July 2023 Current Affairs

Why in news? India is set to establish its first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus outside the country in Zanzibar, Tanzania.  

About: 

• It is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. 
• Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of east Africa that united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. 
• It is Stone Town, a historic trade centre with Swahili and Islamic influences. 
• Tanzania  
  • Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa and includes the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia. 
  • They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. 

Why in news? Indian PM will be the Guest of Honour at France’s Bastille Day parade in Paris. The visit coincides with 25 years of strategic partnerships with France. 

About: 

• France is a country located in Western Europe.  
• It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, Spain, and the English Channel. 
• Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps and the Pyrenees. 
• The capital of France is Paris. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ukraine-russia-france-scalp-missiles-counteroffensive-war-weapons-explainer-macron/article67078906.ece#:~:text=The%20story%20so%20far%3A%20The,erroneous%20decision%20fraught%20with%20consequences 

Why in news? The first Geological Survey of India (GSI) expedition to the Siachen glacier took place in June 1958, led by V. K. Raina, an Indian geologist. 

About: 

• Significance: This event is of historical and geostrategic significance as it puts to rest all myths to the effect that Pakistan was in control of the glacier since the beginning. 

Siachen Glacier 

• The Siachen Glacier is located in the Eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of Point NJ9842 where the LOC between India and Pakistan ends. 
• Nubra River originates from Siachen glacier. 
• Nubra Valley acts as the gateway to strategically important Siachen Glacier and Karakoram Pass. 
• The Siachen has been an important bone of contention between India and Pakistan since 1984 when the Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot to take control of the entire Siachen glacier. 
• It is the highest battleground on Earth.  

• It is the Second-Longest glacier in the World's Non-Polar areas after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan. 
• The Siachen Glacier lies immediately south of the great drainage divide that separates the Eurasian Plate from the Indian subcontinent in the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram sometimes called the "Third Pole". 
• The glacier’s melting waters are the main source of the Nubra River in the Indian region of Ladakh which drains into the Shyok River. The Shyok in turn joins the Indus River which flows through Pakistan. 
• Siachen Glacier also boasts of the world’s highest helipad and telephone booth built by India. 
• The name Siachen refers to a land with an abundance of roses. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-first-gsi-survey-of-the-siachen/article67077315.ece 

Why in news? Four tigers died within two months in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, India. 

About: 

• It includes the areas of Dudhwa National Parks along with Kishanpur and Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary. 
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area, located in Terai region of Uttar Pradesh near the India and Nepal border, spreading in the districts of Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich. 
• History: 
  • In 1965 It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary. 
  • In 1977 It was established as a national park. 
  • As a part of project Tiger, it was declared a tiger reserve in 1987-88 as it has a significant population of Bengal tigers. 

• It is the only place in Uttar Pradesh where both Tigers and Rhinos can be spotted together. 

• It is one of the finest examples of exceedingly diverse and productive Terai ecosystems. 
• Flora: It includes Grasslands, sal, asna, shisham, jamun, gular, sehore and bahera. 
• Fauna: Apart from tigers there exists variety of fauna which includes elephants, sloth bears, northern swamp deer, one horned Rhinoceros, Hispid Hare. 

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-and-biodiversity/infighting-and-infections-led-to-4-tigers-deaths-in-dudhwa-in-two-months-finds-autopsy-90578# 

Why in news? The port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador (a route for cocaine trafficking from neighbouring Colombia to the United States and Europe) is grappling with a devastating battle for control among criminal gangs, leaving the country broken. 

About: 

• Ecuador is on South America’s west coast. 
• It is bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. 
• The capital of Ecuador is Quito, which is located in the Andes Mountains. 
• Ecuador is a diverse country, with a variety of landscapes, including the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains, and the Galapagos Islands. 

• Ecuador is home to a variety of wildlife, including jaguars, monkeys, parrots, and penguins. 
• Ecuador’s role in the drug trade dates back to the 1980s, when it was a transit route for Peruvian coca base trafficked into Colombia. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/gangs-battling-for-control-over-port-city-leaves-ecuador-broken/article67067878.ece#: 

Why in news? Sweden’s request for joining NATO membership has been facing hurdles (Turkey and Hungary have still not approved).  

About: 

• Sweden is a country located in Northern Europe.  

• It is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains. 
• It is bordered by Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund Strait. 
• Stockholm is the capital and largest city of Sweden, built on 14 islands. 

NATO  

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states – 29 European and two North American. 

• It was formed in 1949 to promote mutual defence and collective security among its members.  
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium. 
• Recently, Finland became NATO's 31st member in April 2023. 

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/swedens-rocky-road-from-neutrality-toward-nato-membership-8827291/ 

Why in news? Cross over to Manipur’s Churachandpur district — where the violence first began  — from its boundary with Bishnupur district, and the efforts to erase that name are evident at every turn. 

About 

• Churachandpur district in the Indian state of Manipur is a land of diverse cultures and traditions. It is home to a number of tribal groups, the majority of which belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi (CKMZ) group.  
• The district is also home to a number of historical sites, including the Lamka Fort, which was built in the 18th century by the Kuki chieftain Thangal General. 
• Churachandpur district is named after the Meitei King Churachand Singh, who was the Maharaja of Manipur Kingdom. The district was previously known as Manipur South District, and it came into existence in 1969 along with the district reorganization of Manipur. 

• The district is located in the southwestern part of Manipur, and it is bordered by Mizoram to the south, Nagaland to the east, Assam to the west, and the Churachandpur district itself to the north. The district is home to a number of rivers, including the Khuga River, the Tuivai River, and the Barak River. 
• The name Churachandpur — which was first introduced in the area in 1921 — draws from Churachand Singh, the king of the Manipur Kingdom from 1891 to 1941. 
• After the end of the Anglo-Kuki War in 1919, which the Kukis lost, the administration of the hills surrounding the Manipur kingdom was re-organised and brought under regular administrative control by the British, who divided it into three sub-divisions. 

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/manipur-churachandpur-lamka-kuki-zomi-meitei-history-8820659/ 

Why in news? The IEA expects Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, to meet two thirds of the world's needs for the metal. According to data from the Indonesian government, about 50 nickel mining companies currently operate in North Konawe Regency, across the water from Labengki Island. 

About 

• • Indonesia, country located off the coast of mainland Southeast Asia in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is an archipelago that lies across the Equator and spans a distance equivalent to one-eighth of Earth’s circumference. 
  • Indonesia is the World’s largest Island Country with more than 17,000 islands. It has the 4th largest population in the world. It is the country having the highest Muslim population. 
  • India and Indonesia have shared two millennia of close cultural and commercial contacts. The Hindu, Buddhist and later Muslim faith travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India. The Indonesian folk art and dramas are based on stories from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. T 

The Major Active Volcanoes 

• • Mount Merapi (Java) 
  • Mount Semeru (Java) 
  • Mount Krakatoa (Sunda Strait) 
  • Mount Tambora (Sumbawa) 
  • Mount Agung (Bali) 

The Major Mountains:  

• • Mount Kerinci (Sumatra) 
  • Mount Rinjani (Lombok) 
  • Mount Semeru (Java) 
  • Mount Lawu (Java) 
  • Mount Merbabu (Java)

Why in news? Almost 2,200 earthquakes were recorded in the area around Iceland's capital Reykjavik in the past 24 hours. 

About 

• Iceland is Europe's biggest and most active volcanic region. The North Atlantic island straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge- separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. 
• Iceland experiences frequent volcanic activity, due to its location both on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent tectonic plate boundary, and over a hot spot. 
• The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a mid-ocean ridge (a divergent or constructive plate boundary) located along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean and part of the longest mountain range in the world. In the  
• North Atlantic, the ridge separates the North American from the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate, north and south of the Azores Triple Junction. 

Mount Fagradalsfjall 

• Fagradalsfjall is a tuya volcano formed in the Last Glacial Period on the Reykjanes Peninsula, around 40 kilometres from Reykjavík, Iceland.  
• Fagradalsfjall is also the name for the wider volcanic system covering an area 5 kilometres wide and 16 kilometres long between the Svartsengi and Krýsuvík systems.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/iceland-earthquakes-2-200-earthquakes-in-iceland-in-24-hours-what-it-means-for-the-region-101688609978997.html 

Why in news? Recently, National Green Tribunal highlighted the failure of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to follow environmental rules for construction on Khazan land at Cavelossim. 

About: 

• Khazan is the coastal wetlands of Goa which cover about 5% of the total geographical area of Goa. 
• They were reclaimed from mangrove forests (in the pre-Christian Era) by an intricate system of dykes, sluice gates and canals. 
• It is used for shrimp farming, agriculture and salt production. These act as the main drainage system during floods. 
• It is a low-lying, salt water-logged area that is affected by tidal flow. 

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/goa/rap-for-coastal-body-over-approval-for-construction-on-khazan-land/articleshow/101496144.cms 

Why in news? A recent study conducted by the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) and the National Centre for Earth Sciences has shed light on significant climate shifts in the Kaas Plateau during the Early-Mid-Holocene and late Holocene Periods. 

About: 

• The Kas Plateau is a plateau situated 25 kilometres west of Satara city in Maharashtra, India. It falls under the Sahyadri Sub-Cluster of the Western Ghats.  
• It is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site (2012) and a designated biodiversity hotspot. 

• It is known as Kaas Pathar in Marathi, its name is derived from the Kaasa tree, botanically known as Elaeocarpus glandulosus (rudraksha family). 
• The plateau have various seasonal flowers forming a floral carpet over the entire lateritic crust during August and September. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1939276#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20of%20the,Holocene%2C%20around%208664%20years%20BP. 

In News: According to a recent report by an NGO, there are concerning risks associated with the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is situated in a region affected by conflict. 

About 

• Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world. 
• It is located in southeastern Ukraine, near the city of Enerhodar. 
• It has six VVER-1000 reactors, which can generate a total of 6,000 megawatts of electricity. 
• The plant provides about 20% of Ukraine's electricity. 
• It was built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. 

Why in news? Recently, Tamil Nadu Forest Department has drawn up a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of coastal habitats by creating bio-shields and restoring degraded mangroves in the Cuddalore district, particularly in the Pichavaram region. 

About: 

• The Pichavaram mangrove Forest is one of the largest mangrove forests in India covering about 45 sq km of area.  
• Pichavaram mangrove forest is located between two prominent estuaries, the Vellar estuary in the north and the Coleroon estuary in the south. The Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the Killai backwater and Pichavaram mangroves. 
• It consists of a number of islands interspersing a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forest.  
• It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sand bar. 
• The Pichavaram mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the State, and are a storehouse of biodiversity, supporting 840 species of flora and fauna.  
• These includes 115 species of birds, 16 species of mammals, 11 amphibians, 177 species of finfish, 95 species of zooplanktons, 82 phytoplanktons, 35 species of butterflies, 17 snakes and 3 species of seagrass. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-forest-department-to-scale-up-mangrove-cover-in-pichavaram-by-100-hectares-in-2023-24/article67040135.ece

Why in news? Three years after the violent clash between Indian and Chinese forces in Galwan, both countries ramp up infrastructure on the north bank of Pangong Tso. 

About: 

• Pangong Tso is one of the most famous lake in Leh Ladakh, derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”. 
• It is an endorheic lake (bodies of water that do not flow into an ocean or a sea) spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of 4,225 m. 
• It is 134 km long and divided into five sub-lakes. 
• It is the world's highest saltwater lake. 
• One-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China. 
• It is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times. 

In News: New Evidence of human remains at Tam Ling cave challenges the previous understanding of human arrival in Southeast Asia. 

About Tam Pà Ling Cave: 

• Tam Pà Ling is a cave located in northern Laos and is known for its significant archaeological findings related to early humans. 
• It is located near Cobra Cave, where a tooth from a Denisovan, an extinct human relative, was discovered. 
• In 2009, a human skull and jaw bone were discovered in the cave which established importance of cave as a possible route for human dispersal in Southeast Asia. 
• New research published in Nature Communications has revealed that additional human remains have been found in Tam Pà Ling Cave. 

• Dating the cave has proven challenging due to protected fossils, lack of suitable materials for dating, and characteristics of the cave entrance. 
• However, luminescence dating techniques using minerals like quartz and feldspar have been employed to establish age profiles of the sediment. 
• The updated chronology indicates that humans have been present in the vicinity of Tam Pà Ling Cave for approximately 56,000 years. 
• Overall, the cave's exploration will help in understanding the ancient human journey across the world besides highlighting on the dispersal route for modern humans in Southeast Asia. 

Why in news? Recently, The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, a 2,000 Mega Watt project located in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, has achieved the construction of the dam to the top level of Elevation Level 210 M. 

About: 

• Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (gravity dam) the biggest hydroelectric project undertaken in India so far and is a run of river scheme on river Subansiri. 
  • A run-of-river dam is one in which the flow of water in the river downstream of the dam is the same as the flow of water upstream of the dam. 
• The construction of SLHEP is being undertaken by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited. 

Subansiri River  

• The Subansiri River or “Gold River” is a trans-Himalayan River and the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra River that flows through Tibet’s Lhuntse County in the Shannan Prefecture, and the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1936491#:~:text=In%20a%20significant%20milestone%20towards,blocks%20on%20June%2029%2C%202023. 

Why in news? Recently, National Security Advisor visited the strategic Port of Duqm where Muscat has given access to the Indian Navy to facilitate its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. 

About: 

• Duqm port is located in southern Oman on the Arabian Sea and around 500 kilometres from the Strait of Hormuz.  
• The port sits on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean and is strategically important for India’s maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean.  
• It offers India access to the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea.  
• This location is significant as it allows India to counter China’s expanding presence in the region. 

Why in news? Recently, Turkmenistan inaugurated Arkadag, a $ 5 billion "smart" city built in honour of former strongman leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, cementing one of the most extraordinary personality cults in the world. 

About: 

• Turkmenistan is located in the southwest of the Central Asia region.  
• It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west. 
• It largely covered by the Karakum Desert.  
• It’s known for archaeological ruins including those at Nisa and Merv, major stops along the ancient trade route the Silk Road. 
• Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/turkmenistan-unveils-5-billion-city-in-honour-of-national-leader/article67023639.ece# 

Why in news? Recently, the Supreme Court of Nepal has issued an interim order directing the government to establish a “transitional mechanism” to ensure the registration of marriages for “same-sex couples”. 

About: 

• Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia, lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan Mountain ranges.  
• It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.  
• It is located between India to the east, south, and west and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north.  
• West Bengal’s narrow Siliguri Corridor separates Nepal and Bangladesh. 
• The capital and largest city of Nepal is Kathmandu. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/supreme-court-of-nepal-orders-registration-of-marriages-for-same-sex-and-non-binary-heterosexual-couples/article67020534.ece 

In News: India and Argentina have agreed for a bilateral exchange of young researchers and Startups, particularly in the field of Biotechnology and Agriculture. 

About 

• Argentina, the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, is situated between the Andes Mountains and Chile to the west.  

• The country's interior is characterized by vast, fertile grasslands known as the Pampas, extending eastward.  

• The eastern boundary of Argentina is defined by the Atlantic Ocean, while Bolivia lies to the northwest and Paraguay to the north. 

• Lithium Triangle' is an area of South America located in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. 

• Argentina is famous for livestock ranching in the world. Argentina's world-famous ranchers are culling their breeding cows at the fastest rate in 30 years. 

• Agriculture in Argentina is relatively capital intensive, employing around 7% of the workforce and accounting for less than a third of all labor even during its heyday around 1900. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1942174#:~:text=Visiting%20Governor%20of%20Santa%20Fe,talks%20with%20India's%20Science%20Minister&text=by%20PIB%20Delhi-,India%20and%20Argentina%20have%20agreed%20for%20a%20bilateral%20exchange%20of,field%20of%20Biotechnology%20and%20Agriculture.   

In News: New plant species that grow in saline conditions of Kutch discovered 

 About 

• Dholavira is located on Khadir bet island in the Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Kachchh. 
• Unlike other Harappan antecedent towns normally located near rivers and perennial sources of water, the location of Dholavira on the island of Khadir bet.

In News: Recently, A gold stud, a bone point, and a carnelian bead have been unearthed by archaeologists at Porpanaikottai in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu. 

In News: The Orkney Islands' consideration of separating from the United Kingdom (U.K.) and becoming a self-governing territory, potentially under Norway. 

 About 

• Orkney is an archipelago located off the northeast coast of Scotland. 
• It consists of approximately 70 islands, with the largest ones being Mainland, Hoy, Rousay, and South Ronaldsay. 
• The islands are situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, separated from the Scottish mainland by the Pentland Firth.

In News: The Orkney Islands' consideration of separating from the United Kingdom (U.K.) and becoming a self-governing territory, potentially under Norway. 

 About 

• Orkney is an archipelago located off the northeast coast of Scotland. 
• It consists of approximately 70 islands, with the largest ones being Mainland, Hoy, Rousay, and South Ronaldsay. 
• The islands are situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, separated from the Scottish mainland by the Pentland Firth.

In News: Peru declares a state of emergency for 60 days in areas around Ubinas volcano 

About 

• Ubinas is a stratovolcano located in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. 

• It is one of the most active volcanoes in Peru. 
• The Ubinas volcano is part of a group of seven volcanoes in southern Peru located within a volcanic zone that extends from southern Peru to northern Chile. 
• The affected area is situated within the "Ring of Fire," a region encompassing the edges of the Pacific Ocean that is renowned for its volcanic activity and seismic events, such as earthquakes. 

In News: Peru declares a state of emergency for 60 days in areas around Ubinas volcano 

About 

• Ubinas is a stratovolcano located in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. 

• It is one of the most active volcanoes in Peru. 
• The Ubinas volcano is part of a group of seven volcanoes in southern Peru located within a volcanic zone that extends from southern Peru to northern Chile. 
• The affected area is situated within the "Ring of Fire," a region encompassing the edges of the Pacific Ocean that is renowned for its volcanic activity and seismic events, such as earthquakes. 

In News: Heavy clashes and artillery fire erupted across Sudan's capital Khartoum 

About 

• Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Egypt to the north, Eritrea to the northeast, Ethiopia to the southeast, Libya to the northwest, South Sudan to the south, and the Red Sea.  

• It was the largest country by area in Africa and the Arab League until the secession of South Sudan in 2011. 

Darfur region in Sudan:

• It is a region in western Sudan that has been plagued by violent conflict and humanitarian crises. 
• The area has experienced ethnic tensions between Arab and African communities, leading to widespread violence and human rights abuses. 

Major River:  

• White Nile and the Blue Nile. 
•  The White Nile, which is the longest of the two, begins at Lake Victoria in Tanzania and flows north until it reaches Khartoum, Sudan, where it converges with the Blue Nile. 

In News: Mozambique - Cabo Delgado Gasfield 

About 

• Mozambique is located on the southeast coast of Africa. 
• It is bound by Eswatini to the south, South Africa to the southwest, Zimbabwe to the west, Zambia and Malawi to the northwest, Tanzania to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east. 

Major River 

• The country is divided into two topographical regions by the Zambezi River. 
• To the south of the Zambezi, the lowlands are broader with the Mashonaland plateau and Lebombo Mountains located in the deep south.

Major Lake 

• Lake Niassa (or Malawi) 
• Lake Chiuta 
•  Cahora Bassa  
• Lake Shirwa 

All lakes are in the north. 

Cabo Delgado 

• Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique. 
• As well as bordering the neighboring country of Tanzania, it borders the provinces of Nampula and Niassa. 

• The region is an ethnic stronghold of the Makonde tribe, with the Makua and Mwani as leading ethnic minorities. 

In News: WFP Chief calls for immediate support to maintain peace and stability in West and Central Africa 

About 

• Chad Host the largest number of refugees in West and Central Africa 
• It is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. 
• Chad's capital is N'Djamena 

• Bordered by Libya to the north, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest, Sudan to the east and Niger to the west. 
• It is the fifth largest country on the African continent. 

Major River  

• Chad's major rivers are the Chari and the Logone and their tributaries, which flow from the southeast into Lake Chad. 
•  Both river systems rise in the highlands of Central African Republic and Cameroon. 

Lake Chad 

• The boundary between Chad and Nigeria is an 85 km straight line through Lake Chad connecting the modern-day tripoints with Niger in the north and Cameroon in the south. It was originally established by French and British colonial administrators in 1906 and demarcated by them in 1911. 

In News: Three new lakes may form in Parkachik Glacier in Ladakh due to glacial retreat 

About 

• The Parkachik Glacier in Ladakh is likely to have three lakes of different dimensions due to subglacial over-deepening -- a characteristic of basins and valleys eroded by glaciers, shows a new study. 
• The Suru River, a major tributary of the Indus River, heavily relies on the meltwaters from this glacier. This makes it a crucial supplier of water to the Kargil district in Ladakh, which already faces drought-like conditions. 

 Two main reasons for the rapid melting of the glacier: 

• First is global warming and increasing temperatures in the region 
• Second is that it is at a lower altitude than other glaciers in the Zanskar region 

Zanskar Ranges 

• Zanskar is a high-altitude semi-desert lying on the Northern flank of the Great Himalayan Range. 
• This mountain range acts as a climatic barrier protecting Ladakh and Zanskar from most of the monsoon, resulting in a pleasantly warm and dry climate in the summer. 

Why in news? Recently, 5th meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was convened, between Indian External Affairs Minister and his Philippines counterpart. 

About: 

• India and the Philippines have discussed the potential for expanding defence cooperation, particularly in maritime security, including joint sales and patrols.  

Philippines 

• The Philippines is an archipelago located in Southeast Asia, bordered by the Philippine Sea to the east, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south. 
• In the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of over 7000 islands which are broadly categorized into three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 
• The capital city is Manila, situated on Luzon Island. 
• Mount Apo (2,954 meters) on Mindanao Island is the highest peak, and it is an active volcano. 
• The Philippines is also a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which makes it geologically active.  

• It has more than 20 active volcanoes, including Mayon (recently erupted in 2023), Taal, and Mount Pinatubo (erupted in 1991). 
• The Philippines has a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity year-round, experiencing wet and dry seasons. 

Why in news? Recently, The UK Court of Appeal has ruled against the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration. 

About: 

• Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge.  
• It is located a few degrees south of the Equator. 
• Rwanda is situated in the Great Lakes region of Africa and is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Lake Kivu.  
• The country is known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills" due to its mountainous terrain. 

• The capital and largest city of Rwanda is Kigali, located in the centre of the country on the Ruganwa River. 

More Information: 

• The ‘Rwanda policy’ as it is known, is part of the British government’s “stop the boats” strategy, i.e., a plan to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel to enter the U.K. The policy — which seeks to send potential asylees to Rwanda while their applications are adjudicated — applies to other asylum seekers in the U.K. as well. 

In News:  Gautam Adani called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka following the full load commencement of power supply to Bangladesh from the 1600 MW Ultra Super-Critical Thermal Power Plant (USCTPP) at Godda in Jharkhand. 

About 

• Godda project is India’s first commissioned transnational power project, where 100% of the generated power is supplied to another nation. 

• The plant’s operations include 100% flue gas desulphurization, selective catalytic reconverter, and zero water discharge for minimizing emissions and ensuring environment-friendly operations. 

• Godda is mostly famous for the Rajmahal coalfield in Lalmatia. It is known for its hills and small forests. The mine present here is an integral part of ECL coalfields and is among the biggest in the whole of Asia. 

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/adani-meets-bangladesh-pm-fully-commissions-1600-mw-project-8840427/#:~:text=After%20the%20meeting%2C%20Adani%20tweeted,%2Da%2Dhalf%20years.%E2%80%9D  

In News: In latest move towards growing ties, India hands over missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam. 

About 

• Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, the South China Sea to the east and south, the Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam) to the southwest, and Cambodia and Laos to the west. 
• Red (Hong) River in the north and the Mekong (Cuu Long) River in the south are major river of Vietnam. 

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-latest-move-towards-growing-ties-india-hands-over-missile-corvette-ins-kirpan-to-vietnam-8856051/#:~:text=In%20the%20first%2Dever%20instance,between%20New%20Delhi%20and%20Hanoi.  

In News:  Recently, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation lays the foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. 

 About 

• 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram to be installed in Mantralayam will give the message of our Sanatan Dharma to the entire world for many ages and will strengthen the Vaishnava tradition in the country and the world. 
• This project is spread over an area of 10 acres in Mantralayam village situated on the banks of Tungabhadra river. 
• The great Vijayanagara Empire was originated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, it restored Swadesh and Swadharma by driving out the invaders from the entire South. 
• Mantralayam village is very famous for the temple of Raghavendra Swamy. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1941932 

In News: Recently, Cambodia holds an election that is almost certain to be won by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen. 

About 

• Cambodia, country on the Indochinese mainland of Southeast Asia. Cambodia is largely a land of plains and great rivers and lies amid important overland and river trade routes linking China to India and Southeast Asia. 

• Cambodia is bordered to the west and northwest by Thailand, to the northeast by Laos, to the east and southeast by Vietnam, and to the southwest by the Gulf of Thailand.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/cambodia-elections-2023-explainer-8855597/#:~:text=Polls%20opened%20in%20a%20one,the%20world's%20longest%2Dserving%20premiers.  

Why in news? Recently, Recently, the Crimea bridge suffered damage when one of its sections was blown up. 

About: 

• The Kerch Bridge, also known as Crimea Bridge, is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean Peninsula. 
• The bridge that passes over the Kerch Strait was inaugurated in 2018, four years following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. 
• The bridge is a pair of parallel bridges, one for a four-lane road and one for a double-track railway, spanning the Kerch Strait between the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai in Russia and the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66218869  

Why in news? Recently, the Ghaggar River and its tributaries caused havoc after reclaiming their floodplains in Haryana. 

About: 

• The Ghaggar-Hakra River is an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season.  
• It originates in the village of Dagshai in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through Punjab and Haryana states into Rajasthan. 
• The main tributaries of the Ghaggar are the Kaushalya River, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri and Chautang. 

• The river is known as Ghaggar in India, before the Ottu barrage, and as the Hakra in Pakistan, downstream of the barrage. 
• It eventually dries up in the Great Indian (Thar) Desert. 
• In pre-Harappan times the Ghaggar was a tributary of the Sutlej. 

More Information: 

• Ghaggar, Tangri, Markanda and others are considered dead rivers in the state and heavily encraoched upon but in this monsoon season they reclaimed their floodplains and caused heavy losses. 

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/natural-disasters/a-dead-ghaggar-and-its-tributaries-wrought-havoc-in-haryana-early-july-here-is-how-90671#:~:text=The%20floodplain%20of%20the%20Ghaggar,the%20Ghaggar%20and%20its%20tributaries.  

In News: Recently, NITI Aayog has released the ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023’. 

National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): 

• MPI measures Poverty across its multiple dimensions and in effect complements existing poverty statistics based on per capita consumption expenditure. 
• It considers three equally weighted dimensions – Health, Education, and Standard of living. 
• These three dimensions are measured by 12 indicators such as nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts. 
• The first edition of MPI was released in 2021. 

Key Highlights of MPI 2023: 

• It is the 2nd edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and has been prepared based on the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21). 
• India's population living in multidimensional poverty decreased from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21. 
• The rural areas of India registered the fastest decline in poverty, with the poverty rate dropping from 32.59% to 19.28%. 
• Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in the number of poor individuals, with 3.43 crore (34.3 million) people escaping multidimensional poverty. 
• Bihar saw the fastest reduction in MPI value in absolute terms with the proportion of multidimensional poor reducing from 51.89% to 33.76% followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 
• Except for Bihar, no other state in India has more than one-third of its population living in multidimensional poverty. 
• Number of states with less than 10% of people living in multidimensional poverty has doubled between 2016 and 2021 from 7 (Mizoram, HP, Punjab, Sikkim, TN, Goa, and Kerala) to 14 (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Uttarakhand). 

Reasons for Multidimensional Poverty: 

• Within Health Category, Lack of proper nutrition contributed almost 30% in the overall calculation of MPI of India. 
• Within Education category, lack of years of schooling, inadequate access to maternal health services and less-than-desired school attendance did not show much decline. 
• Within the Standard of Living Category, ~44% of India’s population is still deprived of access to cooking fuel, 30% of the population deprived of sanitation services. 

Government’s Initiatives: 

• Health and Nutrition: Poshan Abhiyan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat 
• Sanitation: Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 
• Cooking fuel: PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 
• Other initiatives: Saubhagya (electricity), PM Awas Yojana (housing), PM Jan Dhan Yojana (banking), and Samagra Shiksha (education). 

In News: While G-20 negotiators led by Indian Sherpa Amitabh Kant continue their discussions on the draft “Leader’s Declaration” for the Summit in September, India has proposed membership of the African Union (AU) in the G20. 

About the membership of G20: 

• The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries and the European Union. It represents around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. 
• G20 has only one representative from the continent of Africa i.e. South Africa and is largely dominated by representation from Europe.  

Significance of India’s push for AU’s representation: 

• Diversion from global polarisation: India’s push to expand the imprint of Global South in G20 is a way of diverting attention and energies from the global polarisation over the war in Ukraine. 
• Voice of Global South: With the proposal of inclusion of AU in G20, India has positioned itself as a voice of global south in international fora. 
• Inclusion of additional issues in the draft: The proposal comes along with a slew of new proposals such as additions on gender-led development, digital public infrastructure and green hydrogen transitions. 

What are the roadblocks in publishing the Leader’s Declaration or Communique? 

• Statements from Bali G20 communique: The two paragraphs in Bali G20statements have created rows during ministerial meets on education, research, agriculture, tourism and Urban 20.  
• Disagreement of Russia and China: Both the countries have disassociated themselves from the language of Bali meet, which states national positions of various countries on Ukraine war. They refuse to support any reference of the war in Ukraine in a G20 document, meant for economic and development issues. 
• Adamant G7 countries: G-7 countries are adamant that the Russian war in Ukraine must be included as it is affecting the global economy including energy prices, food security etc. 
• Inclusion of economic sanctions: G-7 countries are also not keen for economic sanctions imposed by the west to be included in the official document 

A joint communique has not been witnessed since 2008 for G-20 countries, and coming together of all countries with a Leader's Declaration or Communique would be unprecedented in the G20’s summit history. 

Support for India’s proposal on AU: 

• Troika of developing countries: G20 hosted by India represents the first time that developing countries form the troika (hosts for 2022-2023-2024) of Indonesia-India-Brazil, and India has championed the voice of the global south in its deliberations. 
• Over representation of Europe: G20 at present is “over-represented” by Europe, as a quarter of the grouping is made up of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union (Spain- permanent special invitee). 
• Inclusion of large chunk of global population: Inducting AU will not change the composition of the invitee list, as AU is a special invitee every year, but it will bring a large chunk of the global population currently being kept “out of the tent”. 
• 90% of global population: With inclusion of AU, 90% of the global population will be represented by the grouping, which will be unique. 

Challenges to providing Membership for African Union 

• Several other contenders want G20 membership such as ASEAN, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), as well as countries like Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, which are not permanent members of the G20, but are in the world’s top 20 economies. 
• Difficulty in consensus building as it will lead to an exponential rise in the number of countries for building consensus over a G20 document, which is already paralyzed by the Ukraine war. 

In News: French President Emmanuel Macron conferred France’s highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, upon the Indian Prime Minister who is visiting France to attend the Bastille Day celebrations.  

About the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor 

• The National Order of the Legion of Honor, is the highest French decoration, both civil and military, and is one of the most famous national honours in the world. 
• Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, The Legion of Honour is divided into five classes (lower to higher)- Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross. The PM was awarded the fifth honour. 
• The colour of the ribbon is red and the badge is a five-armed Maltese asterisk hung on an oak and laurel wreath. On the obverse is the effigy of the Republic and on the reverse two tricolour flags surrounded by the motto ‘Honour and Fatherland’ written in French. 
• Although the membership to the award is restricted to French nationals, foreign nationals who serve France or uphold its ideals may also be given a distinction of the Legion. 
• Indian Prime Minister joins the ranks of other prominent world leaders like Nelson Mandela, King Charles, Angela Merkel.  
• The PM announced the opening of a new Indian consulate in Marseille in France and said that Indian students doing masters in European countries will now get five-year-long post-study work visas. 
• Describing people-to-people connect as a key foundation of the India-France partnership, he also asked the diaspora members to invest in India. 

Other Awards conferred to the Indian Prime Minister: 

• Order of the Nile by Egypt in June 2023 
• Companion of the Order of Logohu by Papua New Guinea in May 2023 
• Companion of the Order of Fiji in May 2023 
• Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau in May 2023 
• Order of the Druk Gyalpo by Bhutan in 2021 
• Legion of Merit by the US Government in 2020 
• King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain in 2019 
• Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin by Maldives in 2019. 
• Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award in 2018 
• Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud from Saudi Arabia in 2016. 

In News: Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar participates in the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) 

About Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) 

• Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) was founded in October 2013 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. 
• It is the largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide with 119 EMBs as Members and 20 Regional Associations/Organizations as Associate Members. 
• Its primary vision is to achieve sustainable democracy globally by strengthening the processes of election management in member countries. 
• It organizes capacity building programs, conducts election visitor and observation programs to study election management practices and share knowledge among member EMBs. 
• It also has regional offices, including A-WEB India Centre, which focus on sharing best practices and providing training and capacity building to officials. 
• It facilitates cooperation and collaboration among EMBs worldwide, allowing them to learn from each other's experiences and best practices. 
• Overall, the association helps addressing the pressing challenges faced by EMBs including countering fake narratives that threaten election integrity globally. 

In News: U.S. destroys last of its declared Chemical Weapons closing a deadly chapter dating to World War I 

About Chemical Weapons Stockpile 

• The United States has recently achieved a major milestone by successfully destroying its entire declared chemical weapons stockpile. 
• The historic event took place at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, where the last remaining chemical weapons were eliminated. 
• Rockets filled with GB nerve agents commonly known as “sarin” were destroyed, concluding a decades-long campaign to eliminate the stockpile that once totalled over 30,000 tons. 

Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC) 

• It is an international arms control treaty adopted in 1993 and entered into force on April 29, 1997 which is aimed at eliminating chemical weapons worldwide. 
• It is considered one of the most comprehensive disarmament treaties, with 193 member states. 
• Its primary goal is to prevent the production, acquisition, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. 
• The CWC also establishes the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as its implementing body. 
• Under the CWC, member states commit to destroying their existing chemical weapon stockpiles and dismantling related production facilities. 

In News: The Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratification of the Headquarters Agreement (HQA) between Government of India (Gol) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) signed on 22nd August, 2022. 

About the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): 

• The CDRI was launched by India during the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019 at New York.  
• It is a major global initiative launched by the Government of India and is seen as India's attempts to obtain a global leadership role in climate change and disaster resilience matters. 
• CDRI is a global partnership of National Governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, academic and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development. 
• Since its launch, thirty-one (31) Countries, six (06) International Organisations and two (02) private sector organisations have become members of CDRI. 

About the Headquarters Agreement (HQA): 

• In June of 2022, the Cabinet had approved recognition of CDRI as an International Organization and for signing of Headquarters Agreement (HQA) for granting CDRI exemptions, immunities and privileges as contemplated under Section-3 of the UN (P&I) Act, 1947. 
• This will provide CDRI an independent and international legal persona so that it can carry out its functions internationally, more efficiently. 

In News: Recently, RBI released the State Of The Economy report, which suggests that the economic momentum (on a quarter-on-quarter basis) is likely to remain healthy even as the global recovery is slowing down. 

About the State of the Economy Report: 

• The State of the Economy report is released by the RBI which summarises the economic status of the country and provides a record of economic progress. 
• The report discusses inflation, employment status, economic growth and the central bank’s plan for managing money. 
• RBI uses the key highlights of the reports to make decisions about interest rates and other economic policies, and it also assists economists, investors, and regular citizens understand the economy and make smart choices. 

Key Highlights of the Report:  

• Decline in merchandize exports: Merchandise exports declined by around 16% in July, falling to a nine month low $32.25 billion. 
• Growth in private consumption and investment: Although the contraction in exports will drag down growth, increase in private consumption and investment activity is expected to offset that. 
• Healthy signs by high-frequency indicators: Several high-frequency indicators of both demand and supply show healthy signs.  
  • E-way bill volumes have registered robust growth.  
  • FMCG sales have also improved sequentially.  
  • Cargo at major ports as well as railway freight traffic has picked up in July.  
  • Both steel and cement consumption have registered healthy growth. 

• Positive investment intentions: Investment intentions closely track actual investments and serve as a useful indicator of gauging the private investment cycle. In 2022-23, investment plans were made for 982 projects with a capital outlay of Rs 3.5 lakh crore as compared to 791 projects worth Rs 1.96 lakh crore in 2021-22 
• Increase in investment in infrastructure projects: Around 60% of these 982 projects financed by banks and financial institutions are in the infrastructure sector i.e. power, roads and bridges, SEZs, industrial biotech and IT park.  
• Improved capex cycle: Stronger bank and corporate sector balance sheets, improving demand conditions and rising capacity utilisation rates, will bode well for the capex cycle.  

Concerns highlighted by the Report:  

• Weak Automobile sales: Automotive sector, with the exception of three-wheelers, remains weak. 
• Increased MNREGA demands: Demand for work by households/individuals under MGNREGA is higher than last year.  
• Weak domestic demands: Non-oil imports are lower than last year which indicates weak domestic demand. 
• Materialisation of investments: Despite rise in investment intentions, materialisation of the investments remains a big concern.  

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/express-view-on-rbi-studies-carrying-hope-8898964/#:~:text=As%20per%20this%20(limited)%20study,worth%20Rs%201.96%20lakh%20crore.  

In News: Recently, the Cabinet approves the signing of an MoU between India and Suriname in the field of the regulation of medicines 

About 

• India and Suriname signed MoU exemplifies the mutual commitment to collaborate closely in the realm of medicine regulation. 

• It aims to recognize the importance of adhering to respective laws and regulations while ensuring the quality of medicines in both countries. 

About MoU 

• Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) Acceptance: The MoU solidifies the acceptance of the IP as a comprehensive book of standards for medicines in Suriname. 
• Quality Control: The requirement for duplicate testing of medicines within Suriname is eliminated through the acceptance of the Certificate of Analysis issued by Indian Manufacturers adhering to the IP standards.  
• Cost-effective Standards: The MoU facilitates access to IP Reference Substances (IPRS) and Impurity standards from the IPC at reasonable costs.  

Significance of the MoU between India and Suriname 

• Accessible Medications: Acknowledging intellectual property (IP) paves the way for the production of generic medicines in Suriname. This results in a higher availability of affordable drugs for the people of Suriname, aligning with the objective of improving public health. 
• Economic Benefits: For India, recognizing the Indian Pharmacopoeia in Suriname marks a stride towards an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). This acknowledgment facilitates the export of Indian medical products, generating foreign exchange earnings, and fortifying India's pharmaceutical industry on the world stage. 
• Enhancing Indian Pharmaceutical Exports: The acceptance of IP by Suriname eliminates the need for redundant testing and checks, providing Indian pharmaceutical exporters with a competitive advantage. The reduction in regulatory aaobstacles leads to more profitable trade for the Indian pharmaceutical sector. 
• Broader International Validation: The official recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia has already extended to countries such as Afghanistan, Ghana, Nepal, Mauritius, and now, Suriname. This expansion underscores India's endeavors to bolster its influence and collaboration in the global pharmaceutical arena.

   https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1949414 

In News: The current demographic dividend of India, entails a huge potential to make its next 25 years a golden period, provided the effective utilisation of its human resources. 

About the demographic dividend of India and the world: 

• According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), demographic dividend means, "the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population. 
• India has an average age of 29 years, thus has a youthful population which presents a unique advantage for the country’s economic growth. 
• Globally most of the developed countries are ageing with the US, China, France, Germany and Japan having an average age of 38, 38, 42, 45 and 48 years, respectively. 
• India’s old-age dependency ratio will reach 37% in 2075, whereas the same will be 55.8% in France, 75.3 % in Japan, 49.3% in US, 53% in the UK and 63.1% in Germany 

Lessons from the Asian Success stories:  

• Harnessing of demographic dividend: Asian countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore have effectively utilised their favourable demographics to drive economic growth and development. 
• Shift towards labour intensive productions: Importance of capitalising on labour-intensive manufacturing sectors to create employment opportunities could be witnessed in the case of China. 
• Structural Transformations: Countries like Japan, Singapore etc. have undergone structural transformations by transitioning from labour-intensive industries to more advanced sectors to successfully reap the advantage of demographic dividend. 

What needs to be done to efficiently use India’s demographic dividend?  

• Increased opportunities: There is a need to create opportunities for the existing labour force and the new entrants into the labour market by improving their productivity.  
• Increase Marginal Productivity of labour: There is a need to shift a major chunk of the 45.5% of the labour force engaged in agriculture with negligible labour productivity and often being disguised unemployment.  
• Focus on labour intensive sectors such as textiles, toys, footwear, auto components, sports goods, mining and construction and agricultural processing to absorb unskilled and uneducated labourers. 
• Absorption in tertiary sectors like restaurants, hotels, healthcare and caregiving services have huge potential. 
• Industry and Infrastructure Development: India should accelerate infrastructure development to support economic growth and enhance competitiveness. This includes investment in transportation, energy, digital connectivity, and other critical infrastructure sectors. 
• Push to MSMEs: MSMEs need support in improving competitiveness, achieving scale, digital infrastructure, technology up-grade and branding to be part of a larger supply chain and the global value chains. 
• Skilling and Education: Benefits of demographic dividend can only be reaped if the labour force is more productive and efficient through skilling, re-skilling, up-skilling and education. 
• Social Security and Healthcare: India should work towards improving access to quality healthcare services and implementing robust social security programs. 

Initiatives of Indian government to reap the demographic dividend: 

• Skill development initiatives: Various programmes like Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to improve employability have been launched. The MSDE Vision 2025 further aims to improve the linkage between education and skill. 
• Healthcare reforms: The Ayushman Bharat and Swachh Bharat Mission seek to improve health equity in India. The PM Janaushadhi Pariyojana has made drugs affordable and accessible, enhancing overall public health. 
• Education policy: The National Education Policy 2020, alongside the Samagra Shiksha programme, is focused on providing inclusive, equitable, and quality education at all school levels, ensuring a productive labour force in the future. 
• Support for MSMEs: Recognizing MSMEs as the backbone of Indian manufacturing, the government has supported them through various PLI incentives and credit facilities like Mudra. 
• Flagship programmes like Skill India, Make in India, and Start-up India etc. have been introduced to enhance the productivity of the labour force and to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. 

In News: World Bank president Ajay Banga deliberates on India's opportunity to become an alternative to China in Manufacturing 

About India has a 3–5-year China+1 window: 

• World Bank President Ajay Banga recently visited India and emphasized the country's potential to become an alternative to China in manufacturing. 
• India has a limited window of three to five years to capitalize on this opportunity and establish itself as a viable manufacturing destination. 

Key observations: 

• The changing global supply chain dynamics are prompting companies to explore diversifying their manufacturing locations, moving away from excessive reliance on China. 
• India has an excellent opportunity to position itself as a preferred destination for companies seeking an alternative to China for manufacturing operations. 
• India should act with determination and enthusiasm to seize this window of opportunity and attract manufacturing investments.

In News:  Recently, the Department of Economic Affairs has authorized Public Sector Banks and eligible Private Sector Banks to implement the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate, 2023. 

About: 

• Mahila Samman Savings Certificate, 2023 scheme was announced in the Union Budget FY 2023-24 by the Central Government to provide financial security to every girl and woman in India. 
• It is a one-time savings scheme. 
• Women can open the account for themselves or on behalf of a minor girl child. 
• The scheme has been in operation since April 1, 2023, through the Department of Post. 

Key Features of the Scheme. 

• Provides attractive and secured investment option to all girls and women. 
• An account can be opened under this scheme on or before the March 31, 2025, for a tenure of two years. 
• The deposit made under MSSC will bear interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum which will be compounded quarterly.  
• Minimum of ₹1000 and any sum in multiple of 100 may be deposited within the maximum limit of ₹200,000. 
• Maturity of the investment under this scheme is two years from the date of opening of the account under the scheme. 
• It envisions flexibility not only in investment but also in partial withdrawal during the scheme tenor. The account holder is eligible to withdraw maximum up to 40% of the eligible balance in the scheme account. 

In News: Ministry of Education releases report on Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D). 

About Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) 

• The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L) under the Ministry of Education, has recently released the PGI-D combined report for the year 2020-21 & 2021-22. 
• The report graded the performance of the school education system at the 742 and 748 districts during 2020-21 and 2021-22 across the States/UTs by creating an index for comprehensive analysis. 
• Based on the success of State PGI, an 83-indicator grouped into 6 categories and 12 domains, including Learning Outcomes and Quality, Access Outcomes, Teacher Availability etc, 
• Districts are graded as Daksh for scoring more than 90% of the total points in a category or overall and Akanshi-3 which is lowest for scoring up to 10% of the total points. 
• Highest scoring district in PGI-D is Pathanamthitta in Kerala with a score of 518, followed by Kottayam in Kerala with a score of 516. 
• Lowest scoring district in PGI-D is Kiphire in Nagaland with a score of 79, followed by Longleng in Nagaland with a score of 80. 
• Top performing states/UTs in terms of average score of their districts are Kerala, Chandigarh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 
• Most improved states/UTs in terms of average score of their districts from 2018-19 to 2020-21 & 2021-22 are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. 
• With Indian Education System being one of the largest in the world, PGI-D will help districts to prioritize areas for intervention in school education besides improving the reach to the highest grade. 

 In News: Recently, the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report was released. 

About the Report: 

• The report was released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), and World Health Organization (WHO). 
• Theme of the report was “Urbanisation, agrifood systems transformation, and healthy diets across the rural-urban continuum”. 
• It is an annual report which aims to inform on progress towards ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition and to provide an in-depth analysis of key challenges for achieving this goal in the context of the SDG. 

Key findings of the report: 

• Over 700 million people was facing hunger in the world in 2022. 
• Around 2.4 billion individuals did not have consistent access to nutritious, safe, and sufficient food in 2022. 
• In 2021, 22.3% (148.1 million) children were stunted (too short for their age), 6.8% (45 million) were wasted (too thin for their height), and 5.6% (37 million) were overweight. 
• Due to urbanization, there is increase in the consumption of processed and convenience foods which is leading to increase in overweight and obesity rates across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. 
• The rural regions which were previously self-sustaining (especially in Asia and Africa), are now dependent on national and global food markets. 

Challenges identified by the report: 

• Persistent Food Crisis: There are many places in the world facing deepening food crises. 
• Inequitable access to Nutritious Food especially for women and residents of rural areas. 
• Alarming high child malnutrition. 
• It is projected that by 2050, 70% of the global population will reside in cities, posing significant challenges for food systems to cater to these urban populations. 

A case study from India – The Role of urban proximity in agricultural intensification: 

• The town of Doddaballapura, located in Bangalore’s Rural district, serves as evidence of the essential role of small and intermediate cities and towns in increasing the use of modern agricultural inputs in rural areas. 
• Farmers located farther from Bangalore show a higher use of modern inputs due to the influence of Doddaballapura. 

Way Forward: 

• There is necessity of a reorientation of food systems to cater to these new urban populations and eradicate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. 
• The policy can strengthen intensification and increase productivity in farming close to small and intermediate cities and towns (SICTs). 
• This will improve connectivity between farms and input-output markets, which will further reduce the cost of access to markets and also boost farmers’ access to and use of modern inputs. 

In News: Recently, India has accepted an invitation from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to join the Champions Group of the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG). 

About: 

• The GCRG was established (in 2022) by the UN Secretary-General to address urgent global issues related to food security, energy, and finance, and to coordinate a global response. 
• UN Deputy-Secretary-General leads the Steering Committee of the GCRG involving 32 UN agencies, international and regional financial institutions, and multi-stakeholder partners. 
• It is overseen by the Champions Group consisting of heads of state or government from Bangladesh, Barbados, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal. 
• Within the Group, three work streams on Food, Energy and Finance has set up.  
  • They will collate data and generate analysis, policy recommendations and solutions to support decision-making and advocacy for consideration of the Steering Committee. 

In News: India recently decided to ban the export of all types of rice, except Basmati and parboiled rice. As per IMF, this move could exacerbate food prices and inflation globally. 

About the Rice Export Ban: 

• India is the world’s biggest rice exporter, accounting for 40% of global trade by volume. In 2022, it shipped 22m tonnes to more than 140 countries. Non-basmati white rice constitutes approximately 25% of the total rice exported from the country 
• Most of the exports consist of non-basmati rice especially popular in poor places such as Bangladesh, Nepal and parts of sub-Saharan Africa. 
• According to the rice-price index, published monthly by the FAO, rice prices rose by 14% in the year to June. 

Implications of ban of rice exports:  

• Global Supply Shortage: The ban will remove almost 10 million tons of non-basmati white rice from the world market, leading to a decrease in overall rice supply.  
• Rise is global rice prices: The reduction in supply is likely to create a surge in world rice prices. Other rice-exporting countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, US, and Myanmar cannot fill the gap left by India’s absence. 
• Domestic Supply Concerns: The ban is a response to domestic supply concerns caused by subnormal monsoon rainfall in major growing states.  
• Loss of credibility as a reliable trade partner: The ban raises questions about the credibility of official output estimates, especially when India recorded all-time-high production of both wheat and rice in 2022-23. 
• Hindrances to Market Building Efforts: Building markets takes time and effort, and the sudden ban can undo the progress made in establishing India as a reliable rice supplier in various regions.  
• Potential of a Domino effect where other rice producing countries could ban rice exports as witnessed during the 2008 rice ban by Vietnam.  

In News: Recently, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare today launched a new campaign for banks under Agri Infra Fund titled BHARAT (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation).  

About: 

• Agri Infra Fund is a financing facility launched in July 2020 to provide all-around financial support to farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, FPOs, PACS, Cooperatives, SHGs etc, to create post-harvest management infrastructure and build community farming assets throughout the country. 

• These assets will enable farmers to get greater value for their produce as they will be able to store and sell at higher prices, reduce wastage and increase processing and value addition. 

 Features of Agri Infra Fund 

• • The AIF is a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee. 
  • The duration of the scheme shall be from FY2020 to FY2029 (10 years). 
  • Under it, 1 Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans with interest subvention of 3% per annum. 
  • It also provides credit guarantee support through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loans of up to Rs 2 crore. 
  • The fund will be managed and monitored through an online Management Information System (MIS) platform. 
  • The National, State and District level monitoring committees will be set up to ensure real-time monitoring and effective feedback. 

In News: Recently, a parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) to formulate and implement welfare schemes for gig and platform workers and unorganised sector workers at the earliest. 

Gig Economy: 

• As per the World Economic Forum, gig economy is defined by its focus on workforce participation and income generation via “gigs”, single projects or tasks for which a worker is hired. 
• It is a labour market that relies heavily on temporary and part-time positions filled by independent contractors and freelancers rather than full-time permanent employees. 
• Gig workers refer to workers outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship. 

 Two groups of gig workers: 

• • Platform workers: When gig workers use online algorithmic matching platforms or apps to connect with customers, they are called platform workers. 
  • Non-platform workers: Those who work outside of these platforms are non-platform workers, including construction workers and non-technology-based temporary workers. 

• According to the NITI Aayog estimates, nearly 23.5 million workers will be engaged in the gig economy by 2029. 

Challenges faced by the Gig Workers: 

• The gig workers usually lack basic employment rights such as Minimum wage, overtime pay, medical leave and a statutorily bound resolution of employer-employee disputes. 
• They have the characteristics of both employees and independent contractors due to which they fall outside the ambit of statutory benefits under the Minimum Wage Act 1948, EPF Act 1952, Payment of Bonus Act 1965, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970. 

Proposed Laws for the Gig Workers: 

• The Code on Social Security 2020: It has proposed social security schemes for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. 
• The Code has not come into force till now. 
• An MoU has been signed between the MoL&E and the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore for assistance in framing a new scheme for the gig and platform workers as well as workers in the unorganised sector. 

Present Law for the Gig Workers in India: 

• The Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act 2023: Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to pass a law for the welfare of gig workers earning their livelihood through online platforms (Ola, Swiggy, etc). 

In News: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare launched several new technological initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to empower farmers and streamline the operations. 

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): 

• It is a crop insurance scheme launched in 2016 to provide financial support and risk coverage to farmers against crop losses due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases. 
• It replaced the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS). 

Initiatives Launched: 

• WINDS (Weather Information Network Data Systems) portal: It is a centralized platform that hosts, manages, and processes hyper-local weather data collected by Automatic Weather Stations and Rain Gauges at Taluk/Block and Gram Panchayat levels. It enhances risk assessment and decision-making in crop insurance, agriculture advisories, and disaster mitigation, supporting the agricultural sector and rural economy. 
• AIDE (App for Intermediary Enrolment) mobile app: It is a mobile application specifically developed to streamline the enrollment process for farmers in crop insurance schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS). 
• YES-TECH (Technology-based Yield Estimation System) Manual: A manual aimed at implementing a technology-based system for yield estimation in agriculture. The initiative leverages technology to accurately estimate crop yields, helping farmers make informed decisions and plan effectively. 

Other similar initiatives available: 

• Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land based observations (FASAL) project: It forecasts accurate agricultural output using space technology, agro-meteorology, and land-based observations. 
• National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS): It helps in identifying regions facing drought conditions and facilitates appropriate drought management strategies to support farmers. 
• National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA): It enables farmers to access vital agricultural data and services through digital platforms. 
• ISRO’s Geo-platform, Bhuvan: It offers data on plantation, pest surveillance, and weather conditions. It also promotes the use of Kisan Drones for crop assessment and facilitates the digitization of land records to improve agricultural practices. 

In News: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has permitted Mutual Funds to introduce five new categories under the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) scheme. 

ESG Scheme: 

• This scheme aims to encourage sustainable and ethical business practices, including climate change, pollution, human rights, corporate governance, and more. 
• Earlier, mutual funds can launch only one ESG scheme under the thematic category of equity schemes. 
• Filing of Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) has been made mandatory for the top 1000 listed companies by SEBI from the financial year 2022-2023. 
• ESG schemes are mandated to invest at least 65% of assets in listed entities with BRSR Core assurance. 
• The balance can be invested in companies with BRSR disclosures, starting from October 1, 2024. 

Difference between ESG and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): 

• CSR is spending at least 2% of corporate’s net profit over the preceding 3 years on activities like welfare of society. It has been mandated by the Company Act, 2013. 
• CSR practices are usually self-regulated and can have a lot of variation. 
• ESG measures the organization’s level of sustainability – increasingly demanded by investors and other stakeholders. 
• CSR helps a company to Build a responsible business reputation whereas ESG helps a company with Meet existing and upcoming regulations and demands; Respond to climate change and other societal risks; Become more attractive to investors. 

Five New Categories of Mutual Funds: 

• Exclusion: Exclude certain industries or companies based on ESG criteria. Avoiding investments in fossil fuel companies. 
• Integration: Integrating ESG factors into investment decision-making. Assessing companies’ environmental practices before investing. 
• Best-in-Class and Positive Screening: Selecting companies with leading ESG performance in their industry. Investing in companies with top-notch labour practices. 
• Impact Investing: Investing in businesses or projects with positive social and environmental impact. Funding renewable energy projects. 
• Sustainable Objectives: Investing in alignment with specific sustainability goals. Supporting companies committed to reducing waste. 

In News: The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill in Parliament, which was one of the key recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020. 

About National Research Foundation: 

• NRF is a proposed entity that will replace the Science and Engineering Research Board of India (SERB) and catalyse and channel interdisciplinary research for accelerating India’s ambitious development agenda, through impactful knowledge creation and translation. 
• It will be governed by a board consisting of the Prime Minister, who will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of S&T and Union Minister of Education, who will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents.  

Objectives of NRF 

• • NRF intends to act as a coordinating agency between researchers, various government bodies and industry, thus bringing industry into the mainstream of research. 
  • NRF is slated to provide research grants to individuals.  
  • NRF also plans to seed, grow and facilitate research in India’s universities, especially State universities, by funding research infrastructure and researchers. 

 How can NRF facilitate Ease of Doing Research? 

• Reducing time between application and release of funds preferably within 6 months and timely release of money. 
• Digitised process of application which does not require sending paperwork in hard copies to the NRF. 
• All finance-related queries, paperwork, approval, and acceptance need to be between the NRF and the finance department of the university/research institution keeping the scientist free to focus on research. 
• The NRF needs explicit spending guidelines away from the General Financial Rules (GFR) and the government’s e-Marketplace (GeM) usage. 

In News: Independent Expert Group (IEG), appointed under the auspices of the India G20 Presidency, has recommended a triple agenda to harness the potential of multilateral development banks (MDBs). 

About 

• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are international financial institutions comprising member nations from both developed and developing countries. Their primary role is to extend loans and grants to member nations, especially those in need, to finance projects aimed at fostering social and economic development within those countries. 
• The emergence of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II, a period when there was a pressing need for reconstruction and development in war-torn countries.  

• The first and most prominent MDB is the World Bank, formally known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). It was established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire, USA.  

Triple agenda to harness the potential of MDBs: 

• Adopting a triple mandate of eliminating extreme poverty, boosting shared prosperity, and contributing to global public goods; 
• Tripling sustainable lending levels by 2030; and 
• Creating a third funding mechanism that would permit flexible and innovative arrangements for purposefully engaging with investors willing to support elements of the MDB agenda. 

 Effective Implementation of Triple Agenda 

• Effective implementation of the triple agenda requires important changes in the ways that MDBs operate.  
• Individually and collectively MDBs must become effective agents in all developing countries for integrating the development and climate agendas,  
• Working with governments and the private sector to reduce, share and manage risks and thereby bring down the cost of capital.  

• They must change their culture, become more client-responsive, and take more risk. 
• Timelines for project preparation should be shrunk and procedures rationalised. They must also increase the scale and nature of their activities. 
• Coordination between private and public sector arms of the MDBs on the use of the Cascade principles, guarantees, blended finance, political risk insurance, and foreign exchange hedging should be systematic rather than episodic. 

Functions of Multilateral development banks (MDBs) 

MDBs play a vital role in global development. They provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries to help them achieve their economic and social goals. MDBs also work to promote good governance and sustainable development. 

• Providing loans and grants:  These loans and grants can help developing countries to build roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; improve agricultural productivity; provide access to education and healthcare; and reduce poverty. 
• Providing technical assistance: Technical assistance can cover a wide range of topics, such as project management, financial management, and environmental impact assessment. 
• Promoting good governance: MDBs promote good governance in developing countries by supporting reforms that strengthen the rule of law, improve transparency and accountability, and reduce corruption.  
• Promoting sustainable development: MDBs promote sustainable development by supporting projects that protect the environment and reduce poverty. This includes projects that promote renewable energy, improve water management, and protect biodiversity. 

In News: 138 members of OECD-G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) have joined a new two-pillar plan to reform international taxation rules. 

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): 

• It is an intergovernmental economic organisation, founded to stimulate economic progress and world trade. 
• Most OECD members are high-income economies and are regarded as developed countries. Members and key partners represent 80% of the World Trade. 

Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS): 

• It refers to corporate tax planning strategies used by multinationals to shift profits from higher-tax jurisdictions to lower or no-tax jurisdictions. 
• It is done to minimize the corporation tax that is payable overall. 
• The OECD defines BEPS strategies as exploiting gaps and mismatches in tax rules. 
• As developing countries have a higher reliance on corporate income tax, they suffer from BEPS disproportionately. 

Two Pillar Solution or Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules: 

Significance of the solution: 

• It will define the multinational enterprises (MNEs) within the scope of the minimum tax and will set out a mechanism for calculating an MNE’s effective tax rate on a jurisdictional basis. 
• It will provide much-needed support to governments needing to raise necessary revenues to repair their budgets and their balance sheets while investing in essential public services. 
• It will provide stability for the international tax system, making it fairer and work better in an increasingly digitalised and globalised world economy. 

Impact on India: 

• India will have to roll back the equalisation levy that it imposes on companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook when the global tax regime is implemented. 
• India is in favour of a consensus solution which is simple to implement and simple to comply with. 
• The Two Pillar Plan justifies India’s stand for a greater share of profits for the markets and consideration of demand side factors in profit allocation. 

In News: 138 members of OECD-G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) have joined a new two-pillar plan to reform international taxation rules. 

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): 

• It is an intergovernmental economic organisation, founded to stimulate economic progress and world trade. 
• Most OECD members are high-income economies and are regarded as developed countries. Members and key partners represent 80% of the World Trade. 

Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS): 

• It refers to corporate tax planning strategies used by multinationals to shift profits from higher-tax jurisdictions to lower or no-tax jurisdictions. 
• It is done to minimize the corporation tax that is payable overall. 
• The OECD defines BEPS strategies as exploiting gaps and mismatches in tax rules. 
• As developing countries have a higher reliance on corporate income tax, they suffer from BEPS disproportionately. 

Two Pillar Solution or Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules: 

Significance of the solution: 

• It will define the multinational enterprises (MNEs) within the scope of the minimum tax and will set out a mechanism for calculating an MNE’s effective tax rate on a jurisdictional basis. 
• It will provide much-needed support to governments needing to raise necessary revenues to repair their budgets and their balance sheets while investing in essential public services. 
• It will provide stability for the international tax system, making it fairer and work better in an increasingly digitalised and globalised world economy. 

Impact on India: 

• India will have to roll back the equalisation levy that it imposes on companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook when the global tax regime is implemented. 
• India is in favour of a consensus solution which is simple to implement and simple to comply with. 
• The Two Pillar Plan justifies India’s stand for a greater share of profits for the markets and consideration of demand side factors in profit allocation. 

In News: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that it will conduct a three-day variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) auction for Rs 2 lakh crore. 

Variable rate reverse repo Auction (VRRR): 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses various ways to increase or decrease liquidity in the banking system. Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank gives loans to commercial banks against government securities. 
• Reverse repo rate is the interest that RBI pays to banks for the funds. Variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) is a sub-type of reverse repo. 
• VRRR is usually undertaken to reduce surplus liquidity by withdrawing existing cash in the system. 
• RBI has been conducting VRRR every day since June 30 to ensure that the overnight call money rate remains close to the target rate of 6.50 per cent. 

Reasons for RBI conducting auctions: 

• Typically, governments (Central and State) pay contractors and disburse salaries towards the end of a month or the first week of next month. So, Banks have inflows. 
• Return of ₹2,000 bank notes by the public is adding to the systemic liquidity. The RBI recently said that ₹2.72-lakh crore, or 76 per cent of the ₹2,000 banknotes in circulation as on May 19, have returned to the banking system as of June-end. 
• So, the RBI could continue intervening via reverse repo auctions to keep liquidity close to neutral. 

In News: Recently, The Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), an institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has developed a unique early warning system known as the “farmers’ distress index.” 

About: 

• The main aim behind creating such an index is to minimise the agrarian distress in the form of crop loss/failure and income shock. 
• The index tries to anticipate the Agrarian distress and prevent its spread from a few farmers to the village or block level. 
• It will enable various entities such as the central government, state governments, local bodies, and non-governmental agencies to receive early warnings about impending farmers' distress, thus facilitating proactive interventions. 
• The index allows for targeted interventions, such as focusing on improving women’s incomes if the distress is gender-based. 

     Methodology to track distress: 

• The index’s methodology involves monitoring local newspapers, news platforms, and social media for reports of distress, followed by telephonic interviews with small and marginal farmers to assess early signs of distress using standardized questions. 
• These interviews incorporate 21 standardized questions designed to detect early signs of distress. 

      The responses are then mapped against seven indicators:  

1) exposure to droughts, floods, crop failure due to pest attacks, livestock deaths 

2) debt  

3) adaptive capacity of farmer and local government through different schemes  

4) land holding and irrigation facilities  

5) sensitivity, mitigation and adaptation strategies like growing of contingency crops if main crop fails.  

6) triggers for immediate distress like health-related expenditure  

7) socio-psychological factors and impacts. 

         Interpretation of the Index: 

• Based on the collected data and responses, the index will assign a value between 0 and 1 to indicate the level of distress. 

• 0 to 0.5: Low distress, 
• 0.5 to 0.7: Moderate" distress 
• Above 0.7: Severe" distress. 

• If the distress level is severe, the index identifies the specific component contributing the most to farmers' distress among the seven indicators. 

            Current solutions:  

• Direct money transfer, mid-term release of claims under government’s crop insurance scheme (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, PMFBY) in case of crop failures, providing work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, enhanced rationing under Public Distribution System, among others may alleviate farmer’s distress. 

In News: India is aiming to make the rupee a global currency. Pushing for a roadmap towards the internationalization of the rupee. 

About 

• The internationalization of the rupee refers to the process of promoting and increasing the acceptance and usage of India's currency, the rupee, in international markets and transactions. It involves creating an environment where the rupee is widely recognized and utilized for cross-border trade, investments, reserves, and other financial activities. 
• It includes measures such as facilitating rupee-denominated transactions, allowing the rupee to be freely convertible, establishing offshore rupee markets, and encouraging foreign entities to hold and use the rupee.  

Current Status of Internationalization of Rupee: 

• Limited progress in internationalizing the rupee: The rupee's global foreign exchange market share is only around 1.6%, and India's share of global goods trade is a mere 2%. 
• Steps taken to promote internationalization: India has implemented measures to encourage the internationalization of the rupee. For instance, it has allowed external commercial borrowings in rupees and urged Indian banks to open Rupee Vostro accounts for banks from countries like Russia, the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius. Additionally, trade in rupees with approximately 18 countries has been facilitated. 
• Constraints on currency exchange: India imposes significant limitations on currency exchange due to concerns over capital flight and exchange rate volatility. Full capital account convertibility, which enables unrestricted movement of local financial investments into foreign assets and vice versa, is not permitted. 
• Concerns of neighboring countries:  The internationalization of the rupee must consider and address the concerns raised by neighboring countries of India. In particular, Bhutan and Nepal experienced a loss of confidence in the Indian rupee due to the impact of the demonetization measure implemented in 2016. 

Challenges of Internationalizing the Rupee 

• Internationalizing the rupee increases its exposure to exchange rate volatility, affecting trade competitiveness, foreign investment flows, and financial market stability. 
• Opening up the rupee to international markets may lead to capital flight, straining foreign exchange reserves, impacting financial stability, and posing challenges for monetary policy management. 
• Capital controls in India restrict foreign investment and trading, limiting the rupee's use as an international currency. 
• The rupee faces competition from established currencies like the US dollar, euro, and yen, which are widely accepted and liquid. 
• To promote the rupee for international transactions, trust, familiarity, and confidence in the currency must be established among market participants, including businesses, individuals, and financial institutions. 

In News: Indian government launched a unique “Nari Adalat” court at the village level as an alternate dispute resolution forum. 

About Nari Adalats: 

• Nari Adalats, or women's courts, are being set up at the village level in India as a unique initiative for alternate dispute resolution. 
• It will be launched on a pilot basis in 50 villages each in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir to address issues including domestic violence, property rights etc 
• These women only courts will serve as platforms for grievance redressal, reconciliation, and creating awareness about women's rights and entitlements. 
• Each Adalat will have 7-9 members, including elected gram panchayat members and women with social standing, such as teachers, doctors, and social workers. 
• The members will be nominated or selected by the villagers, ensuring representation and diversity in the decision-making process. 
• It will focus on reconciliation, raising awareness, and resolving cases within their jurisdiction. 
• Its implementation will be overseen by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti. 
• The tenure of the head known as the Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi will be approximately six months, after which a new head will be selected to ensure active involvement and fresh perspectives. 
• These Adalats, although lacking legal status, will play a crucial role in reconciliation, grievance redressal, and awareness-raising about rights and entitlements. 
• Overall, Nari Adalats holds the potential to empower women, provide accessible justice, and strengthen community support systems at the grassroots level. 

In News: Jharkhand issues PESA draft rules for consultations 

About Jharkhand PESA rules: 

• Jharkhand government has recently published draft rules for implementing the Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act. 
• Scheduled Areas in Jharkhand are identified by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution and the draft aims to ensure self-governance through gram sabhas for people living in Scheduled Areas. 
• PESA recognizes tribal communities' right to govern themselves through their own systems of self-government and acknowledges their traditional rights over natural resources. 
• Major provisions: 
  • The draft rules outline the rights of gram Sabhas under the 5th Schedule areas in the state, including resolving traditional and family disputes and hearing certain cases under the IPC. 
  • Gram sabhas will have fundamental responsibilities of maintaining peace and order, following the principles of the Constitution. 
  • It mandates the establishment of eight standing committees, including Education and Social Justice, under the gram Sabha. 
  • These committees must have at least 50% women and a minimum of 40% people from Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. 
  • The Education and Social Justice Committee will focus on education, economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and primitive tribes, providing protection from social injustice. 

• The gram sabhas will preserve customary law, social and religious practices of the Scheduled Tribe communities and align State Government rules with their practices. 
• They will have the authority to hear issues mentioned in Parishisht 1 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, but for serious crime-related issues, it must inform the nearest police station in-charge. 
• Overall, the bill is a progressive step for social inclusion and governance of tribal populations of Jharkhand but it must pass through the test of constitutionality before converted into an act. 

Why in News: Recently, the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023 was introduced in Lok Sabha to amend the offshore areas mineral law. 

The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023: 

• It has been prepared by the Ministry of Mines, seeks to amend the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act 2002, to allow auction of minerals mined offshore. 
• To mine rocks under the sea: Under the original Act, not even a single rock could be not mined out from the sea bed mainly due to pending litigations. The Bill allows the use of the national wealth in the sea for the use of the people of the country. 
• To facilitate private sector participation: In the mining of non-atomic minerals in India’s territorial waters and continental shelf, private companies might be encouraged to contribute cutting-edge technologies for the execution of complex mining operations. 
• To provide an auction of minerals mined offshore: The original Act does not allow the auction of such minerals. 
• To improve transparency in the allocation of mineral resources. 
• To grant an exploration licence or production lease: Only to a government company in case the quality of minerals in that particular area is equal to or above the threshold value decided by the Centre. 
• To propose area under a production lease: Such areas shall comprise contiguous standard blocks and shall not exceed an area of 15 minutes latitude by 15 minutes longitude. 
• To remove discretion in the grant of renewals: The provisions for renewal of production leases have been removed and the period of production lease has been increased to 50 years. 

Significance of the Bill: 

• The bill encourages the participation of the public-private sector. This will bring the necessary expertise and technology to explore and mine the mineral resources present in the EEZ. 
• The Bill provides for India to harness its maritime resources to its optimal capacity. 

Why in News: Recently, the Rajya Sabha passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023 that introduces stringent anti-piracy provisions, expanding the scope of the law from censorship to also cover copyright. 

Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023: 

• Introduced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Bill seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act 1952. 
• The Cinematograph Act 1952 authorises the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to require cuts in films and clear them for exhibition in cinemas and on television/ refuse the exhibition of a film. 

Under the Act, film may be certified for exhibition: 

• • Without restriction (‘U’), 
  • Without restriction, but subject to guidance of parents or guardians for children below 12 years of age (‘UA’), 
  • Only to adults (‘A’), 
  • Only to members of any profession or class of persons (‘S’).  

Key Provisions of the Amendment Bill: 

• Introduction of New Certifications: The bill proposes three new certifications under the ‘UA’ (Parental Guidance) category: UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+. These certifications indicate that children younger than the specified age limits can watch such movies with parental guidance. [in line with the Shyam Benegal committee (2017)] 
• Separate certificate for television/other media: Films with an ‘A’ or ‘S’ certificate will require a separate certificate for exhibition on television, or any other media prescribed by the central government. The Board may direct the applicant to carry appropriate deletions or modifications for the separate certificate. 
• Unauthorised recording and exhibition to be punishable: The Bill prohibits carrying out or abetting - the unauthorised recording and unauthorised exhibition of films - in order to stop piracy. This offence will be punishable with: imprisonment between 3 months and 3 years, and a fine between 3 lakh rupees and 5% of the audited gross production cost. 
• Certificates to be always valid: Under the Act, the certificate issued by the Board is valid for 10 years.  The Bill provides that the certificates will be perpetually/always valid. 

• Revisional powers of the central government: The Act empowers the central government to examine and make orders in relation to films that have been certified or are pending certification. The Board is required to dispose of matters in conformity to the order. The Bill removes this power of the central government. 

Significance of the Bill: 

• It will make the certification process more effective, as per the demand of current time. 
• It will comprehensively curb the menace of film piracy, and thus help in faster growth of the film industry and boost job creation in the sector. 

Concerns with the Bill: 

• OTT platforms out of the purview of the Bill which makes a way for uncut movie to be broadcasted. 
• It places the onus on parents and guardians to determine if the material is appropriate for viewers of a particular age range. 

In News: Government of India launches schemes for development of North Eastern region 

About PM DevINE 

• NER are a group of eight states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura located in the northeastern part of the country 
• PM-DevINE or Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region is a new Central Sector scheme for the development of North Eastern Region (NER). 
• It was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 with 100% Central funding for an outlay of Rs. 6,600 crores for the period 2022-23 to 2025-26. 
• The scheme aims to fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of multi-modal infrastructure connectivity grid of PM GatiShakti. 
• It will also support social development projects based on the needs of the North Eastern Region. 
• Major Projects approved in FY 2022-23 
  • NECTAR Livelihood Improvement Project for utilization of Banana Pseudo Stem for Value-Added Products 
  • Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in North-East including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur. 
  • Pilot project for the construction of Bamboo Link Roads at different locations in various districts in the State of Mizoram. 
• Overall, PM-DevINE will help enable livelihood activities for youth and women and fill the development gaps in various sectors. 

Why in News: Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker accepted the Opposition’s no confidence motion against the Government. 

No Confidence Motion: 

• In a parliamentary democracy such as India, a government can be in power only if it commands a majority in the directly elected House, i.e., the Lok Sabha in case of India. 
• Article 75(3) of the Constitution embodies this rule by specifying that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. 
• For testing this collective responsibility, the rules of Lok Sabha provide a particular mechanism – a motion of no-confidence. The Constitution does not mention either a Confidence or a No Confidence Motion. 
• There have been 27 no-confidence motions introduced in the Lok Sabha since independence. 

Procedure for passing No Confidence Motion: 

• Any Lok Sabha MP, with the support of 50 colleagues can at any point of time, introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers. 
• It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha. It cannot be moved in the Rajya Sabha. 
• It is moved in writing and must be signed by the member moving it, the motion is submitted to the Speaker of Lok Sabha. 
• The Speaker will decide whether to admit the motion for discussion and debate. If the motion is admitted, the Speaker will decide on the date and time for discussion. 
• The motion will be debated in the Lok Sabha and it will be moved by the member who submitted it. 
• After the debate, the Lok Sabha will vote on the motion, it will be passed if it is supported by the majority of the members of the House. 
• If a no-confidence motion is passed, the government must resign. 

Other types of Motions used in Parliament: 

• Adjournment Motion: It is moved to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance and must be of immediate concern, with the Speaker's consent. 
• Closure Motion: It is moved by a member to cut short the debate on a matter before the House. 
• Short Duration Discussion: It allows MPs to discuss a specific issue of public importance without voting on it. 
• Confidence Motion: It is passed when the governments formed with wafer-thin majority have been called upon by the President to prove their majority on the floor of the House. 
• Privilege Motion: A member can initiate this motion when they believe a minister has violated the privileges of the House or its members by withholding crucial information about a case or providing inaccurate and manipulated facts. 
• Motion of Thanks: It is a parliamentary procedure to express gratitude for the President's Address at the commencement of Lok Sabha. 
• Cut Motion: It is proposed to reduce the amount of a demand in the budget. 

In News: The Lok Sabha passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which aims to amend the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 

About Biological Diversity Act 2002:  

• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was framed to give effect to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992, that strives for sustainable, fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. India became a signatory to CBD in 1994. 
• The CBD recognises sovereign rights over biological resources and permits countries to regulate access to these resources as per their national legislation. 

• The Biodiversity Act, 2002, enacted by India, regulates access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.  
• It specifies distinct frameworks for regulating access by foreign and domestic entities. 
• It formulates a three-tier structure consisting of  
  • National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level,  
  • State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the State level and  
  • Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at local body levels.  

• The primary responsibility of the BMCs is to document local biodiversity and associated knowledge in the form of a People’s Biodiversity Register. 

Key Amendments Proposed by the bill: