1. CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Security Forces)

Context: The Centre appointed Nina Singh as the Director General of CISF, making her the first woman to head this elite force.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

• Formation: The CISF was established in 1969 (by CISF Act, 1968( with an initial three battalions, primarily tasked with offering integrated security to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Premier Security Agency: With the advent of globalization and economic liberalization, CISF has evolved into a leading, multi-skilled security agency. Its focus has shifted beyond PSUs to encompass critical infrastructure installations nationwide.
• Responsibilities: CISF currently safeguards a wide range of crucial assets, including nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, sensitive government buildings, and even heritage monuments.
• Expanded Responsibilities: Recent additions to CISF's responsibilities include securing the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, VIP security, disaster management, and the establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) for the United Nations in Haiti.

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2. PEGASUS SPYWARE Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Internal Security)

Context: A forensic investigation by Amnesty

Pegasus Spyware

• Origin: Pegasus, a spyware designed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, serves the purpose of infiltrating both Android and iOS smartphones, transforming them into surveillance devices.
• Targeted: Pegasus is specifically employed for targeted spying on criminals and terrorists rather than engaging in mass surveillance, highlighting its focused application.
• Undiscovered Vulnerabilities: It operates by exploiting undisclosed vulnerabilities or bugs, enabling it to infect phones even with the latest security patches.

Zero-Click Exploit

• About: It is malicious software that allows spyware to be installed on a device without the device owner’s consent. 

oIt doesn’t require the device owner to perform any actions to initiate or complete the installation. 

oTo compare, regular apps may require a user to click ‘install’, ‘confirm’, etc. to complete an installation.

• Exploit Identification: The exploit allegedly employed on the two devices is known as "BLASTPAST" (formerly recognized as "BLASTPASS").

oTwo-Phase OperationPhase One: In the first phase, the attack endeavors to establish a connection with the Apple HomeKit on the target's device, offering a means to control various smart devices.

oPhase Two: The second phase involves sending malicious content via the iMessage app to the target, constituting the delivery of the full spyware "payload."

Indian journalists were among those “recently targeted with Pegasus spyware on their iPhones”.

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3. SHRESHTHA SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: Recently, the Government announced its successful facilitation of the admission of over 2500 Scheduled Castes (SCs) students in private schools under the SHRESHTA scheme.

SHRESTHA Scheme

• Objective: Its primary objective is to enhance the socio-economic standing of Scheduled Castes individuals by offering top-tier education to their children in the finest private residential schools across the nation.
• Ministry: Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment
• Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Eligibility: Students must belong to the marginalized income groups within the SC community.

oParental annual income must be less than Rs.2.5 Lakh annually.

• Mechanism: This mechanism is referred to as the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS).

oThe National Testing Agency (NTA) will be responsible for conducting NETS.

• Beneficiaries: The government has targeted that every year around 3000 students belonging to the SC category will be admitted to Class 9 and Class 11 under this system.
• Selection of Students: National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Implementing agency –

oMode 1: District Administration

oMode 2: Voluntary organisation (VO)/ Non-Government Organisation (NGO)/ Other organisation

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4. LOCKBIT RANSOMWARE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Internal Security)

Context: The LockBit ransomware gang targeted National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), threatening to leak the organisation's data if it failed to pay the “unspecified ransom”.

oIndia faced 2.6 million ransomware attacks, a rise of 133% in the past six months, placing India in the elite club of nations most affected by ransomware.

LockBit Ransomware

• Origins: LockBit, formerly identified as "ABCD" ransomware, is a malicious computer virus specializing in encrypting vital files, rendering them inaccessible upon infiltration.
• Crypto Demands: Emerging in September 2019, LockBit operates as a "crypto virus," demanding payments in cryptocurrency for the decryption of files it encrypts.
• Target Profile: LockBit predominantly targets affluent companies or organizations capable of paying substantial amounts to regain access to their encrypted files.
• Dark Web Presence: The individuals orchestrating LockBit operations maintain a dark web presence. They recruit members and disclose information about victims who refuse to comply with ransom demands.
• Global Impact: LockBit's reach extends across various countries, with documented attacks on companies in the U.S., China, India, Ukraine, and Europe.
• According to Report: LockBit ransomware group is the most active in India, being responsible for 13% of attacks.

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5. PDUNIPPD (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Vulnerable sections)

Context: Lt. Governor of Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir inaugurated the Composite Regional Centre (CRC) for Skill Development, Rehabilitation & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) (CRC) in Samba – Jammu.

PDUNIPPD

• Initiative by: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
• Aim: To provide comprehensive support, skill development, and rehabilitation services to empower individuals with disabilities and facilitate their integration into mainstream society.

oAlso serve as a hub for skill development, promoting self-reliance and empowerment.

Composite Regional Center (CRC)

• About: It is an autonomous body working under administrative & financial control of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
• Service: The center has been providing comprehensive rehabilitation services such as Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech & Hearing, Prosthesis & Orthosis, Clinical Psychology, and Special Education services.
• Objectives of CRCs

oTo serve as Resource Centre for rehabilitation and special education of persons with disabilities.

oTo undertake human resource development by training rehabilitation professionals, village level workers, multi – rehabilitation workers and other functionaries in Govt. and non – Govt. sector, required for providing services to persons with disabilities.

oTo undertake public education programs for creation of awareness in the parents and the community.

oTo undertake designing, fabrication and fitment of aids and appliances.

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6. NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the President of India nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

• About: It has been established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, with the aim of providing free legal services to the weaker sections of society and organizing Lok Adalats for amicable dispute resolution.
• Objective: It is the expeditious disposal of cases, thereby alleviating the burden on the judiciary.
• Structure: The Chief Justice of India serves as the patron-in-chief of NALSA, while the second senior most judge of the Supreme Court of India assumes the role of the Executive Chairman.
• State and High Court Legal Services Authorities: In each State, a State Legal Services Authority and in every High Court, a High Court Legal Services Committee has been constituted to implement NALSA's policies and directions.
• District Level Formation: District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees are established in districts and taluks, respectively, to execute NALSA's policies, provide free legal services, and conduct Lok Adalats.
• Article 39A: State must ensure that the legal system operates to promote justice based on equal opportunity. 
• Articles 14 and 22(1): It impose an obligation on the State to guarantee equality before the law. They emphasize the necessity for a legal system that fosters justice on the principle of equal opportunity for all citizens.

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7. QATAR DROP DEATH PENALTY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: A Qatar court has dropped the death sentence imposed on eight Indian former naval officers arrested there last year.

Background

• Case: The accused individuals, employed by Al Dahra in Doha, were arrested in 2022 in Qatar, allegedly for breaching sensitive secrets.
• Accusations and Secrecy: While working for Al Dahra, the eight Indian nationals faced accusations of breaching sensitive secrets.
• India's Strong Reaction: India has expressed profound shock and concern over the death sentences imposed on its citizens, actively exploring all available legal options to secure their release. 

oThe Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasizes the high importance attached to the case and reaffirms its commitment to providing consular and legal assistance to the detained individuals.

Qatar

• Located: in the Western Asia, on the Northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
• Bounded by:  Saudi Arabia in the south, rest of three sides; it is surrounded by the Persian Gulf.
• A strait of the Persian Gulf: Divides Qatar from its nearby island nation of Bahrain.
• Capital: Doha.

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8. INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India is expected to sign a much-awaited deal on two more pillars of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)—clean economy and fair economy.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

• About: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is a unique type of trade pact that the United States is pushing among the region’s governments.
• Origin: India and 12 nations led by the United States inaugurated the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) on 23rd May 2022 to provide an economic alternate solution to China’s Geostrategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific area. 
• Partner Countries: Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States. 

oWithin days of its launch, IPEF expanded its membership to the Pacific Island states, with Fiji joining the initiative.

• Objectives: The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic relationships between all of the participating nations to enhance resilience, sustainable development, inclusiveness, economic expansion, fair treatment, and competitive spirit in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Pillars: It was proposed as an elaborate framework of rules covering four pillars, namely, fair and resilient trade, supply chain resiliency, clean energy decarbonisation, and tax and anti-corruption.

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9. RoDTEP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: Commerce and industry minister said that the government will extend the benefits of the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme to e-commerce exports down through post and courier.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP)

• About: It is a scheme for Exporters to make Indian products cost-competitive and create a level playing field for them in the Global Market.
• Implementation: 1st January 2021
• Objective: This is an export duty remission program designed to stimulate the export of goods that had historically shown limited export activity.
• Replaced: MEIS (Merchandise Exports from India Scheme)
• Features: The RoDTEP scheme grants refunds for the previously unreimbursed Central, State, and local duties/taxes to exporters.

oThese refunds are provided in the form of transferable electronic scrips, and the entire process is managed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) within a comprehensive IT system.

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10. CRYPTOCURRENCY AND VDA SPS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU-IND) has issued show cause notices to nine offshore cryptocurrency and virtual digital assets service providers (VDA SPs).

oThe nine VDA SPs include Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global and Bitfinex.

Cryptocurrency

• About: Cryptocurrency refers to a digital or virtual currency that employs cryptography for security measures.
• Decentralization: One of the defining features of cryptocurrencies is their decentralized nature, which means they are not under the control of any government or institution.
• Examples: Prominent examples of cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.

Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs)

• Mandatory Registration in India: VDA SPs operating in India, both offshore and onshore, engaging in activities such as exchanging virtual digital assets and fiat currencies, transferring virtual digital assets, and safekeeping/administration of virtual digital assets, must register with FIU IND as a Reporting Entity.
• PMLA 2022 Obligations: Registered VDA SPs are obligated to comply with a set of obligations outlined in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2022, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and preventing money laundering activities.

Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU-IND)

• About: FIU-IND is the national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analysing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions to enforcement agencies and foreign FIUs. 
• Nodal Ministry: Finance Ministry.

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