1. HEMA COMMITTEE REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: The Kerala High Court's Division Bench has admitted a PIL urging the Kerala government to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals involved in sexual exploitation and harassment of women in the film industry, as reported by the Justice K. Hema Committee.

Hema committee Report

• Formation: The Kerala government established the Justice Hema Committee in July 2017.
• Purpose: It was created in response to the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent Malayalam actress, highlighting widespread gender discrimination in the Malayalam film industry.
• Mandate: The committee was assigned to investigate issues related to sexual harassment and gender inequality within the industry.
• Key findings:

oPervasive Sexual Harassment: The Malayalam film industry is rife with sexual harassment, including the casting couch, vulgar comments, and male co-actors invading women's private spaces.

oFear of Retribution: Victims often avoid reporting harassment due to fear of retribution, including potential cyber harassment from toxic fan clubs.

oAll-Male Power Structure: A dominant group of male actors and producers controls the industry, silencing anyone who opposes them.

oInadequate Facilities for Women: The industry fails to provide basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms for women on film sets, leading to health risks.

oGender Pay Disparity: The absence of written contracts contributes to significant gender pay gaps in the industry.

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2. GLASS CEILING FOR WOMEN (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: Former US Secretary of State said Vice President of USA’ imminent confirmation as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate will help break through the “highest, hardest glass ceiling”.

Glass Ceiling For Women:

• Meaning: The "glass ceiling" refers to an invisible barrier that limits individuals, particularly women, from advancing to higher-level positions despite being qualified.
• Symbolism: The term "ceiling" suggests a limit to upward movement, while "glass" implies the barrier is real but not immediately apparent.
• Barriers to Advancement: Though no explicit policies may prevent women from advancing, subtle obstacles still hinder their progression to top roles.
• Origin of the Term: The term "glass ceiling" was coined by American management consultant Marilyn Loden in 1978 during a panel discussion on women's career progression.
• Cultural Context: The phrase gained popularity during the Second Wave of Feminism in the 1960s and '70s when women sought equality in various spheres, including the workplace.
• Legal Backing: Laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 1964, were enacted to combat workplace discrimination, reflecting the societal push for gender equality.
• Visibility vs. Accessibility: The glass ceiling metaphor highlights the paradox where higher-level roles are visible yet remain out of reach for those facing the barrier.
• Impact on Women's Careers: The concept emphasizes the challenges women face in breaking through to executive positions, even in industries where they are well-represented.

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3. ALIEN SPECIES ON ANTARTICA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Alien species hitching rides on plastic debris are posing a significant threat to Antarctica's fragile marine ecosystem. These invasive species could disrupt the region's unique biodiversity and environmental balance.

Alien Species

• About: These are defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present distribution threatens biological diversity.
• Scope: IAS encompass animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, affecting various ecosystems.
• Characteristics: According to the CBD, IAS exhibit the traits of "arrive, survive, and thrive," needing introduction, native food resources, fast reproduction, and outcompeting native species.
• Legal Definition in India: India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended in 2022), defines IAS more narrowly as species not native to India, whose introduction or spread may threaten wildlife or its habitat.

Key Points of Study

• High Vulnerability: The Antarctic Peninsula is the most susceptible region to non-native species due to natural oceanic dispersal, ship traffic, and rapid climate warming.
• Barrier to Establishment: Antarctica's harsh environmental conditions typically prevent many species from establishing; however, rising temperatures and new ice-free areas are lowering these natural barriers.
• Human Impact: The growing human presence and activities in the region, including increased shipping, further elevate the risk of non-native species reaching and thriving in Antarctic ecosystems.

Antarctica

• About: The world’s southernmost and fifth largest continent. Its landmass is almost wholly covered by a vast ice sheet. 
• No human: Unique continent does not have human settlement.                                                                                 
• Coldest: It is also the world’s highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent. 
• Size: Antarctica is about 14.2 million square km in size.
• Prohibited activates: Military activity, mining, nuclear explosions, and nuclear waste.
• Regulation: It is governed by about 30 countries, all of which are parties of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty System.

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4. CENTRAL BANKER REPORT CARDS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, the RBI Governor has been ranked as the top central banker globally for the second consecutive year by US-based Global Finance magazine.

Central Banker Report Cards

• Purpose: To recognize central bank governors whose strategies excel through originality, creativity, and persistence.
• Published by: Global Finance since 1994.
• Report Frequency: Annually
• Grading Scale: Grades range from “A+” to “F” scale for success in areas such as inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management, wherein “A” represents an excellent performance, down through “F” for outright failure.
• Criteria: The annual Central Banker Report Cards honor those bank leaders whose strategies outperformed their peers through originality, creativity and tenacity.

Global Finance

• About: It encompasses the international system of economies, regulations, and financial institutions and their interactions.
• Topics Covered: It includes various elements such as financial regulations, exchange rates, investments, and international trading.
• Nature: The field of global finance is constantly evolving, reflecting changes in economies and financial markets.
• Impact on International Management: Effective management in global finance requires navigating the complexities of these ever-changing financial and regulatory environments.

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5. INTERNSHIP PORTAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 –Economy)

Context: A internship portal is in the works to enable youths to apply for internships directly with the country's top 500 companies under a special package announced in the Budget.

Internship Portal

• About: The portal will facilitate matching of skill sets of the applicants with the type of internship opportunities provided by the companies.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
• Eligible for internship: An individual between 21 to 24 years of age is eligible to apply for internship.
• Objective: The scheme aims to provide internships to 1 crore youth over the next five years to enhance their skills and employability.
• Target Audience: Special focus on marginalized groups, particularly those with fewer skills and lower employability, to maximize benefits from the internship program.
• Implementation: Internships will be offered by India’s top 500 companies, providing 12 months of exposure to real-life business environments and diverse professions.
• Financial Support: Interns will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 and a one-time assistance of Rs 6,000 during their internship period.
• Company Contributions: Companies will cover the training costs and 10% of the internship expenses from their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

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6. GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: A panel of state ministers tasked with suggesting changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime has signalled that the current four-slab tax structure should remain in place —“for now”.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• About: It is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based, that is levied on every value addition, focusing on the consumption of goods and Services.

oDestination tax refers to a tax collected by the authority with jurisdiction over the place of consumption, also known as the place of supply.

• Introduced by: The Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016, introduced by 122nd Amendment Bill.
• Came into effect: From 1st July 2017.
• Origin: GST was first implemented as a tax regime in 1954 in France and later adopted by several countries, including Australia, Cnanada, UK, Spain etc.
• In India: It came into consideration after a committee headed by Vijay L. Kelkar concluded that GST could help improve tax structure in India.
• State Ministers Panel: First formed in 2021, Reconstituted in November 2023
• GST Tax Structure: Central GST (CGST), State GST (SGST), Integrated GST (IGST) and Union Territory GST (UTGST).
• Current GST regime: Goods and Services are taxed across five broad slabs — 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. A cess is levied on top of the 28% rate for luxury and sin goods.
• Suggestions: One proposal includes tax slabs of 8%, 16%, and 24%. 

oAnother suggests 9%, 18%, and 27%. 

oA third alternative sets rates at 7%, 14%, and 21%. 

oEach model aims to shield essential goods from significant tax increases and may include a provision of tax abatements.

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7. SEAPLANE OPERATIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure (Govt. policies)

Context: The Union government released new Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules for seaplanes allowing non-scheduled operators to provide such services.

Seaplane

• Definition: A seaplane is a fixed-wing aeroplane designed for taking off and landing on water.
• Types of Seaplanes

oFlying Boats: Fixed-winged seaplanes with a hull for water landings and no land-based landing gear. The hull provides buoyancy, and smaller floats may be added near the wingtips.

oFloatplanes: Supported on water by pontoons or floats.

• Global Presence: Seaplanes operate in the Philippines, Canada, Australia, the United States, Finland, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, the Maldives, and Hong Kong.
• Seaplanes in India
• Jal Hans Service: Launched in December 2010 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jal Hans is a commercial seaplane service with a 10-passenger capacity.
• India’s Seaplane Project: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought proposals from Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Andaman & Nicobar for water airports to enhance tourism.

oUnder: UDAN Scheme

oIndia’s first seaplane Project: Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

New Rules

• Under the relaxed norms of the DGCA, there will be no need for a waterdrome licence and compliance requirements have also been reduced.
• Pilots with a commercial pilot licence (CPL) can now qualify as seaplane rated pilots.
• Non-scheduled operators are entities other than commercial airlines that have to operate their fleet as per a published schedule of flights.
• The guidelines also define responsibilities of various stakeholders such as State government, seaplane operators and the Centre.

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8. UDAN SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure (Govt. policies)

Context: The Indian government plans to extend the regional air connectivity scheme by an additional ten years, according to Civil Aviation Minister.

UDAN Scheme (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik)

• About: UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme spearheaded by the Government of India (GoI).
• Launched: In 2017. The scheme is a component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016. Over the period of 6 years, various versions of UDAN Scheme were launched.
• Nodal Agency:  Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Objective: To develop a regional aviation market. It seeks to connect under-served and unserved airports in India through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.
• Financial Incentives: Under the Udan scheme, financial incentives—through viability gap funding—are extended from the Centre, state governments, and airport operators to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports.

Impact of the UDAN Scheme: 

• Some routes have been discontinued due to low passenger load factors, airline shutdowns, and visibility issues at VFR (Visual Flight Rules) airports.
• The inclusion of seaplane operations under the UDAN scheme is expected to enhance tourism and support critical activities such as research, environmental monitoring, and coastal management.
• The scheme is a significant step towards improving regional air connectivity and infrastructure development, contributing to broader economic growth.

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9. NATIONAL SPACE DAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: India is commemorating its first-ever National Space Day on August 23, 2024, marking a historic achievement with the successful landing of ISRO's Vikram Lander from Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023.

National Space Day

• About: ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed the Vikram Lander on the moon's surface, making India the fourth country to achieve this and the first to land near the southern pole. The landing site was named 'Shiv Shakti' point, and the date was declared National Space Day.
• Theme: Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga."
• Significance: 

oThis landmark event signifies India's growing prowess in space exploration, celebrating the importance of space science and technology.

oThe celebrations of National Space Day are a testament to India's remarkable strides in space exploration and its continued efforts to inspire future generations. 

oThe events and initiatives planned for this day highlight the nation's dedication to leveraging space technology for societal benefit and advancing human knowledge.

Chandrayaan 3's Findings a Year Later

• Uniform Terrain: The terrain around Chandrayaan 3’s landing site is relatively uniform, providing a consistent basis for further analysis.
• Lunar Crust Formation: The data supports the hypothesis that the Moon’s crust formed in layers, reinforcing the lunar magma ocean (LMO) theory.
• Topsoil Composition: The topsoil at the lunar south pole contains more minerals than previously expected, suggesting the presence of materials from the lower crust.
• Molten Material Hypothesis: The findings align with the idea that the Moon’s surface was once covered by a sea of molten material shortly after its formation.
• Elemental Data from APXS: The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) has provided new insights into the elemental composition of the Moon’s surface, aiding in understanding its evolutionary history.

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10. BHARAT ZERO EMISSION TRUCKING POLICY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, launched the advisory document titled “Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) Policy Advisory” at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi.

Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) Policy 

• About: It is a comprehensive document aimed at guiding India's transition to zero-emission trucking.
• Aim: The policy seeks to promote zero-emission trucking initiatives and strategies to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
• Sales Penetration Target: The goal is to achieve 100% zero-emission truck (ZET) sales penetration by 2050 to support India's Net Zero 2070 commitment.
• Focus Areas: The document includes 30 policy interventions across five key areas: incentives, regulations, infrastructure, business and financing, and stakeholder initiatives.
• Nodal Agency Responsibility: Each policy intervention is assigned to a specific nodal agency responsible for its execution and oversight.
• Key Stakeholders: Involves central ministries, central and state agencies, financiers, private companies, research organizations, and labor unions.
• Development: The Policy Advisory Panel (PAP), under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), led the development, with drafting managed by the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET), IIT Madras.
• Strategic Importance: The policy is vital for shaping India's strategy towards zero-emission trucking, aligning with broader environmental and energy objectives.
• Zero-Emission Trucks: These trucks, powered by electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, produce no tailpipe emissions, crucial for reducing greenhouse gases and enhancing air quality, and are key to the transition to sustainable transportation.

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