1. FOOD WASTE INDEX (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Food Security)

Context: The world wasted an estimated 19 per cent of the food produced globally in 2022, or about 1.05 billion metric tons, according to a UN Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report.

UN Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report

• About: It presents the most extensive compilation of food waste data to date, including thorough analysis and modeling.
• Co-authored by: UNEP and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), an international charity.
• Objective: It is designed to bolster the objectives of SDG 12.3.
• New Estimate of Global Food Waste: The report generates a fresh estimate of global food waste, offering valuable insights into the magnitude of the issue.

Key Findings

• Global Food Waste Statistics: The 2021 report estimated that approximately 17% of the food produced worldwide in 2019, amounting to 931 million metric tons (1.03 billion tons), was wasted.
• Caution on Direct Comparisons: Authors of the report cautioned against direct comparisons due to insufficient data from many countries, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and standardized reporting methods.
• Per Capita Food Waste: The analysis revealed that each person wastes approximately 79 kilograms (about 174 pounds) of food annually, translating to at least 1 billion meals wasted worldwide daily.
• Primary Sources of Food Waste: The majority of food waste, about 60%, was attributed to households, followed by food service (28%), and retailers (12%).

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2. CAMBODIA (Syllabus GS Paper 1 & 3– Geography & Cyver security)

Context: Over 5,000 Indians are trapped in Cambodia, where they are allegedly being held against their will and forced to carry out cyber frauds on people back home.

Cambodia

• About: It is a country on the Indochinese mainland of Southeast Asia.
• Capital: Phnom Penh.
• Border: It borders Thailand to the north and west, Laos to the northeast, and Vietnam to the east and southeast.
• Coastline: It has a 443-kilometer coastline along the Gulf of Thailand.
• Geology: It includes the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the upper reaches of the Mekong River delta.
• India’s engagement: Cambodia is a part of the Mekong-Ganga initiative.

Mekong-Ganga initiative

• Established in: 2000 at Vientiane, Laos.
• Mandate: To facilitate closer contacts among people inhabiting Ganga and Mekong, the 2 major civilizational river basins.
• 6 members: India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (India + 5 ASEAN Countries/Mekong Basin Countries).
• Four areas of cooperation: Tourism, culture, education, and transportation.

Cyber Crime

• About: It is an illegal activity involving computers, the internet, or network devices. Cybercriminals commit identity theft, initiate phishing scams, spread malware, and instigate other digital attacks.
• Some examples of cybercrime include: 

oStealing and selling corporate data

oDemanding payment to prevent an attack

oInstalling viruses on a targeted computer

oHacking into government or corporate computers.

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3. TREASURY BILL  (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, recently notified the calendar for the issuance of Treasury Bills for the quarter ending June 2024.

Treasury Bill 

• About: Short term (up to one year) borrowing instruments of the Government of India or by a central authority of any country which enable investors to park their short term surplus funds while reducing their market risk.
• Issued by: The Central Government.

oThe State governments do not issue any treasury bills.

• Auctioned by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Minimum Investment: As per the regulations put forward by the RBI, a minimum of Rs. 25,000 has to be invested by individuals willing to procure a short term treasury bill.
• Types of Treasury Bills: presently issued in three tenors, namely, 14 days, 91 days, 182 days and 364 days.

oThe 91-day T-Bills are issued on a weekly auction basis while 182-day T-Bill auction is held on Wednesday preceding Non-reporting Friday and 364-day T-Bill auction on Wednesday preceding the Reporting Friday.

oIn 1997, the Government had also introduced the 14-day intermediate treasury bills.

• Eligible Buyers: Individuals, Firms, Trusts, Institutions and banks

oInterest on the treasury bills is determined by market forces.

oTo get money under repo, banks give the RBI treasury bills. 

oThey can also hold it if they need to meet their Statutory Liquid Ratio (SLR) standards.

• Taxation: Short-term capital gains (STCG) on these bills are subject to STCG tax at rates determined by the investor's income tax bracket.

oHowever, retail investors do not have to pay any tax deducted at source (TDS) upon redemption of these bonds, minimizing the difficulties of claiming the same through income tax returns if they do not fall into the taxable income level.

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4. SEAMA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: A recent study in southern Africa has unearthed a wealth of previously undocumented biodiversity in a newly recognised ecoregion called the South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA).

South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA)

• About: It is a newly recognized mountainous ecoregion spanning from northern Mozambique to Mount Mulanje in Malawi, the second-highest mountain in southern Africa.
• Unique Features: The ecoregion comprises 30 granitic inselbergs rising above 1000 meters above sea level, hosting both the largest (Mt Mabu) and smallest (Mt Lico) mid-elerecognizedvation rainforests in southern Africa, along with biologically unique montane grasslands.
• Climate: SEAMA experiences notably higher annual rainfall and humidity, particularly during the dry season, in comparison to surrounding regions.

oSEAMA experiences significantly higher annual rainfall and humidity levels, particularly noticeable during the dry season, setting it apart from neighboring areas.

• Research Implications: These climatic distinctions prompted extensive surveys of nearby mountains, leading to the discovery of new species, notably from Mount Mabu.
• Ecological Significance: Mount Mabu's biodiversity, highlighted by the newfound species, solidifies its status as the largest mid-elevation rainforest in southern Africa.
• Deforestation Threats: Since 2000, the SEAMA has lost 18% of its primary humid forest cover (up to 43% in some sites) one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa.

Inselbergs

• About: These are also known as Monadnocks, are isolated, steep-sloped ridges, hills, or small mountains that rise abruptly above well-developed plains, resembling islands in the midst of a sea.
• Formation: Typically, inselbergs are erosional remnants, composed predominantly of harder igneous rock like granite, which is more resistant to erosion. However, they can also form in sedimentary rocks.
• Characteristics: Inselbergs exhibit distinctiveness in their appearance, standing tall and solitary amidst flatter surroundings, creating striking geological features.

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5. INDIA TB REPORT 2024  (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: According to the India TB Report 2024 recently released by the Union health and family welfare ministry, the number of individuals diagnosed with drug-susceptible tuberculosis in India was 2.47 million in 2023.

India TB Report 2024 

• About: It is an annual publication under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), initiated by the Central TB Division.
• Prepared and published by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, since the year 2001.
• Objective: The report encompasses policy updates, program implementation strategies, and performance indicators at state and district levels regarding tuberculosis control and elimination efforts.

Highlights of the Report 2024

• Reporting of the cases:  The majority of TB cases are still reported by government health centers, despite a rise in notifications by the private sector.
• Increasing Private Sector: Nearly 33% or 8.4 lakh of the 25.5 lakh cases reported in 2023 came from the private sector, marking a significant increase from only 1.9 lakh cases in 2015.
• Consistent Mortality Rate: The mortality due to TB infection remained steady at 3.2 lakh as per the latest data, showing no significant change.
• Declining TB Mortality in India: India's TB mortality dropped from 4.94 lakhs in 2021 to 3.31 lakhs in 2022, indicating a positive trend.
• Reduction in Missing Cases: The number of missing cases decreased to 2.3 lakhs in 2023 compared to 3.2 lakhs the previous year, reflecting an improvement in case tracking and reporting.
• Decreasing Gap with Ni-kshay Portal: The gap in missing cases has been shrinking over the years, particularly with the implementation of the government's Ni-kshay portal for tracking all TB patients.

Recommendations

• Achievement of Treatment Initiation Target: India successfully achieved its 2023 target of initiating treatment in 95% of diagnosed TB patients, as indicated by the report.
• Increased Testing for Drug Resistance: The report highlights that 58% of diagnosed individuals were offered a test to determine drug resistance, a notable rise from 25% in 2015.

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6. ELECTION EXPENDITURE LIMIT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: With the general elections underway, among the Election Commission’s (EC) key responsibilities is monitoring poll expenditure, both by parties and individual candidates, through its own observers and state and Central enforcement agencies.

Election Expenditure Limit

• About: It denotes the maximum amount candidates are legally permitted to spend on election campaigning, encompassing various activities such as public meetings, rallies, advertisements, posters, banners, and vehicles.
• Requirement of Expenditure Statement Submission: All candidates are mandated to submit their expenditure statement to the Election Commission (EC) within 30 days following the conclusion of an election.
• Revision Factors: The EC frequently revises the spending limit, primarily considering cost factors and the escalating number of voters.
• Revision Process: In 2022, the EC revised the cap after forming a committee and soliciting input from political parties, chief electoral officers, and election observers.
• Reasons for Revision: The revision was prompted by a significant increase in the number of electors and the Cost Inflation Index (CFI) since 2014.
• Cost Inflation Index: The CFI, utilized to gauge the year-on-year inflation-driven rise in prices of goods and assets, surged from '240' in 2014-15 to '317' in 2021-22.
• State Funding of Elections: In this system, the states bear the election expenditure of political parties contesting the Election.

Cost Inflation Index

• Purpose: CII serves to gauge the annual increase in prices of goods and assets due to inflation.
• Calculation Method: It's computed to synchronize prices with the inflation rate, meaning a higher inflation rate results in increased prices.
• Consumer Price Index (CPI): CPI compares current prices of a basket of goods and services with those of the previous year to quantify price increases.

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7. VIKRAM-1 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired the Stage-2 of Vikram-1 space launch vehicle, called Kalam-250, at the propulsion testbed of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), at its Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Vikram-1

• About: It is a three-stage, solid-fuel based rocket.
• Features: The Vikram I, the first rocket in the series, consists of three solid fuel-powered stages, each with a burn time ranging between 80 and 100 seconds.
• Description of Final Stage: The final stage of Vikram I is powered by the Raman engine, which uses MMH and NTO liquid fuels in a cluster of four engines generating 3.4 kN thrust.

• Functionality of Raman Engines: These are utilized for final adjustments in the orbit of the stage.
• Payload Capacity: Vikram I is designed to lift 290 kg to a 500 km Sun synchronous polar orbit (SSPO) and 480 kg to 45º inclination in a 500 km low Earth orbit (LEO).
• Milestone Achievement: The successful test of Vikram-1 represents a significant milestone for the Indian space industry, marking the successful test of the largest propulsion system ever designed and manufactured by the Indian private sector, and the first carbon-composite-built motor tested.

Skyroot Aerospace

• About: It is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider based in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Founding by: Former engineers and scientists from ISRO, the company benefits from their expertise and experience in the field of aerospace technology.
• Focus: To cater to the small satellite market by developing and launching its own series of small-lift launch vehicles, meeting the specific needs of this niche sector.

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8. INTERNET FREEDOM IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context:  For the straight years India has topped the global list of countries imposing internet bans, with about 60% of all blackouts recorded in the world, between 2016 and 2022 having been in India.

Internet freedom in India

• Frequency of Shutdowns: The Indian government enforced a staggering total of 780 shutdowns between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2023, as per data collected by the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC).
• Triggers for Shutdowns: Shutdowns were particularly notable during protests against significant events such as the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019, the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and the introduction of Farm Bills in 2020.
• Economic Impact: Internet disruptions in India contributed to over 70% of the total global economic loss in 2020, emphasizing the extensive ramifications of these shutdowns.
• Legal Framework: Indian States and Union Territories are authorized to impose internet shutdowns only in situations of "public emergency" or "public safety" according to the Indian Telegraph Act. However, the law lacks clarity regarding the definition of emergencies or safety issues.
• Judicial Stance: The Supreme Court, in the landmark Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India case, affirmed that internet shutdowns violate fundamental rights to freedom of expression. The court also declared indefinite shutdowns as unconstitutional.

India and Global Trends

• Global Internet Freedom Decline: According to the latest Freedom House report, global Internet freedom has decreased for the 13th consecutive year, with deterioration seen in the online human rights environment in 29 countries.
• India's Consistent Ranking: Over the past three years, India's ranking in terms of Internet freedom has remained relatively stable, hovering around the same benchmark.
• Decline in India's Score: Despite the stability in ranking, there has been a noticeable decline in India's score from 2016 and 2017, where it scored 59 points, to 50 points in 2023, indicating a significant drop in Internet freedom perception.

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9. BIRD FLU-H5N1 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Scientists recently reported that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus has spread more aggressively than ever before in wild birds and marine mammals since its arrival in South America in 2022, heightening the risk of it evolving into a larger threat to humans.

Bird Flu

• About: Influenza A viruses can be categorized into avian influenza (commonly known as bird flu) and swine influenza (often referred to as swine flu0), depending on their origin host.

oThese viruses are distinct from human influenza viruses and do not readily spread among humans.

• Two Categories:  

oLow pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) that typically causes little or no clinical signs; 

oHigh pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) that can cause severe clinical signs and possible high mortality rates.

• Hosts:

oPrimary host: Wild birds, especially waterfowl, can carry the virus without showing symptoms.

oSecondary host: Domestic poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys), where the virus can cause severe illness and high mortality rates.

• Transmission: Typically spreads through direct contact with infected birds, their saliva, nasal secretions, and faces.

oHuman infections usually occur through close contact with infected birds or their environments.

• Symptoms

oIn Birds: Sudden onset of severe illness, Respiratory and digestive symptoms, and High mortality rates in poultry flocks.

oIn Humans: Fever, cough, sore throat, and in severe cases, respiratory distress.

• Human cases are rare but can be severe, with a high mortality rate.

New Type of bird flu Infection

• The new H5N1 type first emerged in Europe in 2020, and spread rapidly to Africa and Asia. 
• By late 2021, it had reached North America, and it appeared in South America in the fall of 2022. In February 2024, the virus raced through mainland Antarctica.

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10. STOMATA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Scientists from Nagoya University have uncovered a unique mechanism that regulates the opening of stomata in plants. Phosphorylation of the amino acid Thr881 on the plasma membrane proton pump plays a key role in this process.

Stomata

• About: These are minute pores in plant tissue facilitating gas exchange, primarily in leaves but also in some stems.
• Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis: They enable the intake of carbon dioxide crucial for photosynthesis, contributing to plant growth and metabolism.
• Regulation of Water Loss: Stomata aid in reducing water loss by closing during hot or dry conditions, akin to tiny mouths aiding in transpiration.
• Distribution: Typically, stomata are abundant on the underside of leaves, minimizing exposure to heat and air currents, while aquatic plants exhibit a different distribution.
• Specialised cells: A stomata is surrounded by two types of specialized plant cells that differ from other plant epidermal cells.

oThese cells are called guard cells and subsidiary cells.

• Guard cells: They surround stomata, control their opening and closing, responding to internal pressure changes driven by environmental conditions.

oGuard cells contain chloroplasts, essential for photosynthesis, enhancing their capacity to regulate stomatal activity.

• Subsidiary Cells: It provide structural support to guard cells, acting as a protective barrier against excessive expansion and safeguarding neighboring epidermal cells.
• Circadian Rhythm and Stomatal Opening: Stomatal activity follows a circadian rhythm, with a peak opening near noon after a dawn-triggered increase, subsequently declining to mitigate water loss.
• Application of the discovery: The study paves the way for the targeted manipulation of plant physiology, with potential applications in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

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