theIASHub | 05 Apr, 2025 | 5
Get expert-curated videos and notes directly on your phone.
Never miss any important exam-related topic.
BIMSTEC: At the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok, the Prime Minister of India unveiled a 21-point Action Plan to strengthen regional cooperation and announced the setting up of a Centre of Excellence for Traditional Medicine to foster research and dissemination in the sector.
o Business & Trade: Set up a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce
o Information Technology: Pilot study to assess Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) needs and enable UPI payment connectivity across member nations.
o Disaster Management: Establish a Centre of Excellence in India and conduct the 4th joint disaster management exercise
o Space Cooperation: Develop ground stations for training and remote sensing and promote Nano Satellite manufacturing and launching
o Capacity Building & Training: Launch the BODHI Initiative (training 300 youth/year)
o Youth Engagement: Organize BIMSTEC Young Leaders' Summit and launch BIMSTEC Hackathon & Young Professional Visitors Programme
o Member Countries: South Asia - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand.
o Key Features: Acts as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia, linking the Himalayan region with the Bay of Bengal → Focuses on sectors like economic growth, trade, technology, energy, security, and connectivity → Serves as an alternative to SAARC for promoting regional cooperation.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): The Speaker of the Lok Sabha will head a parliamentary delegation to attend the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
o Serves as a global platform for cooperation among national parliaments, fostering mutual understanding and democratic practices across borders.
Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II): Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, has approved the launch of VVP-II for the financial years 2024–25 to 2028–29.
o Enhance internal security by integrating border populations as partners in surveillance.
o Tackle trans-border crimes and boost national unity.
o Promote cultural integration and national pride in remote villages.
DEEPFAKES: As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to advance rapidly and becomes increasingly integrated into digital platforms, the Government of India is taking proactive measures to address the growing threat of deepfakes.
o Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act): It includes penalties for identity theft, privacy violations, sharing obscene or child abuse content, and other unlawful digital activities.
o IT Rules, 2021 & Amendments: Intermediaries must follow due diligence, promptly remove unlawful content when flagged, and prevent content that promotes hate, threatens national integrity, misleads users, or spreads misinformation like deepfakes.
o Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): It include deepfake advisories, Cyber Swachhta Kendra, CSIRT-Fin, and cyber hygiene awareness, along with campaigns like Cyber Security Awareness Month, Safer Internet Day, and Cyber Jagrookta Diwas.
o Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): Set up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and a toll-free helpline 1930 for reporting cyber frauds, including deepfakes.
Ottawa Convention: NATO members Poland, Finland, and all three Baltic states have recently announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, citing growing military threats from Russia and increases concern over civilian casualties from anti-personnel landmines.
o Anti-personnel landmines are hidden in the ground and detonate when someone steps on or nears them.
o As of August 2024, the UN reported 1,286 civilian victims of mines in Ukraine, making it the most mined country in the world.
Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP): The Union Minister of Port Shipping and Waterways was recent launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP).
o It aims to phase out conventional fuel-based harbour tugs operating in Indian Major Ports and replace them with green tugs powered by cleaner and more sustainable alternative fuels.
o Implementation Phases: Phase 1 will begin on October 1, 2024, and continue until December 31, 2027.
o During this phase, four Major Ports — Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority — will procure or charter at least two green tugs each, based on standardized designs and specifications issued by the Standing Specification Committee (SSC).
o Nodal Agency: The National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) will act as the nodal entity for this programme.
o Aim: India aims at becoming a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030.
o The ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’ will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and will subsequently adopt non-fossil fuel solutions like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen.
Zoonotic diseases & One Health Approach: India is set to launch a first-of-its-kind inter-ministerial scientific study to address zoonotic spillover risks at the human-wildlife-environment interface, focusing on bird sanctuaries and wetlands across Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
o The study aims to establish India’s first early warning system for zoonotic spillovers, enhancing preparedness for potential public health threats.
o Some people are more likely to get really sick after being infected with certain diseases.
o There are simple ways to help protect yourself and your family from zoonotic diseases
o The National One Health Mission (NOHM) reflects the Government of India’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge science in real-world settings.
o The project involves collaboration between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Agriculture.
Pope’s pit viper: A new study has uncoded the mysteries of how the venom of Pope’s Pit Viper, a snake species native to northern and northeastern parts of India, works.
o The venom composition of Pope's Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum), an arboreal, nocturnal serpent indigenous to the dense forests of Northeast India, remains unexamined until now.
-antivenom compositions. It was recently published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
o Contemporary label-free quantitative proteomics identified 106 proteins in the venom, categorized into 12 toxin families.
o 60% of its venom comprises enzymes that break down proteins, damage tissue, interfere with blood coagulation, and induce local haemorrhage.
o The venom's harmful components are mostly toxic enzymes, demonstrating their deleterious effects on the victim.
o By comprehending the proteomic complexity of Pope's Pit Viper venom, researchers have established a foundation for venom toxicity, pharmaceutical advancements, and enhanced antivenom compositions.
o As India endeavours to decrease snakebite mortality by 50% by 2030, such innovative research would facilitate transforming venom studies into life-saving medical treatments.
Refine your answer writing skills and elevate your UPSC preparation with personalized support and expert feedback.
Fill out the form to get started with the program or any other enquiries !
Are you dreaming of becoming an IAS officer? Then, IAShub can be your best guide. It is one of the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi. Many students who want to clear the UPSC exam join IAShub for learning. The institute gives both online and offline classes. Their teachers are experienced and helpful. They easily explain every topic. Students also get notes, tests, and tips to do well in the exam.
IAShub is in Delhi and is trusted by many UPSC students. It offers coaching for every part of the UPSC exam – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The classes are simple and easy to understand. The teachers are experts and guide students in the right way. IAShub is also known for its helpful notes, test series, and answer-writing practice. IAShub is the best coaching in Delhi and also gives UPSC Online Classes. This helps students from any place in India to learn. The online classes are live and also recorded. So, students can watch them anytime. These classes cover the full UPSC syllabus.
Here are some important services provided by IAShub:
The UPSC Civil Services Exam has three parts:
This exam is tough, but with the right guidance, it becomes easy to manage. Students must study smart and stay regular.
IAShub supports students from the beginning to the end. It gives the right books, tests, and notes. The classes are easy to follow, and the teachers are always ready to help. Students get personal doubt sessions too. The test series and answer checking help students learn where they need to do better. Also, free study materials save time and money.
IAShub also guides students during the final stage – the interview. Experts take mock interviews and give useful tips. This full support makes IAShub one of the best IAS coaching in Delhi.
Detailed Solutions & Explanations
Improve Your Answer Writing & Strategy
