1. CABINET COMMITTEES (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Union government of India has formed eight Cabinet committees to address various critical issues and streamline decision-making processes.

Cabinet Committees

• About: These are established to alleviate the burden on the Cabinet by delegating specific tasks.

oNot mentioned in the constitution; their establishment is governed by the Rules of Business.

• GoI Transaction of Business Rules, 1961: The Indian executive functions under these rules, derived from Article 77(3) of the Constitution, which empowers the President to make rules for the transaction of government business.
• Types: Standing and Ad-hoc Committees
• Formation: Once ministerial portfolios are allocated, the Prime Minister forms high-profile Cabinet committees with selected Cabinet members.
• Committee Composition: Each committee typically consists of three to eight Cabinet ministers, with occasional inclusion of non-Cabinet ministers or special invitees.
• Prime Minister's Role: If the Prime Minister is a member of any committee, he assumes the role of its chairperson.
• Flexibility in Structure: The Prime Minister has the flexibility to adjust the number of committees and modify their assigned functions as needed.
• The 8 Cabinet Committees: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth, and Cabinet Committee on Skill, Employment and Livelihood.

oNo change has been made in the powerful Appointments Committee.

oSimilarly, the composition of the CCS has been kept unchanged. Also headed by the Prime Minister, the CCS has the ministers for Finance, Defence, Home Affairs and External Affairs as its members.

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2. EXTENSION OF SMART CITIES MISSION (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure)

Context: The Centre has extended the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) under the Union Urban Development Ministry till March 31, 2025.

Mission Progress Report

• Project Completion Status: As of July 3, 100 cities have finished 7,188 projects, which account for 90% of the total projects under the mission, with an expenditure of ₹1,44,237 crore.
• Projects in Progress: Additionally, 830 projects amounting to ₹19,926 crore are in advanced stages of completion.
• Budget Allocation: The mission was allocated ₹48,000 crore for these cities, out of which ₹46,585 crore, or 97%, has already been disbursed.
• Utilization of Funds: Of the funds released, 93% have been effectively utilized by the cities.
• Extension Requests: Some state and city government representatives have requested an extension to complete the remaining 10% of projects, citing ongoing challenges and requirements.

Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

• Launched by: June, 2015.
• Ministry: Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
• Objective: To promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment, and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
• Focus Area: Sustainable and inclusive development by the creation of replicable models that act as lighthouses to other aspiring cities.

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3. REVISED GUIDELINES & STANDARDS of EVs (Syllabus: GS Paper 2/3 – Governance/Environment)

Context: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) issued the revised Guidelines and Standards for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

Revised Guidelines and Standards of EV Charging

• Global Comparison: India's ratio of electric vehicles to public charging points is comparatively lower than countries like New Zealand and Norway.
• Flexibility in Charger Selection: Recent amendments allow operators more freedom in choosing chargers, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) acting as the facilitating agency.
• Role of Discoms in Home and Office Charging: Distribution companies (discoms) are tasked with facilitating the installation of home and office charging stations.
• Urban and Highway Charging Station: Guidelines mandate one charging station per 3km x 3km area in cities and every 25 km on highways, with additional fast chargers for heavy-duty vehicles every 100 km.
• Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging Needs: Recent guidelines specifically address the need for charging infrastructure suitable for heavy-duty vehicles, a crucial aspect previously overlooked.
• Community EV Charging: Group housing societies and similar entities are required to allocate a portion of their parking capacity for community EV chargers, in consultation with discoms.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• Set up: On March 1, 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Power
• Mission: To assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001
• Objective: Reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.

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4. LANCET STUDY ON AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A new study published in Lancet Planetary Health reveals that air pollution exposure can lead to deaths even at levels significantly below the Indian national standard. This finding underscores the severe health risks posed by current pollution levels.

Lancet Study on Air Exposure

• High Mortality: Across major Indian cities, approximately 33,000 deaths annually are linked to PM 2.5 pollution exceeding WHO guidelines of 15 µg/m³.

oNational standard for PM 2.5 (24 hours) is set at 60 µg/m³, significantly higher than WHO guidelines.

• Regional Disparities in Mortality Rates: Delhi tops the list with 11.5% of deaths attributed to air pollution, followed closely by Varanasi at 10.2%.

oCities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Shimla, despite meeting national standards, still report significant mortality rates (4.8%, 4.9%, and 3.7% respectively).

• Factors: Cities with higher mortality rates typically exhibit greater average PM 2.5 exposure due to varied sources and dense population concentrations.
• Risk Associated with Short-term PM2.5: Even below India's current PM2.5 standards, short-term exposure remains linked to elevated mortality risks in India.
• Broadening Intervention Focus: Emphasis on extending air quality improvement efforts beyond non-attainment cities to regions with lower but still impactful pollution levels.
• Targeting Local Combustion Sources: Effective strategies must address local sources like vehicles, generators, and waste burning to mitigate health impacts effectively.

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5. ZIKA VIRUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry (MoHFW) has instructed state governments to monitor the increasing cases of the Zika virus, with a particular focus on pregnant women who test positive.

Zika Virus

• About: The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus originally discovered in Uganda in 1947, initially in monkeys. 
• it was identified in humans in 1952, both in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.
• Transmission: It is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti species. 
• This mosquito is also responsible for the transmission of diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
• It can also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, through sexual contact, via the transfusion of blood and blood products, and through organ transplantation.
• Symptoms: Fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, or headache. It's important to note that many individuals infected with Zika virus remain asymptomatic and do not develop any symptoms.

oZika virus infection during pregnancy can have severe consequences, potentially causing infants to be born with microcephaly (abnormally small head size) and other congenital malformations, collectively known as congenital Zika syndrome.

• Impact on Pregnancy: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations, and may also result in preterm birth and miscarriage.
• Associated Conditions: The infection is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy, and myelitis in adults and children.
• Treatment: Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral medication available for Zika virus.

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6. RUDRAM-1 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: India successfully test-fires new generation anti-radiation missile ‘Rudram-1’

Rudram-1

• About: It is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile designed by DRDO specifically for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Key Features

oLaunch Platform: It is designed to be launched from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, a mainstay of the IAF.

oGuidance System: Utilizes Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)-GPS navigation coupled with a Passive Homing Head for precision targeting during the final attack phase.

oRange and Speed: Capable of striking targets at distances ranging from 100 to 250 km with a speed reaching up to Mach 2, twice the speed of sound.

Significance of Rudram-1

• Enhanced SEAD Capability: Rudram-1 significantly boosts the IAF’s Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) operations, allowing for the neutralization of critical air defense installations deep within enemy territory.
• Force Multiplier: Acts as a force multiplier by improving the survivability and operational effectiveness of IAF aircraft conducting missions in hostile environments.
• Indigenous Development Milestone: Represents a crucial milestone in India’s defense capabilities, marking a stride towards self-reliance and indigenous development in advanced defense technologies.

Global Counterparts

• United States: AGM-88 HARM
• Russia: Kh-58
• United Kingdom: ALARM
• China: FT-2000
• Iran: Hormoz-2
• Brazil: MAR-1

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7. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Internatonal Org.)

Context: India is set to host the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee

• About: The committee was founded under the UNESCO Convention on World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972 to oversee its implementation globally.
• Composition: comprises representatives from 21 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention (1972) elected by the General Assembly of UNESCO.
• 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee: Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
• Current Members: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Türkiye, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia.
• Role in World Heritage Protection: It manages the World Heritage Fund, providing financial aid, and decides which sites are included on the prestigious World Heritage List.
• The "Five Cs: Credibility, Conservation, Capacity-building, Communication and Communities.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: India boasts 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with Santiniketan being the latest addition in September 2023, recognized for its association with Rabindranath Tagore.

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8. STEEL FLAG (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently Member of Niti Aayog unveiled guidelines for the utilization and processing of steel slag as processed steel slag aggregates in road construction, aiming to promote sustainable infrastructure development in India.

Steel Slag

• About: It is an industrial by-product obtained from the steel manufacturing industry.
• Generation Process: It is generated from a steel furnace burning at around 1,500-1,600 degrees Celsius in the form of molten flux material as an impurity.
• Composition: Steel slag primarily consists of calcium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum silicates, and oxides.
• Benefits:  Steel slag road is 30% cheaper than roads built from natural aggregates. The thickness of the road is also 30% lesser than normal ones, while the durability is much longer due to the utilization of steel slag.
• Sustainable Road Construction: Utilization of processed steel slag in road construction paves the way for sustainable use of waste and reduces the reliance on perishable natural aggregates, reducing GHG emissions and carbon footprint in road construction activity.
• Alignment with SDGs: This process is in line with India’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 for building resilient infrastructure through inclusive and sustainable industrialization & green technologies.
• Other Uses: Steel slag can be used as aggregates in concrete to replace natural aggregates, owing to its favorable mechanical properties and high resistance to abrasion and impact.

oIt is also used to treat acidic water. In the agricultural sector, due to its ability to correct soil acidity, it is used as silicate fertilizer that is capable of providing silicon to the plants.

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9. RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Supreme Court criticized the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for delays in prosecuting a counterfeit currency case, stating that the right to a speedy trial is fundamental regardless of the severity of the alleged crime.

Speedy Trial

• Inherent in Article 21: It guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, which inherently includes the right to a speedy trial.
• Interpretation of "Life and Liberty": The phrase encompasses various rights essential for a free and dignified life, among which is the right to a timely judicial process.
• Legal Protection: Any denial of the right to speedy trial can be challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 32 or in High Courts under Article 226.
• The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS): The BNSS aims to expedite justice by mandating sessions courts to frame charges within 60 days of the first hearing and deliver judgments within 30 days after completing arguments (extendable to 60 days). 
• Plea bargaining applications must be submitted within 30 days of charges being framed.

Landmark Cases Related to Speedy Trial

• Hussainara Khatoon & Ors. vs Home Secretary, State of Bihar 1979: No procedure which does not ensure a reasonably quick trial can be regarded as ‘reasonable, fair or just’ and it would fall foul of Article 21. 
• Katar Singh vs State of Punjab: A constitution bench of the Supreme Court unequivocally construed the right of speedy trial as a fundamental right. “The concept of speedy trial is read into Article 21 as an essential part of the fundamental right to life and libert guaranteed and preserved under our Constitution.
• Abdul Rehman Antulay Vs RS Nayak, (1992): Right to speedy trial is implicit in Article 21 of the Constitution and is also reflected in Section 309 of the CrPC, 1973; that it encompasses all stages.

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10. GLOBAL INDIA AI SUMMIT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is organizing the 'Global India AI Summit,' reaffirming the Government of India's commitment to the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of artificial intelligence.

Global IndiaAI Summit 2024

• About: The summit will provide a platform for leading international AI experts from science, industry, civil society, governments, international organizations, and academia to share insights on key AI issues and challenges.
• Aim: The summit aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, underscoring India’s dedication to the ethical and inclusive growth of AI technologies.
• Held: New Delhi
• Theme 2024: International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology (AISUMMIT-2024).
• Establishing Global Leadership: Through the Global IndiaAI Summit 2024, India aspires to establish itself as a global leader in AI innovation, ensuring that AI benefits are accessible to all and contribute to the nation's socio-economic development.

India AI Mission

• About: It represents a strategic endeavor aimed at spurring AI innovation, broadening access to computing resources, offering startup funding, promoting ethical AI practices, and fostering inclusive growth within India's AI ecosystem.
• Implemented by: IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC).
• Purpose: To catalyze India’s AI ecosystem, positioning it as a significant force shaping the future of AI both domestically and globally.

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