1. GLOBAL UNIVERSITY RANKING SYSTEMS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: Since the first appearance of global university ranking systems around two decades ago, rankings have come to dominate the attention in higher education ecosystems around the world.

Global University Ranking Systems

• About: It began around one and a half decades ago to discern characteristics of superior higher education institutions.
• Purpose: Ranking systems aim to order higher education institutes based on various criteria including teaching, research, reputation, industry-focused research, and collaborative efforts.
• Three major global university ranking systems: the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), the (QSWUR) and the (THEWUR).
• Complexity of Ranking Criteria: The performance of institutes is evaluated on complex, multifaceted activities which are translated into composite indicators for ranking purposes.
• Elizabeth Gadd's Critique (2021): Elizabeth Gadd, a research officer at Loughborough University, criticized university ranking systems, likening the pursuit of higher rankings to the flawed reliance on GDP as the sole indicator of a country's prosperity.
• Critique of Ranking Systems: These systems face criticism similar to GDP as a sole measure of prosperity, with concerns about oversimplification and overlooking crucial aspects like environmental impact and inequality.
• Influence of Ranking Factors: Factors like citations and reputation heavily influence research excellence scores, leading to skewed representations and the dominance of certain institutions.
• Impact of Arbitrary Measures: Arbitrary measures like citations can dramatically alter university rankings and may even lead to manipulation, as observed in cases such as Saveetha Dental College.
• Concerns of Bias and Manipulation: Instances of bias and manipulation have been observed in ranking systems, including favoritism towards universities hosting ranking summits and adjustments in citation counting methods.

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2. GREY ZONE WARFARE (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan recently emphasized that "grey zone warfare" represents the latest trend in informal warfare during the Raisina Dialogue.

Grey Zone Warfare

• About: Grey zone warfare encompasses activities that blur the lines between direct conflict and peace in international relations.

oIt includes a spectrum of actions such as economic subversion, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns.

• Examples of Grey Zone Tactics: Recent actions by Russia and China have been identified as instances of grey zone warfare.

oChinese military presence in the South China Sea exemplifies this concept, especially concerning territorial disputes with countries like the Philippines.

• The South China Sea Dispute: The Philippines has contested China's claims in the South China Sea, particularly over disputed reefs.

oChina's presence, including maritime militia vessels, has sparked tensions and accusations of illegal activities.

Why Grey Zone Warfare is Distinct?

• Grey zone tactics pose unique challenges compared to overt conflict.
• Actions are often covert or indirect, necessitating nuanced responses from affected nations.
• Tactics may be aimed at baiting adversaries into escalation or normalizing disputed claims through repeated presence in contested regions.

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3. NFRA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has decided to directly engage with companies, not just auditors, in cases where it finds issues with financial statements.

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

• About: NFRA has actively collaborated with the Corporate Data Management (CDM) division of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and three recognized stock exchanges in India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Constitution: NFRA was established in 2018 by the Government of India under section 132(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, serving as an audit regulator.
• Background and Establishment: The decision to form NFRA was prompted by concerns over the role of auditors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in various corporate scandals, including the one at Punjab National Bank.
• Composition: NFRA comprises a chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, who must be a person of eminence and possess expertise in accountancy, auditing, finance, or law. Additionally, it includes up to 15 other members.
• Functions and Duties

oPolicy Recommendations: NFRA recommends accounting and auditing policies and standards for approval by the Central Government.

oCompliance Monitoring: It monitors and enforces compliance with accounting and auditing standards.

oQuality Oversight: NFRA oversees the quality of service of professions associated with ensuring compliance and suggests measures for improvement.

oPublic Interest Protection: One of its primary roles is to protect the public interest in financial matters.

• Powers of NFRA

oInvestigation Scope: NFRA can investigate Public Interest Entities, including listed companies, large unlisted public companies, insurance companies, banking companies, and those engaged in electricity generation or supply.

oPenalty Imposition: In cases of professional misconduct, NFRA has the power to impose penalties ranging from one lakh rupees to five times the fees received for individuals and ten lakh rupees to ten times the fees received for firms.

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4. PRP ACT 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: The registration of newspapers and other periodicals will be governed by the provisions of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, and its Rules, which came into effect recently.

Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023

• Registration of Periodicals:  The Act provides for the registration of newspapers, periodicals, and books. 

oIt provides for the registration of periodicals, which include any publication containing public news or comments on public news.  Periodicals do not include books or scientific and academic journals.

• Replace to: Press and Registration of Books Act 1867.
• Foreign Periodicals: An exact reproduction of a foreign periodical may be printed in India only with the prior approval of the central government.  
• Press Registrar General:  The Act provides for the central government to appoint a Press Registrar who maintains a register of newspapers.  
• Registration of a Printing Press: The Act requires a printing press to be declared before the DM.
• Suspension and Cancellation of Registration:  The act allows the Press Registrar General to suspend a periodical’s registration for a minimum period of 30 days which can extend to 180 days.  
• The registration may be suspended due to: (i) registration obtained by furnishing false information, (ii) failure to publish periodicals continuously, and (iii) giving false particulars in annual statements.  
• The Press Registrar General may cancel the registration (i) a periodical has the same or similar title as any other periodical, 

o(ii) the owner/ publisher has been convicted of a terrorist act or unlawful activity, or for acting against the security of the state.    

• Penalties and appeal: (i) publishing periodicals without registration (up to five lakh rupees), (ii) failing to furnish annual statement within the specified time (up to Rs 20,000 on first default). 

Press Sewa Portal

• About: The Act introduces the Press Sewa Portal, an online platform for the registration of newspapers and periodicals across India.
• Registration Processes: The Press Sewa Portal replaces manual, multi-step processes, aiming to alleviate hardships faced by publishers due to bureaucratic procedures.
• Functions: The portal facilitates various functions such as obtaining registration certificates, transferring ownership, and submitting annual statements, enhancing efficiency and accessibility for publishers.

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5. OPEC-PLUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Members of the coalition of the world’s top oil-producing nations, OPEC - Plus have agreed to extend voluntary oil output cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day into the second quarter.

OPEC-PLUS

• About: It is a group of 22 oil-exporting countries which meets regularly to decide how much crude oil to sell on the world market.
• Aim: To work together on adjusting crude oil production to bring stability to the oil market.
• At the core of this group are the 12 members of OPEC (the Organization of the Oil Exporting Countries), which are mainly Middle Eastern and African countries.
• Members: 12 members of OPEC (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, and Venezuela) and 10 other oil-producing countries (Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, South Sudan and Sudan).
• Russia, a major oil producer surpassing even Saudi Arabia, holds a pivotal position alongside OPEC in shaping worldwide crude oil price trends.

OPEC

• About: It is a permanent, intergovernmental organization of 12 countries, created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Angola decided to left the grouping in Dec 2023, effective from Jan 2024.
• Headquarter: Vienna, Austria.
• Aim: To regulate oil supply with the aim of stabilizing the global oil price, thus preventing volatility that could negatively impact the economies of both oil-producing and oil-importing nations.

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6. WHITE REVOLUTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The government’s latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2022-23 shows milk emerging as India’s top food spend item, both in rural and urban areas.

Key Point of Report

• Monthly Expenditure: In rural India, an average person spends Rs 314 monthly on milk and dairy products, surpassing spending on vegetables (Rs 203), cereals, egg, fish & meat, fruits, edible oil, spices, and pulses.
• Urban Preferences: The HCES data for urban India indicates a similar trend, with monthly expenditures on milk leading at Rs 466, followed by fruits, vegetables, cereals, egg, fish & meat, edible oil, spices, and pulses.
• Positive Impact on Dairy Industry: The rising trend of increased spending on milk, often considered a "superior" food, brings positive news for the dairy industry and farmers.
• Inflation Concerns: The first challenge stems from consumer demand impacted by inflation, with the all-India modal price of milk rising from Rs 42 to Rs 60 per litre in the last five years, particularly witnessing a significant increase from Rs 52 to Rs 60 in the last year alone.

White Revolution

• About: Dr. Verghese Kurein was the visionary behind the White Revolution, establishing key institutions like Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
• NDDB's Role: The White Revolution, led by NDDB in the 1970s, relied on village milk producers' cooperatives as its foundation.
• Phases of the Revolution:

oPhase I (1970-1980): Financed by the European Union, this phase saw the sale of butter oil and skimmed milk powder, laying the groundwork for the revolution.

oPhase II (1981-1985): Marked by an expansion of milk sheds and outlets, it established a self-sustaining system involving millions of milk producers and thousands of village cooperatives.

oPhase III (1985-1996): This phase focused on expanding dairy cooperatives, enhancing the program, and fortifying the infrastructure for procuring and marketing increasing milk volumes.

• Objectives: To boost milk production, creating what was metaphorically described as "a flood of milk."

Significance

• Empowering Farmers: The revolution empowered dairy farmers to control their own development, managing the resources they generate.
• Global Impact: India's success in the White Revolution led to becoming the world's largest milk producer in 2016-17, currently contributing 22% of global milk production.

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7. WORLD WILDLIFE DAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Prime Minister of India, greeted the wildlife enthusiasts on the World Wildlife Day.

World Wildlife Day

• About: The day is dedicated to celebrating the world's wild animals and plants, acknowledging their vital contributions to our lives and the overall health of the planet.
• Annual Celebration: The International Day of Wild Fauna and Flora is observed every year on March 3, emphasizing global awareness and appreciation for biodiversity.
• Origin: World Wildlife Day was initially proposed by Thailand to the United Nations General Assembly in 2013.
• Official Designation: The United Nations General Assembly officially adopted a resolution on December 20, 2013, designating March 3rd as World Wildlife Day.
• Significance: The chosen date holds significance as it marks the birthday of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which was signed in 1973.
• Theme 2024: Connecting People and Earth: Discovering Innovations for Wildlife
• Theme 2023: Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

• About: Resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Entry into Force: CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975.
• Legally Binding Nature: CITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, which are obliged to adopt their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.
• Aim: To ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

oIt accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants.

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8. Nhava Sheva Port (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Customs officials recently seized a dual-use consignment on a Karachi-bound ship at Nhava Sheva port, suspecting it could be used for Pakistan's nuclear programs.

Nhava Sheva Port or Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT)

• Location: The Port of Nhava Sheva is situated to the east of the Port of Mumbai, approximately six nautical miles away across Thane Creek on the Arabian Sea.
• Administrative Control: Commonly referred to as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, it is administered by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
• Busiest Port Status: Regarded as the busiest port in India, handling nearly half of the country’s imports and exports.
• Entry Channel: The Port of Nhava Sheva and the Port of Mumbai share a common entry channel spanning about 21 kilometers (33.9 miles) with a depth ranging from 10.1 to 11 meters (33 to 36 feet).
• Importance:

oIt is the second largest container port in India after Mundra Port.

oIt is also the terminal of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.

Major Ports of India:

• India has 13 major ports - Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore (Kamarajar), Tuticorin (V O Chidambaranar), Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

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9. INS GARUDA  (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: The Indian Navy recently announced the commissioning of the newly inducted MH 60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter at INS Garuda in Kochi.

INS Garuda

• Historic Commissioning: INS Garuda (ICAO: VOCC) stands as the oldest operational air station of the Indian Navy, commissioned on 11 May 1953 in Kochi, Kerala.
• Strategic Location: Situated adjacent to INS Venduruthy and the Southern Naval Command headquarters, INS Garuda serves as a pivotal naval air training center and operational base.

Cradle of Naval Aviation: INS Garuda holds a prestigious position as the birthplace of naval aviation in India, nurturing the growth of air capabilities within the Indian Navy.

• 70 Years of Service: Celebrating 70 years of illustrious service to the Indian Navy, INS Garuda remains a premier Naval Air Station within the Southern Naval Command.
• Home of Pioneering Aircraft: Hosting the first amphibious aircraft of the Indian Navy, the Sealanders, INS Garuda has evolved into a comprehensive air base operating some of the most advanced air assets of the Indian Navy.
• Historical Significance: The term "Garuda" in the naval context traces back to the Royal Navy's establishment of 'HMS Garuda,' a dedicated Aircraft Repair Yard, in Peelamedu, Coimbatore, in 1942.
• Decommissioning of 'HMS Garuda': The Royal Navy's 'HMS Garuda' in Peelamedu, Coimbatore, marked the initial use of the term "Garuda" in naval operations, serving as an aircraft repair yard until its decommissioning on 01 September 1946.

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10. INS JATAYU (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: A small naval base INS Jatayu will be commissioned at Minicoy on March 6, as part of the government's plan to incrementally boost military presence and security infrastructure in the Arabian Sea.

INS Jatayu

• Strategic Naval Base: INS Jatayu becomes the second Naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
• Enhancing Navy's Presence: Commissioning of INS Jatayu strengthens Indian Navy's foothold in Lakshadweep islands, extending operational surveillance, reach, and sustenance.
• Capacity Building and Development: Its establishment ushers in a new era of capacity building and comprehensive development of the island territories.
• Security Infrastructure: The event signifies a crucial milestone in the Navy’s commitment to augment security infrastructure at the strategically vital Lakshadweep Islands.

Significance of the Naval Detachment

• Enhanced Operational Capability: Basing an independent Naval unit with necessary infrastructure and resources enhances the overall operational capability of the Indian Navy in the islands.
• Expanded Operational Reach: The base facilitates Indian Navy’s operational efforts towards Anti-Piracy and Anti-Narcotics Operations in the Western Arabian Sea, serving as the first responder and improving connectivity with the mainland.

Minicoy Islands

• Location: Minicoy Island, the southernmost tip of Lakshadweep, rests 398 kilometers (215 nautical miles) southwest of Kochi, India.
• Dimensions and Proximity: With a land area of 4.80 square kilometers, Minicoy boasts one of the largest lagoons in Lakshadweep. 
• Lies between: The island neighbors the bustling 9° Channel, a crucial shipping route, and lies approximately 130 kilometers north of the Maldivian archipelago.

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