1. GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A group of experts have written to the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) highlighting how the Great Nicobar Project will be harmful for the region’s indigenous population.

Great Nicobar Project

• About: The GNI project is a significant endeavor slated for the southern Andaman and Nicobar islands.

oIt encompasses diverse elements such as an international container trans-shipment terminal, an airport, township development, and a substantial power plant spanning 16,610 hectares.

• Project Components: The project entails a trans-shipment port at Galathea Bay, valued at ₹35,000 crore.

oAdditionally, it includes the establishment of a dual-use military-civilian international airport, a power plant, and a township.

• Participation in Global Maritime Economy: According to the NITI Aayog report, the proposed port will enable Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment.
• Environmental Concerns:

o Environmentalists have raised alarm over the project's potential impact on the fragile ecology of the region.

o Loss of tree cover, alongside resulting runoff and sedimentation in the ocean, could detrimentally affect local flora, fauna, and coral reefs.

o The project's development also poses a threat to the island's mangrove ecosystems, further exacerbating environmental concerns.

---

2. CLIMATE STRATEGY 2030 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Ecology)

Context: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on the occasion of Earth Day unveiled its Climate Strategy 2030 document which aims to address India’s need for green financing.

Climate Strategy 2030:

• Pillars: It is structured around four key pillars which include:

oAccelerating green lending across sectors, playing a broader market-making role, internal green transformation and strategic resource mobilisation.

• Private sector participation: Leading real estate developers have pledged for sustainable development under it.

Green Financing

• About: It  aims to boost financial flows across various sectors including banking, micro-credit, insurance, and investment towards sustainable development priorities.
• Multiple Sectors: It involves participation from the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, fostering a collaborative approach towards sustainable development.
• Environmental and Social Risks: One of its crucial objectives is to effectively manage environmental and social risks associated with investment and financing activities.
• Enhancing Accountability: It endeavours to establish mechanisms for greater accountability in financial decisions, ensuring transparency and responsibility in resource allocation.
• Green financing in India: India requires approximately $170 billion annually to reach a cumulative total of over $2.5 trillion by 2030, the current green finance inflows are critically insufficient.

o As of 2019-20, India garnered about $49 billion in green financing, merely a fraction of what is needed.

o With the majority of funds earmarked for mitigation, only $5 billion was allocated towards adaptation and resilience, reflecting the minimal private sector engagement in these areas due to challenges in bankability and commercial viability.

---

3. FAST-MOVING CONSUMER GOODS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court expanded its investigation into misleading advertisements by Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies, requesting three Union ministries to clarify the actions taken to curb false campaigns affecting the public.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)

• About: Also known as Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), are products sold quickly and at a relatively low cost.
• Factors: Population growth, urbanization, rising disposable incomes, technological advancements, and changing consumer
• Characteristics of the FMCG Industry: The FMCG industry is characterized by high-volume sales, quick inventory turnover, and various products catering to consumer needs.
• Range of Products: These goods include essential everyday items such as food and beverages, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other low-cost household items.
• Importance of FMCG in the Economy: The FMCG industry is a vital component of the global economy, contributing significantly to a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job creation.
• Generating Demand: FMCG generates demand for a range of products and services, further stimulating economic activity and growth.

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court expanded its investigation into misleading advertisements by Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies, requesting three Union ministries to clarify the actions taken to curb false campaigns affecting the public.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)

• About: Also known as Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), are products sold quickly and at a relatively low cost.
• Factors: Population growth, urbanization, rising disposable incomes, technological advancements, and changing consumer
• Characteristics of the FMCG Industry: The FMCG industry is characterized by high-volume sales, quick inventory turnover, and various products catering to consumer needs.
• Range of Products: These goods include essential everyday items such as food and beverages, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other low-cost household items.
• Importance of FMCG in the Economy: The FMCG industry is a vital component of the global economy, contributing significantly to a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job creation.
• Generating Demand: FMCG generates demand for a range of products and services, further stimulating economic activity and growth.

FMCG Industry in India

• About: The FMCG sector is the fourth-largest sector in the Indian economy.
• Urban vs. Rural Contribution: In 2022, the urban sector accounted for 65% of the overall annual FMCG sales, while rural India contributed over 35%.
• Product Category Breakdown: Household and personal care products make up 50% of the industry’s sales, healthcare claims 31-32%, and food and beverage products account for the remaining 18-19%.
• Employment Statistics: It provides employment to around 3 million people, accounting for approximately 5% of the total factory employment in India.

---

4. RESERVATION FOR MUSLIMS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: During an election rally in Tonk, Rajasthan, the Prime Minister of India recently stated that the opposition has attempted to grant reservations to Muslims by diminishing the quota for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

Reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh

• About: Several Muslim communities are included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation both at the central and state levels.

o The criteria for the OBC quota is social and educational backwardness.

• Article 16(4) of the Constitution: It  provides for reservation for a “backward class of citizens, which in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State”.
• Andhra Pradesh Quota: In Andhra Pradesh, as per the 2011 census, Muslims constitute about 9.5% of the population.

o Muslim groups such as Dudekula, Laddaf, Pinjari/Noorbash, and Mehtar are included in the state OBC lists, which have quotas ranging from 7% to 10%.

o There had been a push in the undivided state to follow the Karnataka and Kerala model to include all Muslims in the OBC category.

• Legal Challenge: A five-judge Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down the quota as unsustainable.
• Grounds for the Ruling:

o First, that the quota was brought without being referred to the Backward Classes Commission which was mandated by the state’s 1993 Backward Classes Act.

o Second, that the quota did not exclude the “creamy layer”, and allowed reservation to Muslims as a whole.

Reservation in India

• Indra Sawhney Case (1992): The Supreme Court upheld the 27 percent quota for backward classes but struck down the government notification reserving 10% government jobs for economically backward classes among the higher castes.
• Creamy Layer Concept Introduces: It gained currency through this judgment, along with the provision that reservation for backward classes should be confined to initial appointments only and not extend to promotions.
• Constitutional (103rd Amendment) Act of 2019: It has provided 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the “economically backward” in the unreserved category.
• Amendments: The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by adding clauses empowering the government to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness. This 10% economic reservation is over and above the 50% reservation cap.

---

5. SMALL FINANCE BANKS (SFBS) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The small finance bank model may still be testing the water some 10 years since its launch. According to banking experts, the regulator has taken a cautious approach in granting approvals.

Small Finance Banks (SFBs)

• About: SFBs are banks that have limited financial resources and are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
• Purpose of SFBs: SFBs aim to provide financial inclusion to low-income individuals and underserved communities who are often excluded from traditional banking systems.
• Financial Services Offered by SFBs: SFBs facilitate access to financial products such as small loans, savings, insurance, and basic banking services for their target segments.
• Regulatory Framework for SFBs: These are registered as public limited companies under the Companies Act, 2013, and are governed by various statutes including the Banking Regulations Act, 1949, and RBI Act, 1934.

RBI Guidelines:

• SFBs are granted scheduled bank status under section 42 of the RBI Act, 1934, after becoming operational.
• They must primarily focus on providing financial services to the unbanked and underbanked.
• SFBs must maintain a minimum CRAR of 15% and extend 75% of their net bank credit to Priority Sector Lending.
• They are mandated to open 25% of branches in unbanked rural areas and have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 200 crore.

---

6. VULTURES IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recent research from the National Centre for Biological Sciences-Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCBS-TIFR) in Bengaluru challenges the assumption that vultures living in protected areas and feeding on wild animal carcasses are safe from diclofenac poisoning.

Vultures in India

• 9 species: India is home to 9 species of Vulture namely the Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.
• Conservation status: Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed are protected in the Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. 

o Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.

• IUCN Status

o Critically Endangered: Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture.

o Endangered: Egyptian Vulture.

o Near Threatened: Himalayan Vulture, Cinereous Vulture and Bearded Vulture.

o Least Concern: Eurasian Griffon.

• Threats: Poisoning from diclofenac, Loss of Natural Habitats, Food Dearth and Contamination and Electrocution by Power lines.

Conservation Efforts by India

• Vulture Action Plan 2020-25: The Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (APVC) in India, 2020-2025 advocates expansion of the Conservation Breeding Programme of vultures by establishing more centres in different parts of the country. 
• Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre: The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) is a joint project of the Haryana Forest Department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). It is a collaborative initiative to save the three species of vultures, the White-backed, Long-billed and Slender-billed, from looming extinction.

Dangers of Diclofenac for Vultures

• Mode of Exposure: Vultures are exposed to the drug when they consume carcasses of animals that were treated with diclofenac shortly before death.
• Fatal Consequences: Vultures die from kidney failure within days of exposure to diclofenac-contaminated tissues.
• Affected Species: Diclofenac has been identified as a risk for three species of vultures in the Indian sub-continent.
• Potential Global Impact: Diclofenac, as well as other NSAIDs, may pose a danger to five other Gyps vultures found in Asia, Europe, and Africa.

---

7. SIPRI REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech/Defence)

Context: With military expenditure worth $83.6 billion in 2023, India was the fourth largest spender globally in 2023, the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) states.

Key findings of Report

• Top Military Spenders in the World: The latest data showed that the United States, China, and Russia remained the top three military spenders globally.
• India and Saudi Arabia Follow Closely: Following the top three, India and Saudi Arabia are among the top military spenders globally.
• Indian Military Spending on the Rise: Indian spending was up by 4.2 per cent from 2022 and by 44 per cent from 2014.
• Reasons Behind the Growth

o The growth in spending is because of rising personnel and operations costs, aligning with the government’s priority to strengthen the operational readiness of the armed forces amid ongoing tensions with China and Pakistan.

o 75 per cent of the capital outlays went towards equipment produced domestically, reflecting India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in arms development and production.

• Major Military Spenders in 2023

o The five biggest spenders in 2023 the United States, China, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia together accounted for 61 per cent of world military spending.

o Ukraine became the eighth-largest military spender in 2023, increasing its spending by 51 per cent.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

• About: It is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. 
• Established in: 1966
• Vision: SIPRI envisions a world where sources of insecurity are recognized, conflicts are preempted or resolved, and peace is enduring.
• Provision of Data and Analysis: SIPRI provides data, analysis, and recommendations sourced from open channels, offering valuable insights into global security trends.
• Target Audience: SIPRI's research serves policymakers, researchers, media, and the general public, contributing to informed decision-making and public discourse.

---

8. PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Government Scheme)

Context: As the current Union government completes two terms, one of its flagship programmes was Housing For All (HfA) by 2022, both in urban and rural areas, planned under the PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) scheme in 2015.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Scheme 

• About: The PMAY is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Funding: Both the Union and the State governments are supposed to financially contribute to it.
• Objectives:

o Rehabilitation of slum dwellers with private developers’ participation.

o Promotion of affordable housing for the weaker sections through Credit Linked Subsidy Schemes (CLSS).

o Affordable housing in partnership with public and private sectors.

o Subsidy for Beneficiary-led Construction (BLC).

• Extension Granted: The government approved an extension of PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) up to December 31, 2024, to complete houses sanctioned till March 31, 2022.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin

• Launched: In 2016 to address the housing gaps existing in the rural areas.
• Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
• Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by 2022.
• Beneficiaries: SCs/STs, former bonded laborers, non-SC/ST populations, widows or the next-of-kin of defense personnel who died in action, ex-servicemen and retired paramilitary members, disabled individuals, and minorities.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U)

• Launched: 2015
• Ministry involved: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Objective: The mission's overarching goal is to provide "pucca" (durable and permanent) houses to all eligible urban households by 2022.
• Beneficiaries: The Mission addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers.

---

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

Context: The exploration of blood biomarkers for cancer screening has emerged as a promising approach for early diagnosis of the disease.

Biomarkers

• About: The WHO defines a biomarker as “any measurement reflecting an interaction between a biological system and a potential hazard, which may be chemical, physical, or biological. The measured response may be functional and physiological, biochemical at the cellular level, or a molecular interaction”.
• Alternate Names: Experts also call them molecular markers and signature molecules.
• Biomolecules Included: Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, genes, DNA, RNA, platelets, enzymes, hormones, etc.
• Example of Cancer biomarkers: It  can be DNA, mRNA, proteins, metabolites, or processes such as apoptosis, angiogenesis or proliferation.
• Classification of Biomarkers:

o Molecular Biomarkers: Have biophysical properties, which allow their measurements in biological samples such as blood plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage, biopsy, urinalysis, and fecal analysis.

o Radiographic Biomarkers: Obtained from imaging studies, for example, bone mineral density.

o Histologic Biomarkers: Reflect biochemical or molecular alteration in cells, tissues, or fluids; for example, the staging and grading of cancers.

o Physiologic Biomarkers: Measures of body processes, for example, blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate.

• Functions

o Biomarkers serve as valuable tools for estimating the risk of various diseases, aiding in early intervention and management strategies.

o These are instrumental in screening for hidden primary cancers, facilitating early detection and treatment.

o Biomarkers play a crucial role in distinguishing between benign and malignant findings, enabling accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.

o It can differentiate between different types of malignancies, allowing for precise diagnosis and tailored treatment approaches.

---

10. SUDHIR KAKAR (Syllabus GS Paper 1 – Personalities in News)

Context: Sudhir Kakar, India's foremost psychoanalyst, recently passed away, leaving behind a profound understanding of Indian men and women through his work.

Sudhir Kakar

• About: Born in Nainital, Uttarakhand in 1938, Sudhir Kakar's upbringing laid the foundation for his groundbreaking career in psychoanalysis.

o Kakar’s life and work bridged the gap between Eastern and Western thought, leaving an indelible mark on the field of psychoanalysis in India. He is also known as ‘father of Indian psychoanalysis’.

• Psychoanalysis: It  is a treatment based on studies of the conscious and unconscious human mind.

o Focus: Identifying and releasing unconscious, repressed feelings, thoughts, memories, and desires that are negatively impacting your life.

• Challenging Western Perspectives: Works like “The Inner World: A Psychoanalytic Study of Childhood and Society in India” challenged traditional Western psychoanalytic perspectives and offered a unique lens into the Indian psyche.

o Legacy in Cultural Psychoanalysis: His legacy lies in his pioneering work on the cultural dimensions of psychoanalysis. Kakar challenged the universality of Western models and paved the way for a more nuanced understanding of the human mind across cultures.

• Exploring Indian Sexuality: Another groundbreaking work “Intimate Relations: Exploring Indian Sexuality” (1990) tackled a subject rarely discussed openly in India sexuality.
• Cultural Attitudes: Kakar delved into the history and cultural attitudes towards sexuality in Indian society. He explored the influence of religion, social norms, and colonial legacies on intimate relationships and sexual expression.
• Pi.oneering Fiction: The Seeker” (1995) and “A Book of Memory” (2016), explored themes of identity, family relationships, and the complexities of modern Indian life

---