1. INDIA’S HYPERTENSION MAP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: The analysis of recently published National Family Health Survey data reveals a significant variation in the level of prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension within Indian states, and even within districts in states.

Hypertension

• About: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the pressure in your blood vessels exceeds 140/90 mmHg. If left untreated, it can pose serious health risks.
• World Hypertension Day: Every year on May 17. 
• Aim: To raise awareness about hypertension and urging individuals to take measures to prevent and manage this silent threat to health.

Hypertension Care in India

• National data highlights the widespread under diagnosis, inadequate treatment initiation, and poor blood pressure control among individuals with hypertension, indicating a concerning healthcare gap.
• The study found that the prevalence of hypertension was similar among the southern states but it was higher than the national average - 29.9% of the population in the southern states as compared with 26.8% across India.
• The proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension in the southern states was similar to the rest of India, but the proportion of people on treatment and under control was higher in these states.
• In Meghalaya, the prevalence of hyper- tension was similar in the districts of Garo Hills (21.8%), Jaintia Hills (19.8%), and Khasi Hills (23.1%). 
• In Karnataka, four districts - Chi- kmagalur, Shimoga, Udupi and Chitradurga - have a similar prevalence of hypertension.

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2. DISPLACEMENT IN CONGO (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, the UN International Organization of Migration (IOM) reported that the number of people who have been internally displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 6.9 million.

Conflict in the DRC

• The conflict in the DRC dates back to the 1990s when it went through two civil wars in 1996 and 1998. 
• The conflict erupted in the wake of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where ethnic Hutu extremists killed nearly one million minority Tutsis and non­-extremist Hutus. 
• Following the Rwandan genocide, around two million Hutu refugees crossed Rwanda into North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of DRC. 
• They organized ethnic militias in DRC fearing prosecution. 
• The multiple rebel groups and several actors fighting in the region have carried out widespread killing, sexual violence and massive human rights atrocities.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

• Situated: Central Africa. It is the second-largest country in Africa and is known for its vast natural resources, including minerals and a significant portion of the Congo rainforest.
• Border shared with: North by the Central African Republic and South Sudan; to the east by Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania; to the southeast by Zambia; and to the southwest by Angola.
• River: Congo River.

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3. CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Shri Heeralal Samariya recently assumed office as the Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission.

Central Information Commission

• About: It is a statutory body constituted under Section 12 of the RTI Act, with effect from October 2005.
• Composition: It consists of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary.
• Appointment: By President of India on the recommendation of a selection committee.
• Selection Committee Composition: Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Jurisdiction: It extends over all Central Public Authorities.
• Power and Functions: The Commission has certain powers and functions mentioned in Sections 18, 19, 20 and 25 of the RTI Act, 2005, and broadly relate to
• Adjudication in the second appeal for giving information.

oDirection for record keeping, suo motu disclosures receiving and enquiring into a complaint on inability to file RTI, etc.

oImposition of penalties.

oMonitoring and Reporting including preparation of an Annual Report. 

oThe decisions of the Commission are final and binding.

• Tenure: CIC shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he/she enters upon the office.

oShall not be eligible for reappointment.

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4. GLOBAL TB TRENDS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – HEALTH)

Context: The new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that India, Indonesia, and the Philippines recently made substantial contributions to reducing tuberculosis (TB) case notifications in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights of Report

• In 2022, TB retained its status as the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, following COVID-19.
• TB caused nearly twice as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, making it the primary cause of death among individuals with HIV.
• According to the Report, The number of tuberculosis cases in 2022 surged to its highest level since the 1990s, surpassing pre-COVID levels by 16%. It stood at 7.1 million, marking a 28% increase from 2020 and 16% from 2021.

Tuberculosis(TB)

• TB is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. 
• It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit.
• Tuberculosis is preventable and curable.
• Symptoms: prolonged cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.

Steps taken to fight TB

• World: WHO initiative “Find. Treat. All. EndTB”.
• India: National TB Elimination Programme, National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025), The Nikshay Ecosystem and Nikshay Poshan Yojana, TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign, Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

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5. UNDP’S REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The latest UNDP report that assesses progress on human development in the Asia-Pacific region places India among the countries with the highest income and wealth inequalities measured in terms of the share of the richest 10% of the population.

• However, since 2005 India has managed to get around 415 million people out of multidimensional poverty.

Highlights of Report

• As per the report, other countries with highest income inequality in the region are Maldives, Thailand, and Iran. 
• Besides India, countries exhibiting highest wealth inequalities, as measured by wealth share of the top 10%, include Thailand, China, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
• In India, between 2000 & 2022, per capita income soared from $442 to $2,389.
• Between 2004 & 2019, poverty rates plummeted from 40% to 10%.
• For Example, between 2005 & 2006 and 2019 & 2020, India decreased its multidimensional poverty index by 39% points, lifting 415 million out of multidimensional poverty.
• Despite these successes, poverty remains concentrated in states that are home to 45% of India's population but contain 62% of its poor.

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

• About: The index is a key international resource that measures acute multidimensional poverty across more than 100 developing countries.
• Produced by: UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)
• Calculation of MPI: Multiplying the incidence of poverty and the average intensity of poverty.
• MPI Ranges: From 0 to 1, and higher values imply higher poverty.

UNDP

• Established: In 1966 by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
• Funding: It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations.
• Headquarters: New York, USA.

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6. CSR PORTAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economics (Corporate governance))

Context: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has launched a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portal for enhancing transparency in its CSR initiatives.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Portal

• The portal will facilitate transparency in receipt and disposal of CSR requests from various organizations and institutions.
• It will be accessible to all 24x7, with a CSR policy and proposal checklist for examination of CSR requests. 
• The portal will also contribute to the more efficient execution of IREDA's social welfare initiatives as part of its CSR efforts.

Corporate Social Responsibility

• About: It is typically described as a corporate effort to evaluate and assume accountability for a company's environmental impact and influence on social well-being.

oIndia holds the distinction of being the world's first country to enforce mandatory CSR expenditure and establish a structure for recognizing feasible CSR initiatives.

• Regulation: In India, the regulation of CSR is governed by clause 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• Spending required: Companies are required to spend a minimum of 2% of their net profit over the preceding three years as CSR.

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7. 95TH MEMBER OF ISA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, Chile became the 95th member of the International Solar Alliance.

Chile

• Capital: Santiago
• Location: Situated along the western seaboard of South America.
• Chile’s relief is for the most part mountainous, with the Andes range dominating the landscape.
• Shares borders with: Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the south.
• Desert: The Atacama desert, one of the driest places globally, is located in northern Chile.
• It serves as a source of sodium nitrate fertilizer, contributing to Chile's economy.
• Climate Zones: Northern Chile is mostly arid desert, while the central region with cities like Santiago is temperate and densely populated.
• South-central Chile features a temperate, humid climate suitable for agriculture.
• Copper Town: Chuquicamata is the world's largest copper town, contributing significantly to Chile's economy.
• Li Producer: Chile ranks among the world's top lithium-producing countries, along with Australia, China, and Argentina.

International Solar Alliance

• About: It is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies. Launched: COP21 (2015), the UN climate meeting in Paris
• Headquarter: Gurugram, India
• Vision: Let us together make the sun brighter.
• Mission: Every home no matter how far away, will have a light at home.
• Member Countries: 95 countries (including new member Chile).

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8. DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: In a recently reported incident signaling the misuse of artificial intelligence to spread misinformation, a deepfake video of a TV actress has gone viral on the internet.

Deepfake Technology

• About: It has been dubbed as the 21st century's answer to Photoshopping. Deepfakes use a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to make images of fake events, hence the name.
• It is utilized for generating fake news and committing financial fraud, among other illicit activities.
• It involves overlaying a digital composite onto pre-existing videos, images, or audio, with cybercriminals employing Artificial Intelligence technology.

How are they made?

• The first known example of widespread use of a deepfake video was spotted on Reddit in 2017 when a user swapped the faces of celebrities.
• These videos are created by machines that use deep learning algorithms. 
• They scan through thousands of face shots using an AI algorithm (called encoder) that allows the machines to learn similarities between the two faces and reduces them to their shared common features, compressing the images in the process.
• Misuse: Deepfake technology has been employed to mimic prominent figures such as former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and many others.

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9. ADITYA L-1 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: India's first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has recently captured the first high-energy X-ray glimpse of solar flares, just two months after its launch, as announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

• The High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) on board Aditya-L1 has recorded the impulsive phase of solar flares.

Aditya L-1

• About: Aditya L1 represents India's inaugural space mission dedicated to the study of the Sun.
• Launched by: PSLV-XL launch vehicle.
• Lagrange point: The spacecraft is destined to be positioned in a halo orbit encircling Lagrange point 1 (L1) within the Sun-Earth system, located approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth.
• This continuous observation capability will significantly enhance the capacity to monitor solar activities and their immediate impact on space weather in real time.
• Payloads: Aditya L1 carries a total of seven payloads, which are designed to scrutinize the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost solar layers (the corona) using various detectors for electromagnetic waves, particles, and magnetic fields.
• Objective: To unravel the fundamental drivers of space weather, which encompass the origin, composition, and dynamics of the solar wind.

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10. GLOBAL CLIMATE FUNDING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The recently released analysis by the Climate Policy Initiative revealed that climate finance flows have doubled compared to previous years but have been unevenly distributed across geographies and sources.

• Climate Policy Initiative’s (CPI) new report Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2023 brings together the latest data and analysis in this regard.

Highlights of Report

• The report breaks down the flow of climate finance by its application, geographical distribution and sources, using data from 2021 and 2022.
• CPI has been tracking global climate finance flows between all countries and entities for a decade now, making these updates important for the global climate conversation.
• The increase in annual average climate finance over the years was driven primarily by the escalation in mitigation finance, which has increased by $439 billion from 2019 and 2020.
• The report noted particularly improved coverage of finance data from three sectors — agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU); buildings and infrastructure; and waste.

Climate Finance

• About: Climate financing encompasses various funding sources, whether local, national, or transnational, that aim to facilitate climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, drawing from public, private, and alternative channels.
• Global Agreements: The UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement have collectively established a duty for financially prosperous Parties (Developed Countries) to offer support to economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Parties (Developing Countries).
• Accordance with CBDR Principle: This responsibility aligns with the fundamental principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities" (CBDR), ensuring equitable contributions in addressing climate change.
• Facilitating Adaptation: It aids communities in addressing climate change effects by providing straightforward remedies. 
• For instance, the utilization of resilient seeds enables farmers to sustain food production, even in the midst of drought conditions.

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