1. INCOIS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: INCOIS recently issued a red alert for South Tamil Nadu coastal districts due to anticipated high-energy swell waves, posing a risk of severe inundation, particularly in low-lying areas, starting from the early hours.

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services

• About: It operates as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
• Establishment: 1999
• Headquarters:  Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Mandate: INCOIS is mandated to provide ocean information and advisory services.

oIts services cater to society, industry, government agencies, and the scientific community.

Objectives of INCOIS: 

• To provide reliable, timely, and accurate ocean information and advisory services for the benefit of various user communities.
• To establish and maintain a system for monitoring, analyzing, and predicting ocean parameters and providing ocean information services.
• To develop and maintain a comprehensive ocean observational network, data management system, and information dissemination infrastructure.
• To promote capacity building and human resource development in oceanography and related areas.
• Services and Products

oPotential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Advisories

oOcean State Forecast (OSF)

oTsunami Early Warning System

oOcean Observing Systems

oSatellite Oceanography

oOcean Data and Information System

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2. ETA AQUARIIDS METEOR SHOWER (Syllabus GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, recently active since April 15th, features burning space debris hurtling into Earth's atmosphere at speeds of about 66 km per second, best observed in May, particularly from countries like Indonesia and Australia in the Southern Hemisphere.

Eta Aquariids

• About: It is linked to Halley's Comet, appearing annually from approximately April 19 to May 28, reaching its peak activity near May 5.
• Rapid Speed: Eta Aquariids are distinguished by their rapid speed, resulting in long, glowing tails that endure for several minutes.
• Varying Visibility: NASA reports a discrepancy in visibility between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres during the peak of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower.
• Advantage: In the Southern Hemisphere, observers may witness around 30 to 40 Eta Aquarid meteors per hour, owing to a more favorable viewing angle.
• Limitations: In the Northern Hemisphere typically see only about 10 meteors per hour due to the less optimal radiant position.

Comets

• About: These are frozen remnants from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago, composed of dust, rock, and ice.
• Orbital Characteristics: Comets orbit the Sun in highly elliptical orbits, sometimes taking hundreds of thousands of years to complete a single orbit.
• Known Comets: NASA currently recognizes 3,910 comets, with potentially billions more orbiting beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort cloud.

How exactly are meteor showers related to comets?

• Nature of Meteors: These are grains of dust or rock that burn up in Earth's atmosphere, leaving behind a brief tail due to the burning process.
• Formation of Meteor Showers: It occur when Earth traverses through clouds of dust left behind in a comet's orbital path, resulting in the illumination of the sky with meteor tails.

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3. WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Governance)

Context: World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd, recently celebrated the fundamental principles of press freedom, emphasizing their vital importance.

World Press Freedom Day 2024

• About: Every May 3, the global community observes Press Freedom Day.
• Origin: The concept of World Press Freedom Day originated during a UNESCO conference in Namibia in 1991.

oIt was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993.

• 2024 Theme: A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.’
• 2023 Theme: Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights.
• Global Significance: The day underscores the critical importance of press freedom worldwide.
• Challenges: It serves to acknowledge and address the various challenges faced by journalists.
• Tribute: Press Freedom Day also honors the memory of journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
• UN Declaration: Initially proposed in 1991 at a UNESCO session, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared World Press Freedom Day in 1993.

World Press Freedom Index

• Origin: The WPFI was initiated in 2002 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
• Coverage: It assesses countries' press freedom performance in the preceding year.
• Purpose: The index aims to highlight the status of press freedom globally.
• Five categories: Political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context and security. 

oScores for India dropped (worsened) in all but the security indicator.

• India’s rank: Improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024.

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4. CODEX STANDARDS AND FSSAI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has raised the maximum residue limit (MRL) for a pesticide in herbs and spices to 0.1mg/kg from the earlier 0.01mg/kg.

Codex

• About: It comprises globally acknowledged standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations.
• Issued by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning food, food production, food labeling, and food safety.
• Members: Currently the Codex Alimentarius Commission has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union).

  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 

• Status: FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi. 
• Regional office: The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai.

Maximum Residue Limit

• About: It is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice.
• Codex Standards: Codex establishes Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for residues in both food and animal feed.
• Global Guidelines These MRLs serve as international standards for residue levels in food products.

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

Context: The Delhi High Court has ordered State authorities to take action against the spurious use of oxytocin on cattle in dairy colonies in the Capital.

Oxytocin

• About: Also known as the love hormone,' is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pituitary glands in mammals.
• Natural Functions: It is released during various physiological events such as sexual activity, childbirth, lactation, and social bonding.
• Synthetic Production: Apart from its natural production, oxytocin can also be synthesized chemically and is manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.
• Administration Methods: It is commonly administered either through injections or as a nasal solution.
• Roles: Oxytocin plays crucial roles in contracting the uterus during childbirth, controlling bleeding postpartum, and facilitating the release of breast milk.
• Preventing Complications: Its use is particularly vital in preventing complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, which significantly contributes to maternal mortality rates.
• Current Data: According to a sample registration scheme survey in India conducted from 2001 to 2003, postpartum hemorrhage accounted for 38 percent of maternal deaths, highlighting the importance of interventions like oxytocin administration.

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6. GARO HILLS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Geological Survey of India (GSI) explorers uncovered ancient fossils in Tolegre, South Garo Hills of Meghalaya, marking a significant breakthrough.

Garo Hills

• Location: Western Meghalaya state, northeastern India.
• Geographical Features

oEco-region: Part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests eco-region, situated near the Indo-Bangladesh border.

oPatkai Hill Range: Garo Hills are part of the Patkai hill range, extending across the Indo-Myanmar border.

oDrainage and Climate: The region is drained by various tributaries of the Brahmaputra River and experiences exceptionally high rainfall.

• Biodiversity and Resources: Garo Hills is densely forested, with notable flora such as rice, cotton, sal (genus Shorea), bamboo, and lac.

oIt is rich in natural resources including coal, limestone, and petroleum.

• Mountain Ranges: Arabella range and Tura range traverse Garo Hills, forming the Balpakram valley..
• Highest Point: Nokrek Peak, reaching 1412 m, covered in dense forests.
• National Park: Nokrek National Park, situated in the western part of Garo Hills, safeguards a remarkably diverse plant and animal ecosystem.
• Recognition: Designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009.

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7. SECTION 498A OF INDIAN PENAL CODE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court urged the Centre to review the dowry harassment provisions in the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing concerns over the potential misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by wives against their husbands and in-laws.

Section 498A of Indian Penal Code

• About: It deals with the criminal offense of "cruelty by husband or relatives of husband" towards a married woman.
• Introduced in: 1983 as an amendment to address domestic violence and harassment against married women in India.
• Legal Provisions:

oOffenders, including husbands or their relatives, can face up to three years in jail for subjecting the wife to cruelty.

oApplies specifically to married women.

oText of Section 498A: “Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine”.

• Definition of Cruelty: "Cruelty" includes conduct likely to drive the woman to suicide or cause grave injury, as well as harassment aimed at coercing her or others related to her.
• Bail Under Section 498A: Enacted in 1860, Section 498A is a non-compoundable and cognizable offense.

oBail can only be granted by the Magistrate after an FIR has been filed based on a complaint by the aggrieved party.

• Judicial Guidance: The Supreme Court emphasizes sparing use of Section 498A, reserving it for cases with genuine evidence of cruelty.

oIt should not be misused for personal vendettas or to settle scores.

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8. CLIMATE FINANCE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: India has been a vocal advocate and leader among G20 nations in calling for urgent climate financing.

Climate Finance

• Definition: It refers to financial resources provided by developed countries to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing nations.
• Importance: of climate finance in addressing global climate change challenges and promoting sustainable development.
• Global Mechanism: The UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement call on Parties with larger financial resources (Developed Countries) to provide financial support to those who are less wealthy and more vulnerable (Developing Countries).

Global Financial Mechanisms

• Global Environmental Facility: The GEF, established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, is a catalyst for action on the environment. 
• Through its strategic investments, the GEF works with partners to tackle the planet's biggest environmental issues.
• Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF): The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) was established in 2001 to support a work programme to assist Least Developed Country Parties (LDCs) carry out, inter alia, the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs).
• The SCCF, or Special Climate Change Fund: It was created in 2001 to address the specific needs of developing countries under the UNFCCC to adapt to the impact of climate change and increase resilience. 

G20

• Origin: Formed in 1999 in the backdrop of the financial crisis of the late 1990s that hit East Asia and Southeast Asia in particular.
• Aim and objective: To secure global financial stability by involving middle-income countries.
• Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the EU.

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9. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The recently held United Nations summit in New York evaluated progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sustainable Development Goals

• About: It is the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
• Adopted by: United Nations in 2015 
• Vision: To achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. 

oThe 17 SDGs came into force with effect from 1st January 2016 as a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

oIndia is one of the signatory countries that has committed to achieving these goals by 2030.

oSDGs are not legally binding.

• UN SDG Report, 2023: It identified five key areas for urgent action: Commitment of governments to seven years of accelerated, sustained and transformative actions to deliver on the promises of SDGs; concrete, integrated and targeted government policies and actions to eradicate poverty.

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10. CYCLONE HIDAYA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: According to the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), Cyclone 'Hidaya', a severe storm, is anticipated to make landfall on the Tanzanian coast south of Dar es Salaam from the Indian Ocean recently.

Cyclone Hidaya

• Geographical Formation: It emerged over the South Indian Ocean.
• Location: It developed east of Tanzania and north-northeast of the Comoros archipelago.
• Naming by: The designation 'Hidaya' was assigned to the cyclone by Meteo France's center in the Indian Ocean French Overseas Department.
• Flood Devastation in East Africa:

oExtent of Damage: Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi have faced severe flood havoc since March this year.

Cyclone

• About: A cyclone is a large, rotating storm system with low pressure at its centre. Cyclones can form in any ocean basin, but they are most common in the tropics. 
• Impacts: Cyclones can cause a variety of hazards, including strong winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.
• Types of Cyclones

oTropical Cyclones: These are the most common type of cyclones. They form over warm, tropical oceans and are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges.

oExtratropical Cyclones: These cyclones form over cooler waters and are not as strong as tropical cyclones. They are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and snow.

oMid-latitude Cyclones: These cyclones form in the midlatitudes and are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and snow.

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