1. PRIME MINISTERS’ MUSEUM & LIBRARY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library (PMML) has decided that it will not permit future donors of Private Papers of eminent personalities to impose indefinite conditions on the declassification of such material.

Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library (PMML)

• About: It is housed in the historic Teen Murti campus, located south of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the capital city of India.
• Designed by: Robert Tor Russel and built in 1929-30 as part of Edwin Lutyens' imperial capital, Teen Murti House was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief in India.
• Objective: To promoting advanced research on Modern and Contemporary India.
• Private Papers: It come from diverse sources like families, institutions, universities, and private donors.
• Personal Papers: It held in a purely personal capacity are typically excluded from private collections.

Nehru's Papers at PMML

• Origins of Nehru's Papers: The Jawaharlal Nehru Papers were the first set of Private Papers obtained by the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML).
• Initial Transfer: The Private Papers of Nehru, spanning both the pre-Independence and post-Independence periods, were transferred to PMML in several batches starting in 1971.
• Facilitation: This transfer was facilitated by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) on behalf of Nehru’s legal heir, Indira Gandhi, who apparently remained the owner of these documents until her assassination in October 1984.
• Post-1946 Papers: Subsequently, a substantial collection of Nehru’s Papers from the post-1946 period was handed over to PMML by Sonia Gandhi.
• Collection of Private Papers at PMML
• Diverse Leadership Papers: The PMML has the largest collection of Private Papers in the country, which originally belonged to some 1,000 personalities of modern India.
• Prominent Figures Included: This collection encompasses the papers of notable leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Bhikaji Cama, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and many others.

---

2. EXERCISE NOMADIC ELEPHANT (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT is set to commence in Umroi, Meghalaya, focusing on enhancing tactical skills and interoperability between the two nations' armed forces.

Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT

• About: This exercise marks the 16th edition of the annual India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise.
• Participants from India: The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel from the Battalion of SIKKIM SCOUTS, along with members from other arms and services.
• Objective: Aimed at enhancing joint military capabilities for counter-insurgency operations in a Sub Conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.

oThe exercise aims to enhance inter-operability and foster camaraderie and bonhomie between the Indian and Mongolian armies.

• Focus Areas: Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
• Tactical Drills: It include response to a terrorist action, establishment of a Joint Command Post, establishment of an Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, and securing of a Helipad/Landing Site.
• Sharing Best Practices: Both sides will exchange tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting joint military operations.
• Impact on Bilateral Relations: It is expected that the exercise will strengthen defence cooperation and further bolster bilateral relations between India and Mongolia.

---

3. ZINC (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech/Environment)

Context: Researchers have discovered that zinc plays a crucial role in the health of legume crops.

Zinc

• About: It is a component of mixed ores alongside lead, is primarily found in veins associated with minerals like galena, chalcopyrites, iron pyrites, and sulfides.
• Global Importance: Ranked as the fourth most widely used metal globally, after steel, aluminium, and copper.
• India maintains self-sufficiency in zinc production, with significant reserves in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
• Global Reserves: Australia holds the largest share of global zinc reserves at 27%, followed by China (18%), and Russia, Mexico, Peru, Kazakhstan, and the USA.
• Uses of Zinc:

oThe largest consumer of zinc is the galvanising industry, utilizing its corrosion-resistant properties to protect steel.

oZinc is extensively used in producing die-castings crucial for automobiles, electrical components, and hardware.

oZinc oxide finds widespread use in manufacturing products like paints and rubber due to its properties.

Biological Role of Zinc:

• Trace Mineral Importance: Zinc is a trace mineral essential for nearly 100 enzymes, vital for DNA creation, cell growth, protein building, tissue repair, and immune system function.
• Role in Nitrogen Fixation: Zinc aids in nitrogen fixation in plants, crucial for converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, benefiting legume crops through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia.

Key Findings

• Legume nodules involved in nitrogen fixation are sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, drought, flooding, soil salinity, and nitrogen levels.
• Zinc regulates nitrogen fixation efficiency in legumes through a transcriptional regulator called Fixation Under Nitrate (FUN), which controls nodule breakdown under high soil nitrogen levels.
• Zinc modulates FUN activity by forming large filament structures that can be dismantled to release active FUN based on zinc availability in the soil.

---

4. WPI TO PPI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The country will have a Producer Price Index (PPI) to gauge the price pressures in the next few months, in addition to the extant consumer price index, and wholesale price index (WPI) may be on its way out.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

• About: The WPI is a gauge used to monitor and record fluctuations in the prices of bulk goods at the wholesale level within India.
• Published by: Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Base year: WPI has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.
• Formula: WPI = (Total value of the basket of goods and services at current prices / Total value of the basket of goods and services at base year prices) x 100
• Component of WPI: Manufactured products = 65% approx (64.2% now)

oPrimary articles = 20% approx (22.6% now)

oFuel and power = 15% approx (13.1% now)

• India is one of the few countries that still uses WPI. All members of the G-20, including China, have PPI. PPI globally tracks price movements in both goods and services.

Producer Price Index (PPI)

• About: It is a family of indexes that measures the average change over time in selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services. PPIs measure price change from the perspective of the seller.
• Calculation: PPI = (Value of Total Output at Current Prices ÷ Value of Total Output at Base Year Prices) x 100
• Coverage of PPI: Mining, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry, Gas, Electricity, Waste and Scrap materials.

Differences Between PPI and WPI

• Measurement Focus: PPI measures the average change in prices received by producers and excludes indirect taxes.
• WPI captures price changes at the point of bulk transactions and may include some taxes and transportation costs.
• Adjustment for Bias: PPI removes the multiple counting bias inherent in WPI, providing a more accurate representation of price changes.
• Inclusion of Costs: PPI excludes additional costs imposed by taxes and transportation, focusing solely on the price changes of goods and services.

---

5. LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India's External Affairs Minister emphasized the need for India and China to intensify efforts towards complete troop disengagement and restoring peace on the Line of Actual Control to normalize bilateral relations.

Line of Actual Control (LAC)

• About: The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
• Three Areas: Western (Ladakh, Kashmir),

omiddle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and

oeastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).

• As LAC is not fully and officially demarcated, it has led to differing perceptions regarding the alignment, with China making territorial claims in the following areas.
• The countries disagree on the exact location of the LAC in various areas, so much so that India claims that the LAC is 3,488 km long while the Chinese believe it to be around 2,000 km long.
• The two armies try to dominate by patrolling the areas up to their respective perceptions of the LAC, often bringing them into conflict.

Importance of Ladakh

• About: Ladakh, also known as "the Land of Passes," is the largest among the regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, 
• Coverage: Area of 95,876 km2. It is administered by India as a union territory.
• Bordering Territories: Shares borders with the Chinese Tibet Autonomous Region to the east, Himachal Pradesh to the south, Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass to the west and far north, respectively.

---

6. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FUND (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme is pivotal in bolstering 'Atma Nirbharta' in the defense sector through technology advancement initiatives.

Technology Development Fund (TDF)

• About: The TDF scheme aims to foster involvement from both public and private sectors, with a special focus on startups and MSMEs, to cultivate a robust ecosystem in advanced technology.
• Implemented by: DRDO, under the 'Make in India' initiative.
• Promoting Self-Reliance: To promote 'Aatmanirbharta' by reducing dependency on foreign technology through indigenous development.
• Objectives of the TDF

oTo provide Grant in Aid to Indian industries, including MSMEs & start-ups, as well as academic and scientific institutions for the development of defence and dual use technologies that are currently not available with the Indian defence Industry.

oTo engage with the private industries, especially MSMEs and start-ups, to bring in the culture of Design & Development of Military Technology and support them with Grant in Aid.

oTo focus on Research, Design & Development of Niche technologies which are being developed for the first time in the country.

---

7. GHARIALS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The female gharial was found to be the only one of its kind moving between a “sandy shoreline” and a “sand bar with a shoreline water depth of 4.5 metres”.

Gharials 

• About: These are freshwater crocodiles primarily found in deep, fast-flowing rivers.
• Distribution: Historically, they were widespread in river systems across India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Distinctive Features: Female gharials lack the distinctive ghara (pot-like structure) on the tip of the snout that males possess.
• Reintroduction Proposal: Brahmaputra landscape, focusing on the Biswanath Division, due to suitable habitat conditions.
• Rehabilitation Centers: Gharials for reintroduction likely to come from the Kukrail gharial breeding center near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and the National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
• Crocodilian Species in India

oGharial (Gavialis gangeticus) - Critically Endangered.

oMugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) - Vulnerable.

oSaltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) - Least Concern.

Brahmaputra

• About: Originates from the Chemayungdung glacier in southwestern Tibet.
• Its source is near the origins of the Indus and Satluj rivers.
• Confluence: Near the town of Sadiya, the Dihang river turns southwest and is joined by the Lohit and Dibang mountain streams.
• Below this confluence, it becomes known as the Brahmaputra.

---

8. INDIA GAUR (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: After several decades, the Indian gaur, locally extinct, has been sighted once again in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Gaur

• About: The Indian Bison, or Gaur, is the largest and tallest wild cattle species.
• Scientific Name: Bos gaurus
• Distribution: Gaurs are native to South and Southeast Asia.
• Habitat: Gaurs inhabit evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, along with moist deciduous forests and open grasslands. 

oThey prefer hilly terrains below 1,500-1,800 m altitude with large, undisturbed forest tracts and abundant water.

• Features: Indian Bison can reach lengths of 240-340 cm and heights of 170-230 cm. Adult males weigh 600-1500 kg, while females weigh 400-1000 kg. Conservation Status: Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Schedule I), and included in CITES Appendix I.

Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)

• Location: Situated in the Nallamala hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh, spanning Guntur, Prakasam, and Kurnool districts.
• Establishment: Designated as a Tiger Reserve in 1983, it is the largest in India, covering 5,937 sq. km.
• Name Origin: Named after the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam, major dams in the area.
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Includes Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary.
• River: The Krishna River runs through the reserve for approximately 270 kilometers.
• Flora: Andrographis nallamalayana and Dicliptera beddomei.
• Fauna: Tigers, Leopards, Wolves, Wild Dogs, Jackals, and prey species like Sambar, Chital, and Wild Boar. The Krishna River hosts Muggers, Otters, and Turtles.

---

9. WESTERN DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure)

Context: The execution problems faced by the Tata Projects and challenges in the construction work have led to inordinate delays in the implementation of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC)

• About: The WDFC spans approximately 1,500 kilometers from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai.

oIt traverses through Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, connecting major ports en route.

• Funding: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), highlighting international collaboration in infrastructure development.
• Connecting Link: Currently, the section between Dadri and Khurja is under construction, aiming to link the eastern and western arms of the freight corridor.
• Industrial Corridor Development: The development of the Delhi-Mumbai and Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridors is closely integrated with the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs).
• Benefits:

oLogistics costs are expected to decrease significantly due to streamlined freight transport.

oImproved transportation systems will lead to higher energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint.

oGoods will be transported faster, benefiting industries dependent on timely deliveries.

oThe WDFC is designed to be environmentally friendly, minimizing ecological disruptions.

---

10. SKIMMED MILK POWDER (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy/Sci & Tech)

Context: With many states implementing strict anti-slaughter laws, Indian dairy farmers struggle to dispose of unproductive cattle. Compounding their woes, they now face a surplus of skimmed milk powder (SMP).

Skimmed Milk Powder

• About: It is obtained by removing water from pasteurised skim milk by spray-drying. 

oIt is classified according to the heat treatment used in its manufacture (high heat, medium heat, and low heat).

• Storable Components: Only milk solids—fat and solids-not-fat (SNF)—are storable.
• Composition of Milk: On average, cow milk contains 3.5% fat and 8.5% SNF, while buffalo milk contains 6.5% fat and 9% SNF.
• Conversion During Seasons

oFlush Season Production: During the flush season, when milk production is high, dairies convert surplus milk into butter and ghee from cream (fat) and skimmed milk powder (SMP) from SNF.

oLean Season Usage: During the lean season, when milk production is low, SMP is recombined with water to meet liquid milk demand.

oRegional Flush Seasons: July to December in the South and Maharashtra (cow-dominant), and September to March in the North and Gujarat (buffalo-dominant).

• Surplus SMP Problem

oExcess Milk Procurement: Dairies face issues when they procure more milk than needed, creating excess SMP and butter/ghee without buyers.

oAnnual SMP Production: Indian dairies produce 5.5-6 lakh tonnes of SMP annually.

oSMP Utilization: About 4 lakh tonnes are used for recombining during the lean season; 1.5-2 lakh tonnes are used in food and industrial products.

---