1. MERIT SYSTEM VS SPOIL SYSTEM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: The UPSC has withdrawn its advertisement for lateral recruitment to 45 posts, including Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries in the government. This decision contrasts with the "spoils system," where political appointments are made based on loyalty rather than merit.

Merit System vs Spoil System

• Appointment Process: The merit system involves appointments to government posts through a rigorous selection process conducted by an independent authority.
• Historical Background: In India, the merit system began in 1858 with the British introduction of the Indian Civil Service (ICS) to select officers for administering the country.
• Modern Application: After independence, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was established to conduct exams for selecting officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other central services.
• Purpose: The merit system aims to build career bureaucrats who are expected to function without political biases and provide independent advice to the political executive.
• Spoils System Definition: The spoils system operates on the principle of "to the victor belong the spoils," where the incumbent political executive appoints its supporters to government posts.

o Historical Context: The spoils system originated in the United States and continued until 1883 when it was largely replaced by the merit system.

o Current Scenario: Today, out of over 2.8 million federal government positions in the U.S., only about 4,000 senior posts are directly appointed by the President.

Lateral Entry

• About: In 2017, NITI Aayog proposed the induction of professionals into central government roles at middle and senior management levels.

Pros of Lateral Entry

• Lateral entry introduces much-needed specialization in governance, particularly in emerging fields such as technologies, semiconductors, climate change, digital economy, and cyber security.
• Lateral entry has the potential to make career bureaucrats more responsive, leading to positive changes within the bureaucracy.

Cons of Lateral Entry

• The field experience of IAS officers offers domain expertise and specialization that is difficult for lateral entrants to match.
• Lateral entry could lead to coordination challenges between career bureaucrats and external experts.
• Recruiting from the private sector may introduce risks of opaqueness and potential conflicts of interest during the hiring process.

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2. JIU-JITSU (Syllabus GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said that during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra earlier this year he had “a daily routine of practising jiu-jitsu every evening” which brought together young martial arts students from towns where they stayed.

Jiu-jitsu

• Meaning: Jujutsu, a family of martial arts from Japan, translates to "gentle art" with "ju" meaning "soft/supple/gentle" and "jutsu" meaning "art/technique".
• Origin: Originating in late 16th century Japan, jujutsu was developed by samurai warriors for situations where they lost their weapons in battle.
• Combat Techniques: Samurai created techniques like pins, joint locks, and throws to neutralize heavily armored opponents by using the opponent's energy against them.
• Offshoots of Jujutsu

o Judo: Developed in the late 19th century from traditional jujutsu styles and became an Olympic sport in 1964.

o Sambo: Created by the Soviet Red Army in the 1920s to enhance soldiers’ hand-to-hand combat skills.

o Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Evolved in the 1920s, focusing on allowing smaller individuals to defeat larger opponents through leverage and weight distribution.

o MMA (Mixed Martial Arts): The most popular combat sport today, influenced heavily by jujutsu and its offshoots.

• Modern Popularity: Interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu surged after Royce Gracie’s success in the first UFC in 1993, where he defeated larger opponents using submission holds rather than strikes.

Aikido

• About: It is derived from the martial art of jujutsu.
• Founded by: It was developed in the early 20th century by the martial artist Morihei Ueshiba.
• Modern Martial Art: Aikido is one of the youngest among Japan’s martial arts.
• Meaning: The term Aikido literally translates to the “way of harmonising energy”.

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3. DUMBUR DAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: The Tripura government has dismissed claims by some Bangladeshi media that the opening of the Dumbur dam on the River Gumti, 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border, caused severe flooding in 11 districts of Bangladesh, affecting millions.

Dumbur Dam

• Location: Built on the Gumti River in Tripura.
• Height: Stands 30 meters tall.
• Power Generation: Contributes to the local grid.
• Cross-Border Power Supply: Bangladesh draws 40 MW from this dam.
• Purpose: Mainly for hydroelectric power and irrigation.

Dumboor Lake

• Location: Situated in Gandacherra, near Agartala.
• Formation: Created by the confluence of Raima and Sarma rivers.
• Annual Event: Hosts 'Poush Sankranti Mela' every January 14th.
• Hydel Project: Close to the Tirthamukh Hydel Project, the Gomati River's source.

Gumti River

• Source: Originates in Dumur, Tripura.
• Mouth: Flows into the Meghna River.
• Course: Travels through Tripura and Comilla, Bangladesh.
• Also known as: Gomti, Gumati, or Gomati.
• Tributaries: Raima and Manu on the left, and the Deo and Khowai on the right.

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4. ANUBHAV AWARDS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art & culture)

Context: The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) recently held the 7th Anubhav Awards ceremony to honor the contributions of Central Government employees during their service.

ANUBHAV Awards

• About: It is a means for retiring employees to showcase significant achievements made during their service period. 
• It also provides them with an opportunity to convey information related to contribution in enhancing the effectiveness of the various Government policies.
• Launch: March 2015
• Conferred by: Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare
• Objective: It is envisaged that this culture of leaving notes by retirees will become the foundation stone of good governance and administrative reforms in future.

o Leverage retiring employees' expertise for national development.

o Help Ministries/Departments adopt practical and replicable suggestions.

• Categories: 20
• Eligibility: Retiring Central Government employees/pensioners can submit their Anubhav write-ups 8 months before or up to 1 year after retirement.
• Cash award:  Rs. 10,000/- a Medal
• ANUBHAV Awards Portal: It provides a Platform to retiring Government Employees for sharing their experiences while working in different Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

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5. INCOME-TAX ACT 1961 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The government is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Income-Tax Act, with the exercise expected to be completed before the next Budget.

Income-Tax Act 1961

• About: It is the charging statute for Income Tax in India, detailing the levy, administration, collection, and recovery of income tax.
• Enforcement: 1962
• Introduction of Direct Taxes Code: The Government of India proposed the "Direct Taxes Code" to replace both the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the Wealth Tax Act, 1957.
• Purpose: The Act outlines all taxation-related processes, including levy, collection, administration, and recovery of income tax.
• Consolidation and Amendment: The primary goal of the Act is to consolidate and amend taxation rules in the country.
• Detailed Sections: The Income Tax Act contains numerous sections addressing various aspects of taxation in India.

Impact of the Direct Tax Code, 2009

• Simplification and Alignment: The Direct Tax Code (DTC) aimed to simplify and streamline the direct tax system, aligning with international practices on emerging issues.
• Incorporation into the Income Tax Act: Many provisions from the DTC, such as Place of Effective Management (POEM) and general anti-avoidance rules, have been incorporated into the Income Tax Act.

Global Tax Avoidance Rules

• Purpose of Global Reforms: Global tax reforms aim to address tax avoidance through artificial structures and benefit all countries, including India.
• Key Components: The reforms include taxation of the digital economy via the redistribution of tax rights and jurisdictional minimum tax rates, outlined in BEPS Pillars 1 and 2.
• Concerns of Inequality: There is concern that these reforms might disproportionately benefit developed economies.
• Call for Equitable Rules: There is a push for developing international tax rules under the UN rather than the OECD, with India expected to advocate for a fairer framework as a significant voice of the Global South.

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6. CYCLONE ASNA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: The deep depression that has been causing torrents of rain over Gujarat for the past three days is going into intensify into a tropical cyclone over the Arabian Sea according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). When it forms, it would be called Cyclone Asna.

Cyclone Asna

• About: This is the first cyclone that has formed in August in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) region since 1981 and first in the Arabian Sea since 1976, according to cyclone data from the IMD.

o Cyclone Asna will be the first cyclonic storm to develop over the Arabian Sea in August since 1976 as only three cyclonic storms have developed over the Arabian Sea in August from 1891 to 2023.

• Direction: It is anticipated to travel from the Saurashtra-Kutch location of Gujarat in the direction of the Oman coast.
• Name Suggested by: Pakistan when it intensified into a cyclone storm.
• Unusual Behavior: The current storm has maintained consistent intensity over recent days, which is atypical.
• Excess Rainfall: From June 1 to August 29, Saurashtra and Kutch received 799 mm of rain, 86% above the normal rainfall.
• Reason of Formation: The reasons for the formation and intensification of the current deep depression and the other system that formed in the beginning of August over land may lie in the behaviour of the monsoon winds in the current season, apart from the moisture from the Arabian Sea and soil moisture from the lands that they have traversed in their journeys.

Historical rarity of August Cyclones

• Cyclones inside the Arabian Sea in August are extraordinarily rare. Only 3 such storms have been recorded between 1891 and 2023, with the ultimate incidence in 1976. 

o 1944 Cyclone: Intensified after emerging into the Arabian Sea but weakened in the middle of the sea.

o 1964 Cyclone: Developed near South Gujarat and weakened close to the coast.

o 1976 Cyclone: Developed over Odisha, crossed into the Arabian Sea, and in the end weakened near the Oman coast.

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7. CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY TRACKER REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: India has emerged as a global research powerhouse, ranking among the top five countries in 45 out of 64 critical technologies in 2023, up from 37 a year before. According to the Critical Technology Tracker report.

Critical Technology Tracker Report

• About: It is a large data-driven project that now covers 64 critical technologies spanning defence, space, energy, the environment, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, cyber, computing, advanced materials and key quantum technology areas.
• Published by: Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

o The country has secured the second position in seven technologies.

• Launched: March 2023
• Objective: It provides a leading indicator of a country’s research performance, strategic intent and potential future science and technology capability.
• About Report: This report introduces a significant update to ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker website, showcasing leading scientific and research innovation in critical technologies.

Key Highlights of Report:

• High-Impact Research as an Indicator: The report highlights top 10% of highly cited papers to indicate research performance, strategic intent, and potential future S&T capability.
• Coverage of Critical Technologies: The Tech Tracker now includes 64 critical technologies and fields, expanding from five years of data (2018–2022) to 21 years (2003–2023).
• China’s Growth in Technology: China’s leadership has surged from three technologies in 2003–2007 to 57 of 64 technologies in 2019–2023, reflecting a dramatic increase in its research dominance.
• Emergence of India: In 2023, India also overtook the US to claim the second spot in two emerging fields of technological research: biological manufacturing and distributed ledger technology.

o India ranks just behind the US and China in various key segments, including advanced data analytics, AI algorithm, hardware accelerator, machine learning, advanced integrated circuit design and fabrication, natural language processing, and adversarial AI.

• Other Nations: Despite rising S&T powers, the US, UK, and various European, Northeast Asian, and Middle Eastern countries retain strong positions in certain high-impact research areas.

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8. ASSAM’S MUSLIM MARRIAGE BILL 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Social Issues/Marriage)

Context: The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024, a proposed law with the stated objectives of preventing “child marriages” and “marriages without the consent of the parties”, and to “check polygamy”.

Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024

• About: The Bill regulates marriage between two Muslim persons which “includes ‘nikah’ or any other ceremony by which two persons are made husband and wife following Muslim personal law and Islamic rituals”.

Features of Bill:

• Role of Registering Officer: There is no involvement of kazis in marriage registration. Instead, the Marriage and Divorce Registrar (Sub-Registrar) in the jurisdiction will handle the registration.
• Conditions for Marriage Registration: Seven conditions must be met for registration, including the age requirements (woman 18, man 21), free consent from both parties, residency requirement, and adherence to Muslim law regarding prohibited degrees of relationship.
• Notice Requirement: Parties must give at least 30 days’ notice to the registering officer, accompanied by documents verifying identity, age, and residence, similar to the Special Marriage Act.
• Objections and Appeals: Objections to the marriage can be raised within the 30-day notice period. 

o If objections are upheld, the Registrar's decision can be appealed first to the District Registrar and then to the Registrar General of Marriages.

• Penalties for Non-Compliance: Officers who knowingly and willfully register a marriage violating any conditions face imprisonment for up to a year and a fine of up to Rs 50,000.

Previous Law

• About: The registration of marriages and divorces between Muslims in Assam had been taking place under the colonial-era Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935.
• This Act was in line with Muslim personal law, and authorised the state to grant a licence to “any person, being a Muslim” to register such marriages and divorces. There were 95 such Muslim registrars or kazis across the state, and they were deemed to be public servants.

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9. WMCC ON INDIA-CHINA BORDER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India and China held a "frank and constructive" discussion at the 31st WMCC meeting in Beijing, focusing on narrowing differences and seeking an early resolution of issues along the LAC, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC)

• Year Established: The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) was established in 2012.
• Purpose: It serves as an institutional mechanism for managing and coordinating India-China border areas.

o Restoring Normalcy: A key objective is to bring back normalcy in bilateral relations between India and China.

o Peace Along LAC: The WMCC aims to restore and maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

• Focus Areas: The WMCC facilitates consultation and coordination between India and China on border management.
• Leadership Structure: The WMCC is headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

o These officials assist the special representative for boundary talks, a role currently held by NSA Ajit Doval.

• Significance:

o 26th Meeting Context: The 26th meeting was crucial due to ongoing tensions following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

o Diplomatic Importance: This meeting highlighted efforts to ease tensions and maintain dialogue between India and China.

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10. SOLAR PARABOLOID TECHNOLOGY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: As the world faces the urgent need to shift to renewable energy, solar paraboloid technology is emerging as a potentially transformative solution. 

Solar Paraboloid Technology

• About: It is designed to harness solar energy more efficiently by using a parabolic-shaped reflector.
• Focus: This technology focuses sunlight onto a small focal point, concentrating the solar energy for conversion into thermal or electrical power.
• High-Temperature: It is highly effective for generating solar power and is also suitable for applications that require high-temperature heat.
• Structure: The primary component is a parabolic dish, which is a reflective surface shaped like a paraboloid of revolution. It captures and directs solar rays towards a central receiver.
• Working Principle: By focusing sunlight onto a receiver, the paraboloid dish can generate high temperatures, which can be used for heating fluids, driving turbines, or producing electricity.
• Types: There are mainly two types—solar parabolic dishes and parabolic troughs, with the dish having a three-dimensional paraboloid shape and the trough being a two-dimensional parabolic shape.

Applications of Solar Paraboloid Technology

• The concentrated solar power (CSP) produced by paraboloid dishes can be used to run Stirling engines or steam turbines for electricity generation.
• Industries that require high-temperature heat, such as metal processing or chemical manufacturing, can use this technology to reduce fossil fuel dependence.
• Solar paraboloid systems can be utilized in solar desalination plants to convert seawater into freshwater, leveraging concentrated solar heat.
• Small-scale parabolic dishes are used in solar cookers and water heaters, especially in remote or off-grid areas.

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