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Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   AGNIBAAN SOrTeD (suborbital technological demonstrator) Syllabus Prelims – Current Event Context: Chennai-based space startup AgniKul Cosmos launched a single-stage technology demonstrator rocket — Agnibaan SOrTeD (suborbital technological demonstrator) — from Sriharikota. Background:- Founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin S P M, and S R Chakravarthy, AgniKul became the first Indian firm to sign an agreement with Isro in December 2020. This pioneering agreement was facilitated under the IN-SPACe initiative, granting AgniKul unprecedented access to Isro’s expertise and cutting-edge facilities. The company is one of the highest-funded space startups in India and has raised $42 million so far. Key takeaways India made history in the space sector on Thursday with the first launch from a private launchpad of the country’s second privately built rocket and the first using a combination of gas and liquid fuel. SOrTeD uses the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed engine, designed and built indigenously. This launch is also considered historic because the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has not yet successfully flown a semi-cryogenic engine, in which a mix of liquid and gas is used as a propellant. Agnibaan also has the unique distinction of having been launched from India’s first private launchpad Dhanush, established by AgniKul. The key purpose of this mission is to serve as a test flight, demonstrate in-house and home-grown technologies, gather crucial flight data, and ensure optimal functioning of systems for AgniKul’s orbital launch vehicle, the ‘Agnibaan’. The Agnibaan rocket is a customisable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry up to 300 kilogram (kg) of payload to orbits nearly 700 kilometre in altitude, the company said. The startup is looking at flying an orbital mission towards the end of 2024–25 and is working with customers on flights starting regularly in the calendar year 2025. It was in November 2022 that a private company, Skyroot Aerospace, successfully developed and operated the launch vehicle Vikram-S on a sub-orbital flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, becoming the first player to do so. Source: Business Standard AHILYABAI HOLKER Syllabus Prelims – HISTORY Context: On May 31, we celebrated the 300th birth anniversary of the Maratha queen Ahilya Bai Holkar — a great administrator and visionary with a spiritual inclination. Background: “The reign of Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for thirty years. This has become almost legendary as a period during which perfect order and good government prevailed and the people prospered. She was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime, and considered as a saint by a grateful people after her death.” – Jawaharlal Nehru (The Discovery of India/1946) About AHILYABAI HOLKER Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Malwa kingdom. She is regarded as one of the most visionary female rulers of India. Born on 31 May 1725, in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Ahilya hailed from a very humble background. Her father Mankoji Rao Shinde was the village head, and he taught her to read and write. As a young girl, the combination of her simplicity and strength of character caught the attention of Malhar Rao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory. He was so impressed with the young Ahilya that in 1733 when she was barely eight years old, he got her married to his son Khanderao Holkar. Twelve years after her marriage, her husband Khanderao died during the siege of the Kumher Fort.After the death of her husband, Ahilyabai was stopped by her father-in-law from committing sati. Instead, he took her under his wing and trained her in military and administrative matters. Her father in law, Malhar Rao passed away in 1766, and in the following year, she lost her son, Male Rao. Keeping in mind the welfare of the kingdom and her people, she petitioned the Peshwa to allow her to take over the reign of Malwa. Although some of the nobles objected to this, she still had the support of the army. In 1767, the Peshwa granted Ahilyabai permission to take over Malwa. She ascended the throne and became the ruler of Indore on 11 December 1767. For the next 28 years, Maharani Ahilyabai ruled over Malwa in a just, wise, and knowledgeable manner. Under Ahilyabai’s rule, Malwa enjoyed relative peace, prosperity, and stability, and her capital, Maheshwar, was turned into an oasis of literary, musical, artistic, and industrial pursuits. Ahilyabai also established a textile industry in Maheshwar, which today is very famous for its Maheshwari sarees. Her most notable contribution was the renovation and repair of the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1780. The ‘Philosopher Queen’ as she is famously known, passed away on 13th August 1795 at the age of seventy. Her legacy still lives on and the various temples, Dharamshalas, and public works undertaken by her stand as a testimony to the great warrior queen she was. Source: Indian Culture FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI) EQUITY INFLOWS Syllabus Prelims & Mains – ECONOMY Context: According to the latest data released by the government, foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows in India decreased by 3.49 per cent in FY24 to $44.42 billion. Reduced investments in sectors such as services, computer hardware and software, telecom, auto, and pharma, are being attributed as the primary reasons for the slump. Background: Foreign investment, including FDI equity inflows, is needed to supplement domestic resources and finance the current account deficit. FDI inflows are a good indicator of a nation’s appeal as a long-term investment destination. The total FDI, which includes equity inflows, reinvested earnings, and other capital, saw a slight decrease of 1 per cent to $70.95 billion in FY24, down from $71.35 billion in FY23, as reported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Key Takeaways The FDI inflows into the manufacturing sector in FY24 are one of the lowest in the past five years, according to the provisional FDI data published in the RBI annual report. The manufacturing sectors received $9.3 billion FDI in FY24, which was 17.7 per cent

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   SHANGRI LA DIALOGUE Syllabus Prelims – Current Event Context: The 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue took place in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. Background:- The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier defence summit. It’s a unique meeting where ministers debate the region’s most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together. About Shangri La Dialogue The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is an annual “Track One” inter-governmental security conference held in Singapore. It’s organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an independent think tank. The forum is named after the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, where it has been held since 2002. The dialogue is attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries, and military chiefs of mostly Asia-Pacific states. It serves to cultivate a sense of community among the most important policymakers in the defense and security community in the region. Besides government delegations, the summit is also attended by legislators, academic experts, distinguished journalists, and business delegates. The 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue took place in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. The Keynote Address was delivered by Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines. Some of the highlights from the 2024 dialogue include: The Philippines made a statement regarding the South China Sea conflict, suggesting that China and the Philippines would be ‘crossing the Rubicon’ should a Filipino citizen be killed by Beijing’s ongoing actions in the South China Sea4. Canada announced the deployment of a Harry DeWolf-class Arctic patrol vessel to the Indo-Pacific as part of the country’s effort to deepen its naval presence. The Shangri-La Dialogue has become one of the most important independent forums for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers. It provides a unique platform for debate among government ministers and senior officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, on Asia’s developing security challenges. Source: IISS INDIA’S RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS Syllabus Mains – GS 2 Context: India’s Russian oil imports climbed to a 10-month high in May as low Russian refinery capacity use due to Ukrainian drone strikes made more of Moscow’s oil available for the export market, as per oil tanker tracking data and industry experts. Background: The rise in India’s import of discounted Russian oil over the past few months has hit flows from Saudi Arabia the most, the data shows. Key takeaways? Indian refiners imported a total of 1.96 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude oil in May, the highest since July of last year, and nearly 3 per cent higher than volumes imported in April. Oil imports from Saudi Arabia—India’s third-biggest source market for crude—declined almost 13 percent sequentially to 0.55 million bpd. The primary reason for the decline is seen as the ample availability of Russian crude, which continues to maintain a price advantage over Riyadh’s oil. Supply of the medium-sour Urals crude—Russia’s flagship crude grade and the mainstay of India’s Russian oil purchases—to Indian refiners touched a record high in May at 1.53 million bpd, accounting for over 78 percent of India’s Russian oil imports. May also marked a 10-month high in India’s oil imports from the United States (US)—New Delhi’s fifth-largest source of crude oil. Indian refiners imported a total of 0.21 million bpd of crude from the US in May and the highest since July of last year. In terms of market share, Russia accounted for almost 41 percent of the total 4.79 million bpd of crude oil imported into India in May. India’s second-largest source of crude—Iraq—accounted for a fifth of New Delhi’s oil imports in May, while Saudi Arabia’s share was 11.4 percent. As the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil with a high import dependency level of over 85 percent, India is extremely sensitive to oil prices. Although trade sources have indicated that discounts on Russian crude have shrunk considerably over the past months, Indian refiners have evidently remained keen on buying Russian oil as given the high import volumes, even lower discount levels lead to significant savings. Additional Information: Prior to the war in Ukraine, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were the top two suppliers of crude oil to India. But as the West started weaning itself off Russian energy supplies following Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia started offering discounts on its crude and Indian refiners started snapping up the discounted barrels. Source: Indian Express INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT (IMD) Syllabus Prelims – Current Event Context: When Delhi’s Mungeshpur weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius on May 29, it was on account of “malfunctioning of the sensor,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Background: The maximum temperature of 52.9 degrees at Mungeshpur was an all-time high for any location in India and this had prompted the IMD to verify the recording at the station. About IMD It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology. It functions under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with its headquarter at Mausam Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organisation. It has the responsibility for forecasting, naming and distribution of warnings for tropical cyclones in the Northern Indian Ocean region, including the Malacca Straits, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Here are some key details about IMD: Established in 1875, IMD is the National Meteorological Service of the country. IMD is headquartered in Delhi and operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica. It deals with all matters relating to meteorology, seismology, and associated subjects. IMD provides a variety of services such as rainfall information, monsoon information, cyclone information, agromet advisory services, climate services, urban meteorological services, aviation services, climate hazard & vulnerability atlas, geospatial services, and forecasts. IMD plays a crucial role in providing weather updates and warnings, which are vital for various sectors including agriculture, aviation, and disaster management. It also provides specialized forecasts and conducts research in meteorology and allied subjects. Additional Information –  History of

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE SPOTS EARLIEST-KNOWN GALAXY Syllabus Prelims – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Context: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has spotted the earliest-known galaxy, one that is surprisingly bright and big considering it formed during the universe’s infancy.The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers, who used JWST to observe galaxies as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program. Background:- JWST, which by peering across vast cosmic distances is looking way back in time, observed the galaxy as it existed about 290 million years after the Big Bang event that initiated the universe roughly 13.8 billion years ago What do we know about the galaxy? This galaxy, called JADES-GS-z14-0, measures about 1,700-light years across. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, which is 9.5 trillion km. The galaxy has a mass equivalent to 500 million stars the size of our Sun and is rapidly forming new stars — about 20 every year. Until now, the earliest-known galaxy dated to about 320 million years after the Big Bang. The JADES team in the same study disclosed the discovery of the second oldest-known galaxy, from about 303 million years post-Big Bang. That one, JADES-GS-z14-1, is smaller — with a mass equal to about 100 million sun-sized stars, measuring roughly 1,000 light years across and forming about two new stars per year. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), also known as Webb, is a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. The mirrors are made of ultra-lightweight beryllium. Webb’s biggest feature is a tennis court sized five-layer sunshield that attenuates heat from the Sun more than a million times. Webb is designed to conduct infrared astronomy. Its high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint. Webb’s revolutionary technology will study every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. Over the last two years, scientists have used JWST to explore what astronomers refer to as Cosmic Dawn – the period in the first few hundred million years after the big bang where the first galaxies were born. Webb is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The Webb was launched on 25 December 2021 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. In January 2022 it arrived at its destination, a solar orbit near the Sun–Earth L2 Lagrange point, about 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 mi) from Earth. Source: Indian Express STATE FINANCES IN FY24 Syllabus Mains – GS 3 Context: Economists at the public sector Bank of Baroda have published a report about the finances of Indian states for the financial year ended March (FY2024). The report analyses state-level finances based on three variables: how much money they raised on their own, how much they spent to boost productive capacities of the state, and how much they borrowed from the market. Background: The rise in India’s import of discounted Russian oil over the past few months has hit flows from Saudi Arabia the most, the data shows. Key takeaways Fiscal Deficit The report found that most states were able to limit their fiscal deficit (the amount of money they had to borrow to bridge the gap between expenses and income) within the budgeted levels . This is a significant achievement, since over-borrowing by states adds to the Centre’s over-borrowings, and ultimately leaves less money for private sector firms to borrow. Capital spends This is the kind of spending that goes into making productive assets such as roads and bridges, which boost economic activity in the state. Typically, when governments try to meet fiscal deficit targets, they tend to cut on capex, which in turn, tends to undermine the ability of the state economy to grow faster. Taken together, states managed to spend only 84% of their capex budget. There were four outliers (in green) — Uttar Pradesh,Telangana, Bihar and Sikkim — that either spent the full amount or went beyond the target. Three states— Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Nagaland — spent less than 50% of their capex budget. Tax revenues A state’s total tax revenues can be broadly divided into two heads: own tax revenues (OTR), and share in Union taxes. The researchers found that overall, OTR accounted for around 61% of tax revenues of states. Within the OTR, GST (Goods and Services Tax) collections made up the biggest chunk (almost 32%), followed by state excise and sales tax (22%) and stamp and registration (7%). A higher share of OTR helps a state to be more fiscally resilient. Telangana had the highest share of OTR in total tax revenue (82%), closely followed by Haryana (79%),Karnataka (78%), Kerala (77%), Maharashtra (73%), and Tamil Nadu (71%). Consumption divide GST is a consumption-based tax— that is, it is paid at the point where a good or service is consumed. So, if a car is made in Tamil Nadu but bought in UP, then GST is levied and collected in UP. As such, per capita GST collection can be used as a proxy for state-wise consumption patterns. Consumption levels, in turn, are a proxy for income levels.Higher consuming states end up paying higher taxes like GST and sales tax/ excise duty. NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE:States in North India fall well below the national average, while states in the South pull up the national average. Per-capita GST levels in Karnataka or Telangana are almost 3-4 times that of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, which shows the relative lack of prosperity of the average citizen in the latter states. EAST-WEST DIVIDE:There is a divide between some of the big states in the East and West. Consumption levels in Maharashtra and Gujarat are far in excess of those in Odisha, West Bengal and Assam. There are some exceptions — such as Haryana in the North — but a broad divide is clearly visible. Source: Indian Express CHANG’E-6 CRAFT Syllabus Prelims – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Context: China landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   PM- KISAN Syllabus Prelims & Mains – AGRICULTURE Context: Over 1 lakh farmers voluntarily gave up their PM-Kisan benefits last year. Background:- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan lead the chart of 1.16 lakh farmers who have voluntarily given up the benefits of the annual Rs 6,000 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme across the country from June 2023 to May 2024, according to data available with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Possible reasons for some farmers giving up the PM-Kisan benefits include: absentee landlords who may have decided against availing of the subsidy; land going to tax-paying descendants who are not eligible; change in status of land-owners. About PM KISAN PM Kisan, or the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. It has been operational since December 1, 2018. Here are some key details about the scheme: The scheme provides an income support of ₹6,000/- per year in three equal installments to all land holding farmer families. The definition of a family for the scheme is husband, wife, and minor children. The State Government and UT administration identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. The fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. There are certain exclusion categories for the scheme. The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status are not eligible for benefit under the scheme: All Institutional Land holders. Farmer families which belong to one or more of the following categories: Former and present holders of constitutional posts Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats. All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies. Prime Minister released the 16th Installment of the PM KISAN scheme on February 28, 2024. eKYC is mandatory for PM KISAN Registered Farmers. Source: Indian Express EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Syllabus Prelims – CURRENT EVENT Context: European Parliament elections will be held from June 6-9. Background: Around 373 million citizens across the 27 member states of the European Union are eligible to vote on June 6-9 in elections to the European Parliament, which is the only directly elected body of the EU. Key takeaways The European Parliament (EP)is the only directly elected body of the EU, representing the citizens of its member states. The Parliament has3 main roles: Legislative Passing EU laws, together with theCouncil of the EU, based on European Commission proposals Deciding on international agreements Deciding on enlargement of the bloc Reviewing the Commission’swork programme and asking it to propose legislation Supervisory Democratic scrutiny of all EU institutions Electing the Commission President and approving theCommission as a body. Possibility of voting a motion of censure, obliging the Commission to resign Granting discharge, i.e. approving the way EU budgets have been spent Examining citizens’petitions and setting up inquiries Discussing monetary policy with theEuropean Central Bank Questioning Commission and Council Election observations Budgetary Establishing the EU budget, together with the Council Approving the EU’s long-term budget, the “Multiannual Financial Framework” Unlike national parliaments, the EP does not have the right to propose laws but can only negotiate those proposed by the executive European Commission. The EP comprises 720 Members (MEPs) elected every five years. The MEPs then elect their president for a term of two and a half years. It represents the second-largest democratic electorate in the world (after the Parliament of India) with an electorate of around 373 million eligible voters. Who can vote in the elections? In 21 member states, people aged 18 and above can vote. In Belgium, Germany, Austria and Malta, the minimum voting age is 16. In Greece, people who turn 17 during the election year can vote, and in Hungary, married individuals can vote regardless of age. Citizens living in another EU country can choose to vote for candidates either from their country of origin or from their country of residence. Who can run? All candidates must be EU citizens. Voters may choose from individual candidates or political parties’ delegates, depending on the country. Once elected, politicians from each nation will flow into the European groups that form the Parliament, based on political orientations. Elected individuals cannot hold functions in national governments or other political bodies such as the EU Commission. Source: Indian Express MISSION KARMAYOGI Syllabus Prelims & Mains – Governance Context: Indian Institute of Public Administration assessed the impact of mission karmayogi by seeking inputs on recently trained staff from their supervisors and reported increased proficiency in data analytics and e-governance tools Background: Improved governance and efficient and competent civil services are required for achieving India’s ambitions. About Mission Karmayogi Mission Karmayogi, also known as the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB), is an ambitious program launched by the Government of India. The mission was launched by the Union Cabinet on 2nd September 2020. It aims to transform the government’s human resource management, making the bureaucracy more efficient, effective, and accountable. The goal is to develop the skills and competencies of civil servants to deliver better results for citizens. The mission intends to lay down the foundations for the Indian civil servants’ capacity building and aims to enhance governance. The guiding principles of Mission Karmayogi include: Shift from rule to role-based training and capacity building: Capacity building of government officials under Mission Karmayogi focuses on enhancing the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of these individuals through role-based training. Moving to a competency-driven approach for capacity development: A competency-driven capacity building approach focuses on developing competencies critical for public officials to effectively undertake their various roles. Democratising and enabling continuous, lifelong learning opportunities: Mission Karmayogi aims to make available to all government officials, across hierarchies and geographies, the opportunity to continuously build and

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   OPEN NETWORK FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE (ONDC) Syllabus Prelims – CURRENT EVENT Context: The government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) recorded an all-time high of 8.9 million transactions across retail and ride-hailing segments in May. This represented a robust 23 per cent month-on-month increase in total transaction volume, the ONDC said. Background:- The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a government-backed initiative in India that aims to create an open and interoperable e-commerce ecosystem. About Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) The ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC), is a Government of India (GoI) backed technology infrastructure. It is a network-centric model, wherein buyers and sellers can transact irrespective of the platforms/applications they use as long as “platforms/applications are connected to this open network”. In simple terms, ONDC is like a digital road network over which different digital storefronts (in the form of buyer and seller apps) can be built. The digital road network aims to enable e-commerce traffic to travel across these different digital storefronts seamlessly, thereby allowing buyers and sellers to transact regardless of the application / platform they use. This is a significant departure from existing platform centric models of e-commerce where buyers and sellers can only interact within walled platforms. To illustrate, today, a seller on Amazon cannot reach a buyer on Flipkart, and vice versa. These walled platforms have increasingly dominated transaction volumes in India’s ecommerce market over the years, and today are able to wield immense power and control over e-commerce supply chains. This concentration of power and control has led to harmful behaviour such as self-preferencing by platforms or leveraging data to distort competition, which squarely impacts MSME businesses and the consumer interest. ONDC is GoI’s answer to this market distortion. ONDC is expected to make e-Commerce more inclusive and accessible for consumers. Consumers can potentially discover any seller, product or service by using any compatible application or platform, thus increasing freedom of choice for consumers. It will enable the consumers to match demand with the nearest available supply. This would also give consumers the liberty to choose their preferred local businesses. Thus, ONDC would standardize operations, promote inclusion of local suppliers, drive efficiencies in logistics and lead to enhancement of value for consumers. ONDC was incorporated as a Section 8 (NON-PROFIT) company in December 2021, with the Quality Council of India and Protean eGov Technologies Limited as Founding Members. Various public and private sector entities have invested in ONDC, including Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, BSE Investments, Central Depository Services, ICICI Bank, and the Small Industries Development Bank of India. It is important to note that the relationship between the GoI and ONDC is not legally defined and it does not flow from an act of parliament. Source: Internet freedom foundation APPRECIATION AND DEPRECIATION OF RUPEE Syllabus Prelims – ECONOMY Context: Between April-end 2014 and April 2024 – roughly the time the Narendra Modi-government has been in office – the rupee has depreciated by 27.6% against the US dollar, from Rs 60.34 to Rs 83.38. Background: India trades not only with the US. It exports goods and services to other countries as well, while also importing from them. The strength or weakness of the rupee is a function of its exchange rate with not just the US dollar, but also with other global currencies. Key takeaways Appreciation of the Rupee: When the Rupee appreciates, it gains strength against the Dollar. This means you need fewer Rupees to buy a Dollar. For example, if the value of 1 USD decreases from ₹75 to ₹70, this change is termed as an appreciation of the Rupee Here are some impacts of Rupee appreciation: Exports: Rupee appreciation affects exporters negatively as they may lose importers because they find imports from India more costly. Imports: Importers can import more quantity at a less price. This is because they need fewer Rupees to buy a Dollar. Depreciation of the Rupee: When the Rupee depreciates, it loses strength against the Dollar. This means you need more Rupees to buy a Dollar. For example, if the value of 1 USD increases from ₹70 to ₹75, this change is termed as depreciation of the Rupee. Here are some impacts of Rupee depreciation: Exports: Exporters stand to gain the most from Rupee depreciation as it makes exports more competitive. Imports: Imports will become costly. This is because importers need more Rupees to buy a Dollar. Inflation: The biggest impact of a weakening Rupee is inflation, given India imports more than 80% of its crude oil. This is because the cost of imported goods increases due to a reduction in the value of Rupee. IT Sector: The Indian IT sector, which focuses heavily on exports, can achieve more revenue from their global clients due to the decline of the Rupee value. Remember, the appreciation and depreciation of the Rupee are strongly influenced by the change in demand or supply for the Rupee and the Dollar. Source: Indian Express PRESTONE CURVE Syllabus Prelims – ECONOMY Context: The Preston curve refers to a certain empirical relationship that is witnessed between life expectancy and per capita income in a country. The average per capita income of Indians rose from around ₹9,000 per year in 1947 to around ₹55,000 per year in 2011. During the same period, the average life expectancy of Indians rose from a mere 32 years to over 66 years. Background: The empirical relationship was first proposed by American sociologist Samuel H. Preston in his 1975 paper “The changing relation between mortality and level of economic development”. About PRESTON CURVE The Preston curve is an empirical relationship between life expectancy and real per capita income. It is named after Samuel H. Preston who first described it in 1975. Preston studied the relationship for the 1900s, 1930s and the 1960s and found it held for each of the three decades. Preston found that people living in richer countries generally had longer life spans when compared with people living in poorer countries. This is likely because people in wealthier countries have better access

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   NATIONAL HEALTH CLAIM EXCHANGE (NHCX) Syllabus Prelims & Mains – Current Event Context: The health ministry and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India  (IRDAI) are launching the National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX), a digital platform which will bring together insurance companies, healthcare sector service providers and government insurance scheme administrators. Background:- The primary hurdle in health insurance today lies in improving the relationship between hospitals and insurance companies. Issues such as discharge delays and miscommunication between hospitals and insurers further complicate matters. About NATIONAL HEALTH CLAIM EXCHANGE  The NHCX will serve as a gateway for exchanging claims-related information among various stakeholders in the healthcare and health insurance ecosystem. The integration with NHCX is expected to enable seamless interoperability of health claims processing, enhancing efficiency and transparency in the insurance industry, benefiting policyholders and patients. Acting as a centralised hub for all health claims, the NHCX will significantly alleviate the administrative burden on hospitals, which currently contend with multiple portals for various insurers. Twelve insurance companies and one TPA (Third Party Administrator) have completed the NHCX integration. While the actual on-ground launch of both the NHCX and time-bound insurance clearance is expected to roll out soon, a Health Ministry official confirmed that over 30 insurance companies are already onboard the NHCX platform while effort and awareness drives are going on to bring in the hospitals. What are some other incentives on offer? To encourage adoption of digital health transactions and digitisation of patient health records in the country, the National Health Authority had announced financial incentives under the Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) from January 2023. Under the DHIS, there is a provision that for every insurance claim transaction through NHCX, financial incentives of ₹500 per claim or 10% of the claim amount, whichever is lower, would be given to hospitals, according to a Health Ministry note. Why is NHCX being brought in? Arguing for the NHCX, the Health Ministry states that the platform will help in standardisation and interoperability of health claims and will bring in seamless exchange of data, documents and images between payer (insurance company/TPA/government scheme administrator) and provider (hospital/lab/poly clinic). Additionally, it will enable transparent and efficient claims processing and reduce related operational costs. The transition to digitisation is also anticipated to significantly decrease the cost of processing claims. Source: Hindu NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY Syllabus Prelims – Current Event Context: The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union Education Ministry announced the formation of a four-member committee to review the results of over 1,500 candidates who were awarded “grace marks” to compensate for the “loss of time” suffered while appearing for this year’s NEET (Undergraduate). Background: NTA has drawn widespread criticism for its conduct of NEET this year. About National Testing Agency (NTA) The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous agency under the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of India. It was established in November 2017. National Testing Agency (NTA) is a premier, specialist and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. To assess competence of candidates for admissions and recruitment has always been a challenge in terms of matching with research based international standards, efficiency, transparency and error free delivery. The National Testing Agency is entrusted to address all such issues using best in every field, from test preparation, to test delivery and to test marking. NTA conducts various examinations including the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), and University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET). Source: Deccan Herald COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (COM) Syllabus Prelims & Mains – POLITY Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office for a historic third consecutive term along with his council of ministers in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Background: With this, PM Modi has now equalled former PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s record, who also served three consecutive terms. About COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (COM) The Council of Ministers, also known as the Central Council of Ministers, is a central body that forms part of the executive branch of the Union Government. The Council serves as the principal advisory body to the Head of State i.e., the President of India. The Council of Ministers (COM) is the highest decision-making body in the government, headed by the Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers is headed by the Prime Minister and includes Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, and the other Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People. Before a Minister enters office, the President administers the oaths of office and secrecy. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India. A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall, at the expiration of that period, cease to be a Minister. The salaries and allowances of Ministers are determined by Parliament. According to the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act 2003, the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Central Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15 percent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. Important constitutional provisions related to the Union Council of Ministers: Article 74: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President of India. Article 75: Other provisions for Ministers. Article 77: Conduct of business of the Government of India. Article 78: Duties of the Prime Minister with respect to the furnishing of information to the President, etc. Article 88: Rights of Ministers with respect to the Houses. Source: Indian Express OPERATION BLUE STAR Syllabus Prelims – HISTORY Context: The 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star was recently observed. Background: The anniversary passed off peacefully at

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   AGNIPATH SCHEME Syllabus Prelims & Mains – Current Event Context: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s ambitious Agnipath scheme has faced opposition, from political parties and Armed Forces veterans alike, since it was announced in June 2022.Now, with the BJP short of a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha, crucial alliance partners too have called for a review of the contentious scheme. Background:- In fact, a key plank in INDIA bloc’s campaign in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan — where the Armed Forces are a sought after employer — was the opposition to this scheme for military recruitment. And the BJP’s performance in these states indicates that the pitch had some resonance on the ground. What is the Agnipath scheme? Agnipath was aimed at recruiting personnel below officer ranks — soldiers, airmen, and sailors who are not commissioned officers — to the Indian Armed Forces for a period of four years. At the end of this tenure, upto 25% of these recruits, the so called ‘Agniveers’, can join the services on a permanent commission (another 15 years), subject to merit and organisational requirements. Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years are eligible to apply (the upper age limit was increased from 21), and the recruitment standards remain the same as with regular service, prior to Agnipath. At present, all sailors, airmen, and soldiers, except the technical cadre of the medical branch, are recruited to the services under the scheme, which has also opened doors for the recruitment of women to the IAF and the Navy. The scheme was announced in June 2022, after military recruitment was paused for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How are Agniveers compensated? Agniveers draw a basic salary of Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 per month, and are entitled to other risk and hardship allowances. They contribute 30% of their monthly emoluments to the Seva Nidhi fund, which the government matches. At the end of their service, they receive approximately Rs 11.71 lakhs (with interest) as a lump sum severance package from this fund, which is exempt from income tax. If they die on duty, their family receives a lump sum of Rs 1 crore (including the Seva Nidhi package), and full pay for the period which the soldier could not serve. In case of disability, an Agniveer can receive upto Rs 44 lakh as compensation, depending on the percentage of disability suffered which is attributed to, or aggravated by military service. How is Agnipath different from regular military service? Unlike soldiers in regular service, Agniveers do not draw pensions post-retirement. Only the 25% of Agniveers who get absorbed into the forces after four years will receive pensionary benefits, although the initial four years of service will not be considered for these. This is the biggest change that Agnipath has brought in. Not only does the scheme will help reduce the Armed Forces’ permanent force levels, this in turn will considerably cut the defence pension bill, which has been a major concern for governments for many years. Why was Agnipath introduced? Apart from the unsaid intention of reducing the Armed Forces’ wage and pension bill, the government has argued that the scheme will ensure the forces’ “youthful profile”. At the time the scheme was brought in, the average age in the Armed Forces was 32 years, which Agnipath will bring down to 26 years, if implemented. Moreover, the government has argued that after the completion of their service, Agniveers would contribute to the civil society “through their education, skill, discipline and other qualities”. Why has Agnipath seen such strong opposition? Critics say that the scheme creates a “lesser” cadre of soldiers, who work on the same tasks as those with full commission, but with lesser pay, benefits, and prospects. On the ground, this disparity has caused significant disaffection among those who see military recruitment as a path to economic stability and upward mobility. Source: Indian  Express   LIQUID NITROGEN Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has cautioned against use of liquid nitrogen in products such as cocktails, ice-creams, meetha pan and bakery items at the point of sale. Background: The food safety regulator said such use of liquid nitrogen immediately before consumption of food items is “unauthorised” and will attract “ action” in accordance with the regulations. Key Takeaways Nitrogen is a colourless and odourless gas or liquid, with the functional use of “freezing agent, propellant, packaging gas or foaming agent. FSSAI said that as per the FSS regulations, Nitrogen is a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) additive and its use has been laid out in the regulations for specific food categories. In addition, dairy-based desserts (ice-creams) at GMP level liquid nitrogen is permitted to be used only for “technological function of contact freezing and cooling only,” FSSAI added. FSSAI has taken cognisance of several instances of liquid nitrogen being used in bars, restaurants, food serving establishement, caterer in fairs and marriage in food items to make them more “eye-pleasing” at the time of serving. In an advisory, the food safety authority expressed concerns of instances where such “unauthorised use” of liquid nitrogen in food items and direct consumption of liquid nitrogen infused food by consumers has led to “serious health issues and injuries.” “Liquid nitrogen which is illicitly being used directly at the point of serving or plating is not allowed as this is not the intended purpose and technological use of the additive and shall be considered as non-compliance by the food businesses doing so,” FSSAI said. Source: Hindu Businessline   PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA (PMAY) Syllabus Prelims & Mains – Government Schemes Context: The new Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken its first decision to provide assistance for the construction of three crore additional houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Background: This initiative aims to address the increase in the number of eligible families requiring housing. About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Pradhan Mantri Awas

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   SPEAKER Syllabus Prelims & Mains – POLITY Context: As the 18th Lok Sabha prepares to meet, the TDP and JD(U), key allies of the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), are said to be jockeying for the post of Speaker. Background:- After a pro tem or temporary Speaker administers the oath to new members, the Speaker is chosen to be the Presiding Officer of the House. About Speakers post The Speaker has a key role in parliamentary democracy. The Constitution of India provides for the offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker who, according to Article 93, are to be elected “as soon as may be” after the commencement of the House. The Speaker is elected by a simple majority in the House. The term ends with the dissolution of the House, unless the Speaker resigns or is removed from office before that. A motion of no-confidence can be moved against the Speaker with notice of 14 days as per Article 94 of the Constitution. Separately, the Speaker, like any other member of the House, can face disqualification. There are no specific qualifications for becoming Speaker, which means any member is entitled to be considered. However, the post of Speaker is distinct from other members in the House. The salary of the Speaker is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India unlike for other MPs, which flow from a statute voted on by the House itself. Powers of the Speaker Conducting house: The conduct of government business is decided by the Speaker in consultation with the Leader of the House. Prior permission of the Speaker is required for members to ask a question, or to discuss any matter. Question and Records: The Speaker decides the admissibility of a question raised by a member, as well as how the proceedings of the House are published. The Speaker has the power to expunge, in full or in part, remarks that she may consider to be unparliamentary. Critical remarks against the ruling party may not be published if the Speaker decides to expunge them. Casting Vote: According to Article 100 of the Constitution, which talks about voting in the Houses, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha or Speaker of Lok Sabha, or any person acting as such, “shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have an exercise a casting vote in the case of any equality of votes”. No-confidence Motion: One of the most important times when a Speaker’s impartiality impacts the Opposition is when a motion of no-confidence is moved against the government. Disqualification of members: The Tenth Schedule or the anti-defection law, introduced to the Constitution through the Fifty-Second (Amendment) Act, 1985, gives the Speaker of the House the power to disqualify legislators who ‘defect’ from a party. In the landmark case Kihoto Hollohan versus Zachillhu in 1992, the Supreme Court upheld the power vested in the Speaker and said that only the final order of the Speaker will be subject to judicial review. In 2020, the Supreme Court had ruled that Speakers of Assemblies and Lok Sabha must decide disqualification pleas within three months except in extraordinary circumstances. Source: Indian  Express BIRSA MUNDA Syllabus Prelims & Mains – HISTORY Context: The Jharkhand Governor and Chief Minister recently paid tribute to tribal icon Birsa Munda on his death anniversary. Background: Birsa Munda’s life and struggles are celebrated as an unparalleled example of service to the nation, and his legacy continues to inspire the ideals of patriotism and resistance against injustice. Key Takeaways Birsa Munda was a folk hero and a tribal freedom fighter from the Munda tribe. He was born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu village in present-day Jharkhand. Role in Freedom Struggle: He led an Indian tribal mass movement in the Bihar and Jharkhand belts in the early 19th century against British colonisation. He rallied the tribals to fight against the forceful land grabbing carried out by the British government. Birsa Munda Revolt: The Birsa Munda revolt, also known as the Munda Rebellion or Ulgulan (meaning ‘The Great Tumult’), was a significant tribal uprising against British colonial rule in India. It took place in the late 19th century, primarily in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada, and Bandgaon regions In response to the introduction of the Zamindari system in tribal areas, Birsa Munda declared “Ulgulan”, or revolt, against the British and the Dikus (outsiders) in 1894. Religious Influence: He created a faith called ‘Birsait’ and propagated the principles of Hindu religion. Known as ‘Dharti Abba’ or the Earth Father, Birsa Munda stressed the need for the tribals to study their own religion and not forget their cultural roots. Legacy: His struggle against exploitation and discrimination against tribals led to the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act being passed in 1908. The act restricted the passing on of land from the tribal people to non-tribals. The state of Jharkhand was created on his birth anniversary in 2000. Death: He died on June 9, 1900, at the age of 25. Source: Hindustan Times QUANTUM DATA Syllabus Prelims & Mains – Government schemes Context: A new quantum computing study claims that a recent finding in the production, storage and retrieval of “quantum data” has brought us one step closer to the quantum internet. Background: The study, conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Southampton, and the Universities of Stuttgart and Wurzburg in Germany, utilized a specialized photon source to achieve this feat. About QUANTUM DATA Quantum data refers to information stored and processed using the principles of quantum mechanics. Unlike classical data, which is represented by binary states (0s and 1s), quantum data is represented by quantum bits or qubits. Qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to a property called superposition, and they can be entangled with other qubits, allowing for a kind of interconnectedness and correlation that classical bits cannot achieve. Applications of Quantum Data: Cryptography: Quantum key distribution (QKD) leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to create secure communication channels that are theoretically immune to eavesdropping. Optimization

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   HIGH SEAS BIODIVERSITY TREATY Syllabus Prelims – ENVIRONMENT Context: Grethel Aguilar, the director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), urged countries worldwide “to strive for a fully functional High Seas Biodiversity Treaty”. Background:- The high seas are those areas of the world’s oceans that are outside national jurisdictions. They constitute a huge chunk of the world’s oceans and are home to a wide variety of biodiversity. About HIGH SEAS BIODIVERSITY TREATY The United Nations agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction or BBNJ Agreement, also referred to by some stakeholders as the High Seas Treaty or Global Ocean Treaty, is a legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. It is an agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The text was finalised during an intergovernmental conference at the UN on 4 March 2023 and adopted on 19 June 2023 Here are some key points about the treaty: Protection Beyond Borders: While countries are responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of waterways under their national jurisdiction, the high seas now have added protection from such destructive trends as pollution and unsustainable fishing activities. Cleaner Oceans: The treaty aims at strengthening resilience and contains provisions based on the polluter-pays principle as well as mechanisms for disputes. It addresses the issue of toxic chemicals and plastic waste flooding into coastal ecosystems. Sustainable Management of Fish Stocks: More than one third of global fish stocks are over-exploited, according to the UN. The treaty underlines the importance of capacity building and the transfer of marine technology. Legal Framework: The treaty provides a legal framework for addressing various stressors affecting the marine environment in the high seas. Addressing Planetary Crisis: The treaty is crucial for addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The treaty recognizes traditional knowledge. It has articles regarding the “polluter-pays” principle, and different impacts of human activities including areas beyond the national jurisdiction of the countries making those activities. The agreement was adopted by the 193 United Nations Member States. Before the treaty can enter into force, it needs to be ratified by at least 60 UN member states. However, only seven countries — Belize, Chile, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Palau and the Seychelles — have ratified the treaty. India has neither signed nor ratified the treaty. Greenpeace called it “the biggest conservation victory ever”. The main achievement is the new possibility to create marine protected areas in international waters. Source: Down To Earth STICKY INFLATION Syllabus Prelims & Mains – ECONOMY Context: RBI in its recent monetary policy review decided to retain the repo rate, for eighth time in a row, due to concerns of sticky inflation. Background: Therepo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks. When RBI wants to incentivise economic activity in the broader economy, it reduces the repo rate, which makes it cheaper for banks to borrow from it and lend onwards to customers. When it wants to disincentivise economic activity, it raises the repo rate, which makes it costly for everyone in the economy to borrow money. Key Takeaways Sticky inflation refers to a phenomenon where prices do not adjust quickly to changes in supply and demand, leading to persistent inflation. When prices are sticky, inflation can persist even if the economy operates below its potential level. Sticky inflation has been a concern for many central banks, making it difficult to control inflation. Simply put, if inflation stays persistently high (‘sticky’), it would necessitate the RBI to keep raising interest rates — or, at the very least, keep them at a high level for a longer period — and, in doing so, hurt India’s economic There is a constant tradeoff between maintaining price stability (read containing inflation) and boosting growth (which hopefully creates jobs and reduces unemployment). Why is the RBI not cutting interest rates? Currently, the retail inflation rate has been coming down closer to the 4% mark. In fact, it has stayed within the so-called “comfort zone” of the RBI — anywhere between 2% and 6% — since September 2023 and yet, the RBI has not changed the repo rate since February 2023. There are four broad reasons for it: One, despite keeping the repo rate consistently high, the retail inflation has not dropped to touch the 4% mark since January 2021. Although it has declined, the rate of its decline has been very gradual. In fact, the RBI has expressed its concern over the stickiness of inflation. Two, the RBI does not cut the repo rate as soon as the overall inflation rate falls to (or below) the 4% target in any one month. The RBI has to be convinced that inflation rate will stay around the 4% mark sustainably. The RBI’s policy statement predicts that inflation is likely to fall below the 4% target in the near future but that fall would only be due to temporary reasons. Three, as explained earlier, the RBI typically cuts the repo rate when it finds that economic activity needs a boost. However, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate has been surprisingly strong over the past year in particular. Under the circumstances, it is unlikely that repo rates are holding back India’s economic growth. Four, although not articulated by the RBI per se, the decision may have to do with India’s forthcomingUnion Budget. Most economists are waiting to see how the political compulsions of a coalition government will impact the Centre’s commitment to fiscal deficit — the amount of money the government intends to borrow from the market. Higher than anticipated fiscal deficit has implications for both inflation (if more fresh money is printed) or interest rates (if there is less money for the private sector to borrow). Source: Indian Express INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MIGRATION (IOM) Syllabus Prelims – INTERNATIONAL Context: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported at least 49 migrants died and 140 others were missing after their boat capsized

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS UP 40 % IN 40 YEARS Syllabus Prelims – ENVIRONMENT Context: Emissions of planet-warming nitrous oxide gas rose by 40 per cent between 1980 and 2020, a study by the Global Carbon Project revealed recently. Background:- China (16.7 per cent), India (10.9 per cent), US (5.7 per cent), Brazil (5.3 per cent) and Russia (4.6 per cent) were the top five emitters of the gas more potent than carbon dioxide and methane. About NITROUS OXIDE Nitrous oxide commonly known as laughing gas is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula N2O. At room temperature, it is a colourless non-flammable gas, and has a slightly sweet scent and taste. At elevated temperatures, nitrous oxide is a powerful oxidiser similar to molecular oxygen. Nitrous oxide has significant medical uses, especially in surgery and dentistry, for its anaesthetic and pain-reducing effects. Its colloquial name, “laughing gas” is due to the euphoric effects upon inhaling it, a property that has led to its recreational use as a dissociative anaesthetic.It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Most recreational users are unaware of its neurotoxic effects when abused. When used chronically, nitrous oxide has the potential to cause neurological damage through inactivation of vitamin B12. It is also used as an oxidiser in rocket propellants, and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines. It is a major scavenger of stratospheric ozone, with an impact comparable to that of CFCs. Being the third most important greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide substantially contributes to global warming. Reduction of emissions is a popular topic in the politics of climate change. Key Takeaways from the study Agricultural production and livestock rearing were the two key human-driven sources of nitrous oxide. In the last decade agricultural production, chiefly owing to the use of nitrogen fertilisers and animal manure, contributed to 74 per cent of the total anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions, according to the study. The world’s farmers used 60 million metric tonnes of commercial nitrogen fertilisers in 1980. By 2020, the sector used 107 million metric tonnes. Nitrous oxide is also emitted from natural sources such as oceans, inland water bodies and soil. These sources contributed to 11.8 per cent of the global emissions of the gas between 2010 and 2019. Agriculture activities and related waste generation, biomass burning, fossil fuels and industries together contributed to around six per cent of the global nitrous oxide emissions in 2010-2019, the study noted. The study involved examination of global data for all major economic activities that lead to nitrous oxide emissions and 18 anthropogenic and natural sources and three absorbent “sinks” of global nitrous oxide. The High levels of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere can deplete the ozone layer and compound effects of climate change, the study said. On the earth, excess nitrogen contributes to soil, water and air pollution. Among the 18 regions considered in this study, only Europe, Russia, Australasia, and Japan and Korea had decreasing nitrous oxide emissions. Europe had the largest rate of decrease between 1980 and 2020, resulting from reduced fossil fuel and industry emissions. China and South Asia, on the other hand, had the largest increases in nitrous oxide emissions from 1980 to 2020 at 92 per cent. Nitrous oxide emissions from human activities must decline in order to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius as established by the Paris Agreement.Reducing nitrous oxide emissions is the only solution since at this point no technologies exist that can remove nitrous oxide from the atmosphere. Source: Indian Express RAM PRASAD BISMIL Syllabus Prelims & Mains – HISTORY Context: 11th June marked the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil. Background: His ideals of freedom struggle stood in contrast to that of Mahatma Gandhi and he would reportedly say “independence would not be achieved by means of non-violence”. About RAM PRASAD BISMIL Ram Prasad Bismil (11 June 1897 – 19 December 1927) was an Indian poet, writer, and revolutionary who fought againstBritish Raj. He composed poetry in both Urdu and Hindi, using pen names like Ram, Agyat, and Bismil. Early Life: Bismil was born on June 11, 1897, in Shahjahanpur district (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India). He came from a Brahmin family and showed early talent for writing patriotic poetry. Bismil learned Hindi from his father and Urdu from a moulvi. Despite his father’s disapproval, he attended an English-language school and joined the Arya Samaj. Revolutionary Activities: At 18, Bismil read about the death sentence passed on Bhai Parmanand, a scholar and companion of Har Dayal. Angered by this, he composed a Hindi poem titled “Mera Janm” (My Birth), expressing his commitment to removing British control over India. Bismil was associated with the Arya Samaj and became a founding member of the revolutionary organization Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). Conspiracies : Bismil participated in the Mainpuri Conspiracy of 1918 and the Kakori Conspiracy of 1925. Bismil got his name etched as a prominent freedom fighter with his participation in the Mainpuri conspiracy of 1918. Bismil along with Genda Lal Dixit, a school teacher from Auraiya, organised youth from Etahwah, Mainpuri, Agra and Shahjahanpur districts to strengthen their organisations, ‘Matrivedi’ and ‘Shivaji Samiti’. He published a pamphlet titled ‘Deshwasiyon ke Naam’ and distributed it along with his poem ‘Mainpuri ki Pratigya’ on January 28, 1918. To collect funds for the parties, they looted government coffers. The Kakori train robbery, masterminded by Bismil, aimed to fund revolutionary activities. On August 9, 1925, Ram Prasad Bismil along with companions Ashfaqulla Khan and others executed the plan of looting the train at Kakori near Lucknow. After the revolutionaries stopped the 8-Down Saharanpur Lucknow passenger train at Kakori, Ashfaqullah Khan, Sachindra Bakshi, Rajendra Lahiri and Ram Prasad Bismil subdued the guard and looted cash meant for the treasury. Within a month of the attack, the angered colonial authorities arrested more than a dozen HRA members.After the trial in the so-called Kakori conspiracy, these four revolutionaries were sentenced to be hanged. Source: PIB GENERAL ANTI-AVOIDANCE RULE (GAAR) Syllabus Prelims – CURRENT EVENT Context: The Telangana High Court has made a significant ruling regarding the General Anti-avoidance Rule (GAAR). Background: The court ruled against a taxpayer, Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla, in