1. HPV VACCINE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: January was observed as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Additionally, every year, March 4 is observed as International HPV Awareness Day.

HPV Vaccine

• About: HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, with around 40 strains known to spread through sexual activity.

o Approximately 80% of sexually active individuals will contract an HPV infection at some point, though healthy immune systems often clear the virus.

• Also known as: Human Papillomavirus
• HPV Strains and Health Impacts: Certain strains of HPV are responsible for genital warts, while others can lead to various cancers if left untreated.
• Recommended Ages: HPV vaccination is recommended at ages 11–12 years, with the option to start as early as 9 years.
• Types of HPV Vaccines:

o Licensed Vaccines: Three HPV vaccines—9-valent HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9, 9vHPV), quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil, 4vHPV), and bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix, 2vHPV)—have been licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

o Cervavac is the first Indian-made HPV vaccine by the Serum Institute of India. 

• Comprehensive Protection: All three HPV vaccines protect against HPV types 16 and 18 which cause most HPV cancers.

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2. PARAKH (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Social Justice)

Context: The National Council for Educational and Research Training (NCERT) has introduced a new “holistic” report card PARAKH that incorporates feedback from parents, classmates, and even self-evaluation by students to track their overall progress regularly.

PARAKH

• About: PARAKH, a standard-setting body under the NCERT, has developed the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) catering to foundational, preparatory, and middle stages of education.
• Adoption and Adaptation Across States: The NCERT has urged all states to either adopt or adapt the HPC according to their specific educational requirements.
• Shift from Traditional Assessment Methods: Historically reliant on year-end exams, the HPC aligns with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) to provide a more "learner-centric" approach, departing from exclusive focus on exam scores.
• Comprehensive Evaluation Criteria: The HPC goes beyond academic performance, evaluating diverse skills, competencies, socio-emotional abilities, and creativity during class activities.
• Evaluation and Student Participation: The HPC promotes a descriptive form of evaluation where students actively participate, assessing not only their own performance but also that of their classmates.
• Building Self-Awareness and Self-Esteem: Aligned with the NEP 2020, the HPC aims to enhance students' self-awareness and self-esteem by communicating strengths and areas for improvement.
• Ambition Card for Middle Stage: The HPC for the middle stage includes an "ambition card," allowing students to outline their ambitions for the year and identify areas for improvement, skills, and habits to develop.
• Parental Involvement and Linking Home: The HPC bridges the gap between home and school by integrating parents into the child’s learning process, incorporating their insights on homework, classroom engagement, and balancing screen time with extracurricular activities.

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3. CHAKSHU (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Internal Security)

Context: The government introduced the Chakshu portal as part of the Sanchar Sathi initiative, allowing users to report suspicious activities such as fraudulent calls, messages regarding lottery or job offers, and potential leaks of phone numbers by businesses.

Chakshu

• About: It is a new platform by the Department of Telecommunications, simplifies reporting on fraud calls and messages and facilitates real-time intelligence-sharing among stakeholders.
• Fraudulent Communication: Indian citizens can report fraudulent communication, whether received through calls, SMS, or social media platforms like WhatsApp, using Chakshu. 

oThe platform triggers re-verification, leading to disconnection if failed.

• Addressing Impersonation and Fraud Instances: Chakshu acts as an information exchange among telecom companies, law enforcement agencies, banks, financial institutions, social media platforms, and identity document issuing authorities to counter instances of criminals impersonating officials.
• Tracking Misuse of Telecom Resources: The platform includes information on cases detected as the misuse of telecom resources, enhancing the ability to combat fraudulent activities.
• Grievance Redressal: A grievance redressal platform will be created for reporting inadvertent disconnections and establishing a mechanism to retrieve frozen funds.

oChakshu will serve as a backend repository for citizen-initiated requests on the Sanchar Saathi platform.

• Integration with Sanchar Saathi: Chakshu will integrate with Sanchar Saathi, a platform launched for tracking lost mobile phones and reporting identity theft. 

oSanchar Saathi has already helped trace over 700,000 mobile phones and detect 6.7 million suspicious communication attempts, resulting in savings of ₹1,000 crore for individuals.

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4. DRY ICE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, dry ice, which was mistakenly offered to a party of diners at a Gurugram restaurant, subsequently caused them to vomit blood.

Dry Ice

• About: It is a lethal substance, according to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Avoid Direct Contact: Dry ice must never be touched, even with bare hands, as it can cause severe damage to skin and internal organs if ingested or touched.
• Purpose and Common Usage: Dry ice, solid carbon dioxide, serves as a cooling agent for food products like ice cream and frozen desserts, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling.
• Handling Caution: Improper handling of dry ice can lead to health risks as it sublimes into large quantities of carbon dioxide gas, potentially causing breathlessness (hypercapnia).
• Ventilation Requirements: Dry ice should only be used in well-ventilated environments to prevent the accumulation of carbon dioxide gas and subsequent health risks.
• Storage and Transport Safety: It should never be stored or transported in closed environments to prevent the risk of breathlessness due to carbon dioxide gas emission.
• Awareness Campaigns: FSSAI urges authorities to conduct awareness campaigns for food business operators and citizens regarding the safe handling of dry ice as a cooling agent.
• Regulatory Interpretation: In 2018, FSSAI issued a Food Code interpretation regarding the use of liquid nitrogen and dry ice in the preparation or service of food in retail and food service establishments.

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5. INDIA'S FIRST GREEN HYDROGEN PLANT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The Union Steel Minister recently virtually inaugurated India's first Green Hydrogen Plant in the Stainless Steel Sector at Jindal Stainless Limited, Hisar.

Country's First Green Hydrogen Plant

• About: The establishment of the first Green Hydrogen Plant marks a significant milestone for the nation's sustainable energy initiatives.
• Pioneering Off-Grid Technology: This plant will be a trailblazer as the world's first off-grid Green Hydrogen facility tailored specifically for the stainless steel sector, showcasing advancements in sustainable industrial practices.
• Unprecedented Integration of Rooftop: Distinguished as the world's first Green Hydrogen plant to integrate both rooftop and floating solar technologies, emphasizing a multi-faceted approach to renewable energy generation.
• Substantial Reduction in Carbon Emissions: The project's environmental impact is substantial, contributing to an annual reduction of approximately 2,700 Metric Tonnes of carbon emissions and a noteworthy 54,000 tons over the next two decades.
• A Model for Future Green Hydrogen Initiatives: This pioneering project sets a precedent for future endeavors, showcasing the feasibility and benefits of green hydrogen production in reducing carbon footprints across industries.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

• Approved in: January 4, 2023.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Objective: To make India the Global Hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.

oTo make India a leader in technology and manufacturing of electrolysers and other enabling technologies for Green Hydrogen.

• It contributes: To India’s aim to become Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global Clean Energy Transition. 

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6. NCPCR (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought action against an app for allegedly disseminating objectionable material targeted at children.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

• About: The Commission envisages a rights-based perspective, which flows into national policies and programmes, including defined responses at the state, district and block levels, taking into account the specifics and strengths of each region.
• Statutory body: set up in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
• Ministry: It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
• Composition: a chairperson and six members of which at least two should be women.
• Appointment: All of them are appointed by the Central Government for three years.
• Tenure: The maximum age to serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for members.
• Commission's mandate: to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative mechanisms are in consonance with the child rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Definition of Child: The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
• Power: It inquires into complaints relating to a child's right to free and compulsory education under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
• Function: It monitors the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
• It is also mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

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7. Geological Survey of India (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – GovSci and Tech)

Context: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) celebrated its 174th Foundation Day on 4th March, 2024, in a grand manner across all its offices throughout the country.

Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• About: GSI is a scientific agency of India.
• Founded: In 1851, as a Government of India organization under the Ministry of Mines
• Headquarters: Kolkata, 
• 6 Regional Offices: Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Mines
• Functions: Creation and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment constitute primary objectives.
• Ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting, and investigations are employed to achieve these goals.
• Various methods, including multi-disciplinary geoscientific and geo-technical approaches, are utilized in pursuit of these objectives.
• Role of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)

oDevelopment Catalyst: The GSI has been instrumental in the nation's progress by furnishing crucial data on India's geology and mineral resources.

oEnhancing Understanding: It has significantly deepened our comprehension of the Earth's history, evolutionary processes, and dynamics through its research.

oNational Mapping Efforts: Mapping the entirety of India across various scales and producing thematic maps on diverse geological facets have been pivotal achievements of the GSI.

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8. GLOBAL GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT  (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context: India has submitted over 1,000 species in a global citizen science initiative to document bird diversity  the second highest number of submissions in the world. Birding enthusiasts from all over the country documented 1,036 species for the Global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2024.

Global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 

• About: GBBC India is the Indian adaptation of the global Great Backyard Bird Count, taking place annually for four days in February.
• Launched in: 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
• Participation and History: Indian birders have actively participated in GBBC since its global inception in 2013, contributing significantly to the annual event.
• Impactful Statistics from 2023: The 2023 edition witnessed the engagement of over 4,259 birders, who uploaded more than 53,000 checklists, documenting an impressive 1,072 bird species.
• Purpose and Significance: Participating in GBBC is not only fun but also serves a crucial purpose.

oThe event provides vital snapshots of bird populations, addressing questions about distribution, habitat changes, and potential shifts in populations and distributions over time.

• GBBC India is coordinated by: The Bird Count India collective, comprising various groups and organizations passionate about birds, nature, and conservation.
• Notable Species Spotted: Some of the restricted-range species observed by Indian birders in the 2023 edition include Andaman Serpent-Eagle, Andaman Woodpecker, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, White-headed Starling, Nilgiri Sholakili, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Andaman Treepie, Forest Owlet, Bugun Liocichla, and White-bellied Sholakili.

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9. PROTOTYPE FAST BREEDER REACTOR (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: Prime Minister of India  witnessed the start of the process of core-loading the indigenous prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)

• About: The PFBR is a machine designed to generate more nuclear fuel than it consumes, marking the beginning of stage II of India's three-stage nuclear power program.
• Stage I: In the first stage, India utilized pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and natural uranium-238 (U-238) as the fissile material for nuclear fission reactions.
• Mechanism of Nuclear Fission: Nuclear fission involves the absorption of a neutron by an atomic nucleus, causing it to destabilize and split into two, releasing energy. Neutrons released during fission reactions can trigger subsequent fission reactions.
• Role of Heavy Water in PHWRs: Heavy water, containing the deuterium isotope of hydrogen, slows down neutrons released during fission reactions, enabling them to be captured by other U-238 and U-235 nuclei, leading to additional fission reactions.
• Production of Plutonium-239: Fission reactions in PHWRs produce plutonium-239 (Pu-239) along with energy as byproducts.
• Stage II: In stage II of the program, Pu-239, along with U-238, will be used in the PFBR to generate energy, U-233, and more Pu-239, managed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam, Ltd. (BHAVINI).
• Design of Stage III with Thorium: Stage III involves combining Pu-239 with thorium-232 (Th-232) in reactors to produce energy and U-233, based on the vision of Homi J. Bhabha, leveraging India's significant thorium resources.
• Self-Sufficiency in Nuclear Energy: The three-stage program is intended to ensure complete self-sufficiency in nuclear energy for India, utilizing its abundant thorium reserves.

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10. CUTTACK RUPA TARAKASI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The famous Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree) has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.

Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi

• About: Cuttack's silver filigree is a traditional form of metalwork in jewelry that finds its roots in the state of Odisha.
• Qualities: The silver filigree of Cuttack is renowned for its fine craftsmanship and intricate designs, showcasing a luxurious and artistic approach to metalwork.
• Origin: While the exact origin of Cuttack's silver filigree remains ambiguous, historical evidence dates back to the 12th century, with craftsmen working on silver in the city. The Mughals' patronage further solidified its link to the city as a source of origin.
• Unique Design: The registry affirms that the intricate designs and fine craftsmanship of Cuttack's silver filigree are unique to the city, with a three-dimensional nature that imparts a realistic finish, setting it apart from other silver clusters in the country or the world.
• Telkari Work: The tradition of silver filigree, known as Telkari work, has ancient origins dating as far back as 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia. Even today, the craft continues to thrive with its historical roots deeply embedded.
• Spread in India: It is speculated that the silver filigree might have reached Cuttack from Persia through Indonesia around 500 years ago, facilitated by sea trade. Evidences suggest a historical exchange of jewelry and gems between Kalinga and Indonesia, contributing to the development and uniqueness of Cuttack's silver filigree.

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