rchives (PRELIMS Focus) National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 Category: POLITY Context: The National Sports Governance Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha Formation of a National Sports Board: A SEBI-like statutory body to oversee all sports federations, including BCCI. Ensures centralized regulation, transparency, and accountability in sports governance. Creation of a National Sports Tribunal: A civil court-like body to adjudicate sports-related disputes (e.g., selection, federation elections). Tribunal decisions appealable only to the Supreme Court. Need for the Bill: Current sports governance is ad hoc and fragmented. Aims to replace judicial overreach and frequent court interventions with specialized regulatory and adjudicatory mechanisms. Key Issues Addressed: Autonomy of the Tribunal: Presumed to be independent and free of conflicts, unlike past tribunals. Transparency in the National Sports Board: Will require strong public accountability and clear procedures. Age & Tenure Cap: Caps administrators’ age at 75 and removes fixed terms to make room for experienced international representation. BCCI under purview: Brings BCCI under government oversight for the first time, aligning it with national standards. Athletes’ Right to Redressal: Tribunal will replace courts as the primary forum for dispute resolution, aligning with global norms like the FIFA model. Learning Corner: Khelo India Programme Launched: 2018 Aim: Revitalize sports culture at the grassroots level and identify young talent. Key Features: Annual Khelo India Youth Games and University Games. Financial assistance of ₹5 lakh per annum for 8 years to selected athletes. Creation of sports infrastructure (e.g., centers of excellence, academies). Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Launched: 2014 (revamped under Khelo India) Objective: To support India’s elite athletes for Olympic and Paralympic Games. Features: Funding for coaching, training, equipment, foreign exposure. Support staff including physiotherapists, nutritionists, and mental trainers. National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) Established: 1998 Purpose: Mobilize private/public funds to support top-tier athletes and infrastructure. Usage: Customized training. Equipment and facilities development. Fit India Movement Launched: 2019 Objective: Encourage a healthy and active lifestyle across all age groups. Initiated by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) Focus Areas: Fitness pledges, fitness audits of institutions, campaigns in schools and workplaces. Sports Authority of India (SAI) Schemes Key Schemes: National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) – elite athlete grooming. SAI Training Centres (STCs) – grassroots level training for young talent. Extension Centres of STCs – training in schools/colleges with sports tradition. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons Aim: Provide financial aid to sportspersons in indigent circumstances or those injured during their career. Support includes: Medical treatment, pension, and sustenance allowance. Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) Function: Operational arm under TOPS for monitoring and clearing athlete proposals on a fast-track basis. National Physical Fitness Campaign Target: School children (5–18 years). Purpose: Monitor and enhance physical fitness levels through standardized tests. Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS Coral Reef Decline Category: ENVIRONMENT Context: Lakshadweep Coral Reef Decline Key Findings 50% decline in live coral cover over the past 24 years—from 37% in 1998 to below 20% today. Study tracked reefs at Agatti, Kadmat, and Kavaratti. Repeated marine heatwaves (1998, 2010, 2016) and climate change are major causes. Causes of Decline Marine heatwaves raise ocean temperatures, leading to coral bleaching. Reduced recovery time between bleaching events limits reef regeneration. Warming seas continuously stress coral ecosystems. Ecological & Social Impact Risk of functional extinction: reefs may no longer support biodiversity or protect islands. Even resilient coral species now show bleaching signs. Local communities face threats to livelihoods and coastal safety. Urgency & Outlook Time is critical—reefs need long recovery periods to regenerate. Local measures can help, but global climate action is essential for long-term survival. Learning Corner: Coral Reefs Coral reefs are marine ecosystems made up of calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals (marine invertebrates). They are found in shallow, warm, and sunlit waters typically between 30°N and 30°S latitude. Known as “rainforests of the sea,” they support around 25% of marine biodiversity despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. Major Types of Coral Reefs: Fringing Reefs – Directly attached to a shoreline (e.g., Gulf of Mannar, India). Barrier Reefs – Separated from land by a lagoon (e.g., Great Barrier Reef, Australia). Atolls – Circular reefs enclosing a lagoon, often over sunken volcanoes (e.g., Lakshadweep). Coral Bleaching: Concept Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) due to stress, primarily from increased sea surface temperatures. The algae provide food and color to corals; without them, corals appear white (bleached) and are more vulnerable to death Causes of Coral Bleaching: Climate Change: Elevated sea temperatures (above 1–2°C from average) are the primary driver. Associated with El Niño events and global warming. Ocean Acidification: Absorption of CO₂ by oceans reduces availability of calcium carbonate, hindering coral skeleton formation. Pollution: Agricultural runoff (nitrates/phosphates), plastics, and oil spills damage coral health. Sedimentation: Reduces light penetration, affecting photosynthesis in symbiotic algae. Overfishing & Unsustainable Tourism: Disrupt reef ecosystem balance and cause physical damage. Impacts of Bleaching: Ecosystem collapse: Loss of marine species reliant on coral ecosystems. Fisheries affected, threatening food security and livelihoods. Reduced coastal protection from storm surges and erosion. Decline in marine tourism revenue. Global and National Efforts: International: Coral Triangle Initiative. UN SDG 14 (Life Below Water). IPCC reports warning against warming above 1.5°C. India: Coral reef monitoring under ICMAM (Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management). Coral restoration projects in Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar. Laws: Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Schedule I protection for coral reefs). Source: THE HINDU Vitamin D Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Context : Vitamin D Deficiency and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Key Findings: Increased risk: Low vitamin D levels have been consistently linked to a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, cognitive impairments, and, in some cases, schizophrenia. Communication and cognition: Vitamin D plays a role in brain signaling and serotonin metabolism, which are crucial for language development and social behavior. Deficiency may delay communication skills and contribute to ASD-like features. Sex-specific effects: A major cohort study found boys with vitamin D deficiency had over twice the risk of global neurodevelopmental
