JUNE 2023

1. Cover multiple sources DAILY: The Hindu, IE, , etc.

2. Accurate news selection. what to skip is as important
as what to read.
3. Exercise good judgment for topics requiring additional
reading.
4. Concise and revision-ready notes.

Civilsdaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Road, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060 (INDIA)
Tel: +91 89299 87787 Mail: [email protected]
 CONTENTS

Subject No. of Topics

Economics 19
Governance 14
Polity 10
International Relations 20
Security Issues 08
Enviro & Biodiversity 15
Science Tech 24
Art and Culture 09
Modern India History 03
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 3

Economics
1. Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI): Manufacturing PMI surged to 58.7 in May
2023, reaching its highest level in 31 months /// PMI is a S&P Global survey-based measure provid-
ing insights on changes in business variables compared to the previous month /// It informs decision
makers, analysts, and investors about current and future business conditions /// PMI is calculated for
manufacturing and services sectors separately, with a composite index also constructed /// Scores
range from 0 to 100, where above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 denotes contraction, and 50
represents no change /// A higher previous month’s PMI compared to the current month suggests eco-
nomic contraction /// PMI, released monthly, serves as a indicator of economic activity /// IHS Markit
compiles PMI for over 40 economies worldwide.
Industrial Sector Updates – Industrial Policy, Ease of Doing Business, etc.

2. Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON): 30,000 km optical fibre cable net-
work in Kerala, with 375 Points-of-Presence /// Infrastructure shared to all service providers, includ-
ing cable operators, to ensure universal Internet access /// 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps along with improved
mobile phone call quality /// Bridges the digital divide and provide non-discriminatory access to all
service providers /// Stakeholders– Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), Kerala State IIT Infrastruc-
ture Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Price Waterhouse Coopers, and Kerala State Information
Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) /// Fully funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund
Board (KIIFB) /// BPL families are Beneficiaries /// Free connections provided to 20 lakh families
and initial connectivity to government offices and BPL families.
Digital India Initiatives

3. Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI): Digital payment methods stored value ///
PPIs can be issued by banks or authorized entities under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act
2007, in forms like cards, mobile wallets, or online accounts /// PPIs lack protection against fraud or
unauthorized transactions /// Committee has recommended extending DICGC (Deposit Insurance
and Credit Guarantee Corporation) cover to PPIs /// It would provide compensation to PPI holders
in case of loss due to fraud or issuer failure, offering them greater security /// Many banks and non-
bank entities have been permitted to issue and operate PPIs /// DICGC is a specialized division
of RBI that provides deposit insurance to bank customers in India /// Deposit insurance covers vari-
ous types of bank deposits up to a limit of Rs. 500,000 per depositor per bank, increased from Rs.
100,000 in 2020 /// Insured banks pay the premium for deposit insurance, ensuring depositors do not
bear the cost /// Failure to pay the premium can result in cancellation of a bank’s registration.
Banking Sector Reforms

4. Minimum Support Price (MSP): Market intervention scheme to protect agricul-

tural producers from sharp falls in farm prices /// Food Grain Price Committee was formed in 1964 to
advocate for MSP under PM Lal Bahadur Shastri , and first MSP announcement was made in 1967 ///
Agricultural Prices Commission (later renamed Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) was
established to fix MSP for crops /// Announced by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs based on
recommendations from CACP at beginning of sowing season for certain crops /// 22 mandated crops
under MSPs /// FRP for sugarcane (fair and remunerative price) /// Budget for 2018-19 introduced
principle of fixing MSPs at 1.5 times production costs for crops /// CACP estimates three types of
production costs for each crop: A2, A2+FL, and C2, /// A2: Represents paid-out costs incurred by farm-
er /// A2+FL: Adds unpaid family labor to A2 costs /// C2: Comprehensive cost calculation including
A2+FL and additional factors.
Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Produce

5. Global Slavery Index, 2023: A report by the Walk Free Foundation /// Reveals a
25% increase in modern slavery, reaching 50 million globally in the past five years /// Definition:
encompasses various forms of exploitation, violating human rights, eroding social cohesion, and hin-

Civilsdaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Road, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060 (INDIA)
Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 4

dering economic development /// Ranks countries based on prevalence, with North Korea, Eritrea,
and Mauritania having the highest prevalence /// Lowest was observed in Switzerland, Norway, and
Germany have /// Asia and the Pacific have the largest number of people in modern slavery, with
climate change, armed conflict, weak governance, and health emergencies as contributing factors ///
Global supply chains, especially in industries like textiles, are intertwined with forced labor /// India has
taken legislative measures to combat modern slavery, including the Bonded Labour Abolition Act and
for rehabilitation.
Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

6. Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP): Largest hydel proj-

ect (2000MW) undertaken in India /// Height of 116 meters a gravity dam from the river bed level ///
Located on the Subansiri River 2 /// 3 km upstream in Arunachal Pradesh /// Near North Lakhimpur
on the border of Arunachal and Assam /// Developed by: State-run National Hydro Power Corporation
(NHPC) /// Subansiri originates in Tibet Plateau and is the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra River
/// Strategic significance is heightened by its proximity to the India-China border.
Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

7. Finance Commission: A statutory, independent, non-political body /// Set up by Pres-

ident every 5 years (or earlier) under Article 280 of the Constitution /// Established in 1951 to define
the financial relations between the Centre and the states /// Recommendations to the President regard-
ing: Distribution of net tax proceeds between the Centre and the states, and allocation of the same
among states /// Grants-in-aid governing principles to states by the Centre /// Augment the resources
of panchayats and municipalities based on state Finance Commission recommendations /// Matters
in interest of sound finance referred by the President /// Civil Court like powers /// Terms of Refer-
ence (ToR) of the 15th FC: Reviewing the finance, deficit, debt levels, and fiscal discipline efforts of
the Union and states /// Recommending a fiscal consolidation roadmap for sound fiscal management
/// Considering general and consolidated government debt and deficit levels /// Examining revenue
deficit grants provision /// Reviewing financing of Disaster Management initiatives /// Considering
impact of enhanced tax devolution, GST implementation, population growth, revenue generation, dig-
ital economy, and sanitation efforts.
Finance Commission – Issues related to devolution of resources

8. Grain Storage Plan: World’s largest grain storage plan in the cooperative sector to be
established /// Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) constituted by the Centre /// Ministry of Cooper-
ation will set up integrated grain storage facilities through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
/// Over 100000 PACS identified spread across the country with more than 13 crore farmer members
/// IMC chaired by Minister of Cooperation and includes ministers of Agriculture and Farmers Wel-
fare, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Food Processing Industries /// Convergence
of 8 : (A) 2 of Ministry of Agriculture: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing
Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), and Sub Mission
on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) /// (B) 2 of Ministry of Food Processing Industries: PM Formal-
isation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME), and PM Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) ///
(C) 2 of Ministry of Consumer Affairs: Allocation of food grains under National Food Security Act, and
Procurement operations at Minimum Support Price /// About PACS: Lowest tier of the Short-Term Co-
operative Credit (STCC) structure in India directly dealing with Farmers /// 1904- First PACS was
established /// Headed by State Cooperative Banks (SCB) at the state level /// Credit from the SCBs
is transferred to the District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) which operate at the district level ///
PACS directly work with farmers and play a crucial role in providing short-term lending.
Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

9. Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS): Centre discontinued sale of rice and
wheat from the central pool under the OMSS /// FCI sells surplus stocks at pre-determined prices
through e-auction in the open market /// To enhance the supply of food grains, especially wheat,

Civilsdaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Road, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060 (INDIA)
Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 5

during the lean season and moderate open market prices /// Weekly auctions are conducted using the
platform of the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) /// States /UT can
participate in the e-auction if they require wheat and rice outside the Targeted Public Distribution
Scheme (TPDS) and Other Welfare (OWS) /// Reserve price is fixed by Centre and bidders cannot
quote less than the reserve price /// OMSS comprises 3 : (1) Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private trad-
ers through e-auction /// (2) Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction by dedicated
movement /// (3) Sale of Raw Rice Grade ‘A’ to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction /// ** About
Food Corporation of India (FCI): Statutory body set up in 1965 under the Food Corporation Act,
1964 /// Owned by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, GoI /// Headquarters
located in New Delhi.
Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

10. Transgenic Crops: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana deferred a proposal to test
a new Transgenic Cotton Seed with gene Cry2Ai /// Cry2Ai gene makes cotton resistant to pink boll-
worm, a major pest /// Approval from States is required for testing as Agriculture being State Subject ///
GMO and transgenic organism are used interchangeably /// Transgenic organism is a GMO with genes
from a different species /// All transgenic organisms are GMOs, but not all GMOs are transgenic ///
Cotton is the only commercially cultivated GM crop in India /// Trials underway for transgenic brin-
jal, tomato, maize, and chickpea /// Legal case in Supreme Court questions permission for transgenic
food crops /// Previous instances include approval of GM mustard and indefinite moratorium on GM
brinjal /// Regulation of all GMOs: MoEFCC under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 /// Genet-
ic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under MoEFCC is authorised to review, monitor and
approve all activities /// GM foods are subjected to regulations by FSSAI under the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006 /// All Acts and Rules: Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA), Biological Diversity
Act, 2002, Plant Quarantine Order, 2003, GM policy under Foreign Trade Policy, Food Safety and Standards
Act, 2006, Drugs and Cosmetics Rule (8th Amendment), 1988.
Genetically Modified (GM) crops – cotton, mustards, etc.

11. Kari Ishad Mango: GI tag granted to Kari Ishad mango, prominently grown in Ankola
taluk of Uttara Kannada /// Features: Unique aroma, luscious taste, high amount of pulp, and distinc-
tive shape and size /// Large and oblique oval shape /// Each panicle bears only one fruit, and a well-
grown tree can produce up to 2,000 fruits in a season /// 5 days short shelf life /// Another variants: Bili
Ishad, which has thick skin, less pulp, and sweetness /// GI Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion
of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry /// Defined under Arti-
cle 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
Agreement /// 10 years validity.
GI(Geographical Indicator) Tags

12. National Pension Scheme (NPS): Introduced in January 2004 (except for
armed forces) /// PFRDA implements and regulates /// National Pension System Trust (NPST) is
the registered owner of all assets under the NPS /// Two tiers structure: Tier-I account: Non-with-
drawable permanent retirement account where accumulations are deposited and invested based on
the subscriber’s choice /// Tier-II account: Voluntary withdrawable account that can only be opened
if there is an active Tier-I account in the subscriber’s name /// Available to all citizens (both resident
and non-resident) of India from May 2009 /// 18-65 years age group of can join /// Not eligible: OCI and
PIO card holders, as well as Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs).
Financial Inclusion in India and Its Challenges

13. Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR): Water-saving method of sowing paddy, also
known as the ‘broadcasting seed technique’ /// Seeds are directly drilled into fields, saving groundwa-
ter compared to the traditional transplanting method /// No nursery preparation or transplantation
is involved; farmers only need to level the land and provide one pre-sowing irrigation /// Mature 7-10
days earlier than puddle-transplanted crops, allowing for better management of paddy straw /// Yield

Civilsdaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Road, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060 (INDIA)
Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 6

increase of one to two quintals per acre compared to puddle-transplanted rice /// Recharges ground-
water by preventing the development of hard crust beneath the plough layer /// Major issues include
extreme climate conditions such as high temperatures and deficient rainfall /// Farmers hesitate to
choose due to the negative impact of heatwaves on their wheat crops.
Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

14. Submarine Cables in India: TRAI has issued recommendations on rules gov-
erning undersea cables connecting Indian telecom networks to the global internet /// A cable laid on
the seabed to transmit telecommunication signals between land-based stations /// Uses fiber-optic
technology for data transmission /// More reliable, cost-efficient, and have larger capacity compared
to satellites /// Examples: MIST Submarine Cable System (connecting India with Myanmar, Thailand,
Malaysia, and Singapore) /// India Asia Xpress (IAX) (India to the Maldives, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and
Thailand) /// India Europe Xpress (IEX) (India to Italy via Saudi Arabia and Greece) /// SeaMeWe-6
project (Singapore to France via India, Bangladesh, and Maldives) /// Africa2 Cable (India with the UK
via several African countries).
Telecom and Postal Sector – Spectrum Allocation, Call Drops, Predatory Pricing, etc

15. National Bank for Financing Infrastructure & Development

(NaBFID): NaBFID provides long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure projects and
develops the bond and derivatives markets /// Established in 2021 through The National Bank for Fi-
nancing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021, NaBFID is a specialized Development Finance In-
stitution (DFI) /// Capital of ₹1 lakh crore, with ₹20,000 crores invested by the central government as
equity and ₹5,000 crores as a grant /// RBI regulates and supervises NaBFID as an All-India Financial
Institution (AIFI) /// Can raise funds domestically and internationally through various instruments
/// Objectives- Addressing finance gaps, strengthening bond and derivatives markets, and promoting
sustainable economic growth /// DFIs are government-owned institutions that fund infrastructure
and large-scale projects, providing medium-term and large-scale funds.
Banking Sector Reforms

16. National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI): NIXI marked its 20th Foun-
dation Day /// Not-for-profit Organization under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 and was regis-
tered on 19th June 2003 /// MeitY: Nodal ministry under vision 1000 days /// For increasing Internet
penetration and adoption in India by facilitating infrastructure aspects /// NIXI provides four key
services: Internet Exchange Points, .IN Registry management, IPv4/IPv6 address adoption, and data
center services /// Key initiatives: IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru), NIXI Academy, NIXI-IP-INDEX.
Digital India Initiatives

17. Time-of-Day Tariff: Amendment to Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020,

introducing time-of-day (ToD) tariff provisions /// Unit prices will vary with day-time under ToD
tariff, electricity /// Tariffs will be static, predetermined for different time blocks of the day /// For
“solar hours” tariff will be at least 20% lower than normal tariffs, as specified by State Electricity Reg-
ulatory Commission (SERC) /// Peak hour tariffs will be 20% higher for commercial customer and at
least 10% higher for others /// Applicable from April 2024 for Commercial (max /// 10 KW and above),
and from April 2025 for others (accept agricultural) /// Require smart meters, already implemented for
large commercial and industrial consumers by most SERCs /// Benefits offered: Reduce electricity bills
for consumers, reduced peak hour load.
UDAY Scheme for Discoms

18. PM-PRANAM Scheme: Cabinet approved PM-PRANAM scheme (announced in bud-

get 2023-24) /// Abbreviation for: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourish-
ment and Amelioration of Mother Earth /// Aims to reduce use of chemical fertilisers by incentivising
the state /// States that adopt alternative fertilisers will be incentivised with the subsidy that is
saved by reducing the use of chemical fertilisers /// Funding mechanism: NO separate budget /// Fi-
nanced by fertiliser subsidies savings under existing /// Half savings will be passed to State that

Civilsdaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Road, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060 (INDIA)
Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 7

saves the money as a grant /// Out of this, 70% can be used to create assets related to the technological
adoption of alternate fertilisers at the village block, and district levels /// Remaining 30% to reward and
encourage farmers, panchayats, and other stakeholders involved in fertiliser reduction and awareness
generation /// Integrated Fertilisers Management System (iFMS) is the platform envisaged to track
the use of fertilisers.
Fertilizer Sector reforms – NBS, bio-fertilizers, Neem coating, etc.

19. Critical Minerals: Centre recognized 30 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt,
nickel, graphite, tin, and copper /// Has important uses, no viable substitutes, and potential supply
disruptions, crucial for economic and national security /// Essential for high-tech products in clean
energy, national defense, information technology, aviation, and space research /// Major uses include:
electric vehicles (cobalt, lanthanum and lithium), fuel cells (platinum, palladium, rhodium), wind
energy (neodymium, dysprosium, terbium), aviation (titanium), and photovoltaic solar technologies
(cadmium, indium, gallium) /// Categorized into three groups: 1.Traditional (titanium, vanadium), 2.
Sunrise (lithium), and 3. Mixed use (cobalt, nickel, graphite, light and heavy rare earth elements) /// 8
minerals of greatest interest: Lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, light rare earth elements, heavy rare
earth elements, titanium, and vanadium.

Governance
1. CIBIL Score: 3-digit summary of credit history /// Maintained and calculated by Credit
Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) /// Ranges between 300 to 900, with higher scores
indicating better chances of loan approval /// Derived from credit history over the last 36 months ///
Licensed by the Reserve Bank of India, and part of the Trans-Union group /// Report provides a com-
prehensive view of a person’s creditworthiness, including personal, contact, employment, and loan
account information, which lenders consider for loan eligibility assessment.
Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

2. Adverse Possession: Non-owner occupant gains ownership of land after a certain

period of a land The concept promotes the judicious use of land to avoid vacancy /// Requirements in-
clude continuous, uninterrupted, and peaceful possession /// Originating from the Hammurabi Code
in 2000 BC, it was later included in the Statute of Westminster in 1275 /// Brought to India through the
Act XIV of 1859 /// Limitation Act of 1963 brought significant changes to adverse possession /// Shift-
ed the burden of proof to the person claiming adverse possession /// Possession for 12 years (private
land) or 30 years (government land) can result in ownership /// Karnataka Board of Wakf v GOI
case, the Supreme Court outlined the factors to consider for adverse possession claims /// Reasons:
criticized adverse possession as irrational and harsh for true owners, benefiting dishonest possessors ///
22nd Law Commission concluded that no change in the law is justified.
Land Reforms

3. Pandemic Treaty: Also known as “Zero Draft” is currently being negotiated by Member
States at the World Health Assembly /// COVID-19 pandemic prompted its formation /// Antimicro-
bial resistance (AMR) may be removed from the final draft /// Treaty aims to prevent, prepare for,
and respond to pandemics and global health emergencies, strengthening global cooperation and sol-
idarity /// Coverage: surveillance, detection, notification, access to health technologies, collaboration,
and accountability /// Establishes Global Health Threats Council, a global health threats fund, and
an independent review and evaluation mechanism /// Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System
(PABS), and addressing gender disparities in healthcare.
Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

4. Commission of Railway Safety (CRS): Statutory Body headed by Chief Com-

missioner of Railway Safety /// Under Aviation Ministry and not Ministry of Railways or Railway Board
/// Rail travel and operational safety, as defined in Railways Act, 1989 /// Investigating serious train

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Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 8

accidents and making recommendations to government, are key responsibilities of CRS /// Headquar-
ters at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh /// Ensures independence from railway establishment and prevents
conflicts of interest a/c to Government of India Act, 1935 /// Outbreak of World War II, idea was
delayed, and Railway Inspectorate remained under control of Railway Board /// May 1941, Railway In-
spectorate was separated from Railway Board and placed under Department of Posts and Air /// Later
renamed CRS in 1961 and has been under control of ministry overseeing civil aviation in India since
then.
Railway Reforms

5. National Exit Test (NExT): Announced by Health Ministry for 2024 /// Replaces
final-year MBBS exams and NEET PG entrance exam /// Acts as a qualifying test for registration and
postgraduate seat allocation /// NExT 1 replaces university-level final exams and enables provisional
registration for internship /// NExT 2 is a practical paper assessing clinical skills after completing in-
ternship /// AIIMS, Delhi is expected to conduct exam, evaluating both clinical and practical learning.
Medical Education Governance in India

6. Jal Jeevan Mission: Government initiative launched in 2019 /// Goal: Provide access to
clean and piped drinking water to every rural household /// Focus: Water supply infrastructure devel-
opment, community participation, water quality monitoring /// Objective: Improve health, well-being,
and productivity of rural communities, Addressing challenges of water scarcity, contamination, and in-
adequate infrastructure /// Achieve 100% coverage by 2024 for reliable and sustainable water supply ///
A fully functional tap water connection means receiving at least 55 litres of potable water per capita
per day throughout the year
Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

7. Sedition Law (Section 124A of IPC): Introduced in 1870 during the British Raj
/// Amendment to IPC in 1870 by James Stephen /// Aimed to suppress dissent and protest against
the colonial government /// Introduced in response to Wahabi/Waliullah Movement /// Gandhiji termed
it ‘Prince’ among sections of IPC designed to suppress the liberty of the citizen /// Kedar Nath Singh
v. State of Bihar (1962)– SC upheld its validity /// Definition of Sedition: Bringing hatred, contempt, or
disaffection towards the government by words, signs, visible representation, or other means /// Punishment:
Non-bailable offense /// Punishment ranges from imprisonment up to 3 years to a life term /// Fine may be
added /// Barred from a government job /// Restrictions on travel and court appearances may apply.
Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

8. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Centrally sponsored

scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development /// Launched in 1975 as an
umbrella program /// under ICDS: (A) Anganwadi Scheme is a part of ICDS and focuses on early
childhood care and development /// Children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
/// Six services provided: supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and
health education, immunization, health check-up, and referral services /// Supplementary nutrition-
Take Home Ration (THR), hot cooked meals, and morning snacks /// (B) PM Matru Vandana Yojana
provides cash incentives to pregnant women and lactating mothers in 3 instalments /// (C) National
Creche Scheme provides day care facilities to children of working women aged 6 months to 6 years ///
(D) Scheme for Adolescent Girls targets out-of-school girls aged 11-14 for empowerment and skill
development /// (E) POSHAN Abhiyaan targets the reduction of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia,
and low birth weight babies.
Mother and Child Health – Immunization Program, BPBB, PMJSY, PMMSY, etc.

9. National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): Established by

the Ministry of Education in 2016 to assess the performance of institutions in India /// Releases rank-
ings in categories like ‘Overall’, ‘Research Institutions’, ‘Universities’, ‘Colleges’, and specific disciplines
/// Indicators used: Teaching, Learning & Resources (30%), Research and Professional Practice (30%),

Civilsdaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Road, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060 (INDIA)
Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 9

Graduation Outcomes (20%), Outreach and Inclusivity (10%), Perception (10%) /// Three Additions
in 2023 Edition: (1) Agriculture & Allied Sectors as a new subject /// (2) Expansion of “Architecture” to
“Architecture and Planning” to include Urban and Town Planning institutions /// (3) Integration of the “Inno-
vation” ranking previously executed by ARIIA /// Rankings Highlights: IIT-Madras tops engineering insti-
tution rankings for 8 consecutive year /// IIT-Delhi and IIT-Bombay secure second and third positions
/// IIM-Ahmedabad claims top position in management institute rankings, followed by IIM Bangalore
and IIM Kozhikode /// Delhi University (DU) colleges secure positions in the top 10 colleges in India.
Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

10. VAIBHAV Fellowship Program: Launched by the Ministry of Science & Tech-
nology to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine)
diaspora with Indian academic and R&D institutions /// Aims to promote collaborative research,
knowledge sharing, and exchange of best practices in science and technology /// Indian origin (NRI/
OCI/PIO) scientists: Engaged in research activities in their respective countries /// Grant of INR
4,00,000 per month, international and domestic travel expenses, accommodation, and contingencies
/// 75 fellows will be selected to work in 18 verticals including quantum technology, health, pharma,
electronics, agriculture, energy, computer sciences, and material sciences /// Collaborate with Indian
Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), universities, and/or public-funded scientific institutions ///
Fellow can spend up to 2 months per year, for a maximum of 3 years, in an Indian institution.
Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

11. Anna Bhagya Scheme: Implemented from July 1, 2023, onwards /// Provides free
food grains to eligible beneficiaries in Karnataka /// Also known as Free Rice Distribution Scheme ///
Each person will receive 10 kg of rice per month /// Only BPL individuals are eligible for the free rice ///
BPL card is mandatory to avail the scheme’s benefits /// No limit on the number of family members;
each member is entitled to receive 10 kg of rice per month.
Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

12. Medicines Patent Pool (MPP): Unitaid-backed international organisation ///

Founded in July 2010, based in Geneva, Switzerland /// Aims to lower prices medicines for HIV, tu-
berculosis, and hepatitis C through licensing and patent pooling /// Focuses on improving access to
affordable medicines in low- and middle-income countries /// Increases generic diffusion and encour-
ages innovation in LMICs /// Partner of WHO’s Covid-19 C-TAP (Technology Access Pool) in May
2020 /// C-TAP is supported by 30 countries and multiple international partners.
Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

13. World Drug Report 2023: UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime) recently re-
leased the report /// Focus: on trafficking, abuse of illicit drugs, crime prevention, and criminal justice ///
Drug consumption has increased by 18% globally, with over 296 million people using drugs in 2021
/// Cheap and Easy synthetics is changing drug markets /// India had the fourth largest quantity of
seized opium (5.2 tons) and the third highest amount of seized morphine (0.7 tons) in 2020, as per
2022 report.
Internal Security Trends and Incidents

14. National Research Foundation (NRF): Union Cabinet approved NRF Bill
2023 to establish NRF as apex body for strategic direction in scientific research /// Allows private
research organizations to contribute to NRF /// NRF will seed, grow, and promote R&D, fostering
research and innovation in universities, colleges, research institutions, and labs /// Repeals SERB (Sci-
ence and Engineering Research Board (SERB)) and integrates it into NRF, streamlining funding and
project support /// Estimated to cost ₹50,000 crore from 2023-28, with government and private sector
contributions /// DST becomes administrative department of NRF, led by Governing Board with
Prime Minister as ex-officio President /// Executive Council to be chaired by Principal Scientific
Adviser, prioritizes research funding and promotes industry-academia collaborations.
Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

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Tel: +917303316700 Mail: [email protected]
Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily - June 2023 Page No. 10

Polity
1. Mekedatu Project: Karnataka Assembly has unanimously gave clearance for Mekedatu
drinking water project /// Mekedatu is a multipurpose project involving construction of a balancing
reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka /// At confluence of Rivers Cauvery
and Arkavathi /// Objectives are to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas,
generate 400 MW of power, regulate water flow, and benefit farmers and communities /// Karnataka has
not obtained necessary consent from Tamil Nadu /// Project still in its preliminary stage, await-
ing clearances from authorities /// TN believes dam would reduce water flow downstream, affecting
agricultural activities and water supply /// Dispute dates back 150 years, with agreements in 1892 and
1924 highlighting need for consent for construction activities on river /// In 1974, Karnataka began
diverting water without TN’s consent /// Establishment of tribunal in 1990 Cauvery Water Disputes
Tribunal /// Tribunal’s final order in 2007 outlined water-sharing arrangements among states.
Interstate River Water Dispute

2. Nyaya Vikas Scheme: Department of Justice has been implementing the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme /// For developing Infrastructure for Districts and Subordinate Judiciary since
1993-94 /// Provides central assistance to for constructing court halls and residential units for Judicial
Officers/Judges /// Funding pattern is 60:40 between the Centre and States (excluding North Eastern
and Himalayan States) /// For North Eastern and Himalayan States, the funding pattern is 90:10, and
for Union Territories, it is 100% /// A portal has been created to monitor the implementation of this
Scheme.
Judicial Reforms

3. Uniform Civil Code (UCC): 22nd Law Commission of India sought suggestions
from various stakeholders, including public on UCC /// One law applicable to all religious commu-
nities in personal matters /// Law Ministry requested Law Commission to examine UCC issues and
make recommendations /// Previous consultation paper on Family Law in August 2018 /// Article 44
of DPSP advocates for a UCC throughout India /// To strengthens the idea of a “Secular Democratic
Republic” /// British recommended uniformity in codifying Indian laws during colonial India /// B
N Rau Committee was formed in 1941 to codify Hindu law /// Separate personal laws for Muslims,
Christians, and Parsis /// Need for UCC in judgments: Shah Bano case (1985) and Sarla Mudgal Case
(1995) /// Contradictions to UCC– (1) Article 25: Guarantees an individual’s fundamental right to
religion (2) Article 26(b): Upholds the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs (3)
Article 29: Protects the right to conserve distinctive culture /// UCC exist in civil matters but diversity
remains due to state amendments /// Goa is the only state with a UCC.
Uniform Civil Code: Triple Talaq debate, Polygamy issue, etc.

4. Central List of OBCs: Addition of around 80 castes from six states to the Central List
of OBCs /// NCBC processing (National Commission for Backward Classes) the approval /// States:
Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana /// 2,650 total com-
munities listed in the Central OBC list for all States and Union Territories /// Each state has two
OBC lists: State and Centre- Reservation benefits vary based on state or central government jobs and
educational institutions /// NCBC Act, 1993 mandates NCBC to examine proposals and forward de-
cisions to Union government /// Cabinet approval and legislation required for additions /// President
empowered to notify the change /// Articles 15(4) and 16(4) provide special provisions for OBCs,
SCs, and STs /// Constitution (102nd Amendment) Act, 2018 granted constitutional status to NCBC
/// Article 342A empowers President and Parliament to change the list /// Maratha Reservation case
2022: SC ruled that Centre has the power to draw up the OBC list /// 127th CAB, 2021 to restore state
governments’ powers to maintain state list of OBCs /// Amendment in Articles 366(26C) and 338B
(9) allows states to directly notify OBC and SEBCs without referring to NCBC.
Minority Issues – SC, ST, Dalits, OBC, Reservations, etc.

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5. Sixth Schedule: Ladakh demands protection of land, employment, and cultural identity
under the Sixth Schedule /// Amending the LAHDC Act (Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Council) ///
No MLAs in the region, administration controlled by bureaucrats since A370 abrogation /// Concerns
over changed domicile policy in Jammu and Kashmir: Raises fears about land, employment, demogra-
phy, and cultural identity /// Limited finances for UT- Leh and Kargil Hill councils have limited powers
/// Sixth Schedule provides for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) administrative divisions /// Ap-
plicable to ATM2 states: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura /// ADCs have up to 30 members
with a 5-year term /// Autonomy in areas like land, forest, water, agriculture, village councils, health,
policing, inheritance, marriage, and mining /// Exception: Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam
with more members and broader legislative powers.
J&K – The issues around the state

6. Right to Change Name: Allahabad and Delhi HC recently declared that the right to
change one’s name is a fundamental right /// Recognized under Articles 19(1)(a), 21, and 14 of the
Constitution /// Article 19(1)(a) guarantees the freedom of speech and expression to all citizens ///
Article 21 ensures that no person can be deprived of their life or personal liberty except according to
established legal procedures /// Article 14 prohibits the state from denying any person equality before
the law or equal protection of the laws within India /// Under right to identity, an essential part of the
right to life under Article 21 /// Denying a name change based on religious disclosure in educational
records infringes the fundamental right to practice a religion of one’s choice under Article 25 of the
constitution /// ‘Sadanand & Anr vs CBSE & Ors’ case, the CBSE argued that changing the surname
would also change the caste, which could be misused /// Reasonable restrictions imposed by law must
be fair, just, and reasonable.
Right To Privacy

7. Habeas Corpus: Article 32 allows HC and SC to address fundamental rights violations

using five types of writs /// Habeas corpus focuses on personal liberty, especially in cases of illegal de-
tentions and wrongful arrests /// Serves as an inquiry writ, used by courts to determine the grounds for
an individual’s detention /// Safeguard against law enforcement authorities’ power to take someone
into custody /// During insufficient legal grounds for arrest, the court can order immediate release
/// Allows judicial scrutiny of executive, judicial, or governmental restraints on personal liberty
/// Cannot be used to challenge past illegal detentions but can now award compensation for such
detentions /// Other writs available: Mandamus — directing public officials, governments, courts to
perform a statutory duty; Quo warranto — to show by what warrant is a person holding public office;
Prohibition — directing judicial or quasi-judicial authorities to stop proceedings which it has no juris-
diction for; and Certiorari — re-examination of an order given by judicial, quasi-judicial or administra-
tive authorities.
Judicial Reforms

8. President’s Rule: MHA has stated that President’s Rule will not be imposed in Manipur
/// Governed by Article 356, allows the President to impose central rule in a state when the constitu-
tional machinery breaks down /// Enables President to withdraw executive and legislative powers
of a state government that cannot function according to the Constitution /// Triggering factors: based
on a report from the Governor or suo motu when the constitutional machinery breaks down /// Can
be imposed for up to 6 months, with a maximum duration of 3 years, and requires parliamentary
approval every six months /// Origins traced back to GOI Act, 1935, which allowed the Governor of a
province to assume government powers in specific circumstances /// S R Bommai case in 1994 provid-
ed detailed guidelines on the use of Article 356, curbing its arbitrary use.
President’s Rule

9. Constitution Bench of SC: A new Constitution Bench, led by CJI DY Chandrachud,

is scheduled to start hearing a list of cases /// Special benches of the Supreme Court of India /// Con-
stituted by CJI and consist of at least 5 judges /// Formed in 3 situations: (1)Cases involving a sub-

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stantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution (as per Article 145(3)) /// (2)When
President seeks SCs opinion on a question of fact or law under Article 143 of the Constitution /// (3)
When conflicting judgments by three-judge benches exist on the same point of law /// Set up on an ad
hoc basis as and when the above-mentioned conditions arise /// Major verdicts delivered: K Gopalan
v. State of Madras (1950) on preventive detention /// Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) on
the basic structure doctrine /// Ashoka Kumar Thakur v Union of India (2008) on OBC reservations, etc.
Judicial Pendency

10. Delimitation Commission: Delimitation exercise in Assam by EC sparks con-

troversy /// Means fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies to represent population
changes /// DC is appointed by President and works in collaboration with the Election Commission
of India /// Composition includes: a retired Supreme Court judge, Chief Election Commissioner, and
respective State Election Commissioners /// Parliament enacts Delimitation Act after every Census
to divide national constituencies, while States follow the process under Article 170 /// First exercise
conducted in 1950-51 by the President (with Election Commission’s help); Delimitation Commission
Act enacted in 1952 /// DC established in: 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002; no delimitation after the 1981
and 1991 Censuses /// Commission’s orders are final and not subject to court challenges to avoid in-
definite election delays.
Electoral Reforms In India

International Relations
1. BRICS: EAM S Jaishankar participated in foreign ministers meet from the BRICS countries
at Cape Town, South Africa /// BRICS is a grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies: Bra-
zil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa /// Coined in 2001 by British Economist Jim O’Neill to
describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China /// Formalized in 2006, and
South Africa joined in 2010 /// BRICS represents 41% of the global population, 24% of global GDP,
and 16% of global trade /// BRICS chairmanship rotates annually among the members, with India
held the chair in 2021 /// BRICS has initiated several collaborative efforts including the New Develop-
ment Bank (NDB) that funds infrastructure and sustainable development projects /// Contingent Re-
serve Arrangement (CRA) provides mutual support and strengthens financial stability among BRICS
nations /// BRICS Payment System aims to create an alternative payment system to SWIFT /// Cus-
toms agreements have been signed by BRICS to coordinate and ease trade transport /// Constellation
of remote sensing satellites has been launched in collaboration with BRICS nations.
BRICS Summits

2. OPEC Plus: OPEC established in 1960, has 13 member states including Algeria, Angola,
Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emir-
ates, and Venezuela /// Produces about 40% of world’s crude oil and its members’ exports make up
around 60% of global petroleum trade /// 2016: expanded to OPEC+, including 13 OPEC member
countries + 10 allied major oil-producing countries: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malay-
sia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan /// To coordinate and unify petroleum policies,
stabilize oil markets, and ensure an efficient, economic, and regular supply of petroleum to consumers
while providing a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry /// Headquartered
at Vienna, Austria.
Oil and Gas Sector – HELP, Open Acreage Policy, etc.

3. Duty-Free Quota-Free (DFQF) Scheme: Established at WTO Hong Kong

Ministerial Meeting in 2005 /// Providing duty-free quota-free access for Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) /// India extended this facility in 2008, granting market access to 85% of its tariff lines /// Ex-
panded in 2014, offering preferential market access on about 98.2% of India’s tariff lines to LDCs. WTO
Key Facts: Established on January 1, 1995, as a result of the Uruguay Round of Negotiations (1986-
94) /// Only global organization for trade rules between nations /// Successor to GATT (General

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Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) /// Objectives: Aims to ensure smooth, predictable, and free trade ///
Principles: include Most-favored Nation (MFN) and National treatment /// Decisions made through
consensus among member governments /// Provides special and differential treatment to LDCs and
developing countries.
WTO and India

4. Kakhovka Dam: Built in 1956 in Soviet Union /// Dnipro River project for irrigation, power
generation, and navigation /// Supplied water to Crimea and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant ///
Dam is located on front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces, where ongoing fighting has taken
place since 2014 /// Ongoing Issue: An explosion at Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station caused a
breach in dam /// Water level rise in Dniprovska Gulf poses a threat to coastal areas with erosion and
salinization.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Global Implications

5. Atlantic Declaration: US and UK announced it for 21st-century economic partnership

/// Aim to strengthen alliance, address current challenges /// Focus on – defense, security, science,
technology, and economy /// Build resilient, secure supply chain, reduce dependencies /// Leverage
energy transition, drive shared growth /// ADAPT Strategy- Atlantic Declaration Action Plan for eco-
nomic growth, competitiveness, resilience /// Five pillars: critical tech leadership, economic security
cooperation, inclusive digital transformation, clean energy future, strengthened alliance /// Historical
significance: Leading on global issues, Atlantic Charter 1941, New Atlantic Charter 2021.
US policy wise : Visa, Free Trade and WTO

6. C+C5 Summit: China hosted the inaugural C+C5 summit in Xi’an /// China + Central Asia,
including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan /// Aims to enhance rela-
tions and cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries /// Resulted in signing of the
‘Xi’an Declaration’ outlining shared vision and goals for cooperation.
Foreign Policy Watch- India-Central Asia

7. UNESCO: US plans to rejoin and pay more than $600 million dues /// Established in 1945,
promotes international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication /// 195 mem-
bers and 10 associate members /// Notable programs: World Heritage Program, Education for All
Program, International Hydrological Program, Man and Biosphere Program, and Intangible Cultural
Heritage Program /// Palestine was inducted in 2011 as a non-member observer state /// Supporting
Israel: UNESCO has declared certain sites in East Jerusalem as Palestinian heritage sites.
Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

8. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): Canada quits AIIB over

allegations of interference from China /// Multilateral development bank (in Beijing) focused on
improving social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond /// Proposed by Xi Jinping in 2013 at an
APEC summit in Bali /// Operational since 2016 with 57 members /// India is a founding member ///
China is the largest shareholder with 26 /// 06% voting rights, followed by India, Russia, and Germany
/// Governed by a Board of Governors, with decision-making powers vested in them /// Led by elected
President, for a 5-year term, supported by Vice Presidents and Senior Management.
AIIB & The Changing World Order

9. iCET Initiative: By India and US for collaboration in critical and emerging technologies
/// Launched in May 2022 during the Quad summit /// Goal: Enhance strategic technology partnership
and defense industrial cooperation /// Led by the National Security Council Secretariat in India
and the US National Security Council /// Aims to connect: Government, academia, and industry in AI,
quantum computing, 5G/6G, biotech, space, and semiconductors /// Six focus areas under iCET: in-
novation ecosystems, defense innovation, semiconductor supply chains, space, STEM talent, next-gen
telecom.
Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States

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10. Bangkok Vision 2030: BIMSTEC countries to adopt Bangkok Vision 2030 /// Thai-
land presents “BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030” for a Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC by
2030 /// Goals for collaboration, peace, stability, and economic sustainability /// Aligned with Thai-
land’s bio-circular-green economic model and UN’s SDG /// BIMSTEC a regional organization
established on June 6, 1997, with the Bangkok Declaration /// Member countries: Bangladesh, India,
Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal /// BIMSTEC Chairmanship rotates based on al-
phabetical order of member states’ English names /// Secretariat established in Dhaka, Bangladesh,
during the Third BIMSTEC Summit.
Foreign Policy Watch: The BCIM Corridor

11. PRET Initiative: WHO has launched the PRET Initiative /// PRET stands for ‘Prepared-
ness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET)’ /// Operates under International Health Regula-
tions (IHR), 2005, which is an important international legal instrument for managing public health
emergencies /// To provide guidance on integrated planning for responding to any respiratory patho-
gen such as influenza or coronaviruses.
Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

12. Laundromat Countries: Countries whitewash Russian oil in third countries, by

the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), India leads five countries named as the
Laundromat countries /// Countries who buy Russian oil and sell processed products to European
countries, thus side-stepping European sanctions against Russia /// Report accused Indian sellers
and European buyers of possibly circumventing sanctions by selling crude /// Refinery in Gujarat that
is co-owned by Russian oil company Rosneft /// Price cap coalition countries have increased imports
of refined oil products from countries that have become the largest importers of Russian crude /// Eu-
ropean countries are simply substituting oil products they previously bought directly from Russia,
with the same products now “whitewashed” in third countries and bought from them at a premium.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Global Implications

13. Kaladan Project: Inaugural run of vessels from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port to Sitt-
we Port Myanmar developed under Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project /// Jointly developed
by India and Myanmar /// Multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern
ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar /// Sittwe Port
in Myanmar is connected to India-Myanmar border /// Expected to contribute to economic devel-
opment of North-Eastern States of India, by opening up the sea route for the products /// Provides a
strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor.
Indian Ocean Power Competition

14. North Sea Summit: Nine European countries have signed a declaration aimed at
transforming the North Sea into a green power plant /// Declaration at second North Sea Summit
in Ostend, Belgium /// Second summit which was held in the city of Ostend /// First summit in 2022
had the Esbjerg Declaration which was held in Denmark /// Participant countries: Belgium, Denmark,
France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands Norway, and the United Kingdom /// To make
North Sea largest green energy centre in Europe by accelerating the deployment of offshore wind
turbines /// Production of at least 120 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy in the North Sea by
2030 /// North Sea is north-eastern arm of the Atlantic Ocean located between the British Isles and
the mainland of north-western Europe.
Foreign Policy Watch: India – EU

15. Quad’s Open RAN Security: Quad leaders announced their commitment to
strengthen the security architecture for Open Radio Access Network (RAN) /// Begins with Palau in
the Pacific Region /// To modernize its national mobile network and establish an Open RAN deploy-
ment in partnership with local stakeholders /// Highlights cybersecurity considerations associated
with adopting Open RAN as a network architecture approach /// RAN technology connects users to

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mobile networks through radio waves and provides access to key applications /// Open RAN enables
operators to mix and match components from different vendors /// Promotes a multi-supplier RAN
solution with open interfaces, allowing for the separation of hardware and software.
Indian Ocean Power Competition

16. Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS): UK has introduced

DCTS /// Offers duty-free, quota-free trade to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on all goods
except arms /// Aims to enhance the integration of developing countries into the global economy
and strengthen trade and investment partnerships /// Allows for the use of components from other
countries without losing duty-free status /// Indian goods might lose their concessional duty access
worth $960 million to the UK market.
Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

17. UNSC 1267 List: Known as the Da’esh and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, was estab-
lished in 1999 and focuses on combating terrorism /// Consists of all members of the United Nations
Security Council /// Committee maintains a global list of terrorists, known as the 1267 list, with a
UNSC stamp, which includes Pakistani nationals and residents /// Listing procedure involves mem-
ber states submitting proposals and decisions made by consensus /// If no member objects within 5
working days, the proposal is adopted /// Members can also place a “technical hold” on the proposal,
seeking additional information /// Remains pending until resolved within a specific timeframe.
Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

18. NATO+5: US wants India to join NATO +, a group allied with Western military powers ///
NATO+5 includes the US, NATO+ Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Israel /// US House
of Representatives committee on China recommended to include India /// NATO- 31 North Ameri-
can and European countries with shared values and interests /// North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 estab-
lished it /// Article 5 states that an attack on one member is an attack on all, and the alliance will provide
assistance, including the use of armed forces if necessary /// Brussels, Belgium is the headquarters.
Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States

19. Samosa Caucus: Group of Indian-origin elected officials in the United States Congress
who have South Asian ancestry /// The term “Samosa Caucus” has been used since 2018 /// Used by
Raja Krishnamoorthy, a member of the US House of Representatives from Illinois’s 8th District ///
Symbolizes the increasing representation and influence of individuals of South Asian descent in the
US political landscape.
Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States

20. Exercise Air Defender: NATO concluded its largest air defense exercise, Air Defend-
er 2023, in Germany /// Largest air defense exercise in NATO’s history, involving multiple member
nations /// Aimed to enhance air defense strategies, coordination, and interoperability among NATO
forces /// Planned prior to the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine /// NATO’s deter-
rence posture send a clear signal to Moscow.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Global Implications

Security Issues
1. Agni Prime Missile: Successful flight test from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha ///
First pre-induction launch by Tri-services strategic forces command /// Validates accuracy and reli-
ability of the system /// Agni Prime to replace Agni-I(700) ballistic missile /// Nuclear capable with a
strike range of 1000-2000 Kms /// Incorporates advanced features and canister launch capability ///
Allows for longer storage and flexible deployment. Agni Series: Agni I: Medium Range Ballistic Mis-
sile with a range of 700-800 km /// Agni II: Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a range of over 2000 km
/// Agni III: Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a range of over 2500 km /// Agni IV: Inter-Medi-

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um Range Ballistic Missile with a range of over 3500 km and road mobile launcher capability /// Agni V:
Longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5000
km /// Agni VI: Longest of the Agni series, an ICBM with a range of 11,000-12,000 km .
Indian Missile Program Updates

2. Project Akashteer: Ministry of Defence signed contracts with Bharat Electronics Limit-
ed (BEL) for Project Akashteer /// It is an Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System /// To
empower Indian Army’s Air Defence units with indigenous, state-of-the-art capability for integrated
operations /// Enables monitoring of low-level airspace and control of Ground Based Air Defence
Weapon Systems /// To be completed by March 2024 for radar, control centre, and weapon integration.
Indian Air Force Updates

3. MQ-9 Predator Drones: India to procure armed Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehi-
cles (UAVs) at the cost of over $3 billion /// Remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations ///
High-altitude long-endurance drones armed with strike missiles which can take out enemy targets
with high accuracy /// Developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems(GA-ASI), primarily for
the United States Air Force (USAF) /// Two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian ///
Features: 5,670 kg payload and has a fuel capacity of 2,721 kg /// 40,000 feet operational range /// En-
durance of 40 hours, making it useful for long-hour surveillance.
Indian Air Force Updates

4. National Investigating Agency (NIA): NIA takes control of the investigation

of attacks on Indian Missions by Khalistanis /// A central agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs
/// Deals with terror-related crimes across India without state permission /// Formed after Mumbai
terror attack on December 26, 2008 /// NIA Act, 2008 came into existence on December 31, 2008 ///
Radha Vinod Raju was the first director-general, serving until 2010 /// Dinkar Gupta is the current di-
rector-general since June 2022 /// Extraterritorial rights after 2019 amendment /// 12 regional offices
in major cities across India /// Most wanted list is maintained.
Police Reforms – SC directives, NPC, other committees reports

5. Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW): Ravi Sinha new chief R&AW for a
2-year term /// R&AW established in 1968 following the China-India War in 1962 /// Operates under
PMO and handles India’s international intelligence affairs /// Responsible for monitoring terrorist
elements and smuggling rings involved in the transportation of weapons and ammunition into India ///
Intelligence Bureau (IB) handled both internal and external intelligence prior to R&AW /// After 1962
China-India war and the Indo-Pakistani war in 1965, R&AW was created as a separate external intelli-
gence organization /// RN Kao was appointed first director of RAW by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
in 1968 /// Major Operations: (1) Operation Smiling Buddha: assisted India’s first nuclear test in 1974
/// (2) Operation Topaz: supported the merger of Sikkim with India in 1975 /// (3) Operation Kahuta:
gathered intelligence on Pakistan’s nuclear program /// (4) Operation Chanakya: provided support to
the Tamil militant group LTTE /// (5) Operation Leech: targeted Burmese rebel groups, particularly the
Kachin Independence Army.
Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

6. Ex Khaan Quest 2023: Co-sponsored by Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) and the
United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) /// Participation from over 20 countries /// Garhwal
Regiment from Indian Army participated /// 14-day exercise aimed at enhancing the interoperability
of the participating nations /// Prepares participants for future UN Peacekeeping missions, develop
peace operations capabilities and enhance military readiness.
Indian Army Updates

7. GE-414 Engines: India and US signed ToT and manufacturing of GE’s F414 engine for
India’s LCA Tejas Mk2 /// GE’s F414 is a turbofan engine used by the US Navy for over 30 years ///
Equipped with FADEC a dual-channel (full authority digital engine control) /// 6-stage high-pressure
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compressor, an advanced high-pressure turbine, and a “fueldraulic” system for nozzle area control ///
Offers exceptional throttle response, excellent afterburner light and stability, and unrestricted engine
performance when required /// F414 engine powers aircraft in 8 nations, making it a trusted choice
for modern fighter jets /// INS6 is India-specific version of the engine, known as, for the LCA Tejas
Mk2 /// Utilizing for 5th gen indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft).
Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, , Security Forces, etc.

8. Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement: Signed in 2008 as a ceasefire

agreement /// Kuki militant groups and Indian government in Manipur and Nagaland /// Required
militants to cease violent activities and move to designated camps monitored by security forces /// In
return, the Centre agreed to suspend its operations against the Kuki groups /// Security forces are
prohibited from launching operations /// Signatories: United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National
Organization (KNO), must abide by the Constitution of India, laws of the land, and the territorial in-
tegrity of Manipur /// Militant cadres are confined to designated camps and their arms are stored in
a safe room under a double-locking system /// Groups can guard their camps and protect their leaders
using arms.
North-East India – Security and Developmental Issues

Enviro & Biodiversity

1. Evapotranspiration: Combined process of water loss from crops through transpi-
ration + surface evaporation /// Transpiration involves the vaporization of fluid water from plant
tissues /// Part of the global water cycle and was first defined by Thornthwaite in 1944 /// Two
types of evapotranspiration: (1)Actual evapotranspiration refers to the water loss that occurs through
evapotranspiration and is used by plants for metabolic activities /// (2) Potential evapotranspiration
represents the water loss from a uniformly covered area with a green crop /// Plays a significant role in
the water balance of agricultural areas and helps determine potential crop yields /// It is also used by ir-
rigators to develop efficient irrigation schedules and improve water productivity /// Various factors
influence: Solar radiation, temperature, soil conditions, wind, atmospheric pressure, soil moisture,
vegetation etc /// Component of water cycle, which is also known as the hydrological cycle /// Con-
sists of several stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, and transpiration.
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

2. World Environment Day: Established by the UN Assembly on June 5, 1972, during

the Stockholm Conference on the human environment /// Functions under: United Nations Environ-
ment Programme (UNEP) /// Hosted by a different country each year, with India hosting in 2018
under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution /// 50th anniversary celebration in 2023, Cote d’ Ivoire, in
partnership with the Netherlands /// Theme for 2023: #BeatPlasticPollution, focusing on solutions to
plastic pollution /// Objective: Raise awareness, mobilize communities, and promote a healthier and
sustainable environment.
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

3. Cyclone Biparjoy: Extremely severe cyclonic storm expected to make landfall on Guja-
rat’s Kutch coast on June 15 /// Formation conditions: Warm, moist air rises, creating low pressure ///
Draws in air from higher pressure areas, causing it to rise and form clouds /// Name “Biparjoy” was
suggested by Bangladesh /// Cyclones are named by countries on a rotational basis /// There are
six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers (RSMCs) and five Regional Tropical Cyclone Warning
Centers (TCWCs) /// RSMCs and TCWCs are responsible for issuing advisories and naming cy-
clones /// Arabian Sea has fewer cyclones than the Bay of Bengal /// Most Arabian Sea cyclones move
northwards, dissipating energy over the sea /// A small number move northeast towards the Gujarat
coast.
Global Geological And Climatic Events

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4. El Nino and La Nina: El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle: Two are opposite
phases /// Involves ocean and atmosphere interaction in the equatorial Pacific /// [1] EL-NINO: Every
2 to 7 years frequency of occurrences /// Lasts several months to a year or more /// Warmer-than-nor-
mal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific /// Weakens trade winds, leading to changes in
atmospheric patterns /// Reduces rainfall, leading to droughts in certain regions /// Warmer-than-av-
erage temperatures globally /// Droughts in Asia and Africa, Floods in Americas /// [2] LA-NINA: Asso-
ciated with stronger monsoons and flood-like conditions /// Cooler-than-normal SST in the equatorial
Pacific /// Strengthens trade winds, leading to changes in atmospheric patterns /// Increases rainfall,
leading to flooding in certain regions /// Floods in Asia and Africa, droughts in South America /// Mea-
surement: (1) Oceanic Nino Index (ONI): Tracks sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical
Pacific to measure the intensity and duration of El Nino or La Nina events /// (2) Southern Oscillation
Index (SOI): Measures the difference in air pressure between Tahiti and Darwin to assess atmospheric
circulation patterns associated with ENSO.
Monsoon Updates

5. Brahmani Natural Arch: Declared Geoheritage Site by Geological Survey of India

(GSI) /// Located at Chhengapahar reserve forest near Brahmani village in Kanika range of Sundar-
garh, Odisha /// Dates back to Jurassic Period (184 to 160 million years) in the lower to middle Juras-
sic age /// Caused by fault activities and nature of lithotype enhanced sub-aerial weathering /// Other
Arches in India: Tirumala hills in Tirupati and Andaman and Nicobar.
Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

6. Miyawaki Technique: PM discussed Miyawaki plantation in a ‘Mann ki Baat’ episode

/// Raafi Ramnath, a teacher from Kerala, utilized the Miyawaki method to convert barren land into
Vidyavanam forest /// Named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this method involves planting
two to four different types of indigenous trees within every square metre /// Involves planting 2 to 4
different types of indigenous trees within every square meter /// Developed in the 1970s to density
green cover in small parcels of land /// Trees become self-sustaining and reach their full growth within
three years /// Helps regulate surface temperature by absorbing dust particles /// Common indige-
nous plants- Anjan, Amala, Bel, Arjun, and Gunj /// Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
has planted 64 Miyawaki forests in various vacant land areas of Mumbai.
Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

7. Napier Grass: Use of lignocellulosic materials like forest leftovers, agricultural waste and
energy grasses such as Napier grass has potential to generate bioenergy /// Native to Africa & South-
east Asia also known as elephant grass /// Used as a feed for livestock and in bioenergy applications ///
Can be harvested 5-6 times annually and can withstand drought conditions /// It is dormant during
the winter months /// Can be cultivated on degraded lands, thus mitigating the encroachment of
arable land traditionally dedicated to food production /// Nutrition: 35-39% cellulose, 19-23% xylan and
15-19% lignin on a dry mass basis /// High energy density: It has energy output-to-input ratio of approx-
imately 25:1 /// Undergoes hydrolysis, it breaks down into monomeric sugars that can be utilised as
substrates for microbial activity.
New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

8. India Heating up Slower: IPCC report shows a 1.1⁰C increase in global mean tem-
perature since 1850-1900 /// Land temperatures rose by 1.59⁰C since preindustrial times, with oceans
experiencing a lesser increase /// Arctic region warmed by 2⁰C due to Albedo Effect, cloud changes,
water vapor, and atmospheric temperatures /// India experienced a less rise in minimum temperatures
/// India has high aerosol concentrations from natural and man-made factors, including dust /// Aero-
sols impact: Sunlight scattering, cloud formation, and heat absorption.
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

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9. Groundwater Extraction Shifts Earth’s Tilt Axis: Groundwater ex-

traction impacts Earth’s rotational axis and contributes to sea-level rise, according to a recent study ///
Researchers’ analyzed rotational pole drift and water movement, considering ice sheets and differ-
ent groundwater scenarios /// Factors affecting Earth’s rotation include weather, seasons, the molten
core, and hurricanes /// Groundwater redistribution is the primary cause of the drift in Earth’s rota-
tional pole /// Between 1993 and 2010, groundwater pumping tilted Earth 80 cm east and caused the
pole to drift 4 /// 36 cm/year /// Most groundwater redistribution occurred in western North Ameri-
ca and northwestern India, influencing polar drift /// Led to a 6.24 mm sea-level rise during that period
/// Slowing groundwater depletion, especially in sensitive regions, can potentially alter the drift with
sustained conservation efforts over decades.
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

10. Global Stocktake (GST): Established under 2015 Paris Agreement on climate
change /// Assesses global progress in addressing climate change and aims to enhance collective cli-
mate action /// Conducted every 5 years, starting in 2023 /// To review Paris Agreement’s goals and
targets implementation /// To limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-indus-
trial levels /// It also aims to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

11. Blue Ocean Event: Arctic is experiencing faster heating than other regions /// Sea ice
has significantly decreased over the past 40 years /// Loss is equivalent to the size of India or 12
UKs, indicating a major change in the climate system /// Might lead to Blue Ocean Event /// BOE- Arc-
tic Ocean becoming ice-free during summer, with the sea ice area dropping below 1 million square
kilometres /// Can lead to positive feedback and accelerate warming, impacting the Greenland ice
sheet and contributing to sea level rise /// Impacts: Changes in atmospheric circulation, storm tracks,
and ocean biological activity.
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

12. New Collective Quantified Goal (NCGQ): Commitment of ‘$100 billion

per year till 2020’ to developing nations from developed countries /// Paris Climate Agreement (2015)
called for a NCGQ for climate financing before 2025 /// Aims to address evolving needs and increasing
funding requirements for Loss and Damage /// Developed countries provided $83 /// 3 billion in 2020
out of the promised $100 billion per year /// Due to dishonest reporting, figures may be inflated by up
to 225% /// Lack of clarity on the definition and source of ‘climate finance’ undermines the credibility
of the $100 billion target set in 2009.
Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

13. Summer Solstice: Longest day in Northern Hemisphere is on June 21st, known as the
Summer Solstice /// International Yoga Day also celebrated on same day /// A day with the longest
duration of daylight and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere /// Sun shines di-
rectly overhead on the Tropic of Cancer (at 23.5° North) /// Earth’s axis (23.5 degrees) is tilted in a
way that the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun while the South Pole is away from it /// @Arctic Circle,
Sun remains visible throughout the solstice, and it does not set.
Global Geological And Climatic Events

14. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): Positive IOD developing to offset Indian Monsoon
impact in 2023 /// Established in Pacific Ocean in 2023, while the IOD is in a neutral phase and may
develop later /// (1) Positive IOD: Western side (near Somalia) becomes warmer than the eastern
Indian Ocean, and negative when the western side is cooler /// Weakens air circulation, sometimes
reversing it, leading to warmer African coast and cooler Indonesian coastline /// (2) Negative IOD inten-
sifies air circulation, pushing warmer waters from the African coast towards Indonesia, reinforcing
the cycle /// Strong IOD event compensates for deficit rainfall during the monsoon season /// IOD if
strong compensates rainfall loss in El Nino.

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Monsoon Updates

15. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary: Debrigarh WLS in Odisha’s Bargarh district

has achieved the significant milestone of being completely free of any human settlement /// Located
in Sambalpur district the sanctuary covers a total area of 346 /// 91 km2 /// Situated near Hirakud
Dam in the city of Sambalpur /// Plays a crucial role in conserving local wildlife and their habitat ///
Designated as ESZ (eco-sensitive zone) prohibiting industries and their operations within the zone to
preserve the ecological and environmental aspects.
Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Science Tech
1. Higgs Boson Decay: Discovered in 2012 boson marked a milestone in particle physics
/// Force-carrying particle of the Higgs field, granting mass to other particles /// Mass of 125 billion
electron volts, 130 times more massive than a proton /// Chargeless with zero spin, making it unique
among elementary particles /// Evidence of decay of Higgs boson into a Z boson and a photon /// Decay
is similar to decay into two photons and involves an intermediate loop of undetectable virtual parti-
cles /// Contradicts Standard Model of particle physics /// Standard Model describes the properties
and behavior of elementary particles /// Bosons are particles that follow Bose-Einstein statistics ///
Control physical forces like electromagnetism, and potentially gravity /// Fundamental bosons, such
as photons, gluons, W bosons, and Z bosons are part of Standard Model.
Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

2. Varunastra Torpedo: Indigenously designed and developed heavyweight, ship-

launched anti-submarine torpedo /// Developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory
in Visakhapatnam under the DRDO /// Replaces older torpedoes on all naval ships capable of firing a
heavyweight torpedo /// Formally inducted by defence minister Manohar Parrikar /// Designed by
security adviser Satyam Kumar on June 26, 2016 /// Powered by an electric propulsion system with
multiple 250 KWs silver oxide zinc (AgOZn) batteries /// Achieves speeds in excess of 74 km/h,
weighs around 1.5 tonnes, carries 250 kg of conventional warhead /// More than 95% indigenous con-
tent /// Only torpedo in world with a GPS-based locating aid.
Indian Navy Updates

3. JATAN Virtual Museum Builder Software: Centre to 3D digitize all mu-

seums using JATAN Software by 2023 /// JATAN is a digital collection management system for Indian
museums /// Developed by C-DAC, Pune Human Centres Design and Computing Group /// Features:
image cropping, watermarking, unique numbering, and multimedia management /// Creates 3D virtual
galleries accessible through web, mobile, or touch screen kiosks /// Museums included: Salar Jung,
Allahabad Museum, Indian Museum, Victoria Memorial Hall, National Museum, and National Gallery
of Modern Art /// Enhances visitor access and exploration of collections.
Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

4. Hydrogen from Seawater: IIT-Madras develop cost-effective method for electrolyz-

ing seawater to produce green hydrogen /// Alkaline seawater electrolyzer replaces fresh water /// Car-
bon-based electrodes use minimizes corrosion /// Cellulose-based separator allows hydroxide ions
to pass while preventing crossover /// *Electrolysis Process: Anode and cathode half-reactions occur
in the alkaline water electrolyzer /// At cathode, H+ ions convert into hydrogen /// Catalyst coating
enhances hydrogen and oxygen production /// Transition bimetals in the catalyst overcome hypochlo-
rite formation /// Cellulose-based separator prevents crossover of hydrogen and oxygen /// Separator
has high resistance to degradation in seawater /// *Experimental Results: Seawater splitting voltage
achieved at 1.73 V /// Hydrogen Produced at rates of 250 ml/hour and 1 liter/hour /// Stack of three
cells produces hydrogen at a rate of about 4 litres/hour /// *Hydrogen Categories: Gray Hydrogen: High
emissions from fossil fuel steam methane reforming /// Blue Hydrogen: Reduced emissions with carbon

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capture and storage /// Green Hydrogen: No carbon emissions from electrolysis with renewable energy
/// Turquoise Hydrogen: Reduced emissions from methane pyrolysis with carbon capture and storage.
Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

5. Betelgeuse: Nearing end of its life and is expected to go supernova in the future /// A red
supergiant star located in the constellation Orion /// Known as ‘Thiruvathirai’ or ‘Ardra’ in Indian
astronomy /// Recent pulsation is caused by its unstable outer layer, which undergoes convection and
pulsation /// Dimming is caused by an outburst that resulted in ejection of a significant amount of
material from the star’s surface /// Currently burning carbon in its core in late-carbon stage /// Evolu-
tion: Fusion of hydrogen, helium, and other elements until it reaches the iron-burning stage /// Collapse and
supernova explosion will release a tremendous amount of energy and contribute to the enrichment of
the universe with heavier elements.
International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

6. Hiroshima AI Process (HAP): Launched at G7 Summit hosted by Japan for 49th

annual Summit /// For AI governance common rules /// Identified benefits and risks of generative AI,
such as ChatGPT /// HAP will collaborate with OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development) and the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) to address generative AI ///
About G7: Established during oil shocks of 1973 and the corresponding financial crisis /// 6 earlier
members– US, UK, France, Germany (West), Japan and Italy /// Later joined by Canada in 1976 and G7
came into existence /// Most developed and advanced economies of the world.
Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

7. Y Chromosomes: Y chromosome possess genes linked to ageing and lifespan regulation

/// Neanderthal genome sequences show signs of Y chromosome replacement by modern humans ///
May relinquish its role as “master of maleness” in the future /// Thread-like structure located in the
nucleus of animal and plant cells /// Consists of Protein and DNA single molecule /// Y chromosome
is passed from parents to offspring /// Humans have 22 pairs of chromosomes and a pair of sex chro-
mosomes, X and Y /// Males have X-Y chromosomes, while Females X-X chromosomes /// Y chromosome
determines biological male sex and carries genes related to sex determination.
Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

8. Kamala Sohonie: Google Doodle commemorated her 112th birth anniversary /// First
Indian woman to receive a PhD in any science field /// Born in Indore (MP), in 1911 /// First woman
to enter IISc and went to Cambridge University for further studies in 1937 /// Faced gender bias chal-
lenges, including rejection by CV Raman due to being a woman /// Discovered proteins in legumes,
contributed to children’s nutrition /// Discovered enzyme Cytochrome C in potatoes related to ener-
gy generation /// Discovered mitochondria protein significant in cellular respiration /// Helped devel-
op Neera (palm extracts), an economic dietary supplement benefiting malnourished tribal children
and pregnant women /// Received Rashtrapati Award for creating Neera drink.
History- Important places, persons in news

9. Pulverised Coal Injection: Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) involves injecting fine
coal particles into the blast furnace raceway /// It serves as an important auxiliary fuel in iron-mak-
ing /// PCI provides partial coke replacement as an auxiliary fuel /// It has demonstrated economic
and environmental benefits /// PCI can significantly improve blast furnace efficiency /// Successful
implementation of PCI took place in AK Steel (USA) and Shougang (China) in the early 1960s /// Pro-
cess: Involves several subsystems for coal storage, pulverization, transportation, distribution, combustion, and
explosion prevention /// Russia emerged as the top supplier of PCI
Steel Industry – Current challenges, National Steel Policy 2017, etc

10. Molybdenum-99: PM inaugurated the Molybdenum-99 production facility at Bhabha

Atomic Research Centre /// It is the parent isotope of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), which is used for
disease detection and organ study /// Tc-99m can be chemically incorporated into small molecules
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and proteins, making it valuable for nuclear medicine procedures /// Tc-99m is currently produced
through a multi-step process involving neutron irradiation of fissile U-235 in highly enriched uranium.
Nuclear Energy

11. Phonons for Quantum Computing: IBM researchers developed an Acoustic

Beam-Splitter (ABS) to manipulate Phonons for Quantum Computing /// Phonons are packets of vi-
brational energy and the quantum equivalent of sound /// Similar to photons, phonons can serve as
units of information in quantum computing (qubits) /// They can be considered as the quantum me-
chanical version of sound /// ABS shaped like a comb with metal bars /// Placed in a short channel
made of lithium niobate /// Kept at very low temperatures to observe quantum effects /// Phonons
represent the collective vibrations of billions of atoms and behave similarly to how photons interact
with an optical beam-splitter /// ABS reflects and transmits phonons, similar to how a beam-splitter
splits light.
Promoting Science and Technology – Missions,Policies &

12. MATSYA-6000: NIOT is working on developing a manned submersible vehicle called

‘Matsya 6000’ /// ‘Samudrayan’ Mission inspired by the ‘Gaganyan’ /// Emergency endurance of 12
hours to ensure human safety /// Part of the Deep Ocean Mission and will have the capability to carry
three humans to a depth of 6 km /// NSTL will conduct hydrodynamic testing of the equipment used
in the submersible /// Facilitate the exploration of mineral resources rich in Nickel, Cobalt, rare
earth elements, manganese, and other resources for scientific analysis.
Promoting Science and Technology – Missions,Policies &

13. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations (HSCT): Medical pro-

cedure used to treat blood disorders, immune system disorders, and metabolic disorders /// HSC can
be obtained from- bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood /// Can involve autologous
transplantation (using the patient’s own stored cord blood), allogeneic transplantation (using stem
cells from a compatible donor), or /// Haploidentical transplantation (using partially matched stem
cells from a family member) /// Aims to replace the patient’s abnormal cells with healthy stem cells
/// Commonly used for- leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, inherited immune system disorders,
and metabolic disorders.
Mother and Child Health – Immunization Program, BPBB, PMJSY, PMMSY, etc.

14. Lab-Grown Diamonds (LGDs): PM Modi gifted US First Lady Jill Biden a 7.5-car-
at lab-grown diamond, presented in a papier mache box /// Possess same chemical, physical, and op-
tical properties as natural diamonds, distinguishing them from diamond simulants like Moissanite or
Cubic Zirconia /// Two common methods for LGD production are High Pressure, High Temperature
(HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) with explosive formation /// HPHT involves subject-
ing a diamond seed, typically made of graphite, to extreme pressure and temperature to transform
it into a diamond /// Requires heavy pressures up to 730,000 psi and temperatures exceeding 1500
degrees Celsius /// CVD involves depositing carbon atoms onto a diamond seed using a gas mixture,
resulting in the growth of a diamond layer /// LGDs exhibit similar optical dispersion and durability
to natural diamonds, making them suitable for industrial applications such as cutters and tools /// Valu-
able in electronics as heat spreaders for high-power laser diodes and transistors.
Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

15. Titanic Submersible Expedition: All crew died in the Titan Submersible (Ocean
Gate) near Titanic wreck in North Atlantic /// Constructed using titanium and filament-wound car-
bon fiber /// 22 feet and 10,432 kg, capable of reaching depths of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) /// A small
boat or other craft, designed especially for research and exploration /// Needs a mother ship that can
launch and recover it /// Small, limited-range watercrafts designed for a set mission built with charac-
teristics that allow them to operate in a specific environment /// Able to be fully submerged in water
and cruise using their own power supply and air renewal system.
Tourism Sector

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16. Artemis Accords: India joins the accord related to permanent settlements on the Moon
/// Established in 2020 by US and seven other founding member nations /// Serve as a reinforcement
and implementation of key obligations in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty /// Non-binding principles
designed to guide cooperation among nations participating in the 21st-century lunar exploration plans
of the US space agency /// 27 signatories to the Accords, including India /// Created as a soft-law al-
ternative to the Moon Agreement, which restricts resource extraction on celestial bodies /// Artemis
program is an NASA-led effort to return humans to the Moon by 2025, with the long-term goal of
expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond.
International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

17. Chandrayaan-3: Third lunar exploration mission planned by ISRO /// Aims at safe
landing and roving capabilities on the lunar surface /// Vikram and Pragyan will be retained for the
lander and rover, respectively /// Chandrayaan-3 will not have an orbiter, and the propulsion module
will act as a communications relay satellite /// 3 major modules: Propulsion module, Lander module,
and Rover /// Scheduled launch in mid-July using the LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk-III) rocket from Sri-
harikota /// SHAPE payload (Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth) to study Earth from lunar
orbit /// Lander payloads: RAMBHA (Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and
Atmosphere), ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment), ILSA (Instrument for Lunar
Seismic Activity), and LP (Langmuir Probe) /// Rover payloads: APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrom-
eter) and LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope) to analyze the elemental composition.
ISRO Missions and Discoveries

18. Cell-Cultivated Chicken: Two US companies received government approval to

produce and sell cell-cultivated chicken /// Aka cell-cultivated meat, is grown in a laboratory using iso-
lated cells from animals /// Cells are provided with nutrients and a suitable environment to replicate
and grow into edible meat /// Added nutrients include: amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, salts, vitamins,
and others required for cell growth /// Specialized containers (Bioreactors) are used in the cultivation
process /// Once cells reach sufficient number, they are processed and prepared for consumption ///
Singapore was the first country to approve the sale of alternative meat in 2020.
Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

19. Endosymbiotic Relationships: Evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes is

by Endosymbiosis /// Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, unlike prokaryotic cells ///
Prevailing theory is where eukaryotes evolved from a symbiotic relationship between an ancient ar-
chaeon and a bacterium /// Endosymbiosis is a process where one organism lives inside another,
benefiting both /// Archaeon engulfed a bacterium, providing protection and a stable environment ///
Bacterium supplied energy to the archaeon /// Became interdependent over time, forming eukary-
otic cells /// In plants, another endosymbiotic event occurred with a cyanobacterium becoming chlo-
roplasts responsible for photosynthesis /// Such symbiotic relationships allowed eukaryotes to grow
larger, become more complex, and adapt to different environments.
Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

20. Solar Mean Magnetic Field (SMMF): Indian scientists discovered similar-
ities between the chromospheric and photospheric SMMF /// SMMF is average value of line-of-sight
component of solar vector magnetic field over the visible hemisphere /// Related to Interplanetary
Magnetic Field and affects solar activity and space weather /// Generated by electrical currents act-
ing as a magnetic dynamo inside the sun /// Focused on photospheric level of the sun’s atmosphere ///
Chromospheric SMMF has a lower value compared to the photospheric SMMF, suggesting a possible
source in the sun’s primordial magnetic field.
ISRO Missions and Discoveries

21. Fibonacci Spirals: Mathematical patterns found in nature /// Represent an ancient
and highly conserved feature dating back to the earliest stages of plant evolution /// Adheres to Fi-
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bonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 and so on), a numerical sequence where each number is sum
of the two preceding numbers /// Various natural structures such as plant leaves, animal shells, and
the double helix of DNA /// Occur in both directions clockwise and anticlockwise /// Initially recog-
nized as Matrameru by Pingala, an Indian mathematician /// Also known as the Gopala–Hemachandra
number.
Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

22. Euclid Mission: ESA launched the Euclid Space Telescope to survey billions of galaxies
/// Visible to near-infrared telescope developed by the ESA and Euclid Consortium /// To accurately
measure acceleration of universe to better understand dark energy and dark matter /// Measure the
redshift of galaxies up to a value of 2, equivalent to observing the universe 10 billion years in the past
/// To analyze the shapes of galaxies at different distances and investigate the relationship between
distance and redshift /// Utilizes gravitational lensing, measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations,
and spectroscopy to measure galactic distances.
International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

23. P C Mahalanobis (1893-1972): June 29 is national ‘Statistics Day’ in his recog-

nition, the ‘Planning Man’ of India /// Considered father of modern statistics in India, founded the
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), and shaped the Planning Commission of India /// Devised ‘Fractile
Graphical Analysis’ to compare socio-economic conditions of different groups /// Proposed Mahala-
nobis Distance in 1930, a measure to compare two data sets /// Founded Indian Statistical Institute
(ISI) in Kolkata in 1932 /// In 1933, he started ‘Sankhya: The Indian Journal of Statistics’ /// Estab-
lished NSS and CSO (National Sample Survey and Central Statistical Organisation) in 1950 to coordi-
nate statistical activities /// Joined Planning Commission in 1955 /// Played crucial role in 2nd FYP
(1956-1961), laying the blueprint for industrialization and development /// Mahalanobis faced Big
Data challenge with his surveys, requiring effective analysis for planning purposes.
History- Important places, persons in news

24. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT): Astronomers collaborated

from India, Japan, and Europe, including the GMRT in Pune /// Confirmed presence of nano-hertz
gravitational waves using pulsar observations /// Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars, act as
nature’s best clocks and emit regular radio beams akin to a lighthouse, making them valuable for re-
search /// GMRT is a low-frequency radio telescope investigating a wide range of radio astrophysical
problems, from nearby solar systems to the edge of the observable universe /// Consists of 30 fully
steerable parabolic telescopes with a diameter of 45 meters, making it the world’s largest and most
sensitive radio telescope array at low frequencies /// Operated by NCRA (National Centre for Radio
Astrophysics), part of the TIFR Mumbai /// Location: near Narayangaon, Pune /// Fast Radio Bursts
were recently discovered by GMRT.
Promoting Science and Technology – Missions,Policies &

Art and Culture

1. Pandharpur Wari: An annual pilgrimage (yatra) to Pandharpur, Maharashtra, in honor of
the Hindu deity Vithoba (Incarnation of Vishnu) /// More than 700 to 800 YO, with a rich historical and
cultural significance /// Palanquin processions carry the footprints (paduka) of saints from the Varkari
(Warkari) sect, particularly Sant Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram (Vasihnavites) /// Starts from Alandi and
Dehu, both located in the Pune district of Maharashtra /// Takes 21 days, with devotees walking on foot
/// Ends on Ashadhi Ekadashi at Vithoba temple, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar /// Holy dip
in Chandrabhaga River/Bhima River before visiting the Vitthal temple /// Deities of the Vitthala and
Rukmini were shifted from the Vitthala Temple in Hampi (a UNESCO World Heritage site) to avoid
vandalism /// Attracts over a million pilgrims annually, with devotees coming from different parts of
Maharashtra to participate in this religious procession.
Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

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2. Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society: Centre renames Nehru

Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society /// Established in memory of PM Nehru, this insti-
tute is situated to the south of Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi /// Autonomous institution under
the Ministry of Culture was built in 1929-30 /// Robert Tor Russel is credited for the design of this
building /// Before independence it was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of India
/// Consists of– A library on modern India, Memorial Museum, Centre for Contemporary Studies and
Nehru Planetarium.
History- Important places, persons in news

3. Tungnath Temple: ASI seeks national importance status /// Founded by Arjuna, one of
the Pandava brothers /// Over 1,000 years old Located in Rudraprayag district /// Highest Shiva tem-
ple globally, at over 12,000 feet /// Part of the ‘Panch Kedar’ cluster of Shiva temples in the Garhwal
Himalayas.
History- Important places, persons in news

4. Orvakallu Rock Paintings: Mesolithic period rock painting depicting a person

tilling land was discovered in Orvakallu village, AP /// Created using natural white kaolin and red
ochre pigments /// Ochre is a pigment made of clay, sand, and ferric oxide /// Kaolinite is a soft,
earthy mineral formed by the weathering of aluminum silicate minerals /// Also portrays a man
catching a wild goat and using a hook-like implement to control it /// Two couples with raised hands,
child standing behind them /// Mesolithic period existed between the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras ///
12,000-10,000 years ago existed /// Mesolithic societies were hunter-gatherer communities relying
on hunting, fishing, and gathering /// Stone tools called microliths were used during this period, along
with older tool varieties.
Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

5. Upanishads: PM Modi presented US President Joe Biden with a first edition print of the
book “The Ten Principal Upanishads” from 1937 /// Best and authentic version of the Upanishads
translation /// Translated into English by Irish poet WB Yeats and Hindu scholar Shri Purohit Swa-
mi /// He won Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 /// Upanishads are part of the shruti category of
Hindu sacred texts, which are considered the most authoritative /// Philosophical texts that discuss
concepts such as transmigration and the relationship between the individual self (atman) and the ulti-
mate reality (brahman) /// Inspired Adi Shankara’s interpretation 8th century scholar /// 10 Principal
Upanishads: Esha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, and
Brihadaranyaka.
Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

6. Puri Rath Yatra: Commenced this month in Puri, Odisha /// Annual Hindu festival that
celebrates the journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra from their home
temple in Puri to their aunt’s temple in Gundicha /// Begins on second day of Ashadha (June-July)
and lasts for nine days /// Dates back to 12th century CE when the Jagannath temple was built by King
Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva /// Festival of Chariots as the deities are carried on three massive
wooden chariots /// 3 Rathas: Lord Jagannath’s chariot is Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot is Ta-
ladhwaja, and Goddess Subhadra’s chariot is Darpadalana /// Skilled craftsmen called Rupakar servitors
carve intricate figures of birds, animals, flowers, and guardian deities on the chariots /// Jagannath Puri
Temple also known as “White Pagoda” and part of the Char Dham pilgrimages /// Kalinga architec-
ture, featuring curvilinear towers, intricate carvings, and ornate sculptures /// Four structures: vima-
na (sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandira (festival hall), and bhoga-mandapa (offering
hall) /// Revered as ‘Yamanika Tirtha,‘ where the power of Yama, the god of death, is believed to be
nullified in the presence of Lord Jagannath.
Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

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7. Rani Durgavati: Born in 1524 in Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty (present-day Uttar Pradesh,
near the border with Madhya Pradesh), was a symbol of India’s self-determination /// Chandelas built
Khajuraho temples in the 11th century /// Ruled the kingdom of Garha-Katanga after her husband’s
death in 1550 with great vigor and courage /// Her region included Narmada Valley and parts of North-
ern Madhya Pradesh /// She opposed Mughal Empire’s expansion in the mid-16th century /// Fought
against Akbar’s commander Asaf Khan and the neighboring Malwa Sultan Baz Bahadur /// Revered as a
patriotic ruler who symbolized India’s self-determination /// Abul Fazl described her as a combination
of beauty, grace, courage, and bravery.
History- Important places, persons in news

8. Geographical Indications (GI) Tags: Unique products with specific geo-

graphical origin, possessing qualities or reputation due to that origin /// Nodal agency: DPIIT, Minis-
try of Commerce and Industry /// India enacted GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act in
September 2003 being WTO member /// GIs defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement
on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) /// 10 years of validity provided to
each GI /// GI tags awarded in UP: (1) Amroha Dholak is a drum crafted from mango, jackfruit, and
teakwood /// (2) Baghpat Home Furnishings handloom home furnishings and running fabrics crafted
from cotton yarn /// (3) Barabanki Handloom hand-woven textile weaving /// (4) Kalpi Handmade Paper
introduced by Munnalal ‘Khaddari,’ a Gandhian, in the 1940s /// (5) Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip
stone craft of the region, created from the unique and soft ‘Pyro Flight Stone’ /// (6) Mainpuri Tarkashi
involves brass wire inlay work on wood /// (7) Sambhal Horn Craft utilizes raw materials sourced from
deceased animals and involves meticulous handcrafting processes.
GI(Geographical Indicator) Tags

9. Meira Paibis: Home Minister met Meira Paibis during his visit to Manipur amidst ongoing
violence /// A women’s social movement in Manipur, India, known as guardians of civil society ///
Originating in 1977 in Kakching district, movement’s name comes from women carrying flaming
torches /// Also called Imas or Mothers of Manipur, include Meitei women from all sections of society
in the Imphal valley /// Highly respected and hold significant moral influence /// Led by older women,
without rigid hierarchy or political affiliations /// Society’s conscience keepers, with a permanent and
palpable presence in Manipuri civil society /// Initially focused against alcoholism, drug abuse, but
expanded to address human rights violations /// Supported Irom Sharmila, who conducted a 16-year
hunger strike against AFSPA /// Supported ILP (Inner Line Permit) system in Manipur in 2015.
Women empowerment issues – Jobs,Reservation and education

Modern India History

1. Dr. M Emperumal Naidu: Naidu (1880-1958) was the founder of Naidu Hospital in
Kottar, which has historical significance in the freedom movement and the fight for social justice ///
Actively participated in the Vaikom temple street entry movement, aligning himself with the ideals
of Periyar EV Ramasamy and Mahatma Gandhi /// Studying in England, Naidu became actively in-
volved in the freedom movement and declined a medical college offer to pursue a degree in Glasgow ///
In 1914, he established a hospital in Kottar, which was one of the first private hospitals providing mod-
ern medical treatment in the region /// Naidu offered free treatment to Dalits and marked prescrip-
tions with ‘HF‘ (Harijan Free) /// Hosted prominent leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai, C /// F /// Andrews,
Sarojini Naidu, and Jawaharlal Nehru /// Served as a vital link to Mahatma Gandhi in Travancore
and actively participated in various campaigns and Congress meetings /// His efforts led to the Tra-
vancore government issuing a proclamation in 1936, allowing temple doors and streets to be open
to all communities.
History- Important places, persons in news

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2. Ram Prasad Bismil: 125th birth anniversary: Born on June 11, 1897, in Shahjahan-
pur, UP /// Revolutionary activities: Mainpuri Conspiracy of 1918 and Kakori Train Action of 1925
/// Founding member of Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) /// Associated with Arya Samaj,
wrote under pen names like ‘Agyat’ and ‘Bismil’ /// Mainpuri Conspiracy: Formed Matrivedi, wrote
poem “Mainpuri Ki Pratigya /// ” HRA Activities: Returned to Shahjahanpur, penned the manifesto
‘Krantikari’ /// Sentenced to death along with Ashfaqullah Khan and Rajendranath Lahiri, executed on
December 19, 1927.
History- Important places, persons in news

3. Syama Prasad Mookerjee: 70th death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee ///
Born in 1901 in Kolkata and emerged as a leader advocating Indian nationalism and Hindu politics ///
A barrister after completing his studies at Lincoln’s Inn in London /// Initially joined INC and repre-
sented Calcutta University in the Bengal Legislative Council /// Affiliated with Hindu Mahasabha, a
right-wing Hindu nationalist organization, and became its president /// Championed the partition of
Bengal to protect Hindu interests, leading to the establishment of a separate West Bengal within the In-
dian Union /// Mookerjee resigned as Finance Minister of Bengal Province in 1942 to protest against
British government policies in India /// India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply in Jawaharlal
Nehru’s cabinet after independence /// Resigned in 1950, opposing the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, which he
believed compromised Hindu interests in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) /// Founded Bharatiya Jana
Sangh in 1951 with RSS, laying the foundation for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) /// He strongly op-
posed Article 370, which he believed fostered separatism and division in India.
J&K – The issues around the state

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