1. PUBERTY BLOCKERS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Tesla and SpaceX CEO has alleged that his transgender child was “killed by the woke mind virus” after he was “tricked” into consenting to the use of “ Puberty blockers”

Puberty Blockers

• About:These are drugs that can delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse teens. 

oThey pause sex hormone production to help manage gender dysphoria.

• Mechanism: The medicines are called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, which stop the body from making sex hormones.

oIn people assigned male at birth, these slow the growth of facial and body hair, prevent voice deepening, and limit the growth of the penis, scrotum, and testicles.

oIn people assigned female at birth, the drugs limit or stop breast development, and stop menstruation.

• Status in India: Blockers are prescribed mostly for precocious puberty in India.

oThey are also prescribed for those who seek gender reassignment surgery, but those are not conducted before the age of 18.

• How to use effectively: A shot has to be given monthly, or every three months, or every six months.

oThe medication may be given also through an implant placed under the skin of the upper arm.

oThe implant usually needs to be replaced every 12 months

• Side effect: Side effects include insomnia, weight gain, muscle aches, fatigue, mood shifts, changes in breast tissue.

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2. CULTURAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India and the United States of America signed the first ever bilateral 'Cultural Property Agreement' (CPA).

Cultural Property Agreement:

• About:The Government of India and the Government of the United States of America came on one stage to explore the possibility of strengthening bi-lateral ties under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

oThis agreement has a defined framework for the return of such artefacts to India and will facilitate smooth and early repatriation

• Objective:

oIt’s about justice – returning to India and to Indians, what is rightfully theirs. 

o It’s about connecting India with the world. To know Indian culture is to know human culture,

• Restrictions Under the CPA

oScope of Restriction: Limits the importation of specific archaeological and ethnological materials into the USA.

oTime Span Covered: Includes items ranging from 1.7 million years ago to 1947 CE.

oRepatriation: Facilitates the repatriation of seized materials to India.

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3. AGNIPATH SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Policies)

Context: Goa Chief Minister has hailed the Centre’s Agnipath scheme, stating that it was a way forward for the Indian armed forces and would create dedicated youth for the country.

Agnipath Scheme

• About: A central government scheme for youth to give entry into the Indian army. 
• Period: To serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.
• Agniveer: Under this scheme, the youth joining the army called them Agniveer.
• Age group: Candidates between the age group of 17.5 to 21 years are eligible to apply for the scheme.
• Financial package offered to an Agniveer:

oComposite Annual Package

• 1st year package approx. Rs. 4.76 Lacs.
• Upgradation up to approx. Rs. 6.92 Lacs in 4th year.

oAllowances

• Risk & Hardship, Ration, Dress, Travel allowances as applicable.

oSeva Nidhi: 

• 30% of monthly emoluments to be contributed by individuals.
• Equal amount matched & contributed by the Government.
• Corpus of Rs. 10.04 Lakhs plus accrued interest, exempted from Income Tax, after four years.

oDeath Compensation:

• Non-contributory life insurance cover of Rs. 48 Lakhs.
• Additional Ex Gratia of Rs. 44 Lakhs for death attributable to service.
• Pay for unserved portion up to four years including ’Seva Nidhi’ component.

oDisability Compensation:

• Compensation based on % disability laid down by medical authorities.
• One-time ex-gratia of Rs. 44/25/15 Lakhs for 100%/75%/50% disability respectively.
• Maximum limit: Every year 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years. Out of that only 25% will continue for 15 years.

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4. AHOM MOIDAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art & Culture)

Context: Royal burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty from Assam make it to UNESCO World  Heritage list.

Ahom 'Moidam'

• About: The Ahom 'Moidam' are ancient burial grounds located in Assam's Charaideo district.
• Establishment: In the 13th century, Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha, founder of the Ahom kingdom, established his first capital at Che-rai-doi.
• Features of Moidams

oExterior Structure: The Moidams have hemispherical exteriors, varying in size based on the buried person's status and power.

oComponents of Moidams: Consist of a vaulted chamber with a centrally raised platform for the body, a hemispherical earthen mound with a brick structure (Chaw-chali), and an octagonal boundary wall with an arched gateway on the west.

oBurial Practices: Deceased individuals were interred with various objects used during their life, including royal insignia, wooden, ivory, or iron artifacts, and gold pendants.

oConstruction Materials: The construction materials, as recorded in the Ahom canonical texts, include wood, stone, and burnt bricks for Moidams

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5. DARK OXYGEN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: Scientists have recently discovered a strange phenomenon, dubbed “dark oxygen” in the deep sea.

Dark Oxygen

• About: Dark Oxygen is being produced in complete darkness thousands of feet below the ocean surface is termed dark oxygen.
• Importance of Discovery:

oTraditional Understanding: Previously believed that oxygen was only produced through photosynthesis, which requires sunlight.

oPrimary Oxygen Producers: Oceanic plankton, drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria, all of which perform photosynthesis.

oDepth Challenge: Production of oxygen at great ocean depths was considered impossible due to insufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

oNew Source of Oxygen: Oxygen is not being produced by plants at these depths.

oPolymetallic nodules: The oxygen comes out of Polymetallic nodules that are similar in resemblance to lumps of coal.

oElectrochemical Activity: Nodules generate oxygen through electrochemical processes, independent of light.

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6. EXPORT PROMOTION CAPITAL GOODS SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Economy)

Context: Recently, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced significant enhancements to the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme aimed at simplifying processes, reducing transaction costs and promoting automation to benefit exporters'. 

Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme:

• About: It is a trade promotion scheme implemented by the Indian government.
• Aim: To encourage the production of goods for export by providing import duty concessions on capital goods.
• Administered and governed by: The EPCG scheme is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and is governed by the Foreign Trade Policy of India.
• Promote export: It allows the duty-free import of capital goods for the purpose of export production in India.
• Capital Goods allowed under EPCG Scheme: The capital goods allowed under Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme shall include spares (including reconditioned/ refurbished), fixtures, jigs, tool, moulds and dies. Further, second-hand capital goods may also be imported without any restriction on age under the EPCG Scheme.
• Benefit from EPCG Scheme: EPCG is intended for promoting exports and the Indian Government with the help of this scheme offers incentives and financial support to the exporters.
• Features:

oAllows import of capital goods for pre-production, production, and post-production at zero customs duty.

oCovers manufacturer exporters (with or without supporting manufacturer(s)), merchant exporters tied to supporting manufacturer(s), and service providers.

oSecond-hand goods of any nature are not permitted under the EPCG scheme.

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7. NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The government planning to double the strength ‘national Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)

National Company Law Tribunal:

• About: It is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies.
• Established: Under the Companies Act 2013 and was constituted on 1 June 2016 by the government of India and is based on the 
• Recommendation: V. Balakrishna Eradi committee on law relating to the insolvency and the winding up of companies.
• Composition: The NCLT bench is chaired by a Judicial member who is supposed to be a retired or a serving High Court Judge and a Technical member who must be from the Indian Corporate Law Service, ICLS Cadre.
• NCLT is the adjudicating authority for the insolvency resolution process of companies and limited liability partnerships under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• Power under the Companies Act:

oInitiated before the Company Law Board under the previous act (the Companies Act 1956).

oPending before the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction, including those pending under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985.

oPending before the Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction.

oPertaining to claims of oppression and mismanagement of a company, winding up of companies and all other powers prescribed under the Companies Act.

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8. STATE OF THE WORLD FOREST REPORT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context: A new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has brought both relief and concern regarding the state of the world’s forests.

State of The World Forest Report 2024

• About: It is a comprehensive report, which provide detail information about world forest and its trends.
• Key Finding:

oDecline in Deforestation: Deforestation rates have declined compared to previous decades.

oChallenges from Climate Change: Data reveals ongoing challenges forests face due to climate change.

oGlobal Forest Coverage: In 2020, global forests covered approximately 4.1 billion hectares (ha), which is 31% of Earth's land area.

oForest Area Converted: Approximately 420 million hectares (ha) of forest were converted to land use between 1990 and 2020.

oTotal Mangrove Area: Recorded at 14.8 million hectares (ha) globally, South and Southeast Asia contribute nearly 44 % of the total global mangrove area.

oMajor Contributor: Asia was the major contributor to both mangrove loss and gain

oChange in Mangrove Loss Rate: Gross global mangrove loss rate decreased by 23 % between the decades 2000-2010 and 2010-2020

• About India:

oIndia gained 2,66,000 hectares of forest annually from 2010-2020, ranking third globally in forest area gain.

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9. EXERCISE KHAAN QUEST (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context:The Indian Army contingent departed  for the Multinational Military Exercise KHAAN QUEST. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Exercise Khaan Quest:

• About: The exercise will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities.
• Historical background: The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in the year 2003. Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise.
• Aim: To prepare Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.

oThe exercise will focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.

• 21st Edition: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2024).
• Benefits of Participation:

oEnhanced Peacekeeping Skills: Develops capabilities for UN missions.

oInternational Exposure: Provides valuable experience collaborating with diverse military forces.

oImproved Tactical Proficiency: Achieved through rigorous training exercises.

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10. PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Reserve Bank of India launched prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for urban co-operative banks.

Prompt Corrective Action:

• About: PCA (Prompt Corrective Action) is a framework established by the RBI to monitor banks with weak financial metrics
• Historical Background: Introduced in 2002 as an early-intervention mechanism for undercapitalized banks or those with poor asset quality and loss of profitability.

oReviewed in 2017 based on recommendations from the Financial Stability and Development Council and the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission.

• Parameters: Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR), Net Non-Performing Assets (NPA), Return on Assets (RoA).
• Objective: Enable timely supervisory intervention to restore financial health.

oAddress issues related to Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in the Indian banking sector.

oAlert regulators, investors, and depositors to potential troubles, aiming to prevent problems from escalating into crises

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