Why in News: 

• The Uttar Pradesh government has recently mandated that food establishments must clearly display the names of the relevant personnel for customers to see. 

About: Earlier, on July 22, the Supreme Court intervened to stay similar orders issued by police in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand regarding the kanwar yatra. The court emphasized that only the competent authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) has the power to issue such directives, stating that the police cannot assume this authority. In a similar vein, a minister in Himachal Pradesh suggested that eateries and food carts should display the owner's identification. However, this proposal was later retracted by the Himachal government.  

Regulations for Selling Food in India: 

• FSSAI Registration for Food Businesses: Anyone looking to operate a food business in India must register or obtain a license from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA), the FSSAI is responsible for overseeing and regulating food processing, distribution, sale, and import to ensure food safety and quality. 
• Registration for Small-Scale Food Businesses: According to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Rules, 2011, small-scale food businesses—including petty manufacturers, hawkers, vendors, and stallholders—must register with the FSSAI. Upon approval, they receive a registration certificate and a photo ID, which must be prominently displayed at their premises, vehicle, or cart. 
• Licensing for Larger Food Businesses: Larger food businesses are required to obtain a license from the FSSAI. Similar to small-scale businesses, this license must also be prominently displayed at the business premises. 
• Display of Owner's Identity and Location: In both cases, whether for small-scale manufacturers or larger operators, displaying the owner’s identity and the establishment's location is already mandated through the photo ID and license issued by the FSSAI. 
• Penalties for Operating Without a License: Under Section 63 of the FSSA, operators conducting a food business without a valid license may face penalties of up to six months in prison and fines of up to ₹5 lakh. 

Other Compliances and Penalties under the FSSA 

• Improvement Notice: Under Section 31, if a Food Business Operator (FBO) fails to comply with any provisions of the Act, the food authority can issue an Improvement Notice outlining the reasons for non-compliance and required corrective measures, with a minimum compliance period of 14 days. 
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: If an FBO fails to comply with the Improvement Notice, their license may be suspended, and in cases of continued non-compliance, it may be canceled. 
• General Penalties: The UP directives do not specify penalties for non-compliance. However, under Section 58, fines for unspecified contraventions may reach ₹2 lakh. 
• Repeat Offenses: If an FBO is convicted of the same offense twice (including under Section 58), they may face double penalties for the first conviction, a daily fine of up to ₹1 lakh, and potential loss of their license as per Section 64. 

Powers of State Governments Under the FSSA 

• Legal Provision: Section 94(1) of the FSSA empowers state governments to formulate rules, subject to the approval of the Food Authority and the Central Government, enabling them to fulfill their responsibilities under the Act. 
• Rule-Making Authority: Section 94(2) specifies areas where state governments can create rules: 
  • Section 94(2)(a): States can develop rules regarding additional functions of the Commissioner of Food Safety as outlined in Section 30(2)(f). 
  • Section 94(2)(c): This allows states to make rules for other matters needing regulation. 
• Role of the Commissioner of Food Safety: Appointed by the state government under Section 30, the Commissioner of Food Safety is responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the FSSA and its regulations. Their duties include conducting surveys, organizing training programs, and approving prosecutions for offenses. 
• Legislative Approval Requirement: According to Section 94(3), any rules created by the state government must be presented to the state legislature for timely approval. 

Legal Challenges to UP and Uttarakhand Directives 

• Allegations of Discrimination: The directives from police in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were challenged in the Supreme Court on grounds of effectively forcing individuals to disclose their religious and caste identities. Petitioners argued that these orders discriminated against citizens based on religion, violating Article 15(1) of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. 
• Concerns About Economic Boycotts: Petitioners also claimed that the directives could lead to economic boycotts against Muslim minorities, infringing upon their right to practice any profession under Article 19(1)(g). They argued that these orders could promote the practice of untouchability, which is banned under Article 17. 
• Government's Justification: In defense, the UP government stated that the new directives, which include installing CCTV cameras at food establishments and conducting a state-wide verification campaign, aim to enhance public health. They cited reports of food adulteration incidents involving unsanitary substances, underscoring the necessity of such measures for food safety and public health protection in the state. 

Source: IE 

Why in News:  

• The beaches in northeastern Brazil are rapidly shrinking, having lost 15 meters of white sand to the sea over the past two decades. 

About: In response, the local government is undertaking an expensive project to import sand from other areas to restore the beach. Meanwhile, at the mouth of the Amazon River, a fragile ecosystem faces significant threats as the river's strength diminishes during the region's most severe drought on record. This has allowed saltwater from the ocean to encroach upstream, altering the biodiversity of the area. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that sea levels are rising at an unprecedented rate, more than doubling in the past decade to 0.48 cm per year, compared to 0.21 cm annually between 1993 and 2002.  

What is Coastal Erosion? 

• Coastal erosion is the process by which land or sediment along coastlines is gradually worn away by natural forces such as waves, currents, tides, and wind-driven water. This phenomenon can lead to the loss of land, affecting ecosystems, human settlements, and infrastructure along the coast. 

About Brazil(Capital: Brasília) 

• Geography:  It is the fifth-largest country in the world, following Russia, Canada, China, and the United States. Brazil occupies most of the eastern part of South America, encompassing its geographic heartland and numerous islands in the Atlantic Ocean.. 
• Borders: Brazil shares its borders with Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (an overseas territory of France). The only South American countries it does not border are Chile and Ecuador. 

Source: Reuters 

Why in News:  

• Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) exhibit unique behavior when levitated and spun at extremely high speeds, emitting light in various colors and directions.  

About: These levitated FNDs are highly sensitive to acceleration and electric fields, making them valuable as sensors in numerous high-value industries and strategic sectors. 

• Composition and Production: FNDs are nanometer-sized diamonds made from carbon nanoparticles, created through a high-temperature and high-pressure process. They contain dense nitrogen-vacancy defects that serve as color centers, endowing them with remarkable photostability and distinct quantum properties. 
• Properties: FNDs boast several advantageous characteristics, including high biological compatibility, infinite photostability, no photoblinking (unlike many other nanoscale fluorescent materials), and a long fluorescence lifetime exceeding 10 nanoseconds, which makes them superior to quantum dots. Additionally, they can be easily biofunctionalized. 
• Applications: FNDs are utilized in high-resolution imaging, microscale temperature sensing, and correlative microscopy. They can penetrate cells and serve as markers for cellular structures. 
• Fluorescence: Fluorescence refers to the property of certain materials to emit light at a lower frequency when exposed to higher frequency light. 

Source: TH 

In News:  

• The Government of India has launched BharatGen, a groundbreaking initiative in generative AI. 

About: This initiative is aimed at transforming public service delivery and enhancing citizen engagement and is spearheaded by IIT Bombay under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). 

Features: 

• Multilingual: BharatGen can generate high-quality text and multimodal content in various Indian languages.  It seeks to develop effective models using minimal data. 
• Bhartiya Dataset-Based Building: The platform utilizes curated datasets that reflect India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. 
• Open-Source Platform: The initiative aims to harness AI not just for industrial and commercial use, but also to address national priorities, including cultural preservation and inclusive technology development. 
• Data-Efficient Learning Ecosystem: 

Source: DST 

In News: The WHO has announced a maternal vaccine and antibody shot aimed at preventing RSV in infants. 

About Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): 

• Infection: RSV primarily affects the lungs and respiratory tract. It typically presents with mild, cold-like symptoms but can lead to more severe conditions such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis. 
• Transmission: The virus spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes. It can also be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face. RSV can be particularly severe for infants (especially premature babies), older adults, and individuals with chronic heart or lung diseases or weakened immune systems. 

Available Vaccines: 

• Pfizer’s Abrysvo: The only available RSV vaccine for pregnant women in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Canada. 
• Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s Beyfortus: The only approved antibody shot for infants and toddlers in the U.S., U.K., and other countries, although its supply has been limited. 

Source: TH 

Why in the news? 

The National Disability Network is seeking inclusion of persons with disabilities without any income as well as age criteria in the AB PM-JAY health insurance scheme. 

About the news: 

• National Disability Network (NDN) consists of various organisations and federations representing persons with disabilities. 
• NDN has urged the Central government to include individuals with disabilities in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) health insurance scheme, regardless of income or age criteria. 

Challenges Faced: 

• Limited access to private and public insurance. 
• Minimal government financial support. 
• High premiums leading to heavy debts and poverty due to rising out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. 

Recent Development: The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) reported that the Union Cabinet approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and above under AB PM-JAY, irrespective of income. 

About Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) 

• World’s largest health assurance scheme. Launched in 2018 on basis of the National Health Policy, 2017.  
• Objective: To provide health coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Targets Poor and vulnerable families 
• Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). 

Key Features 

• Coverage: Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year. No restrictions on family size, age, or gender. 
• Portability: Beneficiaries can access cashless treatment at any empaneled hospital (public or private) across India. 
• Funding: Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with cost-sharing between Central and State governments. 
• Coverage Base: Targets over 10 crore families (approx. 50 crore individuals) based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). 

Components of the Scheme  

• Health and Wellness Centres (HWC): Focus on primary care including non-communicable diseases, maternal, and child health services. 
• Covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses like diagnostics and medicines. 
• Health Insurance: Secondary and tertiary hospitalisation care covered. 

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) 

• Launched in 2021, It provides Unique Digital Health IDs (UHID) to all citizens, helping hospitals, insurance companies, and individuals access health records electronically. 

Recent Expansion 

• Extended to all senior citizens aged 70 or older, irrespective of income. Senior citizens currently enrolled in CGHS, ECHS, or Ayushman CAPF schemes can either continue with their existing plans or opt for AB PM-JAY. 
• Those with private health insurance or covered under the Employees' State Insurance scheme are also eligible. 

Source: TH 

Why in the news?   

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has tightened norms for equity derivatives trading to raise entry barriers. 

Key Measures Announced by SEBI 

• Increase in Contract Size: Contract size for index futures and index options raised to ₹15 lakh from the current ₹5-10 lakh range. 
• Rationalisation of Weekly Index Derivatives: Exchanges allowed to offer a contract for only one benchmark index with a weekly expiry. 
• Upfront Collection of Option Premium: Premiums must be collected upfront from options buyers. 
• Intraday Monitoring: Enhanced monitoring of position limits throughout the trading day. 
• Increase in Tail Risk Coverage: Enhanced coverage for potential losses due to rare events, particularly on options expiry days. 
• Removal of Calendar Spread Treatment: Calendar spread treatment removed on expiry days. 

About Futures and Options (F&Os) 

Definition: Derivative contracts deriving value from underlying assets like stocks, commodities, and currencies. Investors buy or sell assets in 'lots' by paying a small margin instead of the full asset value. 

Features of Futures Contracts 

• Standardised Agreement to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specific future date. 
• Both parties must execute the contract on the specified date. 
• Investors pay only a fraction of the total asset value as a margin. 

Features of Options Contracts 

• Grants the buyer the right (not obligation) to buy (call option) or sell (put option) an asset at a preset price before or on expiration. 
• The buyer pays a premium for the right to exercise the option. 
• The buyer can choose to exercise the option if beneficial or let it expire if not. 

Source: IE 

Why in the News? 

At the opening ceremony of the workshop for the STARS project, the School Education Minister highlighted the critical need to continuously enhance the education system for achieving a developed India by 2047. 

About the STARS Program 

The STARS program was approved by the Cabinet in October 2020 as a centrally sponsored scheme. It became operational on February 23, 2021, following the signing of the Loan Agreement, and is set to be implemented for five years, ending in the 2024-25 fiscal year. 

Key Features of the STARS Program 

The STARS Program aims to support reforms that enhance the quality and governance of school education in six states: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. 

Focus Areas: 

• Early-Years Education: Strengthening foundational learning for young children to ensure better educational outcomes in later years. 
• Learning Assessment Systems: Improving how student progress is assessed to ensure effective learning. 
• Teacher Performance and Classroom Practices: Enhancing the professional skills of teachers and improving teaching practices within classrooms. 
• School-to-Work Transition: Facilitating a smoother transition for students from school education to the workforce. 
• Governance and Decentralised Management: Improving the management and governance of schools to enhance service delivery. 

Alignment with National Initiatives 

• The STARS program is aligned with the Government of India’s Samagra Shiksha scheme, which integrates various interventions for holistic development of the education sector.  
• Additionally, it supports the operationalization of key principles from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, such as promoting more flexible, inclusive, and student-centred learning environments. 
• The program is vital in fostering a long-term transformation in India's education system, laying the groundwork for a knowledge-driven, developed India by 2047. 

Source: TOI 

Why in the news?  

Lake Prespa on the Albanian-Greek Border is Slowly Dying due to rising temperatures and increasingly mild winters with little snowfall and a scarcity of precipitation. 

About the lake: 

• Little Prespa Lake, one of Europe's oldest and highest tectonic lakes, lies at the junction of three major geological masses.  
• Shared between Greece and Albania, it faces severe decline due to rising temperatures, mild winters, and scarce precipitation.  
• The region's geological diversity spans from ancient Paleozoic rocks to younger Neogene sediments, with much of the lake now receding. 

Contributing factors and impacts: 

• Geography and Impact: The majority of Little Prespa Lake lies within Greece, with only its southern tip in Albania. Experts report that out of the 450 hectares in Albania, 430 have turned into swamps or dried up. 
• Historical and Environmental Causes: The lake's decline began in the 1970s when authorities diverted the Devoll River for irrigation, further aggravated by the impacts of climate change. 

Source: TH 

Why in the news?  

 A honey badger was recently captured on camera for the first time in the Terai East Forest Division (TEFD) of Uttarakhand. 

About Honey Badger: 

• Common Name: Honey Badger (also called Ratel) 
• Family: Weasel family, related to skunks, otters, ferrets, and other badgers.
• Characteristics: Omnivorous and nocturnal, Equipped with powerful, curved claws for digging burrows. Solitary creatures known for their ability to twist and escape predators. Diverse diet includes small animals, fruits, and honey. 
• Distribution: Found in parts of Africa and Asia. Recorded in India at Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka Chilika Lagoon, Odisha, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra 

Ecological Significance: 

• Predation: Controls smaller animal populations, protecting crops. 
• Nutrient Cycling: Enriches soil through diet and waste. 
• Ecosystem Health: Indicators of a thriving ecosystem. 

Conservation Status: 

• IUCN: Least Concern, Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I 

Source: Down to Earth 

Why in News: 

• Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained at the Delhi border while leading protesters. 

About: Mr. Wangchuk demanded that the Central government should include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, along with other autonomy-related requests for the region. While in past similar autonomy demands have arisen in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. 

Asymmetrical Federalism: 

• Asymmetrical federalism is a governance structure where certain states or regions enjoy more autonomy and special provisions than others. The Indian Constitution provides varying degrees of autonomy to some states and regions, contrasting with a symmetrical federation (like the U.S. or Australia), where all states possess equal powers. Examples: Areas/states under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. 

Background of the Fifth and Sixth Schedules: 

• Pre-British Era: Tribal populations maintained control over their lands and enjoyed autonomy under earlier Muslim rulers. 
• British Era: British policies, particularly restrictive forest laws, adversely affected tribal rights, leading to discontent and several tribal uprisings, such as the Kol rebellion (1831-32), Santhal revolt (1885), Munda Rebellion (1899-1900), and the Bastar rebellion (1911). 
• Post-Rebellion Policies: In response to these revolts, the British implemented an isolationist policy, creating ‘excluded’ and ‘partially excluded’ areas in the Government of India Act, 1935. The Fifth and Sixth Schedules were established based on these earlier provisions. 
• Fifth Schedule: The Fifth Schedule applies to ‘scheduled areas’ designated by the President. Key criteria for designating an area as a ‘scheduled area’ include a significant tribal population, geographical compactness, the viability of administrative units like districts or blocks, and economic backwardness. Currently, ten states have such ‘scheduled areas.’  
  • Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC): Established to advise on the welfare of Scheduled Tribes (ST). The Governor, with the Central government's approval, regulates land allotment and transfer among ST members and oversees money-lending practices in these areas. The Governor can also modify the applicability of specific acts of Parliament or State legislatures in these areas. 
• Sixth Schedule: This schedule pertains to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, currently covering ten such areas. Autonomous District Councils (ADC) are formed in these tribal regions. 
  • ADCs have the authority to legislate on land use, shifting cultivation, property inheritance, marriage and divorce, and social customs, subject to Governor approval. State laws do not automatically apply unless extended by the ADC. 
  • ADCs can also manage primary schools, healthcare facilities, infrastructure, and collect taxes. 
  • These areas possess greater executive, legislative, judicial, and financial powers compared to those under the Fifth Schedule. 
• Special Provisions for Northeastern States: In addition to the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, many northeastern states benefit from special provisions outlined in Part XXI of the Constitution, specifically Articles 371A (Nagaland), 371B (Assam), 371C (Manipur), 371F (Sikkim), 371G (Mizoram), and 371H (Arunachal Pradesh). 

Need for Further Reform: 

• Autonomy on Paper vs. Practice: The regulations made by Governors in scheduled areas require Central government approval. Similarly, laws enacted by ADCs depend on Governor approval. Political differences between parties at the Centre, State, and ADC levels can impact the autonomy of these regions. 
• Unnotified Areas: Numerous tribal regions across India remain unrecognized as scheduled areas, lacking constitutional protections. 
• 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill: This bill, currently pending in the Rajya Sabha, aims to enhance the powers of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). 
• Growing Demand for Inclusion: Regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur Hill Areas, and Ladakh are seeking inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. 
• Forest Rights Act, 2006: There is a need to ensure recognition of tribal forest rights nationwide, including in Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas. 

Source: TH