1. HAUZ-I-SHAMSI (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - History)

Context: A 13th-century reservoir which was once a emperor’s dream is about to be restored in Delhi. It is the Hauz-i-Shamsi, a project which was Sultan Iltutmish’s “dream come true”.

Hauz-i-Shamsi

• About: It is a water storage reservoir or tank.
• Built by: Iltutmish of the Slave Dynasty in 1230 CE
• Also Known as: Shamshi Talab
• Features: Hauz-i-Shamsi originally covered an area of 2 ha (4.9 acres).

oThe domed pavilion (pictured) constructed by Iltumish to mark the foot print Muhammad's horse located in the middle of the tank is a double storeyed structure made of red sandstone supported on twelve pillars.

oThe reservoir also finds mentions in the works of famed traveller Ibn Batuta who had described the Hauz-i-Shamsi as a rectangular-shaped reservoir that was spread across an area of one mile by two miles.

• Jal Itihas Utsav: Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a ‘Jal Itihas Utsav’ here to raise public consciousness about safeguarding water heritage sites.

Iltutmish

• He was the third of the Mamluk (Slave) kings and first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi, and is thus considered the effective founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
• He made Delhi the capital in place of Lahore.
• He introduced: Silver coin (tanka), copper coin (jital), organized Iqta system and introduced reforms in civil administration and army.
• He set up official nobility of slaves knwn as Chahalgani/Chalisa (group of 40).
• He completed: The construction of Qurub Minar started by Qutubudin Aibak.

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2. METHANE EMISSION Syllabus GS Paper 3 - Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the USA unveiled final rules as part of a global plan to curb emissions contributing to climate change, specifically targeting the release of methane in the US oil and gas industry.

Methane

• About: It is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas.

oMethane is also a greenhouse gas (GHG), so its presence in the atmosphere affects the earth’s temperature and climate system.

• Properties: Colourless, odourless and highly flammable gas.
• Largest emitter: China, the United States, Russia, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Mexico are estimated to be responsible for nearly half of all anthropogenic methane emissions. 
• Properties: Methane has a greater global warming potential (GWP) than carbon dioxide.
• Methane Emissions: Methane ranks as the second most prevalent human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) following CO2, contributing to approximately 20% of worldwide emissions.
• Impacts: Due to methane's potent greenhouse gas properties and relatively short atmospheric lifespan compared to carbon dioxide, substantial reductions could swiftly and significantly impact its potential for atmospheric warming.

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3. IMO (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, in elections held at its assembly for the 2024–25 biennium, India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council with the highest tally.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

• About: is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
• Founded: 17 March 1948
• Support To: IMO's work supports the UN SDGs.​
• Headquarters: London.
• Members Countries: 175 Member States and three Associate Members.
• Structure of IMO
• Assembly: This is the highest Governing Body of the Organization.
• Council: It is the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
• Functions:

oEstablish and uphold a comprehensive regulatory framework for the shipping industry.

oEnsure the safety and security of vessels.

oAddress environmental considerations associated with shipping activities.

oManage legal affairs pertaining to maritime cases.

IMO Conventions

• SOLAS (1974): It is the International Convention ensuring the Safety of Life at Sea. 
• MARPOL (1973): It is the International Convention addressing the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. 
• STCW: It stands for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

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4. E-NAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: Recently, after more than seven years since the introduction of the pan-India digital wholesale agri-marketing platform, or electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), farmgate trade purchases have finally gained momentum across several states.

Electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)

• About: It is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
• Implementing Agency: Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• Vision: To promote uniformity in agriculture marketing by streamlining of procedures across the integrated markets.
• Mission: The recent integration of APMCs nationwide via a unified online market platform enables pan-India agricultural trade, enhancing price discovery through transparent auctions based on produce quality, coupled with prompt online payments.

Features

• Farmers' Product Showcase: The eNAM portal empowers farmers to exhibit their products in nearby markets, enabling traders from any location to provide price quotations.
• APMC Services: e-NAM offers a unified platform for all Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) services, encompassing commodity arrivals, quality and prices, buy and sell offers, and direct e-payment settlements into farmers' accounts.
• Streamlined Licensing Process: Utilizing eNAM services, traders, buyers, and commission agents can acquire licenses from state-level authorities without any prerequisites of physical presence or ownership of a shop or premises in the market yard.

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5. UN PEACEKEEPING MEETING (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context:  Raksha Rajya Mantri will pay an official visit to Accra, Ghana to attend the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting.

United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting

• About: It is an important opportunity for Member States to come together in a collective effort to strengthen the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations and their impact on the communities they serve.
• Aim: To address the security and operational challenges being faced by the UN peacekeepers and generate support for these missions deployed across the world.
• Areas of Focus: Protection of civilians, strategic communications, safety and security, the mental health of peacekeepers, and women in peacekeeping.
• 
  United Nations Peacekeeping
• Formation: 1945.
• Aim: Helps countries (torn by conflict) to create the conditions for lasting peace.
• Joint Effort: Between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support. 
• Roles and Responsibilities: The United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security.
• Financing: Collective responsibility of UN Member States. USA is the largest contributor followed by China and Japan.
• UN peacekeepers includes: Military, police, civilians etc.

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

Context: Recently, a top bureaucrat from the Union Environment Ministry indicated that India has refused to sign the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at COP28, citing concerns over language related to coal.

• A total of 116 countries have signed the pledge, agreeing to triple worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity.

Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge (GRREP)

• About: It commits to tripling worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 GW and to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to more than 4 percent by 2030.
• The pledge recognizes: The need to increase the pace and scale of deployment of renewables and energy efficiency significantly between now and 2030 for a system free of unabated fossil fuels.
• Signatories: 118 nations have pledged to triple green energy. All the G20 countries — barring India, China and Russia — have signed on to the pledge.
• Global Renewable Energy Target: 2030
• Renewable Energy Deployment: The document emphasizes the need for a substantial increase in the deployment of renewable energy sources. 

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7. WISE PRIZE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Safeena Hussain, founder of 'Educate Girls,' has become the first Indian woman to bag the WISE Prize.

• Safeena Hussain has played a pivotal role in mobilizing 14 lakh out-of-school girls in Indian villages, empowering them to reintegrate into mainstream education.

World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Prize

• About: This Prize for Education recognizes an individual or a team for their outstanding contribution to education, and for their resolve to develop an idea or grow their initiative further.
• Aim: At recognizing the accomplishment of an individual or team in education and their potential in shaping the future of education.
• Founded: In 2009.
• Awarded by: Qatar Foundation.
• Prize: US $ 500,000 cash.
• Nominee: Candidates can be researchers, education practitioners, policy makers, organization leaders and can belong to any education sector.

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8. GAZA STRIP (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza targets in its ongoing conflict with Hamas, which was triggered by the October 7 attacks. 

• International concerns have escalated as the civilian death toll continues to rise on the third day of renewed hostilities following the end of a truce.

Gaza Strip

• About: It is also known as Gaza, is a Palestinian enclave situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Boundaries: It shares an 11-kilometer (6.8-mile) border with Egypt to the southwest and a 51-kilometer (32-mile) border with Israel to the east and north.

oBoth the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are territories claimed by the de jure sovereign State of Palestine.

oIsraeli territory separates the territories of Gaza and the West Bank from each other.

oInitially under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, the Gaza Strip has been governed by Hamas, a militant Palestinian fundamentalist Islamic organization, since the Battle of Gaza in June 2007, following their victory in the 2006 elections.

Israel

• About: Israel is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in West Asia.
• Boundaries: North by Lebanon, the northeast by Syria, the east by Jordan and the West Bank, and to the southwest by Egypt.

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9. MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to keep the policy repo rate unchanged for the fifth consecutive policy review.

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

• About: It was established based on the recommendation of the Urjit Patel Committee.
• Set up: Under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act of 1934 by the Union government.
• Composition: It is a 6 member committee. There are in total three internal members and three external experts. The RBI Governor and Deputy Governor are also members of the MPC Committee.
• Objectives: To improve the repo rate, reverse repo rate, liquidity, etc.
• Instruments of Committee: Repo rate, Reverse Repo rate, Marginal Standing Facility (MSF), Bank Rate, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), Open Market Operations (OMOs)

Repo rate: The Repo Rate is the interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) loans money to commercial banks.

Reverse repo rate: Reverse repo is the inverse contract to the repo rate. The reverse repo rate is the rate at which the RBI borrows funds from the country's commercial banks.

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10. COP 28 ON TROPICAL DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: Recently, at the U.N. climate summit, The United Arab Emirates and several charities pledged $777 million in financing to combat neglected tropical diseases, which are anticipated to escalate with rising temperatures.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

• About: NTDs are a diverse group of tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Caused by: Pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms.
• 13 neglected Tropical Diseases: ascariasis, Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dracunculiasis, hookworm infection, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, and trichuriasis.
• Dominant Regions: They are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• India: India has the world's largest absolute burden of at least 10 major NTDs, including hookworm, dengue, lymphatic filariasis, leprosy, visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar and rabies.
• Last year, Togo became the first African country to eliminate four neglected tropical diseases.

Government Initiatives

• Preventive Methods: It involve the periodic deployment of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) rounds in endemic areas, providing free-of-cost medicines to at-risk communities.
• Vector-Control Measures: Include the undertaking of Indoor Residual Spraying rounds in endemic areas to prevent sandfly breeding.
• National Center for Vector-Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC): It strives for the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases, namely Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar, and Lymphatic Filariasis.

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