1. GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Italy's Economy Minister announced that the previously planned June deadline for finalizing an agreement on a global minimum tax for multinationals will not be met, ahead of the G7 finance summit.

Global Minimum Tax

• About: A GMT imposes a universally standardized minimum tax rate on a specified corporate income base across the world.
• GMCT (Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate): The GMCT, or GMCTR, represents an international agreement among national leaders. 
• Aim: To mitigate tax competition and prevent the evasion of corporate taxes by establishing a universal minimum corporate tax rate across the globe.
• Tax Competition: The global minimum tax seeks to alleviate tax competition by instituting a consistent global baseline. 
• This ensures that the impact of low tax rates or fiscal policies aimed at reducing tax burdens is significantly reduced.
• OECD's Landmark Reform: The OECD has played a pivotal role by publishing detailed rules for the implementation of a groundbreaking reform in the international tax system. 

o This reform mandates that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) will be subject to a minimum 15% tax rate starting in 2023.

Two Pillars of the Plan

• Pillar 1: A quarter (25%) of the profits exceeding a defined profit margin for the largest and most profitable MNEs will be redistributed to the market jurisdictions where the MNE's users and customers are situated.
• Pillar 2:

o Minimum 15% Corporate Tax Rate: The provision mandates a minimum 15% tax on corporate profits, establishing a baseline to curb tax competition.

o Scope of Application: This requirement is applicable to multinational groups with annual global revenues exceeding 750 million euros.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

• About: OECD is an association of 38 member countries, most being rich developed nations that attract migrant workers and students. 

o India is not a member of OECD.

• Founded: 1961, by 18 European nations, plus the United States and Canada.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Aim: Fostering economic development and cooperation and fighting poverty through the promotion of economic stability.

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2. AI AGENT & LLM (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The recently launched GPT-4o by OpenAI and Project Astra by Google have one thing in common: both are capable of processing the real world through audio and visual inputs and provide intelligent responses and assistance.

AI Agent

• About: These are sophisticated AI systems that can engage in real-time, multi-modal (text, image, or voice) interactions with humans.
• Multi-Modal Interaction: Unlike conventional language models, which solely work on text-based inputs and outputs, AI agents can process and respond to a wide variety of inputs including voice, images, and even input from their surroundings.
• Environmental Perception: AI agents perceive their environment via sensors, then process the information using algorithms or AI models, and subsequently, take actions.
• Applications: Currently, they are used in fields such as gaming, robotics, virtual assistants, autonomous vehicles, etc.

Difference Between AI Agent and Large Language Model

• Interaction Capabilities

o LLMs: Only generate human-like text.

o AI Agents: Make interactions more natural and immersive with voice, vision, and environmental sensors.

• Real-time Conversations

o LLMs: Not designed for instantaneous, real-time conversations.

o AI Agents: Provide real-time, human-like responses.

• Contextual Awareness

o LLMs: Lack contextual awareness.

o AI Agents: Understand and learn from the context of interactions for more relevant and personalized responses.

• Autonomy

o LLMs: Do not have autonomy; only generate text output.

o AI Agents: Can perform complex tasks autonomously, such as coding and data analysis.

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3. WORLD HEALTH STATISTICS REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: The annual World Health Statistics Report recently revealed that by 2019, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 73.9% of global deaths, while communicable diseases fell to 18.2%.

Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)

• About: also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
• Main types of NCD: cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
• Affected people: These conditions are often associated with older age groups, but evidence shows that 17 million NCD deaths occur before the age of 70 years.
• Primarily four major risk factors: Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets which contributes to:

o Raised blood pressure (hypertension),

o Raised blood sugar (diabetes),

o Raised and abnormal blood lipids (dyslipidemia).

o Air pollution is also a leading risk factor for NCDs.

• Transmission: Non-communicable diseases are not passed from person to person. 

o They can be passed down genetically, but they are not contagious.

• Treatment: NCDs are largely preventable and treatable.

o There are no treatment options that lead to curing a non-communicable disease from the body.

World Health Statistics Report

• About: It a yearly publication of the WHO, presents the most recent health statistics of its 194 Member States. 
• 9 Areas: Life expectancy and mortality, Cause-specific mortality and morbidity, Selected, infectious diseases, Health service coverage, Risk factors, Health systems, Health expenditures, Health inequities and Demographic and socioeconomic statistics.

Key Finding of Report

• COVID-19: The estimates showed that 13 million people died of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021.
• Communicable Diseases: With the emergence of COVID-19, communicable diseases surged, accounting for 23.0% of all deaths in 2020 and 28.1% in 2021, returning to 2005 levels.
• NCD Deaths: As a result, the share of NCD deaths declined to 70.0% in 2020 and 65.3% in 2021, according to the WHO.
• Global Life Expectancy: It increased by 7.8 years from 1990 to 2019, according to a Lancet study.
• Antimicrobial Resistance: AMR to third-generation cephalosporins in E. coli and methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus increased to 41% and 32% respectively in 2021, compared to 26.9% and 13.4% in 2016.

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4. FCA ACT 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the Union environment ministry's Shillong regional office sent a notice to the special additional chief secretary of Assam, alleging diversion of forest land without proper clearance under the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023 for constructing a police commando battalion camp.

Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023

• Exempted Categories of Land: The Act exempts some types of land from the Act, including forest land along a railway line or a public road maintained by the government.
• Assignment/Leasing of Foreign Land: The Act extends the prior approval requirement for assigning forest land to all entities, including government-owned ones. The approval must be subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the central government.
• Land Under the Purview of the Act: It defines forest land as either land that is notified as a forest under the IFA, 1927 or any other law, or land that is notified as a forest on or after Oct 25, 1980, in a government record.
• Permitted Activities in Forest Land: The Act restricts de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes, but the central government may approve such use with conditions.

Important Sections

• Section 3A of the Forest Conservation Act: It  states that violating or abetting the violation of Section 2 is punishable by up to 15 days of simple imprisonment. 
• Section 3B(1): It says that if a government department or authority commits an offense, the head of the department or those directly in charge and responsible for the authority’s conduct at the time of the offense shall be deemed guilty and liable for prosecution.
• Rule 15(3) of the Van (Samrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules 2023: It allows the central government to authorise an Assistant Inspector General or higher-ranking officer to initiate legal proceedings and file complaints against offenses committed under the Act.
• Section 2 (b) of the forest (conservation) act 1980: It qualifies as an activity relating to conservation of forests.”

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5. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: In a landmark emergency ruling, the International Court of Justice recently ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on Rafah, following South Africa's accusation of genocide.

International Court of Justice

• About: Also called the World Court, is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between nations, and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues.
• United Nation: Principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
• Established:  In 1945 by United Nations charter and began work in 1946.
• Location: The Hague, The Netherlands.
• Official language: Its official working languages are English and French.
• Enforcement: While decisions are legally binding, the lack of an enforcement mechanism results in defiance. UNSC is authorized to enforce decisions, but compliance is influenced by power politics, and the U.S.'s veto power may impact enforcement.
• Judges:

o Consists of panel of 15 judges, elected for nine years by UN General Assembly and Security Council.

o No single member state may have more than one representative on the court.

o Judges collectively must reflect the principal civilizations and legal systems of the world.

• Function: 

o To settle in accordance with international law the legal disputes submitted by States.

o To give advisory opinions on legal questions referred by duly authorised international organs/agencies.

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6. BRSR INITIATIVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) welcomed the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) initiative to increase corporate transparency but identified significant gaps in the current reporting practices.

Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) Initiative

• About: BRSR mandates the top 1000 listed companies to disclose their performance on Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) parameters, showcasing their dedication to responsible business practices.
• Developed by: Securities and Exchange Board in India (SEBI)
• Objective: To mandate Indian companies to provide quantifiable metrics on sustainability-related factors, such as respect for human rights or environmental protection.
• Evolution to BRSR: The new BRSR, in effect since 2023, is more closely aligned with globally accepted reporting frameworks like the GRI and TCFD.
• Core Categories:

o Environmental Protection: Key performance indicators cover electricity consumption, water usage, and air emissions.

o Human Rights: Focus on human rights violations and minimum and fair wages.

o Integrity: Performance indicators include anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and conflicts of interest policies.

o Employee Well-being: Metrics focused on parental benefits, employee accessibility, and the percentage of unionized workers.

o Inclusive Growth: Policies favoring vulnerable and marginalized groups.

o Sustainable Goods and Services: Information on investments in social and environmental impacts.

o Responsible Consumer Engagement: KPIs encompass handling consumer complaints and feedback, product recall procedures, and cybersecurity and data privacy policies.

o Stakeholder Responsiveness: Describing engagement with vulnerable and marginalized groups.

o Responsible Public Policy Engagement: Listing trade and industry affiliations and detailing issues relating to anticompetitive conduct.

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7. MOUNT IBU (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Mount Ibu erupted again, sending ash 4 km high, as streaks of purple lightning flashed around its crater.

Mount Ibu

• Location: Mount Ibu is situated on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, eastern Indonesia.
• Eruption History: It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions recorded over the years.
• Recent volcanic eruption in Indonesia:

o Recently Sulawesi's Ruang volcano has erupted.

o Marapi volcano, one of Sumatra's most active volcanoes has also erupted recently.

• Mountain Semeru: Active volcano in East Java, Indonesia.

o It is located in a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian plate subducts under the Eurasian plate.

• Reason: Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Indonesia

• About: Indonesia is a country located off the coast of mainland Southeast Asia in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

o It is an archipelago that lies across the Equator and spans a distance equivalent to one-eighth of Earth’s circumference.

• Archipelagic Nature and Size: Indonesia is the world’s largest island country with more than 17,000 islands. Its vast expanse covers a significant portion of the Earth's surface.
• Land boundaries: Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia
• Maritime boundaries with: Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Palau and Australia.

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8. PROJECT UDBHAV (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: The Indian Army, under its initiative Project Udbhav, is delving into the epic battles of the Mahabharata and the strategic brilliance of past Indian dynasties, shaping India's rich military heritage.

Project Udbhav

• About: It is a project to rediscover the profound Indic heritage of statecraft and strategic thought, drawing insights from ancient Indian texts on statecraft, warfare, diplomacy, and grand strategy.
• Initiative by: The Indian Army and The United Service Institution of India.
• Meaning: ‘Udbhav’, which translates to 'origin' or 'genesis', acknowledges the vintage scriptures and writings of our Nation, that span centuries in the past and contain profound knowledge that can benefit modern military strategies.
• Inspiration from: The project draws inspiration from revered texts like Chanakya's Arthashastra, which emphasizes the importance of strategic partnerships and diplomacy, aligning with contemporary practices.

o Similarly, Thirukkural, the classical Tamil text, champions ethical conduct in all endeavors, including warfare, aligning with modern codes of ethics and principles of the Geneva Convention.

• Objective: 

o Synthesize ancient wisdom with contemporary military practices to address modern security challenges through a holistic approach.

o To integrate age-old wisdom with modern military pedagogy.

o Utilizes interdisciplinary research, workshops, and leadership seminars to effectively blend ancient wisdom with modern military practices.

o Focuses on previously under-explored thoughts and theories related to strategic thinking, statecraft, and warfare, enriching military training curricula.

o To sustain knowledge creation of Indian heritage in grand strategy, strategic thinking, and discussions on statecraft, fostering deeper understanding.

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9. GLIESE 12 B (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable exoplanet, Gliese 12 b, located 40 light-years away in the constellation Pisces.

Gliese 12 b

• About: Gliese 12 b offers a prime opportunity to investigate whether Earth-sized planets orbiting cool stars can maintain their atmospheres, a pivotal inquiry in our quest to understand habitability beyond our solar system.
• Size and Temperature: Slightly smaller than Earth and akin in size to Venus, Gliese 12 b maintains an estimated surface temperature of 42°C (107°F), warmer than Earth's average yet cooler than many other exoplanets.
• Host Star Characteristics: Orbiting a host star just 27% the size of our Sun, with a surface temperature around 60% of our star's, Gliese 12 b resides in a unique stellar environment.
• Proximity to Host Star: Despite its size, Gliese 12 b orbits its star at only 7% of the Earth-Sun distance, receiving 1.6 times more energy than Earth and approximately 85% of what Venus experiences.
• Impact of Solar Radiation on Temperature: The close proximity to its star means Gliese 12 b's surface temperature is significantly influenced by its atmosphere, leading to a higher estimated surface temperature compared to Earth's.

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10. CYCLONE REMAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 1/3 – Geography/Disaster Management)

Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for a severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Remal, expected to affect the coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Cyclone Remal

• Naming: The name 'Remal' in the list of tropical cyclones is given by Oman.

o It will be the first cyclone to hit the region this 2024 pre-monsoon season.

• Meaning: 'Remal,' meaning 'sand' in Arabic.
• Origin: Bay of Bengal (BoB).
• Factors Contributing to the Formation: A depression has formed over the central Bay of Bengal, serving as the genesis for Cyclone Remal.

o The Bay of Bengal experiences water temperatures 2–3°C warmer than average, providing the energy needed for cyclones to form and intensify.

o The Madden Julian Oscillation, along with warm ocean waters, is currently moving south of the Bay of Bengal, playing a role in initiating cyclones due to their rotational effect.

• Potential Impact:

o The cyclone may impact the Sundarbans region if the landfall happens on the Indian coast and coincides with high tide, potentially causing partial damage to the fragile ecosystem.

o The shallow bathymetry and the funnel-shaped geography of the northern Bay of Bengal can amplify the intensity of the cyclone as it approaches the coast, increasing the risk of storm surges and flooding.

Bay of Bengal

• About: It is the biggest bay in the world, covering more than 2,172,000 square kilometres.
• Geographical Location: This part of the Indian Ocean is in the northeast. India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are all on its edges.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: It is home to the very rare Olive Ridley turtle and the Sundarbans, which is the world’s biggest mangrove forest.

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