theIASHub | 02 Jun, 2025 | 5
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Composite Backwardness Index (CBI): Recently, in a major policy innovation with nationwide implications, the Telangana government announced its plan to unveil the Composite Backwardness Index (CBI).
o Aim: To objectively assess the socio-economic status of various sub-castes across the state.
- It operates independently of population size, focusing solely on socio-economic conditions.
- This initiative represents a significant shift in India’s approach to social justice, especially in the context of Backward Classes (BCs), moving beyond traditional caste-based classifications.
o Developed by: An 11-member Expert Working Group chaired by former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy.
o The index is based on comprehensive data gathered from Telangana’s extensive caste survey.
o Indicators: A total of 42 indicators across nine broad categories were statistically validated to feed into the CBI scoring model.
o Usage: The report will provide rankings of all 245 castes and offer recommendations on how the data can inform policy design.
Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR Joint Exercise: Recently, the Indian Navy and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) announced a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), underscoring growing India-Europe maritime cooperation.
o June 2021: First India-EU joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Aden.
o August 2022: Indian Navy’s participation in the Maritime Partnership Exercise with EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta.
o October 2023: Joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea.
ASKAP J1832-0911: Recently, astronomers identified ASKAP J1832-0911, an unusual celestial object in our Milky Way galaxy.
o Located approximately 15,000 light-years from Earth and displays an unusual pattern.
o It belongs to the rare class of celestial objects known as Long Period Radio Transients (LPTs), characterized by unusually long-duration radio signals.
o The object emits intense bursts of radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes, with each burst lasting about two minutes.
o Unlike typical pulsars, which emit signals within milliseconds to seconds, LPTs produce radio pulses spanning many minutes or even hours, posing a scientific mystery.
o Hypotheses about its nature include:
- A magnetar, an ultra-magnetic neutron star formed from a supernova remnant.
- A binary system comprising a highly magnetized white dwarf paired with another star.
International Air Transport Association (IATA): Recently, India’s aviation industry has made a strong comeback, surpassing pre-pandemic levels to emerge as the world’s third-largest aviation market by passenger traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
o This growth is attributed to the rise of strong Indian airlines expanding their domestic and international networks.
o Surge in Passenger Traffic (December 2024) : International traffic: Up nearly 20% compared to 2019 and Domestic traffic: Increased by over 8% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
o Established: April 1945, HQ: Montreal, Canada
o Objectives and Core Functions: Represents global airline interests, advocating for fair regulations and reduced operational costs.
- Sets international technical and commercial standards to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable air transport.
- Represents 317+ member airlines from over 120 countries, accounting for approximately 82% of global air traffic.
o Develops global frameworks for: Safety and security , Ticketing and reservations, Cargo handling and Financial settlement systems
o Organizes the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) to address key industry challenges such as: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Decarbonization and energy security
- Innovation in airport infrastructure and connectivity
- Green financing for aviation sustainability
Right to Services (RTS) Commissions: Recently, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has initiated a key partnership with the Right to Services (RTS) Commissions across States and Union Territories.
o This collaboration aims to enhance grievance redressal systems and improve citizen satisfaction.
o It mandates specific services to be delivered within a stipulated time frame.
o If services are not delivered within this time, citizens have the right to file complaints and seek redressal.
o A detailed review of 204,000 public grievances registered via CPGRAMS covered key sectors such as land, labour, environment, and banking.
o Over 20,000 e-services are offered by states under the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) framework, underscoring the need for system integration and supervisory oversight.
o Pilot Project in Haryana: Haryana RTS Commission will pilot the CPGRAMS-RTS API linkage to enable seamless transfer of service-related grievances from CPGRAMS to state RTS systems, allowing real-time monitoring and enhanced accountability.
NAKSHA : Recently, the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development announced the launch of the second phase of the NAKSHA (NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations) capacity-building programme.
o As a pilot, it will be implemented across 152 cities, including 10 towns within 9 districts of Madhya Pradesh.
o Purpose: This program aims to transform the urban land records system by creating a detailed and accurate geospatial database for land management.
o Key Benefits: Simplifies processes for citizens by providing clear and accessible property information.
- Supports smarter urban planning, facilitating more effective and sustainable city development.
- Promotes transparency and operational efficiency through a digitized, IT-enabled land record system.
- Minimizes land-related conflicts by maintaining precise and undisputed property records.
Kumbakonam Vetrilai: The Government of India recently awarded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Kumbakonam Vetrilai, the famed betel leaf known locally as paan leaf.
o Leaves vary from dark to light green and are elongated heart-shaped.
o Cultivated extensively in Kumbakonam and nearby villages like Ayyampettai, Swamimalai, and Rajagiri.
o An important part of South Asian culture, used to prepare paan (a traditional post-meal chew).
o The high-quality Kumbakonam Vetrilai is also exported internationally.
o The first-year harvest (7th to 12th month) produces maaruvethalai leaves, which are larger and have a shelf life of 6–7 days.
o Maaruvethalai leaves fetch higher market prices.
o Second and third-year harvests yield smaller leaves known as kelavethalai and kattavethalai respectively.
Pedicularis Rajeshiana: Scientists have recently identified a new species named Pedicularis rajeshiana in the high-altitude zones of Rohtang Pass, located in the western Himalayas.
o Discovered at about 4,390 meters (14,400 feet) altitude on shaded rocky slopes in Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh.
o Found in sparse clusters during a botanical survey by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) and the Botanical Survey of India under the "Flora of India" project.
o These species have parasitic behavior and specific habitat requirements, limiting their distribution to specialized ecological niches.
o The discovery adds to the biodiversity of the western Himalayas and highlights the ecological significance of its delicate high-altitude ecosystems.
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