1. CPEC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: China has recently declined to further extend its cooperation in the fields of energy, water management, and climate change within the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

• About: The CPEC is bilateral project between Pakistan and China. 
• Objective: To enhance connectivity across Pakistan with a network of highways, railways, and pipelines accompanied by other infrastructure development projects.
• Under the CPEC Plan: China will invest in industrial power stations, roads, and railways from Kashgar in Xinjiang (China) to Gwadar port (Pakistan) in the 3000 km long belt.
• Financed by: Heavily-subsidised Chinese loans, disbursed to Pakistan Government by Chinese banking giants such as China Development Bank, Exim Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
• CPEC is a component of the OBOR (One Belt One Road) initiative of China.

OBOR

• OBOR) or Belt and Road (BRI) is the new Silk Road initiative, both by land and sea, announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.
• It’s themost ambitious infrastructure and connectivity projectin history, aiming to connect China with Europe by land and rail, and to Africa and Asia by sea.

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2. SCRUB TYPHUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech (Diseases))

Context: Recently, record-breaking rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, attributed to climate change, has led to a surge in scrub typhus cases across the state.

Scrub Typhus

• About: Scrub typhus is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria, posing a significant public health risk in South and Southeast Asia.

o Mites carrying the disease are generally found in the bush, jungle and paddy areas, so the disease is also called jungle or bush typhus.

• Transmission: People contract scrub typhus through the bites of infected chiggers, which are larval mites.
• Common Symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes a rash.
• Treatment: Scrub typhus requires treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline, suitable for individuals of all ages.
• Vaccine: Currently, there is no available vaccine for preventing scrub typhus.

Typhus Fever

• About: Typhus fevers encompass a collection of diseases caused by various bacteria, including epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus.
• Epidemic Typhus: Epidemic typhus is triggered by Rickettsia prowazeki and transmitted by body lice.
• Scrub Typhus: Scrub typhus, on the other hand, results from Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria and is spread by chiggers.
• Murine Typhus: Murine typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi and transmitted by fleas.

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3. GREEN HYDROGEN BUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Union Minister flags-off 1st green hydrogen fuel cell bus from New Delhi recently.

Green Hydrogen Bus

• About: It is the world’s first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex-Fuel vehicle.
• The electrified flex fuel vehicle prototype includes both a flex fuel engine and an electric powertrain.
• It offers higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies.
• Unveiled by:  IndianOil.
• Fuel: The fuel cell utilizes Hydrogen and air to generate electricity to power the bus and the only by-product from the bus is water.

Hydrogen

• It is a gaseous substance that is colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly explosive.
• It is the lightest, simplest, and most abundant member of the chemical elements in the universe.

Green Hydrogen 

• About: This gas is generated through the process of electrolysis, which involves the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen.
• Production: Green hydrogen is manufactured by electrolysis, using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or hydropower.
• India's Green Hydrogen Production: India has initiated the production of green hydrogen with the goal of increasing non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030.
• Recent Development: India recently established its first pilot plant for 99.99% pure green hydrogen in Duliajan, located in eastern Assam at the Jorhat pump station of a major petroleum exploration company.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: To establish India as a worldwide centre for producing, applying, and exporting Green Hydrogen and its associated products.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

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4. UNGA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The External Affairs Minister of India recently emphasized India's aspiration for a broader global role, asserting that its emergence on the international stage will distinguish itself from previous nations, and its pursuit of becoming a "leading power" is not rooted in self-aggrandizement but driven by a commitment to assume greater responsibilities.

UN General Assembly 

• Establishment: In 1945 under the United Nations (UN) Charter
• Member Countries: All 193 members
• UNGA President: The UNGA is headed by its President, who is elected for a term of one year.
• Composition: The United Nations General Assembly comprises all 193 Members of the United Nations.
• Mandate: It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter. 

Achievements and Impact of UNGA

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The UNGA adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, establishing fundamental principles for the protection of human rights worldwide.
• Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): The UNGA had a central role in shaping the MDGs, which constituted eight global objectives focused on eliminating poverty, and advancing education.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Expanding on the MDGs, the UNGA embraced the SDGs in 2015, laying out an extensive plan for achieving sustainable development by 2030. 

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5. ONLINE GAMING INDUSTRY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) is anticipated to issue cumulative tax demands of up to ₹1.5 trillion to companies in the online gaming sector for alleged underpayment of taxes over several recent years.

Market of Online Gambling in India:

• The Indian gambling market is estimated to be worth US$60 billion per year, of which about half is illegally bet.
• Around 40% of Indian adults have gambled at least once on online platforms.
• Mobile gaming: The revenue of this industry is expected to exceed US$1.5 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach US$5 billion in 2025.
• CAGR: The industry in the country grew at a CAGR of 38% between 2017-2020, as opposed to 8% in China and 10% in the US.

o It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue by 2024.

Online gaming and its legality

• Information Technology Act of 2000: That regulate online activities in the country also has no mention of anything about online gambling.
• Judicial intervention: As early as 1957, the Supreme Court of India has held the view that competitions that require substantial skill are not gambling activities.

o In recent times also, the SC has reiterated that it is a legitimate business exercise, protected as a fundamental right under Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India.

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6. GOBARDHAN SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Government Scheme)

Context: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, recently launched a Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan to simplify the registration process for Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and biogas plants across the country.

GOBARdhan Scheme

• About: Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan, is a crucial umbrella initiative of the Government of India.
• Launched: In 2018 as a national priority project under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase II program.
• Nodal Ministry: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Aim: To generate wealth and energy by converting cattle dung, agricultural residue, and other organic waste into Biogas, CBG, and bio-fertilizers.

o It adopts a whole-of-government approach and aims to convert waste into wealth, thereby promoting a circular economy.

• Focus areas of GOBAR-Dhan: to keep villages clean, increase the income of rural households, and generate energy and organic manure from cattle waste.

Unified Registration Portal

• About: This portal will serve as a centralized repository for assessing investment and participation in the Biogas/CBG (Compressed Biogas) sector at a pan India level.
• Objective: To streamline the process of setting up CBG/Biogas plants in the country.
• The Unified Registration Portal allows any government, cooperative or private entity operating or intending to set up a Biogas/CBG/Bio-CNG plant in India to obtain a registration number by enrolling in the portal.
• This registration number will enable them to avail a multitude of benefits and support from the Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.

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7. AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) recently released its survey on elephant population covering Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. The five countries together hold half of the world’s Savanna elephants. Except Zambia, other countries have seen an increase in populations.

Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA)

• It is the second-largest nature and landscape conservation area in the world, spanning the international borders of five countries in Southern Africa.
• It includes a major part of the Upper Zambezi River and Okavango basins and Delta, the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, the southeastern part of Angola, southwestern Zambia, the northern wildlands of Botswana and western Zimbabwe.
• The centre of this area is at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers where the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet.
• The region is home to a population of approximately 250,000 animals, including the largest population of African Elephants in the world.

African Elephant

• About: They are slightly larger than Asian Elephants and can be identified by their larger ears. (Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears)
• African Savanna (or bush) elephant: IUCN Red List: Endangered
• African Forest Elephants: IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

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8. BORLAUG AWARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: Indian agriculture scientist Swati Nayak won the Borlaug Award recently.

Borlaug Award

• About: The award is given to exceptional scientists under 40 working in the field of food and nutrition security, and hunger eradication.

o It is given in memory of the Nobel awardee and Green Revolution’s chief architect Dr. Norman Borlaug.

• Duration: It is presented every year in October.
• Venue: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
• Presented by: World Food Prize Foundation.
• Prize: USD 10,000

Norman Ernest Borlaug

• An American agronomist who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to the extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution.
• Borlaug was often called “the father of the Green Revolution”.

Swati Nayak’s Contribution

• In Odisha, she introduced the drought-tolerant Shahabhagi Dhan rice variety, leading to significant improvements in rainfed regions.
• This variety quickly became a staple in the dietary and crop rotation practices of every farming household, marking a substantial shift in agriculture.
• She is the South Asia head for Seed System and Product Management at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

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9. NHRC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently issued an advisory to the Centre, State governments, and Union Territory administrations, emphasizing the need to ensure the welfare of transgender persons.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

• About: It is an independent statutory body in 1993 under the provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended in 2006. 
• Function: It is the watchdog of human rights in the country, that is, the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international covenants2 and enforceable by courts in India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Composition: One Chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.

o A person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court can become a chairman.

• Appointment:  Appointed by the President on the recommendations of a 6 member committee consisting of the Prime Minister.
• Tenure: 3 years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: On the charges of proved misbehavior or incapacity, if proved by an inquiry conducted by a Supreme Court Judge.

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10. COLLEGIUM SYSTEM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Supreme Court, concerned about the recent delay in processing recommendations for the appointment and transfer of High Court judges, has announced that it will closely monitor the issue every 10-12 days until it is resolved, as approximately 70 Collegium recommendations remain pending with the government.

National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)

• About: NJAC is a group in charge of selecting and moving judges in the higher courts of India.
• Established By: 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, of 2014.
• Objective: The NJAC was meant to take the place of the collegium system used to choose judges.
• Composition: 6 persons Chief Justice of India (Chairperson), Two other senior judges of the Supreme Court, The Union Minister of Law and Justice, Two eminent persons: nominated by a committee & Leader of Opposition of LS.

o In October 2015, the Supreme Court's Constitution Bench, with a majority of 4:1, ruled that the NJAC was against the Constitution and supported the continued use of the collegium system.

Collegium System

• In this system, decisions about choosing judges or promoting lawyers to the Supreme Court and moving judges between High Courts and the Supreme Court are made by a group consisting of the Chief Justice of India and the four most experienced judges of the SC.
• The way judges are chosen and moved around is based on decisions made by the SC, not on a law from Parliament or a part of the Constitution.
• The term 'Collegium' isn't mentioned in the Indian Constitution. It has become a practice based on legal judgments.

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