1. MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT BRIEF (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: According to the Migration and Development Brief of World Bank, growth in remittances to India is expected to decline significantly in 2024, dropping to 3.7% from 7.5% in 2023.

Migration and Development Brief

• Prepared by: Migration and Remittances Unit, Development Economics (DEC), the research and data arm of the World Bank.
• Published: Twice a year
• Objectives: Aims to offer a comprehensive update on recent developments in migration and remittance flows globally.

Findings of the Migration and Development Brief of World Bank

• Top Recipient Nation: India remains the leading recipient of remittances globally, surpassing other major recipients like Mexico, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
• Emigrant Origins: India also maintains its status as the largest origin country for emigrants, with significant numbers migrating to various destinations globally.
• Remittances in 2023: India received $120 billion in remittances in 2023, bolstered by robust labor markets in the US and Europe.
• Projected Growth: Remittances are forecasted to increase to $124 billion in 2024 and further to $129 billion in 2025.
• Diversification and Stability: India's migrant workforce, ranging from highly skilled migrants in OECD markets to less-skilled workers in GCC countries, provides stability to remittance inflows amidst external economic shocks.
• Enhanced Remittance Channels: The India-UAE FTA supports remittance flows, leveraging local currencies for cross-border transactions and integrating payment systems between the two countries.

Remittance 

• About: It is comprised of worker’s remittances, compensation of employees, and migrants’ transfers as documented in the IMF Balance of Payments.
• Worker's Remittances: These are current transfers made by migrants who are regarded as residents in the source country.
• Significance for Low and Middle-Income Countries: Remittances serve as a crucial source of household income in low and middle-income nations.

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2. LEADER OF OPPOSITION IN THE LOK SABHA (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Rae Bareli MP has been appointed as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, filling a position that remained vacant for 10 years due to no party meeting the practice-based requirement of holding a tenth of the House's strength.

Responsibilities: 

• The main duty of the Leader of Opposition is to serve as the voice of the opposition in the House. 
• The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha “is considered as a shadow Prime Minister with a shadow Cabinet, ready to take over the administration if the Government resigns or is defeated on the floor of the House”.
• Since the parliamentary system is based on “mutual forbearance”, the Leader of Opposition lets the Prime Minister govern and is, in turn, permitted to oppose. 
• “His/her proactive role in facilitating smooth functioning of the business of the House is as important as that of the Government.”

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha

• About: It was officially described in The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
• Definition: Leader of Opposition as a “member of the Council of States or the House of the People, as the case may be, who is, for the time being, the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised as such by the Chairman of the Council of States or the Speaker of the House of the People”.
• Recognition in Lok Sabha: The leader of the largest opposition party having not less than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the Lok Sabha is recognised as the Leader of the Opposition.
• Membership: He will be a member of crucial committees such as Public Accounts (Chairman), Public Undertakings, Estimates and also a member of several Joint Parliamentary Committees.
• Role in Selection Committees: He is entitled to be a member of various selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission, the CBI, the NHRC, and the Lokpal.
• Statutory Recognition: The leader of Opposition in both the Houses were accorded statutory recognition under the Salaries and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 and are entitled to the salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
• Constitutional Mention: The office of the Leader of the Opposition is not mentioned in the Constitution.

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3. RTS PROGRAMME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Rooftop solar (RTS) has the potential to transform India’s energy landscape by providing a sustainable, decentralized, and affordable solution for the country's increasing electricity demands.

RTS Programme

• Launch: The Indian government launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010.
• It was the first major initiative to promote the growth of solar energy.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Objective: The main objective was to produce 20 GW of solar energy (including RTS) in three phases: 2010-2013, 2013-2017, and 2017-2022.
• Revised Target: In 2015, the government revised this target to 100 GW by 2022, including a 40 GW RTS component, with specific yearly targets for each State and Union Territory.

oIndia achieved an installed RTS capacity of about 7.5 GW.

• Deadline: The government extended the deadline for the 40 GW target to 2026.
• Factors for RTS Growth: Sustainable Partnership for RTS Acceleration in Bharat, SUPRABHA, and the Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India, SRISTI, schemes.
• Future Targets: To meet India’s ambitious target of installing 500 GW of renewable energy capacity (with a solar component of 280 GW) by 2030 and its larger net-zero goals by 2070, RTS alone needs to contribute about 100 GW by 2030.

Muft Bijli Yojana Scheme

• Objective: Provide free electricity to households in India through the installation of solar panels.
• Launch on: February, 2024, by Prime Minister. 
• Subsidy Coverage: The scheme provides a subsidy covering up to 40% of the cost of solar panels.

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4. SKIN BANK (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Indian Army has inaugurated a new skin bank facility to provide critical care for soldiers and civilians suffering from severe burn injuries.

Skin Bank

• About: It is a facility where skin is harvested from qualified donors, processed, and stored at suitable temperatures for preservation for a period of up to five years.
• Facility: First-of-its-kind facility in Armed Forces Medical Services staffed with plastic surgeons, tissue engineers, and specialized technicians.
• Operations and Scope: Centralized hub for collection, processing, storage, and distribution of skin grafts, crucial for military medical centres nationwide.
• Donor Eligibility: Skin can be donated within six hours of death; donors must be at least 18 years old and free from certain health conditions.
• Storage and Preservation: Skin is preserved in 85% glycerol solution at 4-5 degrees Celsius, ensuring viability for up to five years.

Skin Grafting

• About: Transplanting a piece of healthy skin to an area of the body with damaged or missing skin is a straightforward procedure.
• Types of Grafts:
• Autograft (patient's own skin) and allograft (donor skin from a skin bank) are the main types used.
• Post-Graft Monitoring: Within two to three weeks post-grafting, doctors assess the acceptance and success of the transplanted skin.
• Donor Skin Extraction: Donor skin is typically harvested from the back of the thighs and legs, with a thickness of approximately 3mm, covering an area of 1000-3000 square centimeters.
• Processing Timeline: After extraction, the donor skin undergoes a process that includes cleaning, preparation, and preservation, which takes about five to six weeks to complete before it can be used for grafting.

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5. BANNERGHATTA BIOLOGICAL PARK (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Environment Minister inaugurated South India's first and the country's largest leopard safari at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP). This new attraction aims to boost wildlife tourism and conservation efforts in the region.

Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBBP)

• Location: It is located in the state of Karnataka, India.
• Establishment: In 2004, BBBP was carved out of the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) and brought under the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK).
• National Park Status: BNP was declared a national park in 1974.
• Divisions: BBBP has four divisions: the zoo, the safari, the butterfly park, and the rescue centre.
• Geography: The valley of Champakadhama hills is inside the park.
• Vegetation Types: There are three types of vegetation that can be found: Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests.
• Flora: The flora includes Narcissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosa, Sandalwood, Neem, Tamarind, Bamboo, Eucalyptus, etc.
• Fauna: The park is a prime habitat for several species, including the endangered Asian Elephant, Indian Gaur, Tiger, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Leopard, Wild dog, Wild pig, Sloth bear, Common mongoose, Pangolin, Slender loris, and Black-naped hare, etc.

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6. INDIAN PAINTED FROG (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A rare Indian Painted Frog was recently discovered at Telangana's Kawal Tiger Reserve, marking a notable sighting outside its typical habitats.

Indian Painted Frog

• About: It belongs to the Microhylidae family and is a species of narrow-mouthed frog.
• Scientific Name: Uperodon taprobanicus
• Distribution: It is found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern and eastern India, and Nepal up to an altitude of about 1300 metres.

oMost common in Sri Lanka; in India, found in states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, especially in the southern areas of the Western and Eastern Ghats.

• Features:

oIt can grow up to 75 millimetres (7.5 cm) in length from snout to vent, with females slightly larger than males.

oKnown for its smooth, rounded body and distinctive coloration, often including shades of brown with patches of orange or yellow.

• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List - Least Concern.

Kawal Tiger Reserve

• Location: Situated in northeastern Telangana, bordered by the Godavari River and Maharashtra.
• Geography: Forms part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
• Rivers: Catchment area for Godavari and Kadam rivers, flowing south of the sanctuary.
• Connectivity: Linked to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) in the north and Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh) in the northeast.
• Habitat: Diverse habitats including dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
• Vegetation: Dominated by Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest; notable species include Teak and Bamboo.
• Flora: Rich diversity with over 673 recorded plant species, including Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, and Boswellia serrata.
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, and black buck.

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7. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on granting bail to the Delhi Chief Minister on money laundering, a Delhi court has granted the central bureau of investigation (CBI), a 3-day custody of the CM.

Central Bureau of Investigation

• Origin: The CBI was established as the Special Police Establishment in 1941, to investigate cases of corruption in the procurement during the Second World War.
• Formalised agency: To investigate allegations of corruption in various wings of the Government of India by enacting the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

oThe CBI is not a statutory body but derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.

• Establishment of the CBI: In 1963, the CBI was established by the Government of India with a view to investigate serious crimes  and maintain integrity in administration.

oThe establishment of the CBI was recommended by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962–1964).

• CBI Director: There shall be a director of CBI who heads the department. He is appointed on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India or Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him.
• Nodal Ministry: Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances which falls under the prime minister’s office.

Functions

• Its primary objective involves conducting investigations into violent crimes using a robust system and advanced technology.
• Its role extends to addressing and countering cybercrimes and crimes related to social platforms.
• Its presence serves to assist, oversee, and provide backing to law enforcement agencies when handling complex and high-profile cases.
• The agency is responsible for probing cases involving corruption, bribery, misconduct, and misbehavior among federal government employees.

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8. BHARATIYA ANTARIKSHA STATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed plans for Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), India’s upcoming space station. Additionally, final plans for Chandrayaan-4, featuring a pivotal space docking station, and the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) are pending approval.

Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS)

• About: It is India’s proposed space station, targeted for establishment by 2035 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 
• Aim: To facilitate extensive space research and experiments in a microgravity environment.
• Objectives

oScientific Research and Experiments: Conducting diverse scientific studies and experiments under microgravity conditions to advance knowledge across various disciplines.

oTesting New Technologies: Serving as a testbed for validating and refining new technologies designed for space applications.

oStudying Space Weather: Investigating space weather phenomena and their impacts on Earth to enhance understanding and develop mitigation strategies.

oPotential Base for Interplanetary Missions: Establishing a potential future foothold for missions beyond Earth’s orbit, contributing to broader exploration ambitions

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Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)

• About: The NGLV, developed by ISRO, aims to replace existing launch systems like PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3.
• It represents a leap in technology and capability for India's space missions.
• Configuration: It is a three-stage rocket, featuring partial reusability, which enhances cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Chandrayaan-4

• Aim: The primary objective is to land on the Moon and return rocks and soils (lunar regolith) to India for analysis.
• Spacecraft Modules: Consists of 5 modules including a lander, rover, propulsion module, descender module, ascender module, and transfer module.
• Two Separate Launches: Chandrayaan-4 is the first mission involving 2 launch vehicles to complete a single mission.
• Launch Vehicles: LVM-3 launches with 3 components (Propulsion Module, Descender Module, Ascender Module).
• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launches the Transfer Module and the Re-entry Module.

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9. SAFAI APNAO, BIMAARI BHAGAO (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao (SABB) initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao (SABB) Initiative

• About: SABB, part of the ‘STOP Diarrhoea Campaign’, runs from 1 July to 31 August 2024.
• Focus: The initiative targets improving sanitation and hygiene conditions during the monsoon through activities like cleanliness drives, waste collection, and water quality sampling.
• Adopted Strategy: Aims to identify high-risk areas and implement the Protect Prevent Treat Strategy (PPTS) to mitigate diarrhoeal diseases.

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0

• Introduction: SBM-U 2.0 is the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission launched by the Government of India in 2014.
• Launched: Launched on October 1, 2021, to build upon the achievements of the first phase.
• Objective: Aims to make urban India “garbage free” by 2026 through 100% source segregation, door-to-door waste collection, and scientific waste management.

Open Defecation Free++ (ODF++)

• Goal: Ensure all community and public toilets are functional, well-maintained, and promote wastewater treatment and reuse.
• Comprehensive Approach: Aims for comprehensive sanitation by addressing toilet functionality, maintenance, and wastewater management.

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10. JAL JEEVAN MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt. Initiatives)

Context: The Central Government is planning a new initiative to ensure rural households, previously equipped with taps under the Jal Jeevan Mission but still lacking access to potable water, receive essential water supply soon.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• About: Launched in 2019, it envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Objective: The mission ensures functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water quality monitoring and testing as well as sustainable agriculture.

oIt also ensures conjunctive use of conserved water; drinking water source augmentation, drinking water supply system, grey water treatment and its reuse.

• Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.
• 100% Coverage States: six states and three Union Territories including Goa, Telangana, Puducherry Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• 96% Coverage States: Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bihar.

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