1. BIOSPHERE RESERVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: On November 3, World Biosphere Reserve Day underscores the worldwide significance of UNESCO-designated reserves in the preservation of biodiversity and the alleviation of climate change.

Biosphere Reserve

• About: BR is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over a large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
• In every biosphere reserve, there exists a core zone that is strictly protected, serving to conserve the flora, fauna, and the entire ecosystem, encompassing water, soil, air, and biota.
• Core Areas: It is the most protected area of a biosphere reserve. It may contain endemic plants and animals.
• Buffer Zone: The buffer zone surrounds the core zone, and its activities are managed in this area in ways that help in the protection of the core zone in its natural condition.
• Transition Zone: It is the outermost part of the biosphere reserve. It is the zone of cooperation where human ventures and conservation are done in harmony.
• World Biosphere Reserve Day: Celebrated on November 3 each year.
• Aim: To raise awareness of the importance of biosphere reserves and to promote their conservation and sustainable use

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2. ADAPTATION FINANCE GAP (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Economy)

Context: Despite rapidly increasing climate risks which necessitate greater efforts to adapt, the money being made available to developing countries for adaptation measures has recently been declining, and nowhere close to the scale of requirement, a new report by the United Nations has revealed.

Key Points of Report

• About: The Adaptation Gap Report is an annual publication from UNEP, released just ahead of the year-ending climate change conference, and presents the global situation of adaptation to climate change. 

oThis year’s report focuses on adaptation finance, or the availability of money to carry out the adaptation projects.

oThe adaptation finance gap – that is the difference between estimated adaptation financing needs and costs and (existing) finance flows has grown.

• According to report - The adaptation gap is likely 10-18 times as great as current international adaptation finance flows — at least 50 per cent higher than previous range estimates,
• Findings: Most of the developing countries have listed their adaptation requirements in their climate action plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs.

oThe NDCs seek to document every country’s ‘contribution’ to the global fight against climate change.

Developing Countries

• According to the UN, a developing country is a country with a relatively low standard of living, undeveloped industrial base, and moderate to low Human Development Index (HDI). 

oThis index is a comparative measure of poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, and other factors for countries worldwide.

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3. CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) recently organized a panel discussion on "Disciplinary Proceedings" in New Delhi as part of Vigilance Awareness Week 2023.

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

• About: It is an apex Integrity Institution, possessing full independence and autonomy in its operations.
• Establishment: As a result of the Government of India's Resolution, based on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, led by Shri K. Santhanam in 1964.
• Statutory Status: The CVC gained its statutory status through the CVC Act of 2003.
• Composition: Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members).
• Organization: The CVC has its own Secretariat, the Chief Technical Examiners' Wing (CTE), and a wing of Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDI). 
• Appointment: By the President on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
• Term: The chairperson and the members are four years from the date on which they enter their office or till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: The President can remove the chairperson or any other member from the office.

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4. ELEPHANT CORRIDORS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: An expert has flagged multiple inconsistencies in the recently published report on elephant corridors in India by the central government. Recently, Project Elephant has shifted its focus towards landscape, habitats, and corridors to ensure a sustainable elephant population on viable terrains.

Elephant Corridors

• About: It can be defined as a narrow stretch of land that facilitates the movement of elephants between two or more adjacent habitats that are conducive to their well-being.
• State Wise Distribution: West Bengal takes the lead with 26 corridors, making up 17% of the total.

oEast central India -  52 corridors, The North East region - 48 corridors, Southern India - 32 corridors., and Northern India - 18 corridors.

Project Elephant

• Launched; In 1992 as a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Objectives: (1) To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors, (2) To address issues of man-animal conflict, (3) Welfare of captive elephants.
• It provides: Financial and technical support to major elephant bearing states for protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors. 
• Under the Project, Elephant reserves have been established across states.

Asian Elephant: Conservation in India

• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I 
• CITES: Appendix I
• CMS: Appendix I.

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5. STUDY ON ZOONOTIC DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – HEALTH)

Context: Recently, a comprehensive analysis of 60 years of historical epidemiological data published in the journal BMJ Global Health revealed that four types of zoonotic infections, which can transmit from animals to humans, have been increasing at an exponential rate.

• These are the four zoonotic diseases: Filoviruses (Ebola virus, Marburg virus), SARS Coronavirus, Nipah virus, and Machupo virus.

Key Points 

• Based on current trends, these four types of viral pathogens are collectively set to kill 12 times as many people in 2050 as they did in 2020.
• The researchers focused on these diseases, which causes Bolivian haemorrhagic fever, because of their potential to pose a significant risk to public health and economic or political stability.
• As part of the study, at least 3150 outbreaks and epidemics were assessed between 1963 and 2019 to analyse time trends in the number of outbreaks and associated deaths caused by these viral pathogens.

Zoonotic Diseases

• About: It is a disease that has passed into the human population from an animal source directly or through an intermediary species.
• Zoonotic infections: It can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic in nature, with animals playing a vital role in maintaining such infections.
• Examples: HIV-AIDS, Ebola, Lyme disease, malaria, rabies, West Nile fever, and the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disease.

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6. WORLD FOOD INDIA 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the second edition of the Mega food event ‘World Food India 2023’ at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. With the aim to strengthen Self Help Groups, the Prime Minister will disburse Seed Capital Assistance for over one lakh SHG members.

World Food India 2023

• About: World Food India 2023 serves as an entry point to the Indian food economy, fostering collaborations between Indian and international investors.
• Aim: to exhibit India's rich food culture and draw international investments into the food processing sector. 

oIt will create a gathering of manufacturers, producers, investors, policymakers, and organizations representing the global food ecosystem.

• Benefits: It will present investment prospects in areas such as backward linkages, processing equipment, research and development, cold chain storage, startups, logistics, and retail chains.
• First Edition: World Food India was held in 2017
• Focus Areas: Leveraging millets as a superfood; positioning India as a global hub for food processing; unlocking growth potentials in strategic segments; establishing an efficient ecosystem, and promoting sustainable development.

Self Help Groups

• About: SHGs are informal associations of individuals who join together with the goal of improving their living conditions. 
• They can be defined as self-governed, peer-controlled groups comprising people with similar socio-economic backgrounds who share a collective desire to pursue a common purpose. 
• SHGs operate based on the principle of "Self Help" to promote self-employment and poverty reduction. 
• Objectives

oEnhancing the functional capabilities of economically disadvantaged individuals for employment and income-generating activities.

oResolving conflicts through collective leadership and mutual discussions.

oOffering collateral-free loans with terms determined by the group, aligned with market-driven rates.

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7. FUTURE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently Imperial College London announced its biggest-ever scholarship programme for Indian students.

Future Leaders Scholarship Programme

• About: Over the next three years, the scholarship program will provide support to 30 of the most talented Master's scholars in the country.
• The scholarship covers all expenses, including tuition and living costs.
• Eligibility: Pursuing Master's programs in engineering, natural sciences, business, and medical research.

oWithin this program, half of the scholarships are designated for female scholars.

• Aim: To create a pathway for India's most talented students to enhance their education and broaden their horizons at one of the world's leading universities.

oAdditionally, the university has entered into a new partnership with the UK government's Chevening Scholarships program.

• Funding: As part of this collaboration, funding will be provided for an extra three Master's scholars from India over the next three years.

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8. INFUSE MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a sounding rocket as part of its INFUSE mission.

INFUSE Mission

• About: The Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscope Experiment (INFUSE) was launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
• It was launched with the aim of studying the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant.

What will the INFUSE mission do?

• The INFUSE mission is expected to collect information about the remnant for a few minutes from a height of 150 miles (240 km).
• Specifically, the instrument will gather light in far-ultraviolet wavelengths emanating from the Cygnus Loop.
• It will observe how the supernova releases energy into the Milky Way, capturing light emitted as the blast wave interacts with pockets of cold gas scattered throughout the galaxy.
• The mission's goal is to study the Cygnus Loop and gain insights into the life cycle of stars.

Cygnus Loop

• The Cygnus Loop is the remains of a star that was once 20 times the size of our Sun.
• Approximately 20,000 years ago, this star underwent a collapse due to its own gravity and exploded into a supernova.
• Even from a distance of 2,600 light-years away, astronomers estimate that the resulting burst of light would have been bright enough to be visible from Earth during the daytime.

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9. AWAOUS MOTLA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, a group of scientists discovered an edible freshwater fish available in the markets of western Odisha.

Awaous Motla

• It is a fish with a vibrant yellow-coloured body and a fleshy upper lip.
• It was collected from the Mahanadi River.
• The discovery was made during the ongoing research project funded by the Department of Science and Technology of the Odisha government.
• The species belongs to the family 'Awaous' (Oxudercidae) and is thus named 'Awaous motla.

Mahanadi River

• It is one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers in India.
• Origin: The river originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state.
• Course: It flows in a southeastern direction through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

oThe catchment area of the basin extends over major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

• Bounded by: In the north by Central India hills, in the south and east by the Eastern Ghats, and in the west by Maikal hill range.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of Mahanadi are Seonath River, Jonk River, Hasdeo River, Mand River, Ib River, Ong River, and Telen River.

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10. ANTARTIC OZONE HOLE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Antarctic ozone hole recently reached its largest size of 10 million square miles on September 21, 2023, according to an analysis of satellite and balloon-based observations conducted by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Key Points of Study

• The size of the Antarctic ozone hole varies annually, with it opening in August and closing in November or December.

oIn 2022, when the average size of the ozone hole over Antarctica was 8.91 million square miles and in 2021, it was 8.99 million square miles.

• According to experts, the ozone hole forms due to the Earth's rotation, which generates unique winds over the isolated landmass of Antarctica.
• These winds establish a microclimate, acting as a shield over Antarctica, preventing it from mixing with the surrounding air.
• Antarctic Ozone Hole: It is defined as the total area where ozone amounts are below the historical threshold of 220 Dobson units.
• Ozone Hole: An ozone hole is a region of the stratosphere over Antarctica where the ozone layer is exceptionally depleted.

oThe ozone hole is not technically a “hole” where no ozone is present.

Ozone Layer

• The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere, and it serves as a protective gas shield by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
• This shield helps protect us from the negative consequences of excessive UV exposure.
• UV radiation has a significant impact on skin cancer rates, emphasizing the crucial role of preserving the ozone layer.

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