1. CAPTIVE ELEPHANT RULES, 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Centre has notified a set of rules called the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 that liberalises the conditions under which elephants may be transferred within or between States.

Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024

• Aim: To ease the regulations for transferring elephants within or between states.
• Conditions for Captive Elephant Transfer:

oOwner's Inability to Maintain Elephant: Transfer permitted if the owner is unable to adequately care for the elephant.

oLikelihood of Better Upkeep: Transfer allowed if it is expected to result in better maintenance of the elephant.

oApproval by Chief Wildlife Warden: Chief Wildlife Warden may approve transfer if deemed fit and proper for the elephant's better upkeep.

• Transfer Procedure Within the State: Veterinarian must ratify the elephant's health before transfer.

oHabitat Suitability: Deputy Conservator of Forests ensures suitability of current and prospective habitats.

oApproval Process: Chief Wildlife Warden decides on transfer approval based on provided documents.

• Inter-State Transfer Requirements:

oSimilar conditions apply: If the transfer involves moving the elephant outside of a state, similar conditions apply. 

oGenetic profile: Before a transfer is effected, the “genetic profile” of the elephant has to be registered with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• Elephant Exemption: Accompanied by Mahout and Assistant, Health Certificate, Mandatory Quarantine Period, Proper Feeding and Watering,  Provision during Transport, Use of Tranquilizers/Sedatives.
• Amendments to Wildlife Protection Act:

oProhibited wildlife trade: Until August 2022, Wildlife Protection Act prohibited wildlife trade, including captive elephants.

oExemption:  Amendments introduced an exemption allowing transfer of captive elephants.

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2. TOTAL FERTILITY RATE (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: A new study recently published in The Lancet reveals that India's total fertility rate (TFR), which denotes the average number of children born per woman, is projected to decline to 1.29 by 2050.

Total Fertility Rate

• About: It represents the average number of children a hypothetical cohort of women would have by the end of their reproductive years, assuming constant fertility rates and no mortality.
• Method of Measurement: TFR is calculated by summing age-specific fertility rates, typically for women aged 15 to 49 years. These rates are obtained by dividing annual births by the population of women within specific age groups, often using data from the United Nations.
• Replacement Level Fertility Rate: The Replacement Level Fertility Rate is set slightly above 2, at 2.1, to factor in childhood mortality and the possibility of some women not bearing children, ensuring population replacement across generations.
• UN Population Projections: The United Nations employs TFR and other metrics to forecast future population trends, anticipating growth in nations with high TFRs and stabilization or decline in those with decreasing rates.
• Key Indicators for India in NFHS-5: India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) furnishes essential data on fertility rates, preferences, contraceptive usage, and maternal health, offering valuable insights into demographic trends and health outcomes.

Global Trends in Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

• Significant Global Decline: According to the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD)-2021, the worldwide Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has decreased by more than half over the last 70 years, from approximately five children per woman in 1950 to 2.2 children in 2021.
• TFR Reduction in India: In India, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) was 6.18 in 1950, which decreased to 4.60 in 1980 and further dropped to 1.91 in 2021, indicating a substantial decline over the decades.
• Demographic Challenges in China: China is grappling with the demographic challenge of an aging population, a consequence of its declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which has implications for its workforce and social systems.
• India's Direction: India appears to be moving towards a similar demographic trajectory as China, with its declining TFR suggesting a future of demographic aging, potentially posing challenges for its economy and social structure.
• Combined Impact of India and China: Together, India and China represent more than a third of the world's population, highlighting the significant global implications of their demographic shifts and aging populations.

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3. HEPATITIS B (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech -Dieseases)

Context: According to a recent study conducted by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, public knowledge and awareness about Hepatitis B, a deadly disease that can lead to end-stage liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, is dismal in India.

Hepatitis:

• About: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver.

oHepatitis B: Some people with hepatitis B are sick for only a few weeks (known as “acute” infection), but for others, the disease progresses to a serious, lifelong illness known as chronic hepatitis B.

• Causes of Hepatitis: Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
• Types of Hepatitis: 

oViral Hepatitis: Includes Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.

oNon-viral Hepatitis: Encompasses autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and drug-induced hepatitis.

• Transmission: It is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids – even in microscopic amounts  from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected-.
• Symptoms: Include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.
• Prevention: Vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis A, B and E. However, no vaccine for hepatitis C.
• Treatment: There's no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B, while chronic infection can be managed with oral medications like tenofovir or entecavir.

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4. WESTERN DISTURBANCE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geogrpahy)

Context: Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that after crossing 30 degrees Celsius (°C) for the first time this year, mercury is expected to hover around 31-32°C before decreasing again, as a western disturbance begins to impact the region.

Western Disturbance

• About: It is an extratropical storm that originates in the Mediterranean region.
• Formation: Originating in the middle and upper latitudes, it is an extratropical storm system.
• Non-Monsoonal Precipitation: The precipitation pattern affecting northern India is non-monsoonal and stems from the Mediterranean region, resulting in both rainfall and snowfall.
• Impact on Surrounding Nations: Beginning as non-monsoonal precipitation in the Mediterranean, the weather system moves eastward, influencing various regions in Pakistan, India, and neighboring countries.
• Impact on the Indian Subcontinent: It brings sudden winter rain to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• Causes: When the Himalayas and western parts of central Asia intersect with the jet stream in the upper atmosphere, creating a low-pressure area and subsequent disturbance.
• Outcome: In the northern regions of India, this weather phenomenon results in rainfall in plains and snowfall in mountainous areas.
• Declining Intensity Trend: Over recent years, there has been a declining trend in the intensity of Western disturbances, with Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh experiencing 47% and 40% less rain than usual from October to December in 2023.
• Contributing Factor: Climate change, primarily driven by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, is causing a long-term shift in weather patterns.
• Impact of Climate Change: Diminishing intensity and frequency of western disturbances, leading to reduced post-monsoon season rainfall and snowfall. This, in turn, affects agriculture and water availability in mountainous regions.
• Decline in Apple Production: Prolonged drought and insufficient snowfall contribute to a decline in apple production.

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5. CHANDRAYAAN-3 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: ISRO has received US's Aviation Week Laureates Award for its achievements in the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to land on Moon's south pole last year.

• In another achievement, International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved the name ‘Station Shiv Shakti’, the landing site, for planetary system nomenclature.

 Chandrayaan-3

• About: It is India's 3rd mission to the moon. It comes after Chandrayaan-2, which took place in 2019. 
• Objectives:

oTo demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface

oTo demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and

oTo conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

• Components of Chandrayaan-3

oPropulsion module (PM):  The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover from injection orbit to till 100 km lunar orbit.

oLander:  The Lander will have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the Rover

oRover: To carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility.

• Launched by: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3 –M4).
• Significance: India became the first nation to soft-land on the surface of the Lunar south pole and overall the fourth to do a soft landing on moon.
• Reason for Landing on South Pole:

oThe sides of some craters never receive any sunlight and can be as cold as just 40 degrees C above absolute zero.

oInterest in the lunar south pole as a landing site is mainly driven by the fact that scientists know the region hosts water in the form of ice.

oIt can act as a coolant for equipment and even provide rocket fuel. The latter could be especially useful for a staging mission to Mars launched from the moon someday.

oName of landing Site: Shiv Shakti Point.

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6. TB CLINICAL TRIALS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, the clinical trials of the novel tuberculosis vaccine MTBVAC commenced in India, representing a "giant step" forward in combatting one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, which claims the lives of over 1.6 million people annually.

TB Clinical Trials

• Developed by: Biofabri in collaboration with the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.
• Potential Advantages Over BCG: MTBVAC holds promise as a more effective and long-lasting alternative to the BCG vaccine, the only tuberculosis (TB) vaccine currently available.
• Limitations of BCG: The over-a-century-old BCG offers limited protection against pulmonary TB, the most common and transmissible form of the disease.
• Importance of Clinical Trials: Clinical trials aim to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of MTBVAC, addressing a critical need in tuberculosis prevention.
• Global TB Burden: TB claims over 1.6 million lives annually and infects more than 10 million worldwide each year, emphasizing the urgency for effective vaccines.
• India's Role in Testing: India, with the world's highest TB burden, is a crucial testing ground for MTBVAC, reflecting the significance of its clinical trials.
• Scope of Trials: The trials will assess the vaccine's safety, immune response, and efficacy in preventing TB in adults and adolescents, catering to diverse age groups.
• Progress in Clinical Trials: The vaccine entered Phase 3 clinical trials in newborns in 2023, indicating significant advancement towards its potential deployment.
• Diversified Trial Populations: Trials in HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected adults have been initiated to assess safety and immunogenicity, with further efficacy studies planned for adolescents and adults in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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7. ISLAMIC STATE KHORASAN (ISIS-K) (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) attacked Moscow’s famous Crocus City Hall, killing at least 143 people, and injuring hundreds more.

Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K)

• About: ISIS-K emerged in late 2014 in eastern Afghanistan, becoming one of the most active ISIS-affiliates.

oOrigins: 'Khorasan' refers to an ancient caliphate in the region, spanning parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan.

• Composition: Comprising former Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) fighters and others pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS-K gained notoriety for extreme brutality.
• Financial Support and Training: Labeled one of the top four deadliest terrorist organizations in 2018, ISIS-K received $100 million in funds and training from ISIS central leadership in Iraq and Syria.
• Expansion Beyond Afghanistan: ISIS-K has expanded operations outside Afghanistan, recruiting foreign fighters from South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.
• Reasons for Targeting: Russia's growing ties with the Taliban have made it a target for ISIS-K, given the bitter enmity between ISIS-K and the Taliban due to sectarian differences.
• Afghanistan as Strategic Importance: Afghanistan provides Russia with access to new trade routes amid Western sanctions, while the Taliban seeks international recognition and support, refraining from criticizing Russia on the Ukraine conflict.
• Why attack Russia? Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fifth term in office and the group openly oppose Putin due to his alleged mistreatment of Muslims in Russia, for years.

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8. MINIMUM WAGES & LIVING WAGES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India is preparing to replace the minimum wage with living wage by 2025 and has sought technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) to create a framework for estimating and operationalising these.

Living Wage

• About: The living wage concept entails an income level adequate for sustenance, covering basic needs like shelter and food.
• Preventing Poverty: Its primary aim is to shield individuals and families from impoverishment, offering them a chance at a decent livelihood.
• Economic Comparison: Economists propose that a living wage should cap housing expenses at 30% of the total income, ensuring affordability.
• Above Minimum: In practice, living wages typically exceed legal minimum wage standards, reflecting the higher cost of living.

Minimum Wages

• About: These are the lowest amount of compensation an employer must pay to workers for their labor, legally safeguarded against reduction through collective agreements or individual contracts.
• Methods of Setting: Minimum wages can be established through various means such as statutory laws, decisions by competent authorities, wage boards, councils, or industrial and labor courts.
• Purpose: Minimum wages are intended to protect workers from receiving unreasonably low pay, ensuring fairness and distributing the benefits of progress equitably.
• Role in Poverty Alleviation and Inequality Reduction: Minimum wages serve as a component of policies aimed at combating poverty and decreasing inequality. 
• They contribute to promoting equal remuneration for work of equal value, thus addressing disparities, including those based on gender.

Code on Wages

• About: To amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages and bonus and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Coverage: The Code will apply to all employees. The central government will make wage-related decisions for employments such as railways, mines, and oil fields, among others.  State governments will make decisions for all other employments.

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9. GULF OF MANNAR (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: A recent study concluded that coral cover in the Gulf of Mannar region had declined from 37% in 2005 to 27.3% in 2021.

Gulf of Mannar

• About: The Gulf of Mannar, situated along the southeast coast of India, is a part of the Laccadive Sea and comprises 21 islands.
• Geographical Boundaries: Spanning between the northwest coast of Sri Lanka and the southeast coast of India, it is bordered to the northeast by Rameswaram, Adam’s Bridge, and Mannar Island.
• Hydrological Features: It receives water from various rivers, including the Tambraparni from India and the Aruvi from Sri Lanka, with the port of Tuticorin located on the Indian coast.
• Natural Resources: Notable for its pearl banks and sacred chank, a gastropod mollusk, the Gulf of Mannar boasts unique marine biodiversity.
• Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park: Recognized as one of the biologically richest coastal regions in India, the Gulf of Mannar is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and Southeast Asia.
• Ecological Significance: It is one of the four major coral reef areas in India, along with the Gulf of Kutch, Lakhsadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, holding significant importance for biodiversity conservation.
• Protected Area Status: Designated as a Biosphere Reserve, it encompasses 21 islands (including 2 submerged ones) and adjoining coral reefs, spanning Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts.

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10. WORLD TUBERCULOSIS (TB) DAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the deadly disease, with recent efforts focusing on its prevention and treatment.

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day

• Background: March 24, 1882, marks the pivotal discovery by Dr. Robert Koch of the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, a milestone in the fight against the disease.
• Significance of World TB Day: It is celebrated annually on March 24th to commemorate Dr. Koch's discovery and to raise awareness about tuberculosis globally.
• Initiation of World TB Day: The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) proposed the observance of March 24 as World TB Day in 1982, coinciding with the centenary of Dr. Koch's groundbreaking finding.
• 2024 Theme: “Yes! We can end TB,”.

Tuberculosis (TB)

• About: It is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. 
• Transmission: It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit.

oTuberculosis is preventable and curable.

• Symptoms: prolonged cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.
• TB status:

oA total of 1.3 million people died from TB in 2022 (including 167 000 people with HIV). 

oWorldwide, TB is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV and AIDS).

oIn 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, including 5.8 million men, 3.5 million women and 1.3 million children. 

oTB is present in all countries and age groups. TB is curable and preventable.

oIndia accounted for the highest number of TB cases in the world in 2022, with 2.8 million TB cases, representing 27% of the global burden.

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