1. IOM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

• Context: The International Organisation for Migration said the biggest increase in deaths last year was on the treacherous Mediterranean Sea crossing, to 3,129 from 2,411 in 2022.

oOverall, the biggest jump in deaths in recent years was in Asia, where more than 2,000 migrants died compared to an annual average of under 1,000 since 2014. IOM said 2,138 migrants died in Asia last year, 68 more than in 2022.

International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

• About: Established in 1951, IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, collaborating closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• History: IOM was born in 1951 amid the chaos and displacement of Western Europe following the Second World War.
• Status of IOM: It was granted Permanent Observer status to the UN General Assembly in 1992, and a cooperation agreement between IOM and the UN was signed in 1996.
• Membership and Global Presence: With 175 member states, 8 states holding observer status, and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. India is a member of IOM.
• Areas of Focus: IOM works in four broad areas of migration management, including:

oMigration and development

oFacilitating migration

oRegulating migration

oForced migration

• World Migration Report: Published annually by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the UN.

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2. KULASEKARAPATTINAM LAUNCHPORT (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Prime Minister of India recently laid the foundation stone of the second rocket launchport of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Kulasekarapattinam.

Kulasekarapattinam Launchport

• About: The Kulasekarapattinam launchport in Tamil Nadu offers a natural advantage to ISRO's future launches due to its strategic geographical location.
• Scientific Benefit: The launchport enables direct southward trajectories for SSLVs, which are lighter and require less fuel, thereby optimizing ISRO's payload capacities and efficiency.
• Strategic Importance: Located in Tamil Nadu, the Kulasekarapattinam facility reduces the launch trajectory distance compared to launches from SHAR, cutting fuel consumption and enhancing strategic maneuverability for ISRO's space missions.

Need a New Launchport

• Increasing Commercial Launches: The Union government's policy opening the space sector to private players will lead to a surge in commercial launches.
• Preventing Overburdening of Existing Facility: To avoid overburdening the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota, India needs a new launchport.
• Diversification of Launch Capabilities: Kulasekarapattinam launchport will handle smaller payloads, diversifying India's launch capabilities.
• Preserving SHAR for Major Missions: SHAR will remain dedicated to heavy-lift-off missions and significant endeavors like missions to the Moon, Venus, and the Gaganyaan human-flight mission.

SSLV

• About: SSLVs, or Small Satellite Launch Vehicles, are compact launch vehicles developed by ISRO for launching small satellites.
• Characteristics: SSLVs feature a three-stage launch vehicle with a lift-off weight of approximately 120 tonnes, measuring 34 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter.
• Propulsion Systems: SSLVs are equipped with a combination of solid propulsion for the initial stages and liquid propulsion for the terminal stage.

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3. IAA GOLDEN COMPASS AWARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Sports and Awards)

Context: Srinivasan K. Swamy, CMD of integrated marketing services company RK Swami Ltd. has been presented with the IAA Goden Compass Award at the 45th IAA World Congress held in Penang, Malaysia.

IAA Golden Compass Award:

• About: The IAA emphasizes its commitment to recognizing individuals within the marketing communications community who embody leadership and dedication to the industry.
• Creation of the IAA Compass Awards: To honor their commitment to driving excellence in communications as well as their contribution to the worldwide advancement of the International Advertising Association.
• Categories of Awards: Six distinct categories acknowledge the outstanding contributions of individuals and chapters to the marketing communications landscape.

oIAA Champion Award

oIAA Young Leader Award

oIAA Honorary Life Member

oIAA Executive Director Award

oIAA Chapter Excellence Award

oIAA Golden Compass Award

• Recognition of Industry Leaders: The prestigious Golden Compass Award singles out external industry leaders for their remarkable achievements in international advertising and marketing.
• Presentation of Awards: The IAA Compass Awards are typically presented at either the World Congress, held biennially, or at a global flagship event conducted annually.

International Advertising Association (IAA):  

• About: Established in 1938, it is the only global association that represents all spheres of the marketing and marketing communications industry. 
• Location: New York, USA.

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4. ORANS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, a state government notification has instilled fear among Rajasthan community dwellers, anticipating the potential loss of access to forest produce and livelihoods due to the proposed classification of orans (sacred groves) as deemed forests, particularly affecting communities in western Rajasthan.

Orans:

• About: Orans are community forests preserving biodiversity, facilitating water management, and sustaining Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) extraction in Rajasthan's Aravali Mountain Range and Great Indian Desert.
• Significance: Sacred groves represent historical, cultural, and emotional ties between human communities and forests, fostering unity and reverence among rural populations.
• Challenges of Degradation and Depletion: Orans face degradation and depletion due to natural and anthropogenic factors, threatening their ecological and communal integrity.
• The Extent of Orans: Rajasthan hosts approximately 25,000 orans, covering over 600,000 hectares, serving as vital lifelines for local communities.
• Historical Degradation: Orans have suffered neglect, degradation, and opposition from various quarters, but efforts by organizations like KRAPAVIS aim to revive and restore their vitality.
• Biodiversity Hotspots: Orans boast diverse flora such as rohida, bordi, kumbhat, and desi babool, alongside various grasses like sevan and murath, providing habitats for over 250 species of birds and animals.

Sacred Grooves

• About: These are communally protected forests with significant religious connotations for the protecting community.

Community and Conservation Reserve:

• About: Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserved and protected forests of India.
• Declared by: State government.
• Regulation: These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. 
• Need: These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use.

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5. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: A total solar eclipse will make the Sun disappear in April 8, 2024, as the world will witness a rare celestial event graze through the skies.

Total Solar Eclipse

• About: It is a condition when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and completely blocks the Sun's disk, casting a huge shadow on the surface.
• Experience along the Path of Totality: People within the path of totality, where the Moon's shadow completely covers the Sun, will witness a total solar eclipse.
• Opportunity to Observe the Sun's Corona: Weather permitting, observers within the path of totality can witness the Sun's corona, its outer atmosphere normally hidden by the Sun's brightness.
• Visibility of the Sun's Corona: The corona, the Sun's outermost layer extending millions of kilometers into space, is visible as a faint, pearly-white halo encircling the darkened disk of the Sun, exclusively during a solar eclipse.
• Phenomenon of Chromosphere: Totality during the eclipse allows viewers to potentially observe the chromosphere, a region of the solar atmosphere appearing as a thin circle of pink around the Moon, along with the corona.
• Rare View of Stars and Darkened Surroundings: During totality, viewers may briefly observe stars as the surroundings go completely dark, offering a rare celestial spectacle.
• Dip in Air Temperatures: Additionally, a total solar eclipse is often accompanied by a decrease in air temperatures, adding to the unique experience of this celestial event.

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6. INDUSTRY REVOLUTION 4.0 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Law Minister of India said that India has entered into industry 4.0 revolution which includes technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, robotics and blockchain technology.

Industrial Revolution 4.0

• About: The concept of 'Industry 4.0' was initially formulated by the German government back in 2011.
• Evolution of Industrial Revolution: Industry 4.0 signifies a novel stage in the Industrial Revolution, concentrating mainly on intercommunication, automation, application of machine learning, and instantaneous data.
• Integration of Technologies: Industry 4.0 integrates the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and smart manufacturing, merging physical procedures and production with intelligent digital technologies, machine learning, and extensive data.
• Objective: To develop a comprehensive and more interconnected ecosystem for businesses that are centered around manufacturing and supply chain management.
• Companies and organizations today face a common challenge: the need for interconnectedness and real-time data across processes, partners, products, and personnel. This is where Industry 4.0 becomes crucial.

4th industrial revolution in India: status

• The digital economy is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2025, contributing around 25% of India's GDP. (Source: McKinsey Global Institute).
• Industry 4.0 technologies have the potential to create 90 million jobs in India by 2030. (Source: BCG and World Economic Forum).

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7. WILD LIFE AMENDMENT ACT, 2022 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The notification of rules framed under Section 49M of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022), was recently issued.

Wild life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022

• About: The Act aims to increase the scope of protected species by aligning with CITES, specifically targeting animals listed in the Appendices of CITES and Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Compliance with CITES Regulations: The amendment enforces the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), necessitating countries to regulate trade through permits for all listed specimens.
• Streamlining Schedules: It rationalizes schedules by reducing them from VI to IV, eliminating Schedule V which includes animals deemed vermin or those destructive to food crops.
• Designation of Authorities: The Act designates the Central government to appoint a Management Authority and a Scientific Authority, responsible for granting trade permits and advising on the impact of trading on species' survival, respectively.
• Regulation of Invasive Alien Species: It grants the Central government the authority to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession, or proliferation of invasive alien species.
• Management of Sanctuaries: The Act entrusts the Chief Wild Life Warden with the responsibility to control, manage, and maintain all sanctuaries within a state, appointed by the respective State government.
• Consultation for Special Areas: Management plans for sanctuaries in special areas must be prepared after consulting the concerned Gram Sabha, ensuring local participation and consideration.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

• About: It establishes a legislative framework for the preservation of various wild animal and plant species. It also encompasses the management of habitats, regulation of trade in species' parts, and control of products manufactured from them.
• Classification under the Act: The act includes schedules categorizing plants and animals, subjecting them to different levels of government protection and oversight.
• India's Inclusion in CITES: The Wildlife Act played a crucial role in India's admission to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
• Constitutional Provisions: Article 48A of the Indian Constitution mandates the State to safeguard and improve the environment, including the protection of wildlife and forests. 
• This provision was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
• Article 51A: It imposes fundamental obligations on Indian citizens, emphasizing compassion for all living things and the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment, including woods, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.

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8. GRAY WHALE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Gray Whale was last seen in the Atlantic Ocean in the 18th century. But now, it has appeared off the coast of the United States’ New England region, courtesy climate change.

Gray Whale

• About: It is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly.
• Scientific name: Eschrichtius robustus
• Habitat: North Pacific and adjacent seas
• Native: Canada; China; Japan; Mexico; Russian Federation; United States
• Physical Features: Gray whales possess a hump and a ridge of sharp bumps along their backs, in contrast to a dorsal fin commonly found in other whale species.
• Migrations: These whales are known for their extensive migrations, covering up to 12,000 miles round trip between feeding and breeding areas.
• Population: Estimated 150 individuals (western population); stable (eastern population).
• Status: Least Concern.

Whales:

• About: Whale, any of the larger species of aquatic mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. 
• Distribution: Whales are distributed throughout the world’s oceans and seas, from the Equator to the polar ice, except for the landlocked Caspian and Aral seas.
• Characteristics: They are mammals, and they share the defining traits of that group: they breathe air, are warm-blooded, give live birth, suckle their young on milk, and have hair.  There are five cetacean species and 19 subspecies or subpopulations of cetacean that are currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. 

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9. CBDT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) clarified that according to the Finance Act, 2023, 85% of trust donations are designated for charitable or religious purposes.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

• About: CBDT operates as a statutory authority under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963, functioning within the legal framework established by this act.
• Part of: Department of Revenue in Ministry of Finance
• Historical Background: Established initially in 1924 as the Central Board of Revenue, it oversaw both direct and indirect taxes.

oSplit into two entities, CBDT for direct taxes and Central Board of Excise and Customs for indirect taxes, in 1964 due to administrative complexities.

• Structure: CBDT is headed by a Chairman and six members, each designated with specialized functions.
• Functions:

oFormulation of policies, levy and collection of direct taxes, and supervision of the Income Tax Department constitute CBDT's core functions.

oCBDT also recommends legislative changes and alterations in tax rates aligning with government policies.

Finance Act, 2023

• About: It serves as a pivotal financial document delineating tax proposals and budgetary allocations for the fiscal year 2023-24, offering a roadmap for resource allocation and tax policy streamlining.
• Provision Regarding Donations: this act specifies that donations made by trusts or institutions shall be considered as applications for charitable or religious purposes only up to 85 percent of the donation, addressing concerns about the remaining 15 percent's nature.

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10. ARTICLE 371 AND 6TH SCHEDULE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: In a meeting with representatives from Ladakh, which has been witnessing protests recently, Union Home Minister of India offered to extend Article 371-like protections to the region.

Sixth Schedule of the Constitution

• About: The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution pertains to the administration of tribal areas in specific states of India, namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• Provisions for Autonomous Governance: Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule would empower Ladakh to establish Autonomous District and Regional Councils (ADCs and ARCs) with legislative powers.
• Extent of Legislative Authority: ADCs and ARCs would have jurisdiction over matters such as forest management, agriculture, inheritance, social customs, and administration of villages and towns.
• Judicial and Administrative Powers: These councils could establish village councils or courts, appoint officers, and adjudicate disputes among Scheduled Tribes, with potential authority over criminal and civil laws.

Article 371

• About: Articles 371 and 371-A through J establish "special provisions" aimed at specific states, aiming to ensure representation for various religious and social groups while granting autonomy over their affairs.
• Protection for Ladakh: Article 371 offers protections for Ladakh's local population, although it doesn't grant the extensive autonomy provided to ADCs and ARCs under the Sixth Schedule.
• Evolution of Article 371: Initially, Article 371 required the establishment of "development boards" in Maharashtra and Gujarat, with subsequent states receiving additional special provisions as they were created.
• Safeguards for Nagaland and Mizoram: Article 371-A and 371-G safeguard Nagas and Mizos by preventing Parliament from enacting laws that affect their social, religious, or customary practices without state Assembly concurrence.
• Special Committees in Assam and Manipur: Articles 371-B and 371-C permit the formation of special committees in the Legislative Assemblies of Assam and Manipur, comprising MLAs elected from tribal and Hill areas respectively.
• Reservations in Sikkim Legislative Assembly: Article 371-F introduces reservations in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly to safeguard the rights and interests of various population segments.

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