JANUARY 2024 UPSC Prelims Monthly Compilation PDF

PREDICTI N An exclusive magazine for Targeting UPSC Prelims 2024 JANUARY 2024  INDEX 1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 2.7. 19TH NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) SUMMIT 20 1.1. KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION...

PREDICTI N An exclusive magazine for Targeting UPSC Prelims 2024 JANUARY 2024  INDEX 1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 2.7. 19TH NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) SUMMIT 20 1.1. KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION 2.8. FREE MOVEMENT REGIME 20 (KVIC) 07 2.9. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE 21 1.2. INLAND WATERWAYS 07 2.10. ECOWAS 22 1.3. SIXTEENTH FINANCE COMMISSION 08 2.11. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL 23 1.4. KRISHNARAJASAGAR (KRS) DAM 08 2.12. SHIPPING ROUTES 23 1.5. NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA (NMCG) 09 2.13. UNITED NATIONS AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES 25 1.6. STEEP DECLINE IN MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATIO 10 2.14. SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL ENERGY PARTNERSHIP (SAREP) 25 1.7. MINORITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 10 2.15. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY 1.8. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST COUNCIL 11 (UNRWA) 26 1.9. DEFAULT BAIL 12 2.16. GUYANA–VENEZUELA TERRITORIAL DISPUTE 27 1.10. ELECTION SEIZURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 2.17. EUROZONE 27 (ESMS) 12 2.18. THE AGREEMENT ON THE PROHIBITION OF 1.11. SURROGACY ACT, 2021 13 ATTACK AGAINST NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS AND FACILITIES 28 1.12. ALL INDIA SURVEY ON HIGHER EDUCATION (AISHE) 14 2.19. UN STATISTICAL COMMISSION 29 1.13. SAPINDA MARRIAGE 15 2.20. GENOCIDE CONVENTION 29 1.14. SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY 15 2.21. INDIA AUSTRALIA ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE AGREEMENT 30 1.15. DIGITAL SUPREME COURT REPORTS, DIGITAL COURTS 2.0 AND NEW WEBSITE OF SUPREME 3. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS COURT 16 3.1. NATIONAL HOUSING BANK (NHB) 31 2. INTERNAIONAL EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS 3.2. COAL CONTROLLER ORGANISATION 31 2.1. SKY DEW BALLOON 17 3.3. STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE 32 2.2. GREEN FUELS ALLIANCE INDIA 17 3.4. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT ACT, 2003 32 2.3. ANNUAL MEETING OF WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM 18 3.5. LENTIL PRODUCTION 33 2.4. ALLIANCE FOR GLOBAL GOOD- GENDER EQUITY 3.6. SBI GREEN RUPEE TERM DEPOSIT (SGRTD) 34 AND EQUALITY 18 3.7. CENTRE FOR FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 35 2.5. AI GOVERNANCE ALLIANCE 19 3.8. STATE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES 36 2.6. GROUP OF 77 (G77) 19 2|P age  3.9. HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (HFCS) 36 4.8. DARK SKY PARK 57 3.10. UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION FUND (USOF) 37 4.9. CONGO RIVER 58 3.11. COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES (COFI) 37 4.10. SINOMICRURUS GOREI 58 3.12. TEA BOARD OF INDIA 38 4.11. NATIONAL FRAMEWORK OF CLIMATE SERVICES (NFCS) 59 3.13. PFRDA NOTIFIES POINT OF PRESENCE (POP) REGULATIONS 39 4.12. COASTAL REGULATION ZONE 59 3.14. DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR 40 4.13. VULTURES IN INDIA 60 3.15. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT (FCRA) 4.14. TIBETAN BROWN BEAR 61 41 4.15. BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK 62 3.16. COAL GASIFICATION 42 4.16. ARAVALLI RANGE 63 3.17. STOCK MARKET 43 4.17. KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK 63 3.18. EXPLORATION LICENSE (EL) REGIME 43 4.18. NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION 64 3.19. DIRECTORATE OF REVENUE INTELLIGENCE 44 4.19. DEEP-SEA CORAL REEF 65 3.20. DIRECT TAX REVENUE 44 4.20. BINTURONG AND SMALL-CLAWED OTTER 66 3.21. VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET IN AGRICULTURE 4.21. MOSQUITOFISH 67 SECTOR 45 4.22. WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) LICENSING (ADDITIONAL 3.22. POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS 46 MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION) RULES, 2024 68 3.23. UREA GOLD 46 4.23. WADGE BANK ECOSYSTEM 69 3.24. INCOME INEQUALITY 48 4.24. GIR AND KANKREJ BREED 69 3.25. FINANCIAL STABILITY REPORT 48 4.25. WULAR LAKE 70 3.26. UPI TRANSACTION RULES 2024 49 4.26. PARAMBIKULAM TIGER RESERVE 71 3.27. OPEN ACREAGE LICENSE POLICY (OALP) 50 4.27. GANGETIC DOLPHIN 72 4.28. WANDERING ALBATROSS (DIOMEDEA EXULANS) 73 4. GEOGRAPHICAL EVENTS AND ENVIRONMENT 4.29. SODA LAKE 73 4.30. WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS 74 4.1. NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SEISMOLOGY 52 4.31. FUTALA LAKE 75 4.2. INDRAYANI RIVER 52 4.32. AGULHAS LONG-BILLED LARK 75 4.3. SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF) 53 4.33. LAUGHING GULL 76 4.4. INDIAN LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAP (ILSM) 54 4.34. PROJECT CHEETAH 76 4.5. NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME (NCAP) 55 4.35. CHANDAKA-DAMPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 77 4.6. SILVERLINE BUTTERFLIES 56 4.36. EAGLENEST WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 77 4.7. HIMALAYAN WOLF 56 3|P age  4.37. POLLINATION 78 5.15. PROBA-3 MISSION 98 4.38. SPONGE FARMING 79 5.16. ‘BIOIMAGING BANK’ 99 4.39. HARIKE AND GHARANA WETLAND 80 5.17. ANEEL (ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR 4.40. E-FUELS 80 ENRICHED LIFE) 99 4.41. HOG DEER 81 5.18. NASA'S LUNAR GATEWAY STATION 100 4.42. MUKURTHI NATIONAL PARK 82 5.19. X-RAY POLARIMETER SATELLITE 100 4.43. INDIAN PANGOLIN 83 5.20. CANCER TREATMENT: NEAR-INFRARED LIGHT 101 4.44. NORTH INDIA’S FIRST RIVER REJUVENATION 5.21. RADIOCARBON DATING 102 PROJECT ‘DEVIKA’ 83 5.22. SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY OBSERVATORY (SKAO) 4.45. BIODIVERSITY CREDIT ALLIANCE (BCA) 84 103 4.46. WETLAND CITY ACCREDITATION (WCA) 85 5.23. FAST REACTOR FUEL CYCLE FACILITY 104 4.47. CHENAB RIVER 85 5.24. GSAT-20 105 4.48. INDIAN GREY WOLF 86 5.25. LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES 105 4.49. SARISKA TIGER RESERVE 87 5.26. QANAT SYSTEM 106 5. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 5.27. NUCLEAR-POWERED BATTERY 107 5.28. DISTRESS ALERT TRANSMITTER-SECOND 5.1. PEREGRINE LANDER 88 GENERATION 108 5.2. WIRELESS PERSONAL AREA NETWORK AND WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WPAN/WLAN) 88 5.29. SOIL-POWERED FUEL CELL 108 5.3. SOLAR FLARE 89 5.30. INGENUITY HELICOPTER 109 5.4. EINSTEIN PROBE 90 5.31. SMART LANDER FOR INVESTIGATING MOON, OR SLIM 110 5.5. GM MUSTARD 91 5.32. MPEMBA EFFECT 110 5.6. THIRTY METER TELESCOPE 92 5.33. END-TO-END ENCRYPTION 111 5.7. LIDAR SURVEY 92 5.34. INDUCTION CHARGING (DYNAMIC WIRELESS CHARGING TECHNOLOGY) 111 5.8. LITHIUM 93 5.35. SOLID-STATE BATTERIES 112 5.9. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) 94 5.36. ADVANCED CHEMISTRY CELLS 113 5.10. DIRECT-TO-CELL (DTC) 94 5.37. TRANS-FATTY ACIDS 114 5.11. PHOTOCATALYST 95 5.38. C-BOT 114 5.12. LIME-BASED TRICHODERMA 95 5.13. FUEL CELL 96 6. HISTORY AND CULTURE 6.1. WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE 115 5.14. INDIAN SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA (ISEA) 97 6.2. SOHRAI PAINTING 115 4|P age  7.8. SCHEME FOR RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION FOR 6.3. CHANDUBI FESTIVAL 116 MERITORIOUS SCHEDULED CASTE (SC) STUDENTS (SHRESHTA) 133 6.4. FARSI LANGUAGE 117 7.9. BOEING SUKANYA PROGRAM 134 6.5. VADNAGAR 117 7.10. REVAMPED SCHEME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS OF DARPG 135 6.6. KOLAM TRIBE 118 7.11. PRADHAN MANTRI SURYODAYA YOJANA 135 6.7. VEERABHADRA TEMPLE 118 7.12. DESIGN LINKED INCENTIVE (DLI) SCHEME 136 6.8. SHANKARACHARYAS 118 7.13. MODIFIED PARBATI-KALISINDH-CHAMBAL-ERCP 6.9. PAKKE PAGA HORNBILL FESTIVAL (PPHF) 119 (MODIFIED PKC-ERCP) LINK PROJECT 136 6.10. DENOTIFIED, NOMADIC, SEMI-NOMADIC TRIBES 120 7.14. PRERANA PROGRAM 137 6.11. STATUE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE 121 7.15. RATLE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT 137 6.12. MADHIKA LANGUAGE 122 7.16. 'PRITHVI VIGYAN' SCHEME 138 6.13. NAGARA STYLE OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE 122 7.17. KOCHI-LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS SUBMARINE OPTICAL FIBRE CONNECTION 138 6.14. KUTIA KONDH COMMUNITY 123 6.15. MARATHA MILITARY LANDSCAPES OF INDIA 124 8. SECURITY 6.16. BRU TRIBE 124 8.1. iDEX (INNOVATIONS FOR DEFENCE 6.17. KADAMBA DYNASTY 125 EXCELLENCE) 140 6.18. SIKKI GRASS 125 8.2. EXERCISE SEA DRAGON 140 6.19. SRIMUKHALINGAM TEMPLE 126 8.3. NEW GENERATION AKASH (AKASH-NG) MISSILE 140 6.20. HATTEE COMMUNITY 126 8.4. Ex-AYUTTHAYA 141 6.21. WARLI TRIBAL COMMUNITY 127 8.5. EXERCISE STEADFAST DEFENDER 141 7. SCHEMES AND PROJECTS IN 8.6. BORDER SECURITY FORCE (BSF) 142 NEWS 7.1. PRADHAN MANTRI JANJATI ADIVASI NYAYA MAHA 8.7. SADA TANSEEQ 142 ABHIYAN 129 8.8. REJUPAVE 143 7.2. ATAL SETU NHAVA SHEVA SEA LINK 129 8.9. D4 DRONE SYSTEM 143 7.3. PM-eBUS SEWA 130 8.10. CHAMELEON TROJAN 144 7.4. AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME 131 8.11. EXERCISE 'DESERT CYCLONE' 145 7.5. 'ONE VEHICLE, ONE FASTAG' INITIATIVE 131 7.6. OPERATION AMRITH 132 9. HEALTH 9.1. REVISED PHARMA MANUFACTURING RULES 146 7.7. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT LOCAL AREA 9.2. ANTI-CANCER DRUG CAMPTOTHECIN (CPT) 146 DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (MPLADS) 133 9.3. SCID OR BUBBLE BABY SYNDROME 147 5|P age  10.17. TOWER 22 164 9.4. HPV VACCINE 148 10.18. IRAN 165 9.5. NATIONAL ESSENTIAL DIAGNOSTICS LIST (NEDL) 148 10.19. KAVARATTI ISLAND 165 9.6. NIPAH VIRUS 149 10.20. MAURITIUS 166 9.7. FIXED-DOSE COMBINATION (FDC) 150 10.21. SAUDI ARABIA 167 9.8. HEPATITIS A VACCINE, 'HAVISURE' 151 10.22. SALTON SEA 167 9.9. SCRUB TYPHUS 152 10.23. VIKARAM SARABHAI 167 9.10. YELLOW RUST DISEASE 152 10.24. SAVITRI BAI PHULE & RANI VELU NACHIYAR 168 9.11. MOSQUIRIX 153 9.12. DISEASE X 153 11. COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS 9.13. COALITION OF EPIDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INNOVATIONS NETWORK (CEPI) 154 11.1. DR. K RADHAKRISHNAN COMMITTEE 170 11.2. SUPREME COURT LEGAL SERVICES COMMITTEE 170 10. PLACES AND PERSONS IN NEWS 10.1. MALDIVES 155 12. INDICES ANS RANKINGS 10.2. TIMOR-LESTE 155 12.1. GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTS REPORT 2024 172 10.3. ECUADOR 156 12.2. WORLD EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK TRENDS 2024 172 10.4. CHITTORGARH FORT 156 12.3. HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX 2024 173 10.5. CABO VERDE 157 12.4. STATES’ STARTUP RANKING 2022 173 10.6. NAURU 157 12.5. GLOBAL COOPERATION BAROMETER 2024 174 10.7. GURU GOBIND SINGH 157 12.6. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) TOBACCO 10.8. PANAMA CANAL 158 TRENDS REPORT 175 10.9. SENEGAL’S PINK LAKE 160 12.7. ANNUAL STATUS OF EDUCATION REPORT (ASER 2023) 176 10.10. WILLINGDON ISLAND 161 12.8. VIJAYRAGHAVAN COMMITTEE 176 10.11. BALTIC SEA 161 10.12. NIGERIA 161 13. ALSO IN NEWS 10.13. LAKE VICTORIA 162 13.1. SWACHH SURVEKSHAN AWARDS 2023 178 10.14. SWITZERLAND 162 13.2. PUNGANUR, DWARF COWS 179 10.15. LALA LAJPAT RAI 163 13.3. BHARAT RATNA 179 10.16. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC164 13.4. INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS 180 6|P age  1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1.1. KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION (KVIC) CONTEXT Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and Quality Council of India (QCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the quality of Khadi products, empower artisans and offer quality products under the 'Made in India' banner. 1.2. INLAND WATERWAYS CONTEXT: India’s First Inland Waterways Development Council commits Rs 45,000 crore for development of River Cruise Tourism. INLAND WATERWAYS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ✔ The IWDC was organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for inland waterways in India. ✔ The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) set ambitious targets, aiming to increase the modal share of Inland Water Transportation (IWT) from 2% to 5%, as outlined in the Maritime India Vision 2030. ✔ The goal also involved elevating the existing IWT cargo volume from ~120 MTPA to more than 500 MTPA, in line with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. ✔ At the IWDC, a roadmap was chalked to enable capacity in an additional 26 waterways, it for River Cruise tourism from operational strength of 8 waterways. ✔ The number of cruise circuits with night stays to be increased from 17 to 80 during the same time ✔ IWT plays a pivotal role in transforming the logistics and passenger movement landscape in the country. ✔ Spanning over 22,000 km across 24 states, with 111 noti ied National Waterway. 7|P age 1.3. SIXTEENTH FINANCE COMMISSION CONTEXT Centre appoints Arvind Panagariya as the Chairman of the 16 th Finance Commission. 1.4. KRISHNARAJASAGAR (KRS) DAM CONTEXT: The High Court of Karnataka has banned all types of mining and quarrying activities within a 20-km radius of the historic Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam in Mandya district. KRISHNARAJASAGAR (KRS) DAM ✔ Krishna Raja Sagara, also popularly known as KRS ✔ They are close to the settlement of Krishna Raja Sagara in the Indian State of Karnataka. ✔ The gravity dam made of surki mortar is below the con luence of river Kaveri with its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the district of Mandya. ✔ Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV Maharaj of Mysore constructed the dam ✔ It was constructed under the leadership of Sir M. Visvesvaraya. 8|P age 1.5. NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA (NMCG) CONTEXT: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) gets power to allow treated sewage into water bodies. NEW NOTIFICATION ✔ The NMCG, which comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, issued a noti ication to amend the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016. ✔ Through this noti ication, the NMCG has added a new proviso in the sub- paragraph (1) of paragraph 6 of the 2016 order ✔ It gave it powers to allow discharge of treated sewage, which conforms to the norms prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, into river or any other water bodies. ✔ The new provision is contrary to the existing provisions of paragraph 6 of the 2016 order that deals with prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in Ganga and its tributaries. 9|P age 1.6. TEEP DECLINE IN MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATIO CONTEXT India’s multidimensional poverty rate down to 11.28% in 2022-23 from 29.17% in 2013-14. MORE ON NEWS ✔ According to a discussion paper released by NITI Aayog, the share of India’s population living in multidimensional poverty is estimated to have fallen to 11.28 per cent in 2022-23 from 29.17 per cent in 2013-14. ✔ 250 million people escaped multi dimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23. STATES PERFORMANCE IN SHARE OF MPI POOR IN 2013-14 AND 2022-23: ✔ Bihar recorded a 53 per cent drop from 56.3 per cent share of MPI poor in 2013-14 to 26.59 per cent in 2022-23. ✔ Jharkhand recorded a 50 per cent drop from 47.13 per cent share of MPI poor to 23.34 per cent. ✔ Uttar Pradesh, which had a lesser share of MPI poor in 2022-23 than Bihar, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya, recorded a decline to 17.4 per cent from 42.59 per cent in 2013-14. 1.7. MINORITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CONTEXT: A Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court is hearing the case relating to the Minority Status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). 10 | P a g e  SPECIAL PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY RELIGIOUS MINORITY INSTITUTIONS ✔ Under Art 30(1)(a), MEI enjoys the right to education as a Fundamental Right. In case the property is taken over by the state, due compensation will be provided to establish institutions elsewhere. ✔ Under Article 15(5), MEIs are not considered for reservation. ✔ Under the Right to Education Act, MEI is not required to provide admission to children in the age group of 6-14 years up to 25% of enrollment reserved for the economically backward section of society. ✔ In St Stephens vs Delhi University case, 1992, SC ruled that MEIs can have 50% seats reserved for minorities. 1.8. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION COUNCIL CONTEXT: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has put on hold the grading process for around 30 institutes in the country. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION COUNCIL ✔ The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) established in 1994, is a government organization in India that assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). ✔ It is an autonomous body funded by the University Grants Commission and headquartered in Bangalore. ✔ Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with a record of at least two batches of students graduated, or been in existence for six years, whichever is earlier, are eligible to apply for the process of Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) of NAAC. ✔ The NAAC accreditation does not cover distance education units of HEIs and offshore campuses. ✔ All the institutions intending to apply for Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC need to mandatorily upload the information on All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) portal. 11 | P a g e 1.9. DEFAULT BAIL CONTEXT: The Supreme Court recently held that default bail cannot be claimed on the ground that the investigation is pending against other accused. DEFAULT BAIL ✔ Default bail, also known as statutory bail, is a species of bail which accrues as a right to an accused detained in custody, when the police fail to or are unable to complete the investigation and ile the chargesheet within the time frame stipulated under the law. ✔ Default bail is issued on the default of the investigating agency to conclude its investigation and ile its report within time. ✔ The concept of default bail in India is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the CrPC. ✔ It provides that when an accused is arrested and detained in custody, the investigation must be completed within a speci ied time frame, failing which the accused shall be released on bail. ✔ The statutory time frame for completing the investigation of offences under the IPC, and for iling of the charge sheet varies depending on the gravity of the offence. ✔ For offences punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years, the investigation must be completed within 60 days of arrest. ✔ For offences punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for more than 10 years, the investigation must be completed within 90 days of arrest (excluding the investigation/arrests made under special statutes). ✔ If investigation is not completed within the speci ied time frame, the accused has a right to be released on bail, and this is known as "default bail". ✔ The Court held that the provisions of CrPC are mandatory in nature and that the failure to ile the charge sheet within the prescribed 90/60 day period, as the case may be, would result in the automatic grant of default bail. ✔ The Supreme Court, while hearing an appeal regarding default bail, said that default bail under CrPC, is a fundamental right and not merely a statutory right as it is, a procedure established by law under Article 21 of the Constitution. 1.10. ELECTION SEIZURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ESMS) CONTEXT: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has conducted a training programme in virtual mode on the recently introduced Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) for the of icers concerned from Andhra Pradesh 12 | P a g e  ELECTION SEIZURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ESMS) ✔ The Election Commission of India has developed a tech platform called Election Seizure Management System (ESMS). ✔ The platform is for real-time updates on seizures from the ield. The updates will be provided by multiple state and central enforcement agencies. ✔ The platform also ensures seamless coordination and intelligence sharing amongst enforcement agencies. It will also facilitate qualitative analysis and planning. ✔ This platform will be used for the irst time during the state assembly elections that are scheduled for November 2023 in the ive states. ✔ Objective is to check the low of illegal cash, drugs and freebies such as sarees, liquor etc. thereby ensuring free and fair elections. ✔ Nodal agencies – State nodal of icers, District nodal of icers and lying squad teams. 1.11. SURROGACY ACT, 2021 CONTEXT: The Union Health Ministry has asked all States and UTs about the total number of couples and single and unmarried women who have availed surrogacy successfully since the Surrogacy Act, 2021, came into force to assess the functioning of the law. 13 | P a g e 1.12. ALL INDIA SURVEY ON HIGHER EDUCATION (AISHE) CONTEXT Ministry of Education releases All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021- 2022. ALL INDIA SURVEY ON HIGHER EDUCATION ✔ The Ministry of Education initiated an All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) in the year 2010-11 to build a robust database and to assess the correct picture of higher Education in the country. ✔ The report is based on several parameters, such as teachers, student enrolment, programmes, examination results, education inance, and infrastructure. KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF AISHE 2021-22 ✔ Enrolment in higher education increases to 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21 and 3.42 crore in 2014-15 (an increase of 91 lakh students, i.e., 26.5% since 2014-15). ✔ Female enrolment in Higher Education increases to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 1.57 crore in 2014-15(an increase of 50 lakh students, 32% increase). ✔ GER increases to 28.4 in 2021-22 from 23.7 in 2014-15; Female GER increases to 28.5 in 2021-22 from 22.9 in 2014-15. 14 | P a g e  ✔ Female GER continues to be more than male GER for the ifth consecutive year since 2017-18. 1.13. SAPINDA MARRIAGE CONTEXT: Delhi High Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of Section 5(v) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA), which prohibits marriage between two Hindus if they are “sapindas” of each other. SAPINDA MARRIAGE ✔ A sapinda marriage is one between individuals who are related to each other within a certain degree of closeness. ✔ Sapinda relationships for the purposes of the HMA are de ined in Section 3 of the Act. ✔ Two persons are said to be sapindas of each other if one is a lineal ascendant of the other within the limits of sapinda relationship, or if they have a common lineal ascendant who is within the limits of sapinda relationship with reference to each of them ✔ Sapinda' relationship extends up to the third generation through the mother's line and the ifth generation through the father's line. 1.14. SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY CONTEXT: Delhi High Court holds South Asian University to be out of the purview of ‘State’ and thus not amenable to writ jurisdiction. NOT A STATE UNDER ARTICLE 12 ✔ University to be neither a State under Article 12, nor under the ambit of Article 226 of the Constitution of India. ✔ University, being an organization deriving its powers from an intergovernmental agreement dated 04-04-2007, is an international organization where the Government of India does not hold any control over its functioning, administration and inances despite it being situated in India.. ✔ It cannot be included under “other authority” as mentioned in Article 12 of the Constitution of India. 15 | P a g e 1.15. DIGITAL SUPREME COURT REPORTS, DIGITAL COURTS 2.0 AND NEW WEBSITE OF SUPREME COURT CONTEXT: The Prime Minister launched citizen-centric information and technology initiatives that include Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR), Digital Courts 2.0 and the new website of the Supreme Court. DIGITAL SUPREME COURT REPORTS (DIGI SCR), DIGITAL COURTS 2.0 ✔ The Digital Supreme Court Reports (SCR) will make Supreme Court judgments available to the citizens of the country free of cost and in electronic format. ✔ 36,308 cases, shall be available in a digital format, bookmarked, user- friendly, and with open access. ✔ Digital Courts 2.0 application is a recent initiative under the e- Courts project to make court records available to the Judges of the district courts in electronic form. ✔ This is coupled with the use of arti icial intelligence (AI) for transcribing speech to text on a real-time basis. ✔ The new website will be in bilingual format in English and Hindi and has been redesigned with a user-friendly interface. NATIONAL JUDICIAL DATA GRID (NJDG) ✔ NJDG is a database of orders, judgments and case details of 18,735 District and subordinate Courts and High Courts created as an online platform under the eCourts Project. ✔ Its key feature is that the data is updated in real-time and has granular data up to the Taluka level. ✔ The NJDG was built as part of Phase II of the e-Courts project, which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. ✔ The platform has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) ✔ NJDG works as a monitoring tool to identify, manage & reduce pendency of cases. 16 | P a g e  2. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS 2.1. SKY DEW BALLOON CONTEXT: Israel has deployed a massive radar blimp along its border with Lebanon, as tensions with the militant group Hezbollah escalate. SKY DEW BALLOON ✔ This blimp, known as "Sky Dew," is one of the largest high -altitude observation balloons and is a collaborative project between the US and Israel. ✔ Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and American balloon manufacturer TCOM. ✔ This project is a collaboration led by the Israeli defense ministry and funded by the US department of defense. ✔ Sky Dew, delivered to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in 2022 ✔ It is designed to detect unmanned aircraftand cruise missiles from Iran and Syria, which are typically small and challenging to detect. ✔ Manufactured by the US company TCOM , the reconnaissance balloon can carry 7,000 pounds and operates at an altitude of about 10,000ft. ✔ The radar on the balloon is believed to be based on the Arrow system radar , capable of observing at 250 km and tracking multiple targets, including low- altitude ones and those in valleys. ✔ The main advantage of a radar balloon over a radar aircraft lies in the operating costs. RADAR ✔ Radar is a radiolocation system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (ranging), angle (azimuth), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. ✔ It is used to detect and track aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, map weather formations, and terrain. 2.2. GREEN FUELS ALLIANCE INDIA CONTEXT: At the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024, Denmark unveiled the Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI). GREEN FUELS ALLIANCE INDIA ✔ The GFAI’s primary objective is to promote sustainable energy growth in India by establishing an ecosystem that encourages collaboration among businesses, government entities, research institutions, and inancial stakeholders. ✔ Led by the Danish Embassy and the Consulate-General of Denmark in India. ✔ The alliance is a strategic initiative poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the green fuels sector, including green hydrogen, by fostering innovation , collaboration, and partnerships between Danish industries and their counterparts in India. 17 | P a g e 2.3. ANNUAL MEETING OF WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM CONTEXT The World Economic Forum (WEF) is holding its Annual Meeting from January 15 to 19 in Davos, Switzerland. ✔ The annual meeting in Davos is the lagship event of the WEF, where around 3,000 participants from over 100 countries gather in Davos every January. THE THEME OF DAVOS 2024 ✔ The theme of Davos 2024 is "Rebuilding Trust", which re lects the need for restoring con idence and cooperation in a fractured world. ✔ The meeting aims to address the multiple crises that have emerged or worsened in the past few years, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, geopolitical tensions, social inequalities, and technological disruptions. ✔ It will explore the opportunities and challenges posed by arti icial intelligence, which is seen as a driving force for the economy and society. 2.4. ALLIANCE FOR GLOBAL GOOD- GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY CONTEXT India Launched “Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality” at World Economic Forum, Annual Meeting Davos. ALLIANCE FOR GLOBAL GOOD- GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY ✔ The idea of this alliance emerged from the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India’s abiding commitment to the cause of women-led development ✔ It is to bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investments in the identi ied areas of women’s health, education, and enterprise. ✔ The Alliance will be taking forward the commitments of the G20 leaders for the bene it of the larger global community as a follow up to the activities of the Engagement Group and initiatives under the G20 framework, inter alia, the Business 20, Women 20 and G20 EMPOWER. ✔ Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the alliance will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership. 18 | P a g e  ✔ The World Economic Forum has come on board as a ‘Network Partner’ and Invest India as an ‘Institutional Partner’. 2.5. AI GOVERNANCE ALLIANCE CONTEXT: The World Economic Forum's AI Governance Alliance said a global effort is needed to create equitable access to advanced arti icial intelligence. AI GOVERNANCE ALLIANCE ✔ It also released a series of three new reports on advanced AI focussing on generative AI governance, unlocking its value and a framework for responsible AI development and deployment. ✔ The alliance brings together governments, businesses and experts to shape responsible AI development applications and governance, and to ensure equitable distribution and enhanced access to this path-departing technology worldwide. 2.6. GROUP OF 77 (G77) CONTEXT: UN Secretary-General Antó nio Guterres urges G77 and China in the 3rd South Summit to drive momentum for global governance reform. GROUP OF 77 (G77) ✔ The summit aims to promote South- South cooperation in the ields of trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty elimination and digital economy. ✔ The Group of 77 (G77) at the United Nations (UN) is a coalition of 135 developing countries, ✔ It is designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. ✔ There were 77 founding members of the organization headquartered in Geneva, but it has since expanded to 135 member countries ✔ Uganda holds its chairmanship for 2024, succeeding Cuba. ✔ The group was founded on 15 June 1964, by 77 non-aligned nations in the "Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries" issued at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ✔ The group was credited with a common stance against apartheid and for supporting global disarmament. ✔ It has been supportive of the New International Economic Order. 19 | P a g e 2.7. 9TH NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) SUMMIT CONTEXT: The 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit held in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) SUMMIT ✔ Uganda has taken over as chair from Azerbaijan, to run until 2027. ✔ Established in 1961 at the height of the Cold War, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an alliance of developing nations that refuses to identify with any major superpower. ✔ The NAM, has its origins in a 1955 conference in Indonesia during which representatives from 29 Asian and African countries, including many newly independent states that had been colonised for years, discussed common concerns. ✔ The movement’s founders are President Sukarno of Indonesia, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, and President Josip Tito of Yugoslavia. ✔ After the United Nations, NAM is the second-largest grouping of nations. ✔ Unlike other local or global organisations, NAM does not have a permanent secretariat or a formal founding charter, act, or treaty. ✔ The summit usually takes place every three years. The nation that rotates as chairmanship bears the responsibility of organising and running the Movement’s operations. ✔ Currently, NAM membership consists of 120 countries: 53 from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and two from Europe. ✔ It also includes the non-UN member state of Palestine, 17 other observer countries, and 10 observer organisations ✔ All decisions in the movement are made by consensus. 2.8. FREE MOVEMENT REGIME CONTEXT Recently, the Home Minister has said the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar would be reconsidered to stop border residents from moving into each other’s country without any paperwork. FREE MOVEMENT REGIME ✔ The FMR allows people living on either side of the border to travel up to 16 km inside each other’s country without a visa. ✔ A border resident needs to have a border pass, valid for a year, to stay in the other country for about two weeks per visit. ✔ The FMR also envisaged the promotion of localised border trade through customs stations and designated 20 | P a g e  markets apart from helping the people of Myanmar access better education and healthcare facilities on the Indian side of the border. HISTORY OF FREE MOVEMENT REGIME ✔ Much of India’s present-day northeast was temporarily under Burmese occupation until the British pushed them out in the 1800s. ✔ The victors and the vanquished signed the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826, leading to the current alignment of the boundary between India and Burma, later renamed Myanmar. ✔ The border divided people of the same ethnicity and culture - speci ically the Nagas of Nagaland and Manipur and the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities of Manipur and Mizoram - without their consent. ✔ Wary of increasing Chinese in luence in Myanmar, New Delhi began working on improving diplomatic ties with the Myanmar government a decade ago. ✔ After almost a year’s delay, the FMR came about in 2018 as part of the Act East policy. The Rohingya refugee crisis that began in August 2017 caused the delay. MIZORAM AND NAGALAND OPPOSED FOR ENDING THE FMR ✔ According to Mizoram, the border was imposed by the British to divide the people belonging to the Zo ethnic stock. Mizos share ethnic ties with the Chin people across the border. ✔ As per Nagaland’s view, the decision to fence the border and end the FMR was “regressive”, which would exacerbate con licts in the region. 2.9. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE CONTEXT The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take all measures to ensure that it does not commit acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip. MORE ON NEWS ✔ It was ruling on the nine provisional measures requested by South Africa in its genocide claim against Israel. ✔ The court directed Israel to allow the entry of basic services and humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza. ✔ Highlighting that the interim ruling creates binding international legal obligations for Israel, Judge Joan E. Donoghue, the court’s President, ordered Israel to report to it within a month on the steps taken to ensure compliance. 21 | P a g e 2.10. ECOWAS CONTEXT: Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have left the Economic Community of Wes t African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS ✔ ECOWAS was formed on 28 May, 1975 in Nigeria’s Lagos. ✔ Its headquarters are in Nigeria’s Abuja. ✔ It comprised 15 members – Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sénégal and Togo. ✔ Cabo Verde joined the bloc in 1997. ✔ Mauritania, which withdrew its membership in 2000, signed an associate- membership pact in 2017. ✔ The bloc covers an area spanning 5.2 million square kilometres. 22 | P a g e  ✔ The ECOWAS’ stated mission is to ‘ promote economic integration’ across the region. ✔ The group is widely seen as West Africa’s top political and regional authority. ✔ All three nations have been suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions due to coups in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020. 2.11. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CONTEXT: France and the United Kingdom, two veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, reiterated their support for a permanent seat for India. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL ✔ The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council. ✔ The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is charged with ensuring international peace and security. ✔ The UNSC is the only UN body with authority to issue resolutions that are binding on member states. ✔ The Security Council consists of ifteen members, of which ive are permanent: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ✔ Permanent members can veto (block) any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states to the United Nations or nominees for the of ice of Secretary-General. ✔ The other ten members are elected on a regional basis for a term of two years. The body's presidency rotates monthly among its members. ✔ Headquarters: New York City, New York, U.S. ✔ Each Member has one vote. ✔ All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. ✔ While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter. 2.12. SHIPPING ROUTES CONTEXT: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has expressed concerns over the escalating disruptions in global trade due to geopolitical tensions affecting shipping in the Black Sea, attacks on ships in the Red Sea affecting the Suez Canal and the impact of climate change on the Panama Canal 23 | P a g e SUEZ CANAL ✔ When it opened in 1869, the Suez Canal revolutionised global maritime trade. ✔ By connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas through the Isthmus of Suez, it ensured that ships travelling between Europe and Asia would not have to travel all the way around the continent of Africa. ✔ The canal cut the distance between London and Bombay (now Mumbai) by a more than 41 per cent. RED SEA ✔ The Red Sea, one of the most saline bodies of water in the world, is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. ✔ The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb sound and the Gulf of Aden. ✔ In the north are the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (leading to the Suez Canal). ✔ Occupying a part of the Great Rift Valley, the Red Sea has a surface area of about 174,000 square miles ✔ With its connection to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, it is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world PANAMA CANAL ✔ The Panama Canal is an arti icial 82-kilometre (51-mile) waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Paci ic Ocean, cutting across the Isthmus of Panama, and is a conduit for maritime trade. ✔ Canal locks at each end lift ships up to Gatun Lake, an arti icial freshwater lake 26 meters (85 ft) above sea level, created by damming up the Chagres River and Lake Alajuela to reduce the amount of excavation work required for the canal, and then lower the ships at the other end. ✔ The Panama Canal shortcut greatly reduces the time for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Paci ic oceans, ✔ It helps to avoid the lengthy, hazardous route around the southernmost tip of South America via the Drake Passage or Strait of Magellan. ✔ France began work on the canal in 1881, but stopped because of lack of investors ✔ The United States took over the project in 1904 and opened the canal in 1914. ✔ After a period of joint American–Panamanian control, the canal was taken over by the Panamanian government in 1999. It is now managed and operated by the Panamanian government-owned Panama Canal Authority. BLACK SEA ✔ The Black Sea a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, is located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia ✔ It is bordered by six countries – Romania and Bulgaria to the west; Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia to the north and east; and Turkey to the south. ✔ The Black Sea drains into the Mediterranean Sea, via the Aegean Sea and various straits. The Bosphorus Strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the 24 | P a g e  Strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean Sea region of the Mediterranean. ✔ The Black Sea is also connected to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. ✔ Five major rivers empty into the Black Sea, the largest of which is the Danube River. It is supplied by major rivers, principally the Danube, Dnieper, and Don. 2.13. UNITED NATIONS AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES CONTEXT: UN of icials urged countries to reconsider their decision to suspend the funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). UNITED NATIONS AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES ✔ The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. ✔ UNRWA is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly, established pursuant to Articles 7(2) and 22 of the UN Charter. ✔ It is one of only two UN agencies that reports directly to the General Assembly ✔ UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Palestine War ✔ UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to provide relief to all refugees resulting from the 1948 con lict. ✔ UNRWA is the only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from a speci ic region or con lict. ✔ It is distinct from the UNHCR, established in 1950 as the main agency to aid all other refugees worldwide. ✔ UNRWA is led by a Commissioner-General ✔ UNRWA's operations are organised into ive ields—Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank, and Gaza ✔ UNRWA's budget is set by the UN General Assembly and derives almost entirely from voluntary contributions by UN member states. It also receives some revenue from the regular UN budget, mostly for international staf ing costs. 2.14. SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL ENERGY PARTNERSHIP (SAREP) CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/India) to support Indian Railways in achieving ‘net zero carbon emission’ by 2030. SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL ENERGY PARTNERSHIP (SAREP) ✔ Technical assistance for the services under this MoU will be provided under the SAREP initiative. ✔ The MoU is effective for the next ive years until the end of the South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP). ✔ The South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) is the lagship regional energy program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) India. 25 | P a g e  ✔ This ive-year initiative (2021-26) improves access to affordable, secure, reliable, and sustainable energy across six South Asian countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—in line with these countries’ climate and clean energy priorities. 2.15. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) CONTEXT: India announced that it has provided US $ 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East or the UNRWA for the welfare of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA ✔ The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. ✔ UNRWA is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly, established pursuant to Articles 7(2) and 22 of the UN Charter. ✔ It is one of only two UN agencies that reports directly to the General Assembly. ✔ UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Palestine War. ✔ UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to provide relief to all refugees resulting from the 1948 con lict. ✔ UNRWA is the only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from a speci ic region or con lict. ✔ It is distinct from the UNHCR, established in 1950 as the main agency to aid all other refugees worldwide. ✔ UNRWA is led by a Commissioner-General. ✔ UNRWA's operations are organis ed into ive ields—Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank, and Gaza. ✔ UNRWA's budget is set by the UN General Assembly and derives almost entirely from voluntary contributions by UN member states. It also receives some revenue from the regular UN budget, mostly for international staf ing costs. 26 | P a g e 2.16. GUYANA–VENEZUELA TERRITORIAL DISPUTE CONTEXT: Brazil has called for “restraint” as tensions lared in a territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. GUYANA–VENEZUELA TERRITORIAL DISPUTE ✔ The Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute is an ongoing territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region, also known as Esequibo or GuayanaEsequiba ✔ The long-standing territorial dispute over the Essequibo region escalated into a crisis in 2023. ✔ The region is controlled by Guyana but is claimed by Venezuela. ✔ The dispute dates back many years and the current border was established by the Paris Arbitral Award in 1899. ✔ Venezuela renewed its claim in 1962 and the matter was referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2018. 2.17. EUROZONE CONTEXT The eurozone economy is set for only modest growth next year, despite wages rising faster than in lation for the irst time in three years, according to a recent poll of economists. 27 | P a g e  EUROZONE ✔ The eurozone refers to an economic and geographic region consisting of all the European Union (EU) countries that incorporate the euro as their national currency. ✔ In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty created the EU and paved the way for the formation of a common economic and monetary union consisting of a central banking system, a common currency, and a common economic region, the eurozone. ✔ The 20 eurozone members are: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. ✔ The seven non-eurozone members of the EU are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden. ✔ They continue to use their own national currencies, although all but Denmark are obliged to join once they meet the euro convergence criteria ✔ The European Central Bank (ECB) makes monetary policy for the eurozone, sets its base interest rate, and issues euro banknotes and coins. 2.18. THE AGREEMENT ON THE PROHIBITION OF ATTACK AGAINST NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS AND FACILITIES CONTEXT: India and Pakistan exchanged a list of their nuclear installations through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. ABOUT AGREEMENT ✔ The agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities was signed on December 31, 1998. ✔ Signed by the then Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi. ✔ The treaty came into force on January 27, 1991. 28 | P a g e  ✔ In 1986, the Indian army carried out a massive exercise ‘Brasstacks’, raising fears of an attack on nuclear facilities. Since then, both countries had been negotiating to reach an understanding towards the control of nuclear weapons. ✔ The agreement mandates both countries to inform each other about any nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on the irst of January of every calendar year, providing a con idence-building security measure environment. ✔ According to the agreement, the term ‘nuclear installation or facility’ includes nuclear power and research reactors, fuel fabrication, uranium enrichment, iso-topes separation, and reprocessing facilities as well as any other installations with fresh or irradiated nuclear fuel and materials in any form and establishments storing signi icant quantities of radioactive materials. 2.19. UN STATISTICAL COMMISSION CONTEXT: India started its four-year term as a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission. UN STATISTICAL COMMISSION ✔ The United Nations Statistical Commission (StatCom) is a Functional Commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, established in 1947. Headquarter at New York. ✔ It is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world. ✔ The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). ✔ Its 24 member states are elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of the following geographical distribution: African states (5), Asian States (4), Eastern European States (4), Latin American and Caribbean States (4), Western European and other States (7). ✔ The term of of ice of members is four years. ✔ India was a member of the Statistical Commission last in 2004 and the country is returning to the UN agency after a gap of two decades. ✔ Since July 1999 the Commission meets every year. 2.20. GENOCIDE CONVENTION CONTEXT: South Africa asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an urgent order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its crackdown against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. GENOCIDE CONVENTION ✔ The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), or the Genocide Convention, is an international treaty that criminalizes genocide and obligates state parties to pursue the enforcement of its prohibition. ✔ It was the irst legal instrument to codify genocide as a crime, and the irst human rights treaty unanimously adopted by the United Nations General 29 | P a g e  Assembly, on 9 December 1948, during the third session of the United Nations General Assembly. ✔ The Convention entered into force on 12 January 1951 and has 152 state parties as of 2022. ✔ The Genocide Convention was conceived largely in response to World War II. ✔ The Convention defines genocide as any of five "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group." ✔ These five acts include killing members of the group, causing them serious bodily or mental harm, imposing living conditions intended to destroy the group, preventing births, and forcibly transferring children out of the group. ✔ The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish. ✔ India ratified the convention in 1959; there is no legislation on the subject. 2.21. INDIA AUSTRALIA ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE AGREEMENT CONTEXT: Commemorating one year of India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (INDAUS ECTA). ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE AGREEMENT ✔ The Agreement came into force on 29th December 2022. ✔ Australia has offered Zero duty access to 100% of its lines& trade whereas India has so far offered only 70% of its lines for duty free/ reduced duty access to Australia. ✔ Drugs approved in other developed jurisdictions will get quicker approval in Australia. This will enable easy penetration of the Australian medical market (India is just 3%). ✔ Major gains are expected for India’s labour- intensive sectors such as textiles. They will gain duty free access on par with Vietnam and other countries, making them competitive. ✔ Liberal grant of work visas to students, employee/ worker visas, agriculture worker visas. ✔ The total bilateral trade is expected to cross US $ 45-50 billion by 2035. ✔ The Agreement has removed the discrepancies with regard to use of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement for taxation of Indian firm royalties, fees and charges. ✔ Immediate Duty-Free Access is projected to potentially create 10 lakh jobs in India and additional exports of $ 10 bn from India to Australia in the next five years. 30 | P a g e  3. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS 3.1. NATIONAL HOUSING BANK (NHB) CONTEXT: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) said its board has approved acquiring up to 10 per cent in a company promoted by the National Housing Bank (NHB). NATIONAL HOUSING BANK (NHB) ✔ National Housing Bank (NHB), is the apex regulatory body for overall regulation and licensing of housing finance companies in India. ✔ It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance , Government of India. ✔ It was set up on 9 July 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987. ✔ NHB is the apex financial institution for housing. ✔ NHB has been established with an objective to operate as a principal agency to promote housing finance institutions both at local and regional levels and to provide financial and other support incidental to such institutions and for matters connected therewith. ✔ The Finance Act, 2019 has amended the National Housing Bank Act, 1987. The amendment confers the powers of regulation of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) to the Reserve Bank of India. ✔ The Head office of NHB is at New Delhi. ✔ The National Housing Policy, 1988 envisaged the setting up of NHB as the Apex level institution for housing. 3.2. COAL CONTROLLER ORGANISATION CONTEXT: The Ministry of Finance has approved restructuring of CCO. COAL CONTROLLER ORGANISATION ✔ Restructuring of Coal Controller Organisation with the aim to regulate the commercial mining, augment domestic coal production to achieve 1 billion Tonnes with zero import. ✔ The Coal Controller’s Organization is a subordinate Office of Ministry of Coal, having its offices at Kolkata, Delhi ✔ The Coal Controller Organisation ensuresfair production and commercial transactions of coal including quality surveillance. ✔ It has been entrusted with the following responsibilities: ✔ Inspection of collieries so as to ensure the correctness of the class, grade or size of coal. ✔ To issue directives for the purpose of declaration and maintenance of grades of coal of a seam mined in a colliery. ✔ To act as the appellate authority in case of dispute ✔ To regulate disposal of stock of coal or the expected output of coal in the colliery. ✔ Quality surveillance with respect to maintenance of grade, loading of coal in wagons/ trucks according to laid down procedures regarding grades and sizes. ✔ To grant opening / reopening permission of coal mine, seam or a section of seam or to subdivide a mine. 31 | P a g e  ✔ Assessment and collection of excise duty levied on all raw coal raised and dispatched. ✔ Submission of monthly coal data to different ministries of Central and State Government, national and international organization. 3.3. STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE CONTEXT: The Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural gas report emphasises Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) for energy security. STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE ✔ Indian refiners maintain 64.5 days of crude storage, so India has overall reserve oil storage of 74 days. ✔ India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer. The International Energy Association (IEA) mandates 90 days of net oil import reserves, including strategic and commercial supplies ✔ Rock caverns are large man-made spaces in the rock and are considered the safest means of storing hydrocarbons. In comparison to rock caverns, salt caverns are considered cheaper and less labour- and cost-intensive. 3.4. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT ACT, 2003 CONTEXT The Supreme Court sought the Centre's response to a suit filed by the Kerala government accusing the Union of India of interfering in the exercise of its "exclusive, autonomous and plenary powers" to regulate the state's finances by imposing a ceiling on net borrowing. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT ACT, 2003 ✔ The suit alleged that the Centre "seeks to interfere with the finances of the state by imposing a net borrowing ceiling. ✔ The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM Act), 2003, establishes financial discipline to reduce fiscal deficit. 32 | P a g e  ✔ The FRBM Act aims to introduce transparency in India's fiscal management systems. ✔ The Act’s long-term objective is for India to achieve fiscal stability and to give the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) flexibility to deal with inflation in India. ✔ The FRBM Act was enacted to introduce more equitable distribution of India's debt over the years. Key features of the FRBM Act ✔ The FRBM Act made it mandatory for the government to place the following along with the Union Budget documents in Parliament annually:  Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement  Macroeconomic Framework Statement  Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement ✔ The FRBM Act proposed that revenue deficit, fiscal deficit, tax revenue and the total outstanding liabilities be projected as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the medium-term fiscal policy statement. FRBM Act exemptions ✔ On grounds of national security, calamity, etc, the set targets of fiscal deficits and revenue could be exceeded. ✔ In 2016, a committee under N K Singh was set up to suggest changes to the Act. 3.5. LENTIL PRODUCTION CONTEXT: India is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentil (masoor) during the 2023-24 crop year on account of higher acreage. 33 | P a g e  LENTIL PRODUCTION ✔ According to official data, in the 2022-23 crop year, the country’s lentil production stood at 1.56 million tonnes. ✔ According to the data available with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world top lentil growers in 2022 were Canada (2.3 million tonnes), India (1.26 million tonnes), Australia (0.99 million tonnes), Turkey (0.44 million tonnes), and Russia (0.26 million tonnes) during 2022. ✔ Despite being the second largest producer of lentil, India has so far been relying on imports to meet its domestic requirements, buying mainly from Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey. ✔ During the current year, it also imported some quantities of lentil from UAE, USA, Sri Lanka and Nepal. 3.6. SBI GREEN RUPEE TERM DEPOSIT (SGRTD) CONTEXT State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest Bank has launched a special fixed deposit (FD) scheme. SBI GREEN RUPEE TERM DEPOSIT (SGRTD) ✔ SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) has been launched to mobilise funds to support environment-friendly initiatives and projects, thereby fostering the growth of a green finance ecosystem in India. ✔ SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit scheme is open to resident individuals, non- individuals, and NRI customers. ✔ The SGRTD offers investors the flexibility to choose from three distinct tenors: 1111 days, 1777 days, and 2222 days. 34 | P a g e  ✔ SGRTD will offer 10 basis points (bps) interest rates below the card rate for retail and bulk Deposits for respective tenor. ✔ Senior Citizens/ Staff/ Staff Senior Citizens are eligible for an additional interest rate over the applicable rate for the public. (NRI Senior Citizens / NRI Staff not eligible). ✔ Premature withdrawals are allowed under the scheme. ✔ Loan/ overdraft facility will be available against the deposit. 3.7. CENTRE FOR FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION CONTEXT: Telangana signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum for setting up the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution in Hyderabad. CENTRE FOR FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ✔ The Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution Telangana is a thematic centre on healthcare and life sciences set up in collaboration with the state government. ✔ The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a term coined in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF). ✔ It is characterized by the convergence and complementarity of emerging technology domains, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, new materials and advanced digital production (ADP) technologies. ✔ The latter includes 3D printing, human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and artificial intelligence, and is already transforming the global industrial landscape ✔ The First Industrial Revolution was triggered by the invention of the steam engine in the 18th century, ✔ theSecond in the 19th century was powered by widespread electrification, ✔ and the Third, in the 1960s, was chiefly the product of advances in computing. ✔ Although 4IR is also the product of technological advances, it is uniquely marked by a blurring of the boundaries between the biological, the physical and the digital realms. 35 | P a g e 3.8. STATE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank has released the 'Report of Working Group on State Government Guarantees' on its website. STATE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES ✔ Guarantee is a type of contingent liability protecting the investor/ lender from the risk of default by a borrower. ✔ Guarantees are usually sought when the investors/lenders are unwilling to bear the risk of default ✔ State governments are often required to sanction, and issue, on behalf of various state enterprises, cooperative institutions, urban local bodies, and other state-owned entities, guarantees in favour of their lenders which are generally commercial banks or other financial institutions. 3.9. HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (HFCS) CONTEXT The Reserve Bank of India today released the draft circular on ‘Review of regulatory framework for Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) and harmonisation of regulations applicable to HFCs and NBFCs’. HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (HFCS) ✔ Housing finance companies (HFCs) are organisations registered under the Companies Act of 1956. ✔ Primarily, they are engaged in the business activity of providing loans or finance for housing purposes through direct or indirect means. ✔ They are NBFC whose financial assets, in the business of providing finance for housing, constitute at least 60% of its total assets. ✔ Earlier regulated by National Housing Bank (NHB), HFCs’ regulation was transferred to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2019 through amending the statutes by the government. 36 | P a g e 3.10. UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION FUND (USOF) CONTEXT: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) sought relief in levying Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) from telecom operators. UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION FUND (USOF) ✔ Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is the pool of funds generated by 5% Universal Service Levy that is charged upon all the telecom fund operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR). This fund is deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India and is dispatched on the approval of the Indian Parliament. ✔ The USOF comes under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. The act was amended in 2003 to give statutory status to the fund. The Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications governs the fund and related provisions. ✔ The aim of USOF is to provide a balance between the provision of Universal Service to all uncovered areas, including the rural areas. FUNCTIONS UNDER USOF ✔ Provide widespread and non-discriminatory access to quality ICT services at affordable prices to people in rural and remote areas. ✔ Provide an effective and powerful linkage to the hinterland thereby mainstreaming the population of rural and remote parts of the country. ✔ Ensure that universal services are provided in an economically efficient manner. ✔ Ensure that by developing hitherto unconnected areas, the benefits of inclusive growth are reaped by our nation, bringing in its wake rapid socio- economic development and improved standards of living. 3.11. COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES (COFI) CONTEXT: India has been elected as the First Vice Chair of the FAO COFI (Food and Agriculture Organisation Committee on Fisheries) Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management. 37 | P a g e  COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES (COFI) ✔ The Committee on Fisheries (COFI), a subsidiary body of the FAO Council, was established by the FAO Conference at its Thirteenth Session in 1965. ✔ The Committee presently constitutes the only global inter-governmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are examined and recommendations addressed to governments. ✔ COFI membership is open to any FAO Member and non-Member eligible to be an observer of the Organization. ✔ COFI may establish subcommittees on certain specific issues, for example the  Sub-Committee on Fish Trade  Sub-Committee on Aquaculture ✔ The two main functions of COFI are to review the programmes of work of FAO in the field of fisheries and aquaculture and their implementation, and to conduct periodic general reviews of fishery and aquaculture problems. ✔ India will serve as a member of the FAO Fisheries Bureau on Capture Fisheries for the first time in 57 years. ✔ The Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management is a forum for discussing fisheries management issues at national, regional and global levels. ✔ The Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management was established during the Thirty-Fifth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), held in Rome, Italy, from September 5 to 9, 2022. 3.12. TEA BOARD OF INDIA CONTEXT: The Tea Board has mandated all producers to limit generation of tea waste not exceeding 0.2 per cent of production for maintaining the quality of produce. GUIDELINES ✔ As per the Tea (Waste) Control Order of 1959, the minimum volume of tea waste and manufactured tea should be in the ratio of 2:100, which is two per cent of production. ✔ tea waste can used for producing instant tea, bio-fertiliser and caffeine TEA BOARD OF INDIA ✔ The Tea Board of India is a state agency of the Government of India under the control of Ministry of Commerce and Industry 38 | P a g e  ✔ It was established to promote the cultivation, processing, and domestic trade as well as export of tea from India. ✔ It was established by the enactment of the Tea Act in 1953 with its headquarters in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). ✔ The Tea Board India's tasks include endorsement of the diverse production and productivity of tea, financial support of research organisations and the monitoring of advances in tea packaging as it relates to health beneficial aspects. ✔ It coordinates research institutes, the tea trade and government bodies, ensuring the technical support of the tea trade in the global industry. 3.13. PFRDA NOTIFIES POINT OF PRESENCE (POP) REGULATIONS CONTEXT: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the Point of Presence (PoP) Regulations 2023, simplifying the registration process. POINT OF PRESENCE (POP) REGULATIONS ✔ With this notification, banks and non-banks can act as PoPs to on-board NPS subscribers. ✔ Now, they require only single Registration for NPS, instead of multiple registrations earlier, and can operate with just one branch with wider digital presence. ✔ The timeline for disposing of applications has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days. ✔ PoPs are the first point of contact for NPS account holders in the NPS architecture, and they facilitate registration, contribution, and other transactions for NPS account holders. ✔ PoPs are entities that provide services under NPS through their network of branches called PoP Service Providers (PoP-SP). ✔ For a PoP to be considered eligible, the new regulations stipulate a minimum net worth of Rs 2 crore, which shall include a minimum paid-up equity capital of Rs fifty lakh, as on the last day of the immediately preceding quarter, duly certified by the statutory auditor. 39 | P a g e 3.14. DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR CONTEXT: The Ministry of Railways announced a successful trial on the New Pilkhani-New Shambhu section of the Eastern dedicated freight corridor (Eastern-DFC). DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDORS ✔ Dedicated freight corridors in the country form DFCCIL a network of broad gauge railway lines exclusively serving freight trains, aiming to The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited enhance the speed and efficiency of freight (DFCCIL) is a public sector services undertaking which undertakes ✔ The DFC project is strategically aligned with planning, development, and the National Rail Plan, which sets a bold mobilisation of financial resources and construction, objective: to increase the railway's modal maintenance and operation of share in India from the existing 28 per cent to the Dedicated Freight an impressive 44 per cent by the year 2051. Corridors. ✔ Crucially, it's a linchpin of the National Logistics Policy, aiming to reduce logistics costs from the current 15 percent of GDP to a more sustainable 8 per cent by 2030. ✔ Furthermore, the DFC's capacity expansion is instrumental in realising Indian Railways' ambitious objective of achieving a freight loading capacity of 3,000 MT by 2030. 40 | P a g e 3.15. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT (FCRA) CONTEXT: The Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a leading Indian public policy think tank, had its FCRA license cancelled. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT (FCRA) ✔ First enacted in 1976 FCRA regulates foreign donations and ensures that such contributions do not adversely affect internal security. ✔ The Act ensures that the recipients of foreign contribution sadhere to the stated purpose for which such contribution has been obtained. ✔ It is implemented by the Union Home Ministry. ✔ The FCRA is applicable to all associations, groups and NGOs which intend to receive foreign donations. ✔ It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA every five years. 41 | P a g e  ✔ The law was amended in 2010 to prohibit their use for any activities detrimental to national interest. ✔ It was amended again in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs. ✔ The FCRA requires every person or NGO seeking to receive foreign donations to be registered under the Act and to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi. ✔ FCRA requires to utilise those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act. ✔ FCRA requires to file annual returns and not to transfer the funds to another NGO ✔ The Act prohibits the receipt of foreign funds by candidates for elections, journalists or newspaper and media broadcast companies, judges and government servants, members of legislature and political parties or their office-bearers, and organisations of a political nature. 3.16. COAL GASIFICATION CONTEXT: Cabinet approves Viability Gap Funding of Rs 8500 crore for promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects. ABOUT SCHEME ✔ Total outlay of Rs.8,500 crore will be provided as financial assistance for coal gasification projects under three categories.  category I, Rs.4,050 crore provisioned for Government PSUs in which upto 3 projects.  category II, Rs.3,850 crore is provisioned for the private sector as well as Government PSUs.  category III, Rs.600 crore provisioned for demonstration Projects (indigenous technology) and/or small-scale product- based Gasification Plants. COAL GASIFICATION ✔ Coal gasification is a process by which coal is converted to useful gases in situ without the need for mining. ✔ The gases can subsequently be used to produce heat, generate power or synthesize a variety of chemical products. ✔ In industrial chemistry, coal gasification is the process of producing syngas— a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour (H2O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen. 42 | P a g e 3.17. STOCK MARKET CONTEXT: India overtakes Hong Kong as the world's fourth-largest stock market. STOCK MARKET ✔ Currently, the US is the world's biggest market with a mcap of $50.86 trillion, followed by China with a mcap of $8.44 trillion and Japan at $6.36 trillion. ✔ The term stock market refers to several exchanges in which shares of publicly held companies are bought and sold. ✔ Operating under the defined rules as stated by the regulator, the stock markets act as primary markets and secondary markets. ✔ As a primary market, the stock market allows companies to issue and sell their shares to the public for the first time through the process of an initial public offering (IPO). ✔ The secondary market is where investors buy and sell securities. Trades take place on the secondary market between other investors and tradersrather than from the companies that issue the securities. ✔ National exchanges, such as the National stock exchange, are secondary markets. ✔ The secondary market is where securities are traded after they are put up for sale on the primary market. 3.18. EXPLORATION LICENSE (EL) REGIME CONTEXT: The Ministry of Mines notified four rules to implement the Exploration License (EL) regime. EXPLORATION LICENSE (EL) REGIME ✔ "Exploration licence" means a licence granted for undertaking reconnaissance operations or prospecting operations or both. ✔ an exploration licence may be granted in any area by the State Government. 43 | P a g e  ✔ the exploration licence shall be granted for a period of five years from the date of execution of the exploration licence. ✔ It was introduced through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023. ✔ Issued in respect of 29 minerals specified in Seventh Schedule of MMRD Act including Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel, Gold, etc. 3.19. DIRECTORATE OF REVENUE INTELLIGENCE CONTEXT: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers developed an intelligence and intercepted seven consignments which had arrived from Hong Kong at the Foreign Post Office in New Delhi. DIRECTORATE OF REVENUE INTELLIGENCE ✔ The DRI is the apex anti-smuggling agency of India, working under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Headquarters at New Delhi. ✔ It is tasked with detecting and curbing smuggling of contraband, including drug trafficking and illicit international trade in wildlife ✔ The DRI has also been designated as the lead agency for the Anti-Smuggling National Coordination Centre (SCord). ✔ It was constituted on 4th December, 1957. 3.20. DIRECT TAX REVENUE CONTEXT: Direct Tax to GDP ratio rose to 15-year high in FY23 Central Board of Direct Taxes data shows. DIRECT TAX REVENUE ✔ The share of direct taxes in gross domestic product (GDP) rose to a 15-year high of 6.11 per cent during 2022-23 (FY23), but their buoyancy fell to 1.18 from 2.52 in the previous year. ✔ Direct taxes are regulated by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). ✔ CBDT imposes various direct taxes in India like Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Securities Transaction Tax, Minimum Alternate Tax etc. 44 | P a g e  TAX-TO-GDP RATIO ✔ The tax-to-GDP ratio measures a nation's tax revenue relative to the size of its economy. ✔ This ratio is used with other metrics to determine how well a nation's government directs its economic resources via taxation. ✔ Developed nations typically have higher tax-to-GDP ratios than developing nations. ✔ Higher tax revenues mean a country can spend more on improving infrastructure, health, and education—keys to the long-term prospects for a country's economy and people. ✔ According to the World Bank, tax revenues above 15% of a country's gross domestic product (GDP) are a key ingredient for economic growth and poverty reduction. 3.21. VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR CONTEXT: Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs, launched the Framework for Voluntary Carbon Market in Agriculture Sector and Accreditation Protocol of Agroforestry Nurseries. VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR ✔ Carbon markets are trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought. ✔ Companies or individuals can use carbon markets to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon credits from entities that remove or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ✔ There are broadly two types of carbon markets: compliance and voluntary. ▪ Compliance markets are created as a result of any national, regional and/or international policy or regulatory requirement. ▪ Voluntary carbon markets – national and international – refer to the issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis. ✔ The current supply of voluntary carbon credits comes mostly from private entities that develop carbon projects, or governments that develop programs certified by carbon standards that generate emission reductions and/or removals. 45 | P a g e 3.22. POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an amendment to the Master Direction (MD) on Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines, aiming to redefine and provide clearer parameters for identifying Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS ✔ Politically Exposed Persons' (PEPs) are individuals who are or have been entrusted with prominent public functions by a foreign country. ✔ It includes the Heads of States/Governments, senior politicians, senior government or judicial or military officers, senior executives of state-owned corporations, and important political party officials. ✔ Screening for a politically exposed person (PEP) is a vital component of the know your customer (KYC) process due to an increase in potential risks. ✔ Financial Action Task Force defines PEP as an individual who is or has been entrusted with a prominent function. Many such individuals hold positions that can be abused for the purpose of laundering illicit funds or other predicate offences such as corruption or bribery. ✔ Regulated entities (REs) have to perform the regular customer due diligence and also follow additional conditions prescribed by the RBI to transact with PEPs. ✔ Some additional conditions include establishing an appropriate risk management system to determine whether the customer or the beneficial owner is a PEP. ✔ REs have to take reasonable measures for establishing the source of funds/ wealth. They also need to get approval from senior management to open an account for a PEP. ✔ Defining PEP is seen as a move to comply with the FATF’s recommendations, as the term was not mentioned in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. This would have been seen as a regulatory gap from the FATF country review perspective. 3.23. UREA GOLD CONTEXT: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal for the launching of sulphur-coated urea with the name “Urea Gold”. 46 | P a g e UREA GOLD ✔ Sulphur-coated urea will be more economical and efficient than the currently used Neem-coated urea. ✔ The new sulphur-coated urea will address Sulphur deficiency in the Indian soil. ✔ It will also save input costs for the farmers and raise incomes for farmers with enhanced production & productivity. ✔ It improves nitrogen use efficiency in plants, reduces the consumption of fertilizer, and enhances crop quality. ✔ Sulphur-coated urea facilitates a gradual release of nitrogen, thereby enhancing its availability and uptake by crops. ✔ The inclusion of humic acid in Urea Gold further extends its lifespan as a fertilizer. ✔ T