1. PM GATI SHAKTI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India recently showcased PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at the ‘2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration through Economic Corridor Development (ECD)’, organized by Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Tbilisi, Georgia. 

PM Gati Shakti

• Launched: October 2021.
• Aim: It is the first National Infrastructure Masterplan. The National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity is essentially a digital platform to bring 16 Ministries includes Railways and Roadways and others.

o To boost economic growth (Shakti) through infrastructure building.

o To improve the productivity of industries and employment opportunities. 

o It is considered to be the government's integrated approach to developing modern railways, roadways, waterways and airways.

• Method: It breaks the inter-ministerial silos and to integrate the planning of infrastructure projects related to road, rail, air and waterways etc.
• Integration: It incorporates the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc.
• Pillars of PM Gati Shakti: Comprehensiveness, Prioritization, Optimization, Synchronization, Analytical, Dynamic.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• Formation: 1966.
• Objective: It envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.
• Headquarter: Manila, Philippines.
• Members: 68 members including India, China and Pakistan. The bank admits the members of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE), and non-regional developed countries

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2. CRYPTO-CURRENCY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: A blanket ban on crypto assets may be hard to pull off, and nations must instead apply rules on money laundering and terror finance to these assets and service providers, according to joint paper from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and G20’s risk watchdog, the Financial Stability Board (FSB).

Crypto-Currency

• About: A crypto-currency is defined by three key elements.

o1st: it is a digital representation of value,

o 2nd: it can be transferred electronically and

o3rd: it is recorded in a digital ledger that is widely accessible.

• Definition: It is a digital payment system that doesn't rely on banks to verify transactions. It’s a peer-to-peer system that can enable anyone anywhere to send and receive payments.
• Working of Crypto-Currencies:

o It uses encryption to verify transactions. 

o It run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders.

o Units of crypto-currency are created through a process called mining.

• Advantages of adopting crypto-currencies: Cheaper and safer, Transaction values cannot be replicated, potential to transform the entire financial system, a decentralised finance matrix, No identity theft, immediate settlement, access to everyone, lower fees etc.
• Issues involved with legalizing crypto-currencies: Could pose adverse destabilisation of financial systems, could weaken governments’ ability to set monetary policy and bring changes accordingly, could also allow foreign powers to accrue influence in country’s money supply, pose significant security risks, drug traffickers, ransomware attackers and money launderers can all make use of blockchain technology to operate outside of the legal framework.

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3. UNCLOS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Prime Minister of India recently emphasised while addressing the East Asia Summit that "the need of the hour is an Indo-Pacific where international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), applies equally to all countries, where there is freedom of navigation and overflight.

UNCLOS

• About: An international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all maritime and marine activities.
• Origin: Signed in 1982 it came into effect in 1994.
• Headquarter: Kingston, Jamaica.
• Members: 168 countries.

o14 Members including USA, Iran, UAE, Afghanistan and others have signed the Convention but have not ratified it.

o15 United Nations member and observer states have neither signed nor acceded the convention. It includes Israel, Turkey, Peru, Uzbekistan etc.

o India has been a party to the convention since 1995.

East Asia Summit:

• Initiated in: 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Objective: It is as a premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability, and economic prosperity in IndoPacific region.
• Members: 18 members, the ten ASEAN Plus Six mechanism (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea) along with, Russia and the United States, both were added in 6th summit, 2011

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4. JAPAN’S SLIM MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Science & Tech)

Context: Japan’s Moon-lander mission, called SLIM, was recently launched. A successful landing on the Moon by the SLIM spacecraft would make Japan only the fifth country in the world to do so.

Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) Mission

• Launched by: Japan by its H-IIA rocket that took the SLIM in space and also carried an X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), a satellite meant for astronomical observations.

oThis is the first Moon-landing attempt being made by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 

• Unique route: It is taking a uniquely long route to the Moon and is scheduled to make a landing in four to six months. If successful, SLIM would be the smallest and lightest spacecraft to land on the Moon.
• Technicality: SLIM is a pretty small spacecraft, weighing just about 200 kg.
• Objective: The main objective of SLIM is to demonstrate precision landing, within 100 metres of the chosen site.

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5. HEAT WAVES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Disaster/Env & Eco)

Context: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which, in turn, increase the risk and severity of wildfires. This, along with dust, is causing a spike in air pollutants including ozone, a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has stated.

Heat Waves

• Meaning: It is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India.
• Criteria for declaring Heat waves: A region is declared under heat waves when,

o Maximum temperature: Of a station reaches at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for Hilly regions.

o Based on Departure from Normal Heat Wave:

 Departure from normal is 4.5°C to 6.40°C

 Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.4°C

o Based on Actual Maximum Temperature Heat Wave:

 When actual maximum temperature ≥ 450°C

 Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥470°C

o If above criteria met at least in 2 stations in a Meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days then it is declared on the second day.

o For coastal regions: When maximum temperature departure is 4.50°C or more from normal, Heat Wave may be described provided actual maximum temperature is 370°C or more.

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6. EXERCISE BRIGHT STAR - 23 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: INS Sumedha recently arrived at Port Alexandria, Egypt to participate in ‘Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23’. 

Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23

• About: This is a multinational Tri-Services military exercise that will see participation from 34 countries.

          o It is the largest ever joint military exercise in Middle East & North Africa region.

• India’s participation: This is the maiden participation of Indian Navy in Ex Bright Star, which will also see participation of Naval ships from other Friendly Foreign Navies.

 About INS Sumedha

• Make in India initiative: It is the third ship of the indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV) that possess long endurance, are fitted with requisite weapons, sensors, and capable of embarking an integral helicopter.

         o It bears testimony to the capabilities of the Indian shipbuilding industry which underscores the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Exercise between India-Egypt:

• Exercise Cyclone-I: It is the first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army.

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7. NAIROBI DECLARATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS23) in Nairobi culminated in the ‘Nairobi Declaration’, giving the continent a common voice ahead of upcoming key global engagements.

Nairobi Declaration

• About: It has a raft of recommendations, pledges and demands believed to have boosted Africa’s bargaining power on international platforms.
• It calls for: Reforms to multilateral financial systems, with concerted appeals for debt relief and restructuring existing debts.

         o This declaration will serve as a basis for Africa’s common position in the global climate change process like COP28 summit.

• It highlights: Green investment opportunities in Africa’s emerging blue and green economies. It also urges world leaders to back a proposed “carbon tax on fossil fuel trade, maritime transport and aviation”.

Africa Climate Summit (ACS23)

• About: It is Africa’s First Climate Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Aim: To achieve the necessary emissions reduction targets and ensure adequate funding for climate action, a comprehensive global funding mechanism is required. 
• Participation: Governments and multilateral institutions play a central role, the private sector, civil society, philanthropic institutions, and local communities.

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8. NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL (NGT) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal has directed the Union ministry of environment and forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) to take necessary action against illegal mining carried our without valid environmental clearance in the buffer zone of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• Background: The NGT was established by an Act of the Parliament i.e., National Green Tribunal, Act, 2010.
• Objective: NGT was established for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
• Inspired by: NGT draws inspiration from:

-The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in 1972.

-The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

-And, from the Constitution of India under Article 21 which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment (by judicial pronouncement).

• NGT Powers: The following are the Acts under which NGT can take actions and has authority to take actions:

o The Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974.

o The Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.

o The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

o The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1981.

o The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

o The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

• However, the NGT Act does not cover two important legislations related to environment, they are: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

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9. SWACHH VAYU SARVEKSHAN 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister recently announced awards under the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 (clean air survey) in Bhopal, with Indore in Madhya Pradesh clinching the top rank in the million-plus population cities.

Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 (clean air survey)

• Conducted and released by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Assessment criteria: Self-assessments submitted by 130 identified cities under the National Clean Air Programme.
• Evaluation factors: Solid waste control, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, and improvement in PM10 levels.
• Categories and rank:

        o 1st category (million plus population): Indore >Agra>Thane.

        o 2nd category (3-10 lakhs population): Amravati>Moradabad >Guntur.   

        o 3rd category (less than 3 lakhs population): Parwanoo > Kala Amb >Angul.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• Launched: 2019
• AIM: Time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across India, in a comprehensive manner.
• Targets:

        o Early targets: 20-30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024, taking 2017 as the base year for comparison.

        o New targets (Revised): 40% reduction in particulate matter concentration in cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) by 2026

• Implemented in 132 cities:

          o123 Non-Attainment cities (NACs) identified under NCAP

          o 8 million Plus Cities (MPCs) identified by 15th Finance Commission

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10. HEAT INDEX (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Iran recorded a scorching heat index of 70 degrees Celsius (°C) in the coastal part of the country, a metric at which survival of life is unfathomable, if not impossible.

Heat Index

• About: Heat index, also known as apparent temperature, is a measure of how the temperature feels to humans.

         o Relative humidity is an important factor that determines heat index, along with air temperature.

• Calculation: A complex formula to calculate heat index was published by Dr. Robert Steadman in 1979. Different countries have developed their own corresponding indices.

        o In 2024, India is scheduled to launch its own heat index.

        o The air temperature and the relative humidity readings are needed to determine the heat index.

• Significance: It is more useful than just the temperature to gauge the impact of heat on humans.

         o A heat index value of 67°C or above can be extremely dangerous for people and animals who have direct and prolonged exposure.

Relative humidity (RH): It is a measure of the amount of moisture or water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of moisture that the air can hold at a specific temperature and pressure.

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