1. INDIA’S PER CAPITA INCOME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Economy

Context: India’s per capita income is expected to increase 1. 6 times to $4,000, or about ?3. 2 lakh, by 2030, turning the country into an upper-middle income country, Standard Chartered economists said in a report.

• Telangana, Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, which together account for 20% of India’s GDP, to have per capita GDP over $6,000.
• Uttar Pradesh and Bihar’s per capita income would have doubled to $2,000 by 2030.
• While the report highlighted reforms, macro and political stability and healthy corporate balance sheets as drivers of sustained growth, it also noted that the government capex boost had paved the way for pick up in private investment.

Per capita income (PCI)

• Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
• PCI compares and assesses the economic situations of countries with varying population sizes.
• The measurement of a country's per capita income is done by dividing the total national income of a particular country or state by the population in that specific geographical region.
• When calculating a country's PCI, every individual is taken into account. The calculation includes men, women, children, and babies. 
• This is mainly because the measurement considers the entire country's population or specific geographical location.
• All India annual per capita Net National Income (NNI) for 2014-15 and 2022-23 at current prices are Rs. 86,647 and Rs. 1,72,000 respectively illustrate achievement in this regard.

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2. IFSC (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Economy)

Context: Indian companies, both listed and unlisted, will soon be able to list their shares directly on the exchanges at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat.

• The move will enable startups and companies of like nature to access the global market through GIFT IFSC.
• This will also facilitate access to global capital and result in better valuation for Indian companies.

International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) 

• About: A financial centre that caters to customers outside the jurisdiction of the domestic economy. 

• It is also known as an offshore financial centre since it deals with flow of finance, financial products and services across borders.

• Objectives: IFSCs are intended to provide Indian corporates with easier access to global financial markets, and to complement and promote further development of financial markets in India.
• Nodal Agency: The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was established by the Government of India to develop and regulate international financial services centres in the country.
• The first IFSC in India has been set up at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar.
• IFSCA: It is a statutory authority established in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
• Before the IFSCA was established, the financial services and institutions were regulated by the domestic financial regulators such as SEBI, RBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, etc.
• The Special Economic Zone Act, 2005 provides for the establishment of an IFSC in India.
• As per the SEZ Act, the government approved GIFT City as a Multi Services Special Economic Zone (“GIFT SEZ”) in Gandhinagar.

• IFSCA Functions:

• Regulate financial products such as securities, deposits or contracts of insurance, financial services, and financial institutions which have been previously approved by any appropriate regulator such as Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) etc., in an IFSC.
• Regulate any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an IFSC, which may be notified by the central government.
• Recommend to the central government any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions, which may be permitted in an IFSC.
• IFSCA Members: The IFSCA consists of nine members appointed by GOI. 
• The members are: Chairperson, 1 member from RBI, 1 member from SEBI, 1 member from PFRDA, 1 member from IRDAI, 2 members from the Finance Ministry and 2 members appointed on recommendation of a Selection Committee.
• Term: The term of each member is three years subject to reappointment.

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3. MOB LYNCHING (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Governance)

Context: The Supreme Court asked the Centre and at least six States to respond to a plea about lynchings and mob violence refusing to stop.

• The court asked the Home Ministry and heads of police forces of Maharashtra, Orissa, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh to respond to the petition.
• The 2018 judgment of the apex court in Tehseen Poonawala case had foretold that lynchings and mob violence were “creeping threats” and need to be nipped in the bud.

Steps taken to curb the menace of mob lynching

• The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an advisory in 2019 to all the states and union territories to implement the Supreme Court's guidelines and take effective action against mob lynching.
• Some states, such as Rajasthan, Manipur, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, have enacted or proposed anti-lynching laws that define mob lynching as a specific offence and prescribe harsh penalties for it. 
• Various civil society organizations, activists, media outlets, celebrities, and citizens have launched campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness and mobilize public opinion against mob lynching.
• Some examples are #NotInMyName, #StopLynchings, #NoPlaceForHate, #IndiaAgainstLynchTerror, etc. 
• These campaigns aim to create a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity and to challenge the misinformation and propaganda that fuel mob violence.
• Some educational institutions, such as the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), have introduced courses and workshops on mob lynching and human rights for their students and faculty. 
• These courses aim to sensitize the participants about the causes, consequences, and legal aspects of mob lynching, and to equip them with the skills and knowledge to combat it.

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4. RARE DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Health)

Context: AIIMS Delhi, one of the designated centres of excellence for rare disease treatment in the country, utilised less than 1% of the allotted funds for treating patients facing such a challenge in 2022.

• The premier institute was allotted Rs 7.12 crore under a central government rare disease scheme in 2022. 
• Out of this amount, the hospital utilised Rs 1. 99 lakh, which is 0. 28% of the allocation. 
• The allocation last year was increased by around Rs 3 crore from 2021 when Rs 4. 1 crore was allotted under the same scheme. 

Rare disease

• A rare disease is defined as often debilitating lifelong disease or disorder with a prevalence of one or less per 1,000 population, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The Union health ministry had formulated and launched the National Policy for Rare Diseases March 30, 2021. 
• Under this, financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh was guaranteed for rare diseases amenable to one-time treatment identified under Group 1.
• These included LSDs (metabolism errors), immune deficiency disorders and Osteopetrosis (when bones grow abnormally dense).
• Financial assistance was not available for those suffering from rare diseases under Group 2 - diseases which require lifelong treatment with a relatively lower cost - and Group 3 - diseases for which definitive treatment is available but is costly, requiring optimal patient selection.
• The policy was changed in May 2022 when the financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh was hiked up to Rs 50 lakh to include rare diseases of all categories.
• Till the finalisation of guidelines and in order to provide uninterrupted and enhanced financial assistance i.e up to Rs. 50 lakhs to the patients of rare diseases irrespective of the category of disease, funds may continue to be granted from the current budget head of Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).
• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi is a centrally sponsored scheme which aims at providing financial assistance to the patients who live under the poverty line.

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5. STAPLED VISA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - IR)

Context:  India withdrew its eight-athlete wushu contingent from the Summer World University Games beginning in Chengdu after China issued stapled visas to three athletes from the team who belong to Arunachal Pradesh.

• Wushu is the Chinese term for martial arts. Two hundred and twenty-seven Indian athletes are participating in 11 other sports at the games that are held every two years, and are officially known as the FISU World University Games.
• The Chengdu edition was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the original 2023 games, scheduled to be held in Yekaterinburg, were cancelled after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Stapled visa

• A stapled visa is simply an unstamped piece of paper that is attached by a pin or staples to a page of the passport and can be torn off or detached at will. 
• This is different from a regular visa that is affixed to the passport by the issuing authority and stamped.
• China has made it a practice to issue stapled visas to Indian nationals from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. 
• It says the visas are valid documents, but the Government of India has consistently refused to accept this position.
• Ministry of External Affairs said the issue of stapled visas was “unacceptable and we have lodged our strong protest with the Chinese side, reiterating our consistent position on the matter”.

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6. RADIO COLLARS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Env & Eco)

Context: The radio collars of six cheetahs at the Kuno national park in Madhya Pradesh have been removed after advice by South African experts.

• At least eight of the 20 cheetahs relocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno since September 2022 have died so far. 
• Of these deaths, two were likely due to septicemia after extreme wet conditions caused the collars to give them infections.

Radio collars

• Radio collars are used to track and monitor animals in the wild.
• They consist of a collar with a small radio transmitter.
• Collars provide data on animal behavior, migration, and population dynamics.
• They can be combined with GPS or accelerometers for additional information.
• Collars are designed to be lightweight and comfortable for animals.
• Potential risks and challenges, such as injuries or infections, must be managed.

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7. INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Env & Eco)

Context: New research from Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organisation, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified Bangladesh as a previously unrecognised and major hub in the illicit poaching and trafficking of endangered tigers.

Key Points

• Bangladesh was found to supply tiger parts to 15 countries, including to Bangladeshi expatriates living overseas.
• India, China and Malaysia lead the pack in demand, followed by developed G20 nations ranging from the United Kingdom and Germany to Australia and Japan.
• Scientists identified four source sites from which tigers were poached, including the Sundarbans extending across India and Bangladesh, India’s Kaziranga-Garampani Parks, Myanmar’s Northern Forest Complex and India’s Namdapha-Royal Manas Parks.
• Southeast Asia has been identified as ground zero for tiger poaching, but study shows that tiger poaching still remains the most significant threat to the species.

International Tiger Day

• About: It is celebrated every year on 29th July.
• Origin: International Tiger Day was first celebrated in 2010 after it was found that 97% of all wild tigers had disappeared in the last century, with about only 3,000 of them remaining. 
• Aim: To halt the numbers from worsening. Along with the preservation of these species, the day also aims to protect and expand their habitats.

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8. GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Environmental Pollution)

Context: Moving ahead with this vision and to further strengthen the measures to combat air pollution especially ‘Severe’ and ‘Severe+’ air quality stages generally encountered in NCR during peak winters, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) announced revision in the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

• The revised GRAP will come into force w.e.f. 01st October, 2023 in the entire NCR.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• About : A set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region. 

• Origin: Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and notified in 2017, the plan was formulated.

• Basis: It is based on a plan that was submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in November 2016. 

• Notification: The GRAP was first notified in January 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• Implementation: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has constituted a sub-committee for the operationalization of the GRAP.
• This body includes officials from the CAQM, member secretaries of pollution control boards of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, the Central Pollution Control Board, a scientist from the IMD and one from the IITM and Health Advisor.
• The sub-committee is required to meet frequently to issue orders to invoke the GRAP.
• The orders and directions of the CAQM will prevail in case of any conflict between directions issued by the State governments and the CAQM. 

• Various stages:

• Stage 1 of GRAP: Activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300), and On Wednesday, for instance, the AQI in Delhi was 211.
• Second, third and fourth stages: Activated three days ahead of the AQI reaching the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400), ‘severe’ category (401 to 450) and ‘severe +’ category (above 450).
• Data Source: For this, the CAQM is relying on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

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9. COBALT- PLATINUM ALLOY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Sci & Tech)

Context: An alloy of Cobalt and Platinum when doped with Manganese has been found to be an effective catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) that takes place at the anode of the direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) which is an attractive alternate power source for a large number of energy applications.

Key Points

• Researchers have synthesized a trimetallic PtMnCo catalyst that displayed superior catalytic activity and high CO tolerance when compared to commercially available catalyst. 
• The choice of Mn as a dopant was based on its abundance and affordability and the multiple oxidation states it offers making it a good candidate for electro-catalysis.
• Among the different classes of fuel cells proposed, DMFCs have long been considered an attractive alternate power source for small vehicles such as forklifts and as battery chargers for mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops, and other small electronic gadgets, due to their high energy density, high efficiency, and low operating temperature. 
• DMFCs are also much safer to operate because they deal with liquid fuel (methanol). 
• The methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at the anode and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode are the main processes that determine the performance of DMFCs. 
• Pt is the most often used MOR catalyst. However, fundamental challenges such as slow kinetics, high manufacturing costs (due mostly to the pricey Pt-based catalyst), and CO poisoning of the Pt catalyst make commercialization of DMFCs challenging. 
• Therefore, the search for an alternative Pt-based catalyst that circumvents the above issues is one of the most pressing research problems with respect to DMFCs. 
• Alloying Pt with other transition metals such as (Ru, Co, Ni, and Fe) is thought to be a useful strategy for improving the catalytic performance and durability of Pt catalyst along with reducing the amount of Pt being used in the catalyst.

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10. MERA GAON MERI DHAROHAR (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - Art & Culture)

Context: The Union Minister of State for Culture, Law & Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs launched the virtual portal of Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar at Qutub Minar premises. 

• Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar, a virtual museum that culturally maps over 6.5 lakh villages of India went live for the public amid a grand launch celebration at the Qutub Minar on 27th July 2023. 

Key Points

• The ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ initiative, also known as MGMD, is a pan-India project spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping. 
• The project seeks to create a comprehensive virtual platform that connects people with the diverse cultural heritage of India’s villages.
• The primary objective of the MGMD project is to culturally map India’s vast network of villages, encompassing 6.5 lakh villages across the country. 
• By doing so, it aims to showcase and preserve the rich cultural diversity and vibrant traditions present in these rural communities. 
• The project aspires to bring to the forefront the hidden treasures of Indian culture and heritage, encouraging people to take pride in their roots.

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