Airborne insertion and sustenance of troops’.

VAJRA PRAHAR 2023

• About: Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR is a joint exercise conducted between Indian Army and US Army Special Forces. 
• Aim: It aims at sharing best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics.
• First Edition: 2010 in India
• 13th Edition: Bakloh (HP)

Other Exercises between India and the USA

• Exercise Tiger Triumph (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise)
• Cope India (Air Force).
• Malabar Exercise (Quadrilateral naval exercise of India, USA, Japan and Australia).
• Red Flag (US’ multilateral air exercise).

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4. EMISSION GAP REPORT 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted in its 14th Emissions Gap Report 2023 that there is only a 14% chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, even when considering the most optimistic climate action projects.

Emission Gap Report 2023

• Released by: UNEP, tracks our progress in limiting global warming well below 2°C and pursuing 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement.
• Key Findings:

oRecord-Breaking Temperatures: In 2023, there were 86 days with temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

oThe month of September set a new record as the hottest ever recorded, surpassing the previous highest temperature by an unprecedented 0.5°C.

oGlobal GHGs Emissions: In 2022, emissions rose by 1.2%, setting a new record at 57.4 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e).

oEmissions Gap and NDCs: The emissions gap is defined as the variance between the anticipated global emissions outlined in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and those in accordance with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

• The global ambition articulated in the upcoming round of NDCs in 2025 is critical for attaining targets that align with the pathways below 2°C and 1.5°C.
• CO2 Removal Strategies: The report pointed out that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) will be necessary, given that Net Zero emissions will be impossible without residual emissions being balanced out through removals.

UNEP

• About: UNEP operates as a specialized agency within the United Nations system.
• Origin: UNEP was established following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 (Stockholm).
• Function: To facilitate and coordinate environmental efforts across the United Nations.

oUNEP bears overarching responsibility for addressing and managing environmental challenges within the United Nations' various agencies.

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5. GENDER PAY GAP REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: In 2022, male workers in India experienced a recently measured average wage increase of 7.2%, slightly surpassing the 7% growth observed for their female counterparts, as reported in 'A Global Workforce View.'

• The report, based on a survey of more than 32,000 workers across 17 countries, shows that the gender pay gap in India was lower than the global average.

Gender Pay Gap

• About: The Gender Pay Gap is the average difference between the remuneration for working men and working women.
• Also known as: Gender Pay Parity or Gender Wage Gap
• Global Gender Gap Report 2023 India’s rank: 127 out of 146 countries (Released by WEF).

Key Highlights of the Report

• Globally, the paycheque increase was 6.7% on average for men compared with 6% for women.
• Some 63% of the Indian survey participants expressed confidence in their company's advancement toward achieving gender pay equality over the last three years. 
• This surpasses countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with Australia at 34%, China at 51% and Singapore at 31%.
• According to the survey, only 25% of the male workers said they believe they are compensated fairly compared with 31% for women.
• India has also shown significant improvement in DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives over the last three years, which has brought it to the top of the pack in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
• Indian workers are also increasingly optimistic about skills development opportunities, emphasizing employers’ commitment to providing equal growth opportunities to all.

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6. ARGENTINA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Prime Minister of India extended congratulations to Javier Milei for his victory in Argentina's presidential election.

Argentina

• About: Argentina, country of South America, covering most of the southern portion of the continent. 

oIt is the world’s eighth-largest country

• Capital: Buenos Aires
• Bounded by: Chile to the south and west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Brazil, Uruguay, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
• Four Major Regions: The Andes, the North, the Pampas, and Patagonia.
• Four Main Climate Types: Warm, moderate, arid, and cold.

India-Argentina

• Both countries are members of G20, Group of 24 and Group of 77.
• India is the 4th largest trading partner of Argentina.

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7. E-PRIME LAYER (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, a study by an international team of researchers revealed the formation of a new enigmatic layer E prime layer at the outermost part of Earth's core.

E Prime Layer

• About: There was a belief that the exchange of material between the core and mantle is minimal.
• Experimental Discovery: However, experiments have shown that when water reaches the core-mantle boundary, it undergoes a reaction with silicon in the core, resulting in the formation of silica.
• Earth comprises four primary layers: an inner core at the planet's center, surrounded by the outer core, mantle, and crust

How did this layer develop over time?

• This latest research suggests that tectonic plates carrying surface water have transported it deep into the Earth over billions of years. 
• Upon reaching the core-mantle boundary about 1,800 miles below the surface, this water initiates significant chemical changes, influencing the core's structure.
• This reaction leads to the formation of a hydrogen-rich, silicon-depleted layer at the outer core, resembling a film-like structure.
• Silica crystals generated by this process ascend and blend into the mantle, impacting the overall composition.
• These modifications in the liquid metallic layer could potentially result in reduced density and altered seismic characteristics, aligning with anomalies detected by seismologists.

Significance of Research

• This discovery enhances our comprehension of Earth's internal mechanisms, indicating a broader and more intricate global water cycle than previously acknowledged.
• The transformed layer in the core holds significant implications for the interconnected geochemical processes linking surface water cycles with the deep metallic core.

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8. MARGINAL STANDING FACILITY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, there has been a sharp increase in banks' borrowing from the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) in November, as indicated by the latest data from the RBI.

• This rise reflects the current tight liquidity situation in the banking system.

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)

• About: Marginal standing facility (MSF) is a window for banks to borrow from the Reserve Bank of India in an emergency situation when inter-bank liquidity dries up completely.
• Introduced by: The RBI in its credit policy of May 2011.
• Purpose: Provides emergency liquidity support to banks facing sudden and unforeseen liquidity crunches, ensuring stability in the financial system.
• The current MSF rate in India: 6.75%.
• Emergency Window: MSF serves as a channel for scheduled banks to obtain overnight loans from the RBI during emergency situations when interbank liquidity is entirely depleted.

Banks' Borrowing Mechanism

• Banks borrow from the central bank by pledging government securities at a rate higher than the repo rate under liquidity adjustment facility or LAF in short. 
• The MSF rate is pegged 100 basis points or a percentage point above the repo rate. 
• Under MSF, banks can borrow funds up to one percentage of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL).

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9. MIGRATIONS OF INDIANS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Population and Issues)

Context: Indians are now the third-largest population of illegal immigrants in the US, according to a report by Pew Research Center.

• At present nearly 725,000 Indians live illegally in the States, although the actual number may be higher. 
• After India, Guatemala comes in fourth followed by Honduras.

Migration of Indians to Other Countries

• About: India has the largest diaspora population in the world with 18 million people from the country living outside their homeland.
• According to the 'International Migration 2020 Highlights', by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the UAE, the US, and Saudi Arabia host the largest number of migrants from India.

Reason for Migration

• Economic Migration refers to migrating for career growth or for job search.
• Social Migration refers to relocating in search of better life quality or to be near to family and relatives.
• Political Migration is in situations where the person is willing to escape adverse scenarios like war or political persecution.
• Environmental Migrations are done in situations of natural disasters.
• Illegal Migrants: Individuals from foreign nations entering the country without proper travel documents are regarded as unauthorized migrants.
• Refugee: As per the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and its subsequent 1967 Protocol, a refugee is defined as an individual who finds themselves outside their country of origin due to a justifiable fear of persecution based on factors like race, religion, nationality, belonging to a specific social group, or political beliefs, and is unable or unwilling to return.

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10. ITTO (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the 59th session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) concluded. 

• This council convenes at least once a year to deliberate on a comprehensive agenda focused on promoting sustainable tropical forest management and the trade of sustainably produced tropical timber.

International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

• About: It was sponsored by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and was ratified in 1985. Its mandate was renewed by the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 and again by the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006.
• IITC: The IITC is the governing body of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).
• Aim: To promote sustainable management and conservation of tropical forests.
• Six Major Focus Areas:

oManaging and conserving tropical forests, 

oImproving the transparency of and expanding international markets for tropical timber

oDeveloping efficient and value-adding tropical forest-based industries

oAddressing climate change

oRaising the capacity of forest stakeholders to manage and benefit from their resources

oContributing to the Sustainable Development Goals

• ITTO’s membership represents about 90% of the global tropical timber trade and more than 80% of the world’s tropical forests.
• Headquarter: Yokohama, Japan.
• Membership: It member countries represent 95 percent of world trade in tropical timber and 75 percent of the world's tropical forests India is a member of IITC

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