1. CREAMY LAYER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Supreme Court has approved the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to grant separate quotas for more backward groups within these communities. The Court also urged the State to develop a policy to identify and exclude the "creamy layer" from these affirmative action benefits.

Creamy Layer

• Origin of the Concept: The ‘creamy layer’ concept emerged from the landmark Indra Sawhney ruling in 1992.
• Definition: The creamy layer refers to the more socially, economically, and educationally advanced members within the OBCs, excluded from reservation benefits to ensure the support reaches those in greater need.
• Background of OBC Reservation: On August 13, 1990, the V P Singh government implemented a 27% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (OBCs) in civil posts and services, following the Mandal Commission's recommendations.
• Supreme Court Ruling: Indra Sawhney challenged this reservation in the Supreme Court, leading to a ruling on November 16, 1992, where a nine-judge Bench upheld the 27% reservation but mandated the exclusion of the creamy layer.
• Distinction from Sub-classification: The creamy layer is distinct from sub-classification, which involves breaking down reserved categories like SC based on additional socio-economic criteria, while the creamy layer specifically denotes a more affluent segment within a community.

Criteria for Identifying the Creamy Layer Among OBCs

• Expert Committee Formation: An expert committee led by retired Justice Ram Nandan Prasad determined the criteria for identifying the creamy layer, following the Indra Sawhney judgement.
• Six categories were identified:

o Constitutional/statutory post holders

o Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ officers, PSU and statutory body employees, and university staff

o Colonels and above in armed forces and equivalent in paramilitary forces

o Professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.)

o Property owners with significant holdings

o Income/wealth tax assesses.

• Broad Categories: Creamy layer is categorized into individuals based on parents' employment in government service or private sector, with distinctions in determination criteria based on income and rank.
• Income Threshold: Initially set at Rs 1 lakh per annum with triennial revisions; updated to Rs 8 lakh in 2017 with no further changes. A recommendation in 2015 suggested increasing it to Rs 15 lakh, but no action was taken.
• Government Service Criteria: Children of Group-A officers or those promoted to this rank before age 40, or of colonels and higher ranks, are considered in the creamy layer.

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2. DISASTER MANAGEMENT BILL 2024 (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: Union Minister of State introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha.

Disaster Management Bill 2024

• Creation of Disaster Database: The Bill seeks to create a “disaster database at national and State level” and establishes the “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State capitals and large cities with municipal corporations, excluding Delhi and Chandigarh.
• Definition of Disaster Management: The term “disaster management” includes “disaster risk reduction,” which involves efforts to reduce disaster risk by analyzing and managing causes, reducing exposure to hazards, and improving preparedness and resilience.
• Introduced: Under Entry 23 in the Concurrent List and the Bill followed a report by a task force in 2013.
• Database Contents: The database will include details on disaster assessment, fund allocation, expenditure, preparedness and mitigation plans, risk register by type and severity, and other relevant matters as determined by the Central government.
• Empowerment of NDMA and SDMA: The Bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA) to prepare disaster plans at national and State levels, replacing the plans made by the National Executive Committee and State Executive Committees.
• Appointment of Experts: The NDMA may appoint experts and consultants as necessary to fulfill its functions.
• Monitoring Emerging Risks: The Bill grants the NDMA the authority to periodically assess all disaster risks, including emerging risks due to extreme climate events and other factors.
• Statutory Status for Pre-Act Organisations: The Bill provides statutory status to pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee.
• Clarification of Roles: The Bill aims to clarify and unify the roles of authorities and committees involved in disaster management and provides for the establishment of a “State Disaster Response Force” by the State government.
• New Section 60A: The Bill introduces Section 60A, empowering Central and State governments to direct individuals to take or refrain from certain actions to mitigate disaster impacts, with a penalty not exceeding ₹10,000 for non-compliance.

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3. BHARATIYA VAYUYAN VIDHEYAK 2024 BILL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Union Civil Aviation Minister is scheduled to introduce the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 Bill in Parliament. 

Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 Bill

• Objective: The bill aims to overhaul and modernise the regulatory framework governing civil aviation in India, replacing the Aircraft Act of 1934.
• Focus: On enhancing safety, regulatory oversight, and the economic regulation of civil aviation, aligning with international conventions and fostering the growth of the aviation sector, according to the draft bill.

o It also seeks to implement provisions of international conventions and enforce international standards, ensuring that India's civil aviation sector is aligned with global best practices.

Highlights of the Bill

• Establishment of Key Regulatory Bodies: The bill formally establishes the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau.
• Economic Regulation: Provisions for economic regulation of civil aviation and air transport services are introduced, including the authority to approve, disapprove, or revise tariffs of operators in the sector.
• More Power to the Centre: The central government is granted expanded powers to regulate or prohibit construction activities, issue directives, detain aircraft, and enact emergency orders, including rules for aircraft registration and marking.
• Updated Definition of Aircraft: Aircraft is proposed to be described as any machine capable of deriving support in the atmosphere from air reactions, excluding reactions against the Earth's surface
• Supports 'Make In India': The bill includes measures to regulate aircraft design and manufacturing, aligning with the 'Make In India' initiative to promote self-reliance in the aviation sector.
• Air Navigation Services: Regulation of air navigation services, covering aeronautical information, charting, meteorological services, and search and rescue operations, is a significant focus of the bill.

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4. LANDSLIDE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: The landslide in Wayanad in Kerala that has killed over 200 people is one of the biggest natural disasters to have struck the country in recent times.

Landslide

• About: It is the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope, under the direct influence of gravity.
• It falls under the category of "mass wasting," which refers to any downward movement of soil and rock due to gravity.
• Types: Falls, Topples, Slides and Flows.
• India Is Prone to Landslides: 

o Geographical Location: India is home to the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

o High Landslide Risk: India ranks among the top four countries with the highest landslide risks, with an annual loss of life per 100 sq km being more than one.

o Regional Distribution: Approximately 0.42 million sq. km or 13% of India's land area is prone to landslides.

o Northeast Himalayas: Out of the total landslide-prone area, 0.18 million sq. km is located in the Northeast Himalayas.

o Another 0.14 million sq. km of landslide-prone area is situated in the Northwest Himalayas.

o Vulnerable Regions: The Western Ghats and Konkan hills account for 0.09 million sq. km of landslide-prone terrain.

ü A smaller area of 0.01 million sq. km in the Eastern Ghats, specifically in the Aruku area of Andhra Pradesh, is also vulnerable to landslides.

ü Top 10 most landslide prone districts in the country, ahead of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and J&K.

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5. INDIA - VIETNAM RELATIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India and Vietnam today signed nine agreements to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of customs, agriculture, legal, radio and television broadcast, culture, and tourism.

India - Vietnam Relations

• Historical Relations: India and Vietnam share a deep historical bond, both having fought against colonial rule. Mahatma Gandhi and Ho Chi Minh led their nations to independence, symbolizing their shared struggle against colonialism.
• Strategic Partnership: India and Vietnam aim to enhance their strategic partnership in alignment with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific to promote regional security and prosperity.
• Economic Cooperation: Trade and economic relations have flourished, particularly since the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. India recognizes Vietnam's significant growth and potential, focusing on sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering. Bilateral trade reached USD 11.12 billion in FY 2020-2021.
• Defence Cooperation: It is a cornerstone of the partnership, including regular Indian naval visits, joint naval exercises, and the provision of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) slots. Recent agreements aim to enhance defence capabilities and mutual logistics support.

o VINBAX-2023: To enhance collaborative partnerships, promote interoperability, and share best practices between the Indian and Vietnamese armed forces.

o China Factor: Both India and Vietnam, having faced conflicts with China, align strategically to counter China’s aggressive actions and assertiveness in their respective regions.

• Science and Technology: Cooperation in science and technology is marked by agreements on space exploration, IT, cyber security, and atomic energy. 

o Notable collaborations include agricultural research and partnerships between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership and Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute.

• Cultural Relations: Cultural ties are highlighted by events like the Buddhist Festival organized to commemorate diplomatic milestones. The Indian community in Vietnam, estimated at 2,900, is active and engaged through organizations like the Indian Business Chamber (INCHAM).

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6. PRIVILEGE MOTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Polity)

Context: An opposition MP has submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha, seeking to bring a privilege motion against the Prime Minister of India. 

Privilege Motion

• About: It is a formal complaint raised by a member when they believe their privilege has been breached or misused.
• Conditions for Raising a Privilege Motion:

o The question must be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence.

o The matter must require intervention from the Council.

• Process of Handling a Privilege Motion:

o Initial Examination: The Speaker/Chair reviews the motion to decide whether to admit or reject it.

o Referral to Committee: If admitted, the motion is referred to a privileges committee composed of members nominated by the Speaker/Chair.

o Committee Examination: The committee examines the motion, calls relevant persons, and reviews related documents. It must present a report within one month or an earlier date suggested by the Chair/Speaker.

o Consideration by the House: The House reviews the committee's report, considers any recommended amendments, and may recommend penal action only in extreme cases.

Parliamentary Privileges

• About: It refers to special rights, immunities, and exemptions granted to the two Houses of Parliament, their committees, and their members.
• Lack of Specific Law in India: India does not have a specific law defining parliamentary privilege; it is primarily outlined in Article 105 of the Indian Constitution.
• Constitutional Privileges: Article 105 of the Indian Constitution explicitly grants two privileges: freedom of speech within Parliament and the right to publish House proceedings.
• Immunity Under the Code of Civil Procedure: The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, provides immunity from arrest and detention under civil process for members during house or committee proceedings, as well as for forty days before and after these proceedings.

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7. SIX NEW SPECIES FROM NORTHEAST (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Scientists from India and the United Kingdom have described six new species of bent-toed geckos from Northeast India.

Discovery of New Species

• About: Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), and Natural History Museum London (NHM) discovered two new species each from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, with two additional species described from Manipur and Mizoram.
• Distribution: Bent-toed geckos, totaling about 346 species, are distributed across Peninsular India, Sri Lanka, the Himalayan foothills, Northeast India, Southeast Asia, and the Solomon Islands.

o The description of six new bent-toed gecko species from Northeast India highlights the region’s hidden biodiversity and underscores the importance of further exploration.

• Habitat: The nocturnal bent-toed geckos were primarily observed along forest streams, rocks, and vegetation in various locations. 

o One species was found in the Siang river valley, known for its unique biodiversity.

• Discovery in Mizoram: The Ngengpui bent-toed gecko was discovered in the Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary, located in one of the easternmost protected areas of the country.
• Namdapha bent-toed gecko: It was discovered in the Namdapha tiger reserve. The species is widespread within the lowland evergreen forests of Namdapha and Kamlang tiger reserves.
• Manipur bent-toed gecko: It was discovered from near Lamdan Kabui village of Manipur. It was perched on a shrub at a height of approximately 1.5 m, on the road connecting Leimatak and Charoikhullen.
• Discoveries in Nagaland: Two new species, the Kiphire bent-toed gecko and the Barail Hill bent-toed gecko, were discovered in Nagaland at elevations between 740 m and 1,300 m above sea level, in regenerating jhum land and a reserved forest respectively.

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8. HOOLOCK GIBBON (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Eco and Env)

Context: An approval by the Union environment ministry for exploratory oil and gas drilling in parts of Assam may put the endangered hoolock gibbon at further risk.

Hoolock Gibbon

• About: Gibbons are the smallest and fastest of all apes, inhabiting tropical and subtropical forests in Southeast Asia.
• Geographic Distribution: They are found in forested areas of Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Southern China.

• Gibbon Species in India:

o Western Hoolock Gibbon Range: It has a broad range, inhabiting all states of north-east India between the Brahmaputra and Dibang rivers, as well as eastern Bangladesh and north-west Myanmar.

o Eastern Hoolock Gibbon Range: It is found in specific pockets of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, and extends into southern China and north-east Myanmar.

• Conservation Status: The western hoolock gibbon is classified as Endangered by the IUCN Redlist, while the eastern hoolock gibbon is listed as Vulnerable.

o Indian (Wildlife) Protection Act 1972: Schedule I

• Conservation Area:

o Hoollongapar Reserve Forest

o Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

• Population: Western hoolock gibbons have declined by almost 90% over the last 30 years, and it is now considered to be one of the most endangered 25 primate species in the world.

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9. SOVEREIGN GOLD BONDS (SGB) SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Following the Budget announcement to cut the import duty on gold, the government plans to make a final decision regarding the future of the Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) scheme in September.

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) Scheme

• Introduced: In November 2015
• Issued by: Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government of India.
• Aim: To reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the gold imported every year for investment purposes, into financial savings through Gold Bonds.
• Eligibility: SGBs will be restricted for sale to resident individuals, HUFs (Hindu Undivided Family), Trusts, Universities and Charitable Institutions.
• Tenor: The tenor of the SGB will be for a period of eight years with an option of premature redemption after 5th year.
• Minimum size: The minimum permissible investment will be One gram of gold.
• Maximum limit: The maximum limit of subscription shall be 4 Kg for individuals, 4 Kg for HUF, and 20 Kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal year (April-March) notified by the Government from time to time.
• Joint holder: In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 Kg will be applied to the first applicant only.

Benefits

• Tax Benefits: SGBs provide tax efficiency with interest income deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
• Capital Gains Tax: No capital gains tax is levied if bonds are held until maturity.
• Indexation Advantage: Reduces tax on long-term capital gains for units sold before maturity, but after 3 years.
• Investment Appeal: These features make SGBs an attractive option for investors seeking tax benefits.

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10. NATS 2.0 PORTAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Gov. Policies –Education & Skill)

Context: Recently, the Union Education Minister launched the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal.

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal

• About: The NATS 2.0 Portal is designed to streamline the apprenticeship process, making it easier for people to register and apply for opportunities.
• Developed by: AICTE and BoATs/BoPT, the portal manages the entire apprenticeship lifecycle, from registration to stipend disbursal through DBT.
• Supporting Industries and Establishments: Industries can manage job openings and contracts more effectively, facilitating better coordination between employers and apprentices.
• Beneficiaries: The portal is expected to draw a large number of users, including young graduates and diploma holders, for apprenticeship registration and applications.
• Enhancing Competency Building: The NATS 2.0 portal emphasizes the importance of building competencies beyond just obtaining degrees.
• Utilization Across Stakeholders: The portal is used by students, industries, institutions, and implementing bodies, supporting the Ministry of Education in executing the DBT process end-to-end.

Benefits of the NATS 2.0 Portal

• The portal helps young graduates and diploma holders acquire valuable practical job skills.
• Apprentices receive a monthly stipend, providing financial support during their training period.

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme

• About: It is one of the flagship programmes of Government of India for Skilling Indian Youth in Trade disciplines. 
• Under: The provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961 amended in 1973.

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