1. NSCAEM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Govt Scheme)

Context: Recently, a significant milestone was crossed as more than 1 crore individuals were screened for Sickle Cell Disease under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.

National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

• About: This program, which was introduced in the 2023 Union Budget, is centred on tackling the healthcare issues associated with sickle cell disease within tribal communities.
• Mission: Enhance the quality of care for all individuals affected by Sickle Cell Disease, aiming for a brighter future.

oDecrease the prevalence of the disease through a comprehensive and well-coordinated strategy involving screening and awareness initiatives.

• Vision: By 2047, completely eradicate sickle cell disease as a public health concern in India.
• At the outset, the emphasis will be on 17 states that exhibit a higher incidence of Sickle Cell Disease. 
• These states include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.

oMP is a state with the highest tribal population in terms of absolute numbers as per Census 2011 and also has the highest burden of sickle cell anaemia.

Sickle Cell Anemia

• About: It is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease.
• Cause: It is caused by a change in the gene that tells the body to make the iron-rich compound in red blood cells called hemoglobin.
• Symptoms: Extreme tiredness or irritability due to anaemia, painful swelling of hands and feet, and jaundice in the early stages.
• Treatment: Blood transfusions alleviate anaemia and lower pain crisis risk.

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2. HIT AND RUN LAW IN INDIA Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: Recently, as transporters across the country went on strike to protest the proposed increase in punishment for hit-and-run cases under the yet-to-be-implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Hit-and-Run Law in India

• About: The new hit-and-run law in India, integrated into the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), has replaced the previous Indian Penal Code (IPC), bringing about significant changes in the legal framework.
• Penalties: Offenders causing a serious road accident through negligence and failing to report to authorities can be subjected to up to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.
• Defining Hit-and-Run: The law precisely defines a hit-and-run accident as a situation where a driver, involved in an accident with another property, pedestrian, or vehicle, flees without providing necessary aid or exchanging crucial details such as insurance information.
• BNS vs. Previous Legislation: Before the enactment of BNS, hit-and-run cases were addressed under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code. 

oThe previous penalties were comparatively lenient, with offenders facing a maximum imprisonment of up to two years upon identification.

• Shifting Paradigm: The implementation of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita reflects a substantial shift towards stricter consequences for hit-and-run offenses in India. 

oThis legislative move signifies a commitment to addressing such incidents more rigorously and promoting road safety.

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3. KAVARATTI (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Prime Minister of India will dedicate to the nation and lay foundation stone for multiple development projects at Kavaratti Island in Lakshadweep.

Kavaratti

• About: It is the capital of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India. 

oKavaratti is a census town as well as the name of the atoll upon which the town stands.

• Located: It is located 332 km west to the city of Kannur, 351 km west of the city of Kozhikode, and 404 km west of the city of Kochi.
• Climate: Tropical Savanna Climate.
• Importance location: Largest city in Lakshadweep (Andrott).

oNine degree channel separates the Minicoy island and Maldives.

Lakshadweep

• About: It is a union territory of India. 
• Islands: It is an archipelago of 36 islands serving as the maritime boundary between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Laccadive Sea to the east. 
• Located: It is located 200 to 440 km (120 to 270 mi) off the Malabar Coast of India.

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4. SIMPLIFIED CERTIFICATION SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: The Telecommunication Engineering Centre TEC of Department of Telecommunications DoT has brought 37 more products under Simplified Certification scheme SCS.

Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS)

• About: It is tailored for applicants dealing with Group A equipment. Under this scheme, applicants submit a test-wise compliance sheet and a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) for parameters included in ERs.
• Applicability: This scheme applies to all equipment notified under the SCS category periodically.
• Application Process: Under this scheme, applicants are required to submit a test-wise compliance sheet, a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC), and test reports for parameters outlined in Essential Requirements (ERs).
• Adherence to GCS Rules/Procedures: All rules and procedures applicable to the General Certification Scheme (GCS) are applicable to SCS, with the exception that test reports submitted by the applicant will not be evaluated by TEC. 

oHowever, TEC retains the right to seek clarifications from the applicant, if necessary.

• Certificate Issuance: Certificates will typically be issued within fifteen working days from the date of application submission.

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5. AMRUT MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: France’s development agency AFD and Germany’s KfW Bank are in talks with India to provide €100 million loan to fund the country's urban infrastructure plan, AMRUT mission.

AMRUT Mission

• Full Form: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
• Launched: On 25th June 2015.
• Selected Cities: 500 cities and towns.
• Ministry: Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Focus: Development of basic infrastructure, in the selected cities and towns, in the sectors of water supply; sewerage and septage management; storm water drainage; green spaces and parks; and non-motorized urban transport.
• State Annual Action Plan (SAAP): It is a consolidated plan that is a combination of all the city-level SLIPs(Service Level Improvement Plans) of all proposed AMRUT cities in the respective states.
• AMRUT 2.0:

oAnnouncement: 1 October 2021

oType of scheme: Centrally sponsored scheme

oAim: To promote the circular economy of water through the development of City Water Balance Plan (CWBP) for water conservation.

-To provide universal coverage of water supply through functional taps to all households in all the statutory towns in the country and coverage of sewerage/septage management in 500 cities covered in the AMRUT scheme.

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6. SNOW LEOPARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The snow leopard, the mysterious and enigmatic symbol of High Asia with its host of mountain ranges stretching from the Altai to the Himalayas, is now the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan.

Snow Leopard

• Scientific Name: Panthera uncia
• Top Predator: Snow leopards act as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live, due to their position as the top predator in the food web.
• Conservation Status:

oIUCN: Vulnerable.

oCITES: Appendix I.

oIndian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I.

• Habitat: Across the mountainous landscape of central Asia, which covers different parts of the Himalayas such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
• Threat: Largely threatened because of the loss of natural prey species, retaliatory killing due to conflict with humans and illegal trade of its fur and bones.
• Initiatives Taken

oGlobal Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP): It is an unprecedented alliance of all snow leopard range countries, non-governmental organizations, multi-lateral institutions, scientists and local communities, united by one goal: saving the snow leopard and its mountain ecosystems.

oThe SECURE Himalaya project: Financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to preserve high altitude biodiversity and diminish the reliance of local communities on the natural ecosystem.

oProject Snow Leopard (PSL): Advocates for an inclusive and participatory strategy to safeguard snow leopards and their habitats.

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7. CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, sources in the government have indicated that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the Bill for which was cleared by Parliament in December 2019, will be notified well in advance of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019

• It amended: The act amended the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants eligible for citizenship of India. 
• Citizenship on the Basis of Religion: The CAA provides citizenship on the basis of religion to six undocumented non-Muslim communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians) from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31st December, 2014.
• Definition: Under the Act, an illegal migrant is a foreigner who:

oEnters the country without valid travel documents like a passport and visa, or

oEnters with valid documents, but stays beyond the permitted time period.

• Citizenship by Registration or Naturalisation: The Act allows a person to apply for citizenship by registration or naturalisation if the person meets certain qualifications.
• Citizenship by Registration or Naturalisation: The Act allows a person to apply for citizenship by registration or naturalisation if the person meets certain qualifications.
• Non-applicability: These provisions on citizenship for illegal migrants will not apply to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.

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8. NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA India) conducted an Anti-Doping awareness session for the Junior National Fencing Championship at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)

• About: NADA was established by the Government of India with the goal of serving as an independent Anti-Doping Organization for India, with a vision of fostering drug-free sports.
• It was officially formed as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 in November 2005.
• Nodal Ministry: Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• Objective: To enforce anti-doping regulations in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and oversee the doping control program.

oTo actively promote education, research, and awareness initiatives aimed at addressing the issue of doping and its detrimental consequences.

• Functions of NADA

oEnforce the Anti-Doping Code to ensure compliance by all sports organizations in the country.

oCoordinate the doping testing program in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.

oPromote research and education in the field of anti-doping to instil the importance of drug-free sports.

oEmbrace best practice standards and quality systems to facilitate the effective implementation and continuous enhancement of the program.

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9. SOCIAL REFORMERS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to social reformer Savitri Bai Phule and first queen to fight against the British colonial power in India Rani Velu Nachiyar on their Jayanti.

Savitri Bai Phule

• Early Life: Savitribai Phule, born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon village of Maharashtra’s Satara district, belonged to the Mali community. Despite being married off at an early age, her husband Jyotirao Phule played a pivotal role in educating her at home.
• Pioneering Education for Women: The couple defied societal norms by establishing the first girls’ school in Bhidewada, Pune, in 1848. 
• Social Reforms and Activism: Savitribai and Jyotirao extended their social impact by opening schools for marginalized communities, leading to discontent among nationalists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak. 
• Satyashodhak Samaj: The Phules established the Satyashodhak Samaj, aiming to promote social equity irrespective of caste, religion, or class hierarchies. 
• Relief Work and Social Service: During the 1896 famine and the 1897 Bubonic plague in Maharashtra, Savitribai actively participated in relief work, showcasing her commitment to addressing humanitarian crises.
• Literary Legacy: Savitribai Phule, a prolific writer, published her first collection of poems, 'Kavya Phule' (‘Poetry’s Blossoms’), at the age of 23 in 1854. Her literary contributions also include 'Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar' (‘The Ocean of Pure Gems’), published in 1892.

Rani Velu Nachiyar

• About: She was the first Indian queen to wage war with the East India Company in India. 
• Known by: Tamils as Veeramangai ("brave woman").
• With the support of Hyder Ali's army, feudal lords, the Maruthu Brothers, Dalit commanders, and Thandavarayan Pillai, she fought the East India company.

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

Context: India has joined the international mega-science project, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), set to be the world's largest radio telescope.

Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)

• About: The SKAO, or Square Kilometre Array Observatory, is a next-generation radio astronomy-driven Big Data facility set to revolutionize our comprehension of the Universe and the fundamental laws of physics.
• Global Collaboration for Radio Astronomy Advancement: As an intergovernmental organization, the SKA Observatory unites nations worldwide in its mission to construct and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes, fostering global collaboration and innovation for the betterment of society.
• Global Presence: The SKAO's global footprint includes its headquarters in the UK, two radio-quiet telescope sites in South Africa and Australia, and supporting facilities. 
• Leading the Way in Radio Astronomy: By constructing and operating state-of-the-art telescopes, the SKAO aims to become the premier research infrastructure for radio astronomy globally. 
• Dual Telescopes: Once operational, the SKAO will function as a single global observatory operating two of the most advanced radio telescopes on Earth.

oThese telescopes, composed of hundreds of dishes and thousands of antennas, will span three continents, serving Member States and partners.

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