1. PMAY - G (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Government Schemes)

Context: Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government's decision to integrate the ruling YSR Congress Party's identity into the Union government's flagship rural housing scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), and rebrand it as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-YSR, is proving to be costly for the state.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin

• Launched: In 2016 to address the housing gaps existing in the rural areas.

oIAY (Indira Awaas Yojna) was overhauled and transformed into Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), starting from April 1, 2016.

• Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
• Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by 2022.

oIt was initiated with the objective of achieving “Housing for All” by 2022.

• Beneficiaries: SCs/STs, former bonded laborers, non-SC/ST populations, widows or the next-of-kin of defense personnel who died in action, ex-servicemen and retired paramilitary members, disabled individuals, and minorities.
• Cost Sharing: Divided between the Central and State Governments, with a ratio of 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 in North Eastern and hilly states.

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2. TOMB OF BALBAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - History)

Context: The recently renovated Tomb of Balban, originally built in the 13th century, has held various roles throughout its history, serving as a shelter for debtors and fugitives, a Sultan's final resting place, and a significant landmark in India's architectural heritage.

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (1266 – 1287 AD)

• About: Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, a Sultan of the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty— the first of the Delhi Sultanate dynasties — ruled from Delhi between 1266 AD and 1287 AD.
• Balban was sold as a slave to the then-ruler Iltumish in 1232 CE, who later released him. 
• Early Life: Balban, one of the most remarkable rulers, was born to a Central Asian Turkic noble origin and in his childhood, he was seized as a slave.
• Ascension to the throne: Balban was rewarded with the title of Ulugh Khan by Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah. He was also felicitated with the tag of Naib-i-mamlikat or Deputy Sultan.
• Balban incorporated Persian customs and traditions into his rule, including sizda, paibas (the practice of kissing the sultan's feet), jamnibas (kissing hands), and celebrating Naurauz, the Persian New Year.
• Diwan-i-Ariz: He established a defense department.
• Balban took stringent measures against robbers and dacoits, making the roads of Delhi safe for travel.

Tomb of Balban

• It’s a square building with spacious rooms on either side.
• It is the same place where his son Sher Khan, Khan e Shaheed was interred only two years before him. 
• However, only one grave is extant now,” wrote author Rana Safvi in her book Where stones speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli, the First City of Delhi.
• The structure served as a sanctuary for debtors and fugitives, offering refuge from debt collectors and angry pursuers.

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3. NEPAL EARTHQUAKE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: The Prime Minister of India has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Nepal.

Nepal’s Seismic Vulnerability

• Location: Nepal sits atop a convergent boundary, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, leading to the accumulation of stress and strain in the crust. 
• This pressure is eventually released in the form of earthquakes.
• Subduction Zone: Nepal is also situated in a subduction zone. This subduction process further amplifies the stress and strain within the crust, contributing to the occurrence of earthquakes in Nepal.
• Poor building construction practices: Many structures in Nepal are constructed with unreinforced masonry, which lacks strength and can easily crumble during an earthquake.

Earthquake

• About: An earthquake is a violent and abrupt shaking of the ground, caused by movement between tectonic plates along a fault line in the earth's crust. 
• Earthquakes can result in ground shaking, soil liquefaction, landslides, fissures, avalanches, fires, and tsunamis.
• Focus and Epicentre: The initial point of energy release is the focus, and the surface point above it is the epicenter.
• Foreshocks and Aftershocks: Major earthquakes often involve minor aftershocks and sometimes have preceding foreshocks.
• Swarms: Clusters of small earthquakes are called swarms and often indicate impending volcanic activity.
• Distribution of Earthquakes: Circum-Pacific Belt, Alpine Belt, Oceanic Ridges and Rift Valleys.

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4. HUNGER HOTSPOTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: According to a recently released outlook report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), acute food insecurity is expected to deteriorate in 18 hunger hotspots through April 2024.

Key Highlights of the Report

• These hotspots comprise 22 countries or territories, including two regional clusters.
• The selection of hunger hotspots in the document is based on consensus among food security experts and conflict, economic, and natural hazards analysts from FAO and WFP.
• The countries identified are: Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan, Niger, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Djibouti, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
• Of these, four African countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan — remain at the highest level of concern.
• The report provided country-specific recommendations on priorities for emergency response as well as anticipatory actions to address existing humanitarian needs.

Food and Agriculture Organization

• About: FAO, a specialized United Nations agency, plays a crucial role in leading global initiatives aimed at eradicating hunger.
• World Food Day: Every year, on the 16th of October.
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy, 
• Sister Organizations: It collaborates closely with sister organizations like the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

World Food Programme

• Founded: In 1961 by the FAO and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Member: It is a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), a coalition of UN agencies and organizations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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5. VGF SCHEME FOR BATTERY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, after announcing a ₹3,760-crore viability gap funding (VGF) support for battery energy storage systems, the Centre is now considering a VGF scheme for pump storage projects (PSP) as well.

• In PSPs, excess energy is used to pump water to an upper reservoir when power demand is low. When demand rises, water is released, turning a turbine which generates electricity.

VGF Scheme for Battery Storage

• About: VGF stands for Viability Gap Funding, which aims at supporting infrastructure projects that are economically justified but fall marginally short of financial viability.
• Initiated: In 2004, supports projects falling under Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

oThis scheme operates as a Plan Scheme, with budget allocations made on an annual basis by the Ministry of Finance.

• Aim: VGF grants are given as capital subsidies to encourage private sector involvement in financially unviable PPP projects.

oThese projects often lack commercial viability due to extended gestation periods and limited future revenue prospects.

Benefits of VGF

• VGF grants for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) developers are awarded through a competitive bidding process.
• VGF supports a production-linked incentive program that encourages domestic manufacturing, driving technology innovation.
• VGF serves a crucial role in covering the development costs for battery manufacturers during technology development phases.

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6. WORKSHOP ON SDGs (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: NITI Aayog organizing a workshop at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, focusing on accelerating progress toward the domestic adoption and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.

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. 
• The 17 SDGs came into force with effect from 1st January 2016 as a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• India is one of the signatory countries that has committed to achieving these goals by 2030.
• India’s Ranking in SDGs: India has been ranked 112 out of 162 countries in terms of the SDG Index with a score of 63.45 out of 100.

NITI Aayog

• About: It is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Union Government, providing both directional and policy inputs.
• Establishment: In 2015 via an executive resolution by replacing the Planning Commission of India
• Objective: To develop a common vision for both the Central and State governments, recognizing that robust states are the foundation of a robust nation.
• To encourage an ongoing environment of competitive and cooperative federalism among the states.

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7. E-DNA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, specifically from the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), introduced a novel eDNA sequencing method for assessing biodiversity.

Environmental DNA

• eDNA consists of DNA released by organisms through natural processes during their lifetime or after death.
• This DNA originates from cellular material that organisms shed, such as through their skin or excrement, into aquatic or terrestrial environments.
• Modern molecular methods enable the sampling and monitoring of this eDNA in these environments.

Key Points

• The new non-invasive method can assess the total biodiversity of any ecosystem by sequencing the DNA fragments found in environmental samples such as water, soil, or air.
• This method can detect all kinds of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes such as fungi, plants, insects, birds, fish and other animals.
• In this method scientists can filter out eDNA from environmental samples, read their sequences, and thus, identify the source of the eDNA.

Significance

• Enable early detection of invasive species and the identification of rare and cryptic species.
• Detect the presence of human remains through eDNA analysis.

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8. ODONATA SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, during the two-day Odonata survey that began in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), approximately 50 Odonata species were identified on the first day.

Odonata Species

• About: Odonata is an insect order categorized into three distinct groups: Anisoptera (comprising dragonflies), Zygoptera (which includes damselflies), and Anisozygoptera (a relict group with only two known living species).
• Order of Insects: Odonata stands as one of the ancient orders of insects, with a long evolutionary history.
• Diversity of Odonata: Odonata is a highly diverse group, with over 6,000 known species exhibiting various characteristics.
• Global Distribution: Odonata species are found worldwide, ranging from the tropics, where they are most abundant and diverse, to the boreal forests of Siberia and North America. 
• Diversity in India: In India, Odonata is remarkably diverse, with more than 500 known species residing in the country.
• Habitats: Odonata species inhabit a wide range of environments, primarily freshwater settings like ponds, rivers, and lakes. They are typically associated with bodies of water during their larval stage.

Features of Odonata

• They have minute antennae.
• Their eyes are extremely large, occupying most of the head.
• Odonata possess two pairs of transparent membranous wings with numerous small veins.
• Their abdomen is long and slender.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR)

• Location: Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, spanning 321 sq. km. at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Nestled on the Northeastern and Northwestern slopes of the Nilgiri Hills within the Western Ghats.
• An integral part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, India's first Biosphere Reserve.
• Border Shared With: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) to the North, Nilgiris North Division to the South and East, and Gudalur Forest Division to the South West.
• Terrain: Characterized by undulating terrain, with elevations ranging from 960m to 1266m.

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9. REPORT OF ILO (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: According to the latest International Labour Organisation (ILO) data on working hours, Indians are already the sixth most hardworking out of 163 countries in the world. The ranking is based on taking the average number of hours per week for each employed person in India, which works out to 47.7 hours.

Key Points

• Indian workers put in longer hours compared to several countries, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
• However, India's working hours are shorter than those in smaller nations like Bhutan, the Congo, Lesotho, and Gambia.
• The central concern, as highlighted in discussions with industrialists like Murthy, revolves around productivity rather than the number of hours worked.
• India's global economic ranking is 131 out of 189 countries in 2021, based on GDP per hour worked, with data adjusted for purchasing power parity and GDP held constant at 2017 values.

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

• About: The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work.
• Mandate: Its mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards.
• Motto: ILO’s mandate as the basis for peace is expressed today as Decent Work for all.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Parent organization: Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
• Members: The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands.
• Structure: It is the only tripartite U.N. agency that brings together governments, employers and workers’ representatives of 187-member States.

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10. POLLUTION SPIKES IN DELHI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: According to an analysis by Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 concentration in Delhi saw a recent and alarming spike, with a sudden 68 percent increase within 24 hours on November 2, 2023, marking the first significant pollution surge of the winter season.

Key Points

• “SAFAR’s estimate has shown that the percentage contribution of farm stubble fire to Delhi’s PM2.5 concentration had crossed 25 per cent on November 2.
• SAFAR or System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research is a country-wide initiative by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, with an objective to provide location-specific information about air quality on a real-time basis.

• The share of PM2.5 in PM10 is an important indicator of the impact of combustion sources.
• NO2 or Nitrogen Dioxide levels are also rising in the region. NO2 largely comes from vehicles.

Air Quality Index

• Air Quality Assessment: AQI is a tool for assessing the safety of the air you breathe.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Organizations responsible for AQI reporting measure the concentration of 6 diverse air pollutants - Particulate matter (PM2. 5 and PM10), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Lead (Pb) and Ammonia (NH3)  at various monitoring stations.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

• About: It is a not-for-profit public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi, India. Established in 1980, CSE works as a think tank on environment-development issues in India, poor planning, climate shifts devastating India's Sundarbans and advocates for policy changes and better implementation of the already existing policies.

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