1. WPSI REPORT ON TIGER (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Env and Eco)

Context: India lost a record 204 tigers this year from January 1-December 25, according to figures compiled by non-profit, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).

Key findings of the report

• Maharashtra, with 52 deaths, topped the list of Indian states. It was followed by India’s top tiger state, Madhya Pradesh with 45 deaths.
• The reasons for tiger deaths were varied. ‘Natural & other causes’ claimed 79 tigers, the biggest cause of death according to the figures compiled by WPSI.
• India’s tiger population increased by 200 from 2018 to 2022, according to the fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (2022).

Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI)

• Founded: In 1994 by Belinda Wright
• Mission: To bring new focus and energy to tackle the growing wildlife crisis in India. 
• Goal: To protect endangered species and their habitats through awareness, support, and training.
• Programs: The WPSI works with government law enforcement agencies throughout India to apprehend tiger poachers and traders in tiger parts. 

oWPSI also makes every effort to investigate and verify any seizure of tiger parts and unnatural tiger deaths that are brought to their notice.

• Conservation: WPSI supports conservation projects for species as varied as the tiger, otter and sea turtle.

Tiger

• Conservation Status: IUCN – Endangered, CITES – Appendix I, WPA, 1972 – Schedule I.
• Total Tiger Reserves in India – 53. 
• Latest one being Guru Ghasidas National Park & and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh.
• Maximum Tiger Reserves – Maharashtra and MP (6 each).

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2. KUNDANKULAM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: India and Russia signed agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

• Largest in India: KKNPP holds the distinction of being the largest nuclear power station in India.
• Location: Situated in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, construction commenced on March 31, 2002. However, it faced significant delays, primarily due to opposition from local fishermen.
• Collaboration and Capacity: KKNPP is a joint effort between Atomstroyexport, the Russian state company, and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). It is designed to house six VVER-1000 reactors with a total installed capacity of 6,000 MW of electricity.
• Commissioning and Stages: The first stage of KKNPP, comprising power units No. 1 and No. 2, was commissioned in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Power units No. 3, 4, and No. 5, 6 represent the second and third stages of the plant.
• Ongoing Construction: Currently, power units 3, 4, 5, and 6 are under construction, marking the continued expansion of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

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3. REPORT ON IONOSPHERE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The cold dark winters and the bright sunny summer of Antarctica holds a secret in the ionosphere that scientists have traced recently.

Scientist Ionospheric Observations in Antarctica

• Polar Night Diurnal Pattern: Despite the absence of sunlight during winter's polar nights at Bharati station, a diurnal pattern emerged, revealing peak ionospheric density around local noon. 
• Factors Behind Peak Ionization: Scientists attributed the observed peak ionization during polar nights to particle precipitation and the transport of convectional plasma from high latitudes. This finding underscores the complexity of ionospheric dynamics in extreme conditions.
• Contrasting Polar Day and Night Densities: In the summer months with continuous sunlight (polar days), the ionospheric density at Bharati was approximately twice that observed during polar nights. 
• This disparity highlights the significant impact of sunlight on ionospheric conditions in the Bharati region.

Ionosphere

• About: The ionosphere constitutes a segment of Earth's upper atmosphere, spanning altitudes from 100 to 1000 kilometers, and is partially ionized.
• Nature at Polar Regions: In polar regions, particularly at the poles, the ionosphere exhibits high dynamism.

oIt serves as a significant energy sink for space weather events and plays a crucial role in magnetosphere-ionosphere systems, notably due to the vertical orientation of magnetic field lines.

• Reflecting Radio Signals: This area serves as an electrically conducting region with the ability to reflect radio signals back to Earth, contributing to communication and signal propagation.
• Formation of Ions: The process leads to the creation of electrically charged atoms and molecules known as ions, bestowing the ionosphere with its name and conferring unique properties upon this region.

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4. ARSENIC AND FLUORIDE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to 24 states and four Union Territories in a matter regarding the presence of arsenic and fluoride in groundwater.

Arsenic

• About: Arsenic, a tasteless and odorless metalloid, occurs naturally in the earth's crust and groundwater.
• Toxicity: In its inorganic form, arsenic is highly toxic, leading to arsenic poisoning with severe health consequences.
• Health Implications: High arsenic levels, results in adverse health effects, potentially causing multi-system organ failure and death.
• Global Initiatives: Efforts under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development focus on ensuring safely managed drinking water, free from arsenic contamination.
• National Mission: The Jal Jeevan Mission, targeting 2024, aims to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural and urban India, addressing the arsenic threat.

Fluoride

• About: Fluoride, a mineral, is naturally present in many foods and available as a dietary supplement. Fluoride is the ionic form of the element fluorine,
• Varieties of Fluoride: The ailment manifests in dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, and non-skeletal fluorosis, each affecting different tissues in the body.
• WHO Guidelines: As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the acceptable concentration of fluoride in drinking water should not surpass 1.5mg/l.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• Established: Under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
• Principal Place of Sitting: New Delhi.
• Composition: Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and the Expert Members.

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5. FEMA, 1999 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)  released a draft 'Licensing Framework for Authorised Persons (APs)' under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.

Authorised persons

• An authorised person is an entity authorised by the Reserve Bank of India to deal in forex. It can be an authorised dealer, money changer, off-shore banking unit or any other person for the time being authorised under Sub-Section (1) of Section 10 of FEMA. 

Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999

• About: FEMA primarily addresses provisions related to cross-border trade and payments, defining procedures for foreign exchange transactions in India.
• Introduced: In 1999.
• Replacement of FERA: FEMA replaced the earlier Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) and has since governed foreign exchange transactions in the country.
• Headquarter: Delhi.
• Objectives of FEMA

oTo facilitate external trade and payments in India.

oEnsure the orderly development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market.

oFacilitate transactions involving foreign exchange or foreign security, with payments from outside to India through authorized persons.

oEncourage dealings in foreign exchange under the current account through authorized entities.

oAuthorize the Reserve Bank of India to impose restrictions on capital account transactions.

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6. ADVISORY ON DEEPFAKE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: The government has issued an advisory to all platforms to comply with IT rules amid growing concerns around deepfakes and misinformation powered by AI.

Advisory on Prohibited Content Communication

• Communication Mandate: The advisory dictates that digital and social media platforms must clearly and precisely communicate prohibited content, especially under Rule 3(1)(b) of IT Rules, to users.
• Focus on Misinformation: To counter growing issues of misinformation in digital spaces.
• Content Communication Requirements: The advisory emphasizes the explicit communication of prohibited content to users during registration, login, and information sharing on the platform, in adherence to Rule 3(1)(b).
• Legal Compliance Awareness: Platforms are required to inform users about penal provisions, including those in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act 2000, ensuring transparency regarding legal consequences.
• Reporting Obligations: Terms of service must clarify that intermediaries are obligated to report legal violations to law enforcement agencies under relevant Indian laws.
• Rule Implementation: Rule 3(1)(b) mandates platforms to communicate rules, regulations, privacy policies, and user agreements in the user's preferred language as part of due diligence.
• Preventing User Harms: Platforms are obliged to make reasonable efforts to prevent users from engaging in activities related to the 11 listed user harms or prohibited content on digital intermediaries.

Deepfake 

• About: Deepfakes refer to synthetic media, which includes videos, images, or audio recordings generated and altered using advanced artificial intelligence techniques, particularly deep learning algorithms.
• Working: The term 'deepfake' combines 'deep learning' and 'fake.’

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7. DPDP ACT 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Governance)

Context: Recently, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, passed by Parliament will initiate implementation next year after the government formulates rules for its enforcement.

Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023

• About: An Act to provide for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology 
• Aim: To establish a framework for processing digital personal data that respects both individuals' rights to safeguard their data and the necessity of processing data for legitimate purposes.

Provisions of the Act

• Application: The Act is applicable when processing digital personal data within India, under the following circumstances: Data is collected online & Data is collected offline, and then digitized.
• Consent: For individuals below 18 years of age, consent must be granted by a parent or legal guardian.
• Rights of Data Principal: A data principal, who is an individual undergoing data processing, possesses the following rights:
• The right to obtain information regarding the processing of their data.
• The right to request the correction and deletion of their personal data.
• Personal data beyond India: It permits the transmission of personal data beyond India, barring countries that have been prohibited by the central government through an official notification.

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8. ANAEMIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Delhi, has now invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from the eligible organisations/companies/startups manufacturing ‘non-invasive hemoglobinometer’ useful in effective screening of anaemia.

Anaemia

• About: Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal.

oHemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. 

• Causes: Tiredness, weakness, Iron deficiency and shortness of breath.
• Types of anemia, including:

oIron-deficiency anemia

oVitamin B12-deficiency anemia

oHemolytic anemia

• Symptoms: Feeling weak or tired, or with exercise, Headaches, Problems concentrating or thinking and Irritability.
• Serious Problem: It is a serious global public health problem that particularly affects young children, menstruating adolescent girls and women, and pregnant and postpartum women. WHO estimates that 40% of children 6–59 months of age, 37% of pregnant women, and 30% of women 15–49 years of age worldwide are anaemic.
• Prevalence of anaemia: Among six groups as per the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) is:

o25.0% in men (15-49 years),

o57.0% in women (15-49 years),

o31.1% in adolescent boys (15-19 yrs),

o59.1 % in adolescent girls, 52.2 % in pregnant women (15-49 years) and

o67.1% in children (6-59 months).

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

Context: Iran has increased the rate at which it is producing near weapons grade uranium in recent weeks, reversing a previous slowdown that started in the middle of this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report to member states.

Uranium

• About: It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table.
• Come from: U-235 and U-238 occur naturally in nearly all rock, soil, and water. U-238 is the most abundant form in the environment. U-235 can be concentrated in a process called “enrichment,” making it suitable for use in nuclear reactors or weapons.
• Form: Uranium is an extremely heavy metal.
• Uranium in India

oUranium deposits in India are primarily found in crystalline rocks.

oJharkhand state holds 70% of the country's uranium reserves.

oMajor uranium deposits occur: Singhbhum and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand, Gaya district of Bihar, and Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

oTotal reserves of uranium in India: Amount to 30,480 tonnes.

oIndia currently produces about 2% of the world's uranium.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• Establishment: In 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology. The Agency was set up as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization within the United Nations family.
• Headquartered: Vienna, Austria.
• Members: 175 (as of 2 March 2022). India since its inception.
• The objectives: Dual mission: To promote and control the Atom i.e., scientific and technical co-operation on the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide.
• Independence: Though established independently of the United Nations through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
• Nobel prize: In 2005, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the IAEA and to its Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, for their work for a safer and more peaceful world.

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10. PMKVY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: The Government of india has said that nearly one crore 40 lakh candidates have been trained so far under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) since its launch in 2015.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• About: PMKVY is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• Launch: 15th July, 2015 
• Implemented by: National Skill Development Corporation.
• Funding: Centre and the State level with a 50:50 allocation of funds and targets with more enhanced involvement of District Skill Committees (DSC).
• Objective: To enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
• Components: Short Term Training, Special Projects, Recognition of Prior Learning, Kaushal & Rozgar Mela, etc.
• Benefits of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

oProviding a blend of theoretical and technical knowledge to individuals.

oEvaluating individuals with existing skills and subsequently granting certification.

oProviding ongoing assistance for job placements.

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