1. INDIA’S DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)

Context: The World Bank has recently warned that the South Asia region, including India, has not been effectively leveraging its demographic dividend, as the rate of job creation in the region has significantly lagged behind the growth in the working-age population.

India’s Demographic Dividend

• About: It refers to the growth in an economy that is the result of a change in the age structure of a country’s population.
• India Surpasses China in Population: In 2022, India overtook China as the world's most populous country, with a population of 1.417 billion, marking a significant demographic shift.
• India's Projected Population Growth: Projections by the United Nations estimate India's population to reach 1.46 billion by 2030, constituting approximately 17% of the global population.
• Decline in Population Growth and Fertility: India has experienced a decline in population growth and fertility rates since the 1970s, as evident from decreasing Total Fertility Rates (TFR).
• Demographic Transition: With a projected TFR drop to 1.73 by 2035, India is anticipated to undergo a demographic transition characterized by a larger working-age population and fewer children.
• Peak of India's Demographic Dividend: India's Economic Survey 2018-19 predicts that the demographic dividend age will peak around 2041, with approximately 59% of the population falling within the working-age bracket (20 to 59 years).

India-Demographic Data

• Total Population: 1.22 billion (2011 Census) (17.71.% of World Population). India will be the most populous country by 2100.

oRural Population: 68.84 % (Census, 2011)

oUrban Population: 31.16% (Census, 2011)

• Working Population: Working adults (20-64 years) will reduce from around 762 million in 2017 to around 578 million in 2100
• Total Fertility Rate: Reduce to 1.29 by 2100 from 2.1 in 2019
• Immigration: India will be the second-largest net immigration in 2100.

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2. KALLAKKADAL (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: Recently, numerous coastal areas in Kerala witnessed flooding as high sea waves, commonly referred to as swell waves, inundated hundreds of homes.

Kallakkadal

• About: It refers to coastal flooding caused by swell waves on the southwest coast of India during the pre-monsoon season, as described in a 2016 paper published in the AGU journal.
• Origin and Meaning: The term "Kallakkadal" originates from Malayalam, combining "Kallan" meaning thief and "Kadal" meaning sea, representing the ocean's intrusive nature during flooding events.
• Recognition: Local fishermen coined the term "Kallakkadal" to describe this phenomenon, which was officially recognized by UNESCO in 2012.

Kallakkadal different from tsunami: Kallakkadal is often confused with a tsunami but differs fundamentally.

• A tsunami is a series of massive waves caused by underwater disturbances like earthquakes, whereas Kallakkadal is a phenomenon of swell surges impacting coastal areas.
• Kallakkadal gained attention following the devastating 2004 tsunami, which claimed over 10,000 lives. However, the two phenomena are distinct in their causes and effects.

Causes of Kallakkadal

• Origin of Waves: Kallakkadal is caused by waves formed by an ocean swell, known as swell surge, which originate from distant storms like hurricanes or long periods of fierce gale winds.
• Energy Transfer: During storms, significant energy transfer occurs from the air into the water, leading to the formation of high waves that can travel thousands of kilometers from the storm center until they reach the shore.
• Southern Indian Ocean Winds: Typically, Kallakkadal results from strong winds in the southern part of the Indian Ocean, generating an ocean swell that travels northward to reach the coast within two or three days.
• Absence of Local Wind Activity: Kallakkadal often occurs without precursors or local wind activity, making it challenging for coastal populations to receive advance warnings.
• Early Warning Systems: Initiatives like the Swell Surge Forecast System, launched by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in 2020, provide forecasts up to seven days in advance, aiding in early warning efforts for Kallakkadal.

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3. IRON ORE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: A government-appointed panel has proposed setting up India's first iron ore exchange to determine the domestic sale price of the key steelmaking raw material.

Iron Ore

• About: Iron ores are rocks and minerals containing metallic iron, extracted through various processes.
• Abundance in India: India boasts substantial reserves of iron ore, predominantly found in volcano-sedimentary Banded Iron Formations (BIF) dating back to the Precambrian era.
• Distribution in world: China, Brazil, Australia, India, Russia, Ukraine, the United States, South Africa, Canada, Sweden.
• Types: Haematite, Magnetite, Limonite and Siderite
• Magnetite: Prime Grade Ore: Magnetite stands out as a superior iron ore variant, possessing an exceptionally high iron content, often reaching up to 72%.
• Magnetic Properties: Magnetite's remarkable magnetic properties make it particularly prized in applications within the electrical industry.
• Significance of Hematite: Although hematite ore slightly trails magnetite in iron content, it remains crucial in industrial usage due to its abundance.
• Uses: Iron ore finds its most prevalent applications in the manufacturing of steel and iron-based goods like nails, tools, and pipes. 

oit serves a crucial function in fabricating machine components for various sectors, including automotive and aerospace industries.

India's Iron Ore Mining Market

• Global Ranking: India ranks as the world's second-largest producer of iron ore, trailing behind Australia.
• Production Output: In 2023, India's iron ore mine production reached a substantial 257.6 million tonnes (Mt).
• Projected Decline: Forecasts indicate a negative Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 1% for India's iron ore production from 2024 to 2030.
• Major Iron Ore Belts in India: Orissa- Jharkhand belt, Durg-Bastar-Chandarpur belt, Bellary- Chitradurga-Chimaglur-Tumkur belt, and Maharashtra- Goa belt. Iron metal is the commonest of all minerals.

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

Context: Recently, a deadly tornado swept through the Mainaguri area of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal, claiming the lives of five individuals and leaving over a hundred injured within a span of 10 minutes.

Tornadoes

• About: A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that comes into contact with the Earth's surface as well as a cumulonimbus cloud or, on rare occasions, the cumulus cloud's base.

oSpiraling wind descends like an elephant's trunk with immense force from violent thunderstorms, with very low pressure at the centre, causing massive havoc along the way.

• Destructive Potential: Tornadoes can utterly destroy well-constructed structures, uproot trees, and throw objects through the air like devastating missiles.
• Characteristics: Most tornadoes have wind speeds of less than 110 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour), are about 250 feet (80 meters) across, and travel a few miles (several kilometers) before dissipating.
• Extreme Tornadoes: Tornadoes can reach wind speeds of more than 300 miles per hour (480 km/h), have diameters of more than two miles (3 km), and can stay on the ground for dozens of miles (more than 100 km).
• Geographic Distribution: Tornadoes have been recorded on all continents except Antarctica. 

oThey are most common in the middle latitudes where conditions are often favorable for convective storm development. 

oThe United States has the most tornadoes of any country, as well as the strongest and most violent tornadoes.

• Favourable Condition: Warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. The denser cold air is pushed over the warm air, usually producing thunderstorms.
• Impact: Destroy buildings and trees and disrupt transportation, power, water, gas, and other services.

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5. INDIA’S CONFLICT WITH CHINA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India recently rejected China's senseless renaming of certain places in Arunachal Pradesh, emphasizing that such "invented" names do not change the fact that the state has always been and will remain an integral part of India.

India’s Conflict with China

• Renaming of Disputed Areas: China's renaming of disputed areas aims to bolster its territorial claims and potentially manipulate evidence for future disputes in international courts.
• Persistent Border Tensions: Despite formal talks and disengagement efforts post-Galwan deaths in 2020, rumors suggest Chinese attempts to cross borders, maintaining persistent tensions.
• Indian Military Upgrades: India has significantly enhanced weaponry along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, especially after the 2020 Ladakh standoff, and has intensified infrastructure development in forward sectors like Tawang.
• Infrastructure Development: Eastern Arunachal is currently undergoing substantial infrastructure development, potentially signifying strategic preparations in response to border disputes.

Why is China interested in Arunachal Pradesh?

• Strategic Location: Arunachal Pradesh's proximity to China enables it to be a potential launching point for Indian missiles and a strategic location for air defense systems, giving China a tactical advantage if controlled.
• Geopolitical Claims: Arunachal Pradesh's vast size and borders with Tibet, Bhutan, and Myanmar make it strategically significant, acting as a buffer to the northeast and providing control over key territories.
• Tactical Entry in Tawang: Tawang's strategic location as a gateway to northeastern India makes it a focal point for China's interest, particularly as it connects Tibet with the Brahmaputra Valley.
• Cultural Connections: Arunachal Pradesh shares cultural ties with Tibet, particularly through tribes like the Monpa who follow Tibetan Buddhism, strengthening China's cultural influence in the region.

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6. SCORES 2.0 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: SEBI recently launched the new version of the SEBI Complaint Redress System (SCORES 2.0).

SCORES 2.0

• About: It is a updated version of SCORES enhances the investor complaint resolution mechanism in the securities market. 
• Key Features of SCORES 2.0:

oReduced Timelines: Investor complaints will be addressed within 21 calendar days from receipt.

oAuto-Routing of Complaints: Complaints will be automatically directed to the relevant entity to minimize delays.

oMonitoring by Designated Bodies: Entities must oversee timely resolution of investor complaints.

oTwo-Level Review Process: Dissatisfied investors can seek review first from designated bodies, then from SEBI.

oAuto-Escalation for Non-Adherence: Complaints will escalate if entities don't meet prescribed timelines.

oIntegration with KYC Database: Integration with KYC Registration Agency facilitates easy investor registration on SCORES.

SCORES 

• About: is a web-based centralized grievance redress system launched by SEBI in 2011.
• Accessibility and Convenience: It allows investors to lodge, track, and follow up on complaints online, providing accessibility from anywhere.
• Intermediary and Company Engagement: SCORES facilitates market intermediaries and listed companies to receive and address complaints online, ensuring efficient grievance redressal.
• Types of Complaints in SCORES

oLegislative Coverage: Complaints can encompass issues under various acts and regulations including the SEBI Act, Securities Contract Regulation Act, Depositories Act, and Companies Act, 2013 provisions.

oEntities Covered: SEBI handles complaints against a range of entities such as listed companies, brokers, depositories, mutual funds, portfolio managers, and other entities like KYC collective investment schemes, merchant bankers, credit rating agencies, and foreign institutional investors.

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7. SAARC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India is embarking on a diplomatic push to get SAARC countries to restart funding the cash-strapped South Asian University (SAU), which started its operations in 2010 in the national capital, according to persons aware of the matter.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

• Establishment: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
• Regional Cooperation: The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first raised in November 1980, leading to the inaugural meeting of the foreign secretaries of the seven founding countries in Colombo in April 1981.
• Membership: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka.
• Expansion of Membership: Afghanistan joined SAARC as its newest member.
• Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Objectives: SAARC's objectives include promoting welfare, economic growth, collective self-reliance, mutual trust, collaboration, and cooperation with other developing countries and international organizations.
• Principles of Cooperation: SAARC is grounded on principles like sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-interference, and mutual benefit, outlined in its charter.
• Areas of Cooperation: SAARC's areas of cooperation span diverse sectors such as human resource development, agriculture, environment, trade, social affairs, energy, education, and security.

South Asian University (SAU)

• Origin of the University: The SAU originated from a proposal by the Prime Minister of India during the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in 2005.
• Objective of Establishment: To establish a Centre of Excellence in the form of a University to offer world-class facilities and faculty to students and researchers from all SAARC member countries.
• Pooling of Resources: Member countries agreed to pool their resources to support the creation and maintenance of the University, emphasizing collaboration and cooperation among SAARC nations.
• Inclusive Education: SAU aimed to provide educational opportunities for students and researchers from every country in the SAARC region, promoting inclusivity and regional cooperation.

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8. DANIEL KAHNEMAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, one of the pioneers of psychology and economics research, Daniel Kahneman, passed away.

Daniel Kahneman

• Early Life: Kahneman, an Israeli-American psychologist, won the Nobel prize in economics in 2002 for integrating psychological insights into economic science, particularly regarding human judgment and decision-making under uncertainty.
• Seminal Works: Kahneman authored several influential books and papers, notably "Thinking, Fast and Slow," which elucidated human thought processes, errors, biases, and decision-making fallacies.
• Focus on Variability: His book "Noise" explored unwanted variability in judgments, contrasting bias and emphasizing the importance of consistency in decision-making.
• Challenging Rationality Assumptions: Kahneman's experiments challenged the assumption of rationality among economic agents, laying the foundation for behavioral economics as a field.
• Unintentional Influence: Kahneman and Tversky's seminal work unintentionally laid the foundation for contemporary behavioral economics, despite their initial intentions unrelated to economics.
• Loss Aversion Principle: One of their fundamental postulates centered on loss aversion, proposing that individuals tend to be more sensitive to losses than gains of an equivalent magnitude, with losses holding a greater psychological weight.
• Hedonic Psychology: Kahneman's theory within hedonic psychology emphasized the significance of experiences over mere outcomes in understanding happiness and overall well-being.
• Honours: Awarded the Nobel Prize in 2002 for his psychological insights in economics.

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9. LUMPY SKIN DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: In a breakthrough, a multi-institutional team of scientists has unveiled critical insights into evolution & origin of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) strains fuelling the outbreak in India.

Lumpy Skin Disease

• About: It is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family.
• Transmitted by: Blood-feeding insects, such as certain species. of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks.
• Causes: Fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death, especially in animals that that have not previously been exposed to the virus.
• Symptoms: The incubation period for lumpy skin disease is between  14 day post-infection.

oAfter an initial period of high fever (41°C) and swollen lymph glands, the animal may develop large, firm nodules that are up to 5 cm in diameter in the skin.

oThese can be found all over the body, but particularly on the: head.

oGuidelines for prevention of Lumpy Skin Disease:

• Preventive Measures: Control of animal movement, Restriction with affected animals and persons dealing with such animals, Vaccination.

Mysterious Illness Strikes Cattle in India

• In May 2022, a puzzling illness swept through cattle populations across India, causing widespread concern among farmers and veterinarians.
• Devastating Losses: Since the onset of the illness, approximately 1 lakh cattle have succumbed to its effects, leading to significant economic and emotional losses for farmers.
• Identification of LSDV Outbreak: Scientists have identified the cause of the outbreak as LSDV (Lumpy Skin Disease Virus), a highly contagious viral infection affecting cattle.
• Comprehensive Study Reveals Insights: A multi-institutional team, conducted a thorough study published in BMC Genomics, offering a detailed genomic analysis of LSDV variants circulating in India.
• Enhanced Virulence and Severity: The study sheds light on the virus's enhanced virulence and the severity of the disease it causes, providing crucial insights for combating the outbreak effectively.

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10. HEAT WAVES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The first heat wave of the summer-the season starts April across India-was recorded over parts of north interior Karnataka on Monday, presaging what the Indian weather office has forecast will be an uncomfortably hot summer in many parts of the country.

Heat Waves

• Meaning: It is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. 
• Seasonal Occurrence: Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July.
• Regional Variability: In certain countries, it is defined in terms of the heat index based on temperature and humidity or based on extreme percentile of the temperatures.

Criteria for Declaring Heat Waves:

• Maximum Temperature Thresholds: Declared when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C.

oDeclared when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 30°C.

• Departure from Normal Heat Wave: Departure from normal temperature ranges from 4.5°C to 6.40°C.

oDeparture from normal temperature is greater than 6.4°C.

• Actual Maximum Temperature Heat Wave: Declared when the actual maximum temperature is equal to or exceeds 450°C.

oDeclared when the actual maximum temperature is equal to or exceeds 470°C.

• Conditions for heat wave

oTransportation / prevalence of hot dry air over a region

oAbsence of moisture in the upper atmosphere: As the presence of moisture restricts the temperature rise. 

oThe sky should be practically cloudless 

oLarge amplitude anti-cyclonic flow over the area.

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