Current Affairs

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT Syllabus Prelims – ECONOMY Context: Amid tight liquidity conditions and sluggish growth in deposits, banks turned to mobilising funds through issuing certificates of deposit (CDs) in the financial year 2023-2024, which saw a surge of 31 per cent in CD issuance compared to the previous year. Background:- Deposit growth of banks was 13.1 per cent year-on-year till March 8 (excluding the impact of the merger of HDFC with HDFC Bank) which was lower than the credit growth of 16.5 per cent. About Certificate of Deposit A CD is a contract between depositors and the approved bank or financial institution. The depositor lends the money to the bank, and in exchange, the bank provides interest to the depositor for a set time. At the time the instrument reaches maturity, depositors can redeem their funds. CDs are given in a dematerialised format. It is governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which establishes the rules for purchasing CDs. Certificate of Deposits (CDs) may be issued by: Scheduled Commercial Banks; Regional Rural Banks; and Small Finance Banks. Select all-India Financial Institutions that have been permitted by the RBI to raise short-term resources within the umbrella limit fixed by the RBI. CDs may be issued at a discount on face value but may also be issued as coupon bearing instruments. CDs may also be issued on a fixed / floating rate basis provided the interest rate on the floating rate CD is reset at periodic rests agreed to at the time of issue and is linked to a benchmark published by a Financial Benchmark Administrator or approved by the Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA) for this purpose. Like a fixed deposit (FD), a CD’s purpose is to denote in writing that you have deposited money in a bank for a fixed period and that bank will pay you interest on it based on the amount and duration of your deposit. Features of CD Banks: CDs shall be issued in minimum denomination of ₹5 lakh and in multiples of ₹5 lakh thereafter. The tenor of a CD at issuance shall not be less than seven days and shall not exceed one year. Financial Institutions: FIs can issue CDs for a period not less than 1 year and not exceeding 3 years from the date of issue. A certificate of deposit is fully taxable under the Income Tax Act. Loans cannot be granted against CDs, unless specifically permitted by the Reserve Bank. Source: RBI GOLDEN RICE Syllabus Prelims & Mains – SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE Context: A court in the Philippines recently revoked biosafety permits for commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice and Bt eggplant. Background: The decision is circulating in the international media, as proponents of GM crops have claimed the decision may have disastrous consequences for children with vitamin A deficiency, ignoring the safety violations noted by the court. About Golden Rice Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains beta carotene (provitamin A, a plant pigment that the body converts into vitamin A as needed). This compound is what gives this grain its yellow-orange or golden color, hence its name. Golden Rice is developed through genetic engineering. While ordinary rice does produce beta carotene, it is not found in the grain. Thus, scientists used genetic engineering to add the compound to the grain – a minor tweak that improved the grain’s nutritive value. The beta carotene in Golden Rice, which was made possible by the addition of two new enzymes, is identical to the beta-carotene found in green leafy and yellow-colored vegetables, orange-colored fruit, and even in many vitamin supplements and food ingredients. Like ordinary rice, Golden Rice does not require any special cultivation practices, and generally has the same yield and agronomic performance. While vitamin A can be obtained from food products and supplements, challenges regarding their availability, accessibility, and affordability make it difficult to address the problem of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). As rice is a staple food in many vitamin A-deficient communities in Asia, Golden Rice can be a significant help in improving these areas’ vitamin A status once the grain becomes available for public consumption. Source: International Rice Research Institute DJIBOUTI RELEASES GM MOSQUITOES TO FIGHT MALARIA Syllabus Prelims – SCIENCE Context: Genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes were released in Djibouti, East Africa on May 23, 2024 to fight malaria. Background: This is the first time a genetically engineered mosquito has been released in East Africa and the second time on the African continent.Burkina Faso in West Africa conducted the first ever release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Africa Key Takeaways The release is part of the ‘Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Programme’ started two years ago to stop the spread of Anopheles stephensi, an invasive species of mosquito. In 2012, when Anopheles stephensi was first detected in Africa, Djibouti reported 27 cases of malaria. By 2020, the country’s malaria caseload had crossed 73,000. This highly invasive mosquito had migrated to Africa from South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. The invasive mosquito has continued to spread to other countries in the African continent, with cases reported in Ethiopia and Sudan in 2016, Somalia in 2019 and Nigeria in 2020. Unlike other malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa that primarily breed in rural areas, Anopheles stephensi is well adapted to the urban environment. This characteric is particularly dangerous for Djibouti, where 70 per cent of the population live in the capital city and are exposed to the malaria vector. It bites both during the day and at night and is resistant to chemical insecticides. To combat these urban invaders, Oxitec, a biotechnology company developed a method that uses mosquitoes to fight mosquitoes. They have released genetically altered male mosquitoes carrying a special gene that prevents their female offspring from reaching adulthood. The laboratory-produced mosquitoes carry a “self-limiting” gene that prevents female mosquito offspring from surviving to adulthood when they mate. Only their male offspring survive but would eventually die out, according to the scientists behind

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   PREFIRE (POLAR RADIANT ENERGY IN THE FAR INFRARED EXPERIMENT ) Syllabus Prelims – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Context: On May 25, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched one of the two climate satellites, which would study heat emissions at Earth’s poles. The second satellite will be launched in the following days. Background:- The two shoebox-sized cube satellites, or CubeSats, will measure how much heat the Arctic and Antarctica — two of the coldest regions on the Earth — radiate into space and how this influences the planet’s climate. The mission has been named PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) and was jointly developed by NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (US). what are CubeSats? CubeSats are essentially miniature satellites whose basic design is a 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm (which makes up for “one unit” or “1U”) cube — just a little bigger than a Rubik’s cube — and weight not more than 1.33 kg. Depending on the CubeSat’s mission, the number of units can be 1.5, 2, 3, 6, and 12U, according to NASA. These satellites were first developed in 1999 as educational tools. However, owing to their low cost and less mass in comparison to traditional satellites, they began to be put in orbit for technology demonstrations, scientific research, and commercial purposes. Each of the PREFIRE satellites is a 6U CubeSat. They measure around 90 cm in height and nearly 120 cm in width when the solar panels, which will power the satellite, are deployed. The two satellites will be placed in a near-polar orbit (a type of low Earth orbit) at an altitude of about 525 kilometres. Why do researchers want to measure heat emissions at Earth’s poles? It has to do with the Earth’s energy budget, which is the balance between the amount of heat incoming to Earth from the Sun and the amount of heat outgoing from Earth into space. The difference between the two determines the planet’s temperature and climate. A large amount of the heat radiated from the Arctic and Antarctica is emitted as far-infrared radiation — wavelengths of 3 μm to 1,000 μm within the infrared range of electromagnetic radiation. However, there is currently no way to measure this type of energy. As a result, there is a gap in knowledge about the planet’s energy budget. What is the PREFIRE mission? The PREFIRE mission will change that. Its two CubeSats can study far-infrared radiation from the Earth’s pole and the data collected by them would help scientists better understand the energy budget of the planet. The observations will help understand the fundamentals of Earth’s heat balance, allowing to better predict how our ice, seas, and weather will change in the face of global warming. Each of the PREFIRE CubeSat is equipped with a thermal infrared spectrometer — known as Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (TIRS) — to measure the amount of infrared and far-infrared radiation from the Arctic and Antarctica. The spectrometer features specially shaped-mirrors and detectors for splitting and measuring infrared light, according to NASA. The CubeSats will also measure the amount of far-infrared radiation trapped by atmospheric water vapour and clouds at the poles and how this influences the greenhouse effect in the region. Source: Indian Express RISING HEAT STRESS IN SIX METROS Syllabus Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT Context: India’s megacities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad are experiencing worsening “heat stress” , according to a study by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. Background: The CSE study comes at a time when the country is seeing prolonged heatwaves this summer.Odisha recorded 18 heatwave days, while West Bengal recorded 16 in April. A long heatwave is currently prevailing over Rajasthan and parts of Haryana and Delhi. Key Takeaways Worsening “heat stress” in the six metros under study is due to a trend of rising relative humidity over the past two decades. Relative humidity (RH) (expressed as a percent) measures water vapour, but RELATIVE to the temperature of the air. In other words, it is a measure of the actual amount of water vapour in the air compared to the total amount of vapour that can exist in the air at its current temperature. Warm air can possess more water vapor (moisture) than cold air. Besides rising relative humidity, these cities are also experiencing warmer nights as land surface temperatures are not falling at the same rate as a decade ago, said the analysis, blaming this on the “urban heat island” effect. “Urban heat island” effect refers to the trapping of heat due to an increase in built-up area, declining green cover, congestion, heat absorption by urban structures, and heat generated by human activities. This causes the heart of megacities to be much warmer, especially at night, than its outskirts and neighbouring towns. Hot nights are as dangerous as mid-day peak temperatures. People get little chance to recover from day-time heat if temperatures remain high overnight. The combination of rising air and land surface temperatures and high relative humidity is increasing the heat index and heat stress in these cities. Heat index is a measure of discomfort felt due to high heat and humidity. With the exception of Bengaluru, all the other metros have seen a 5-10 per cent rise in average relative humidity during summer, the study noted. According to data, in the last decade, summers in Hyderabad were 10 per cent more humid on an average – the highest among all metros. In Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, humidity increased by 8 per cent, 7 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. The combination of high heat and humidity can compromise the human body’s main cooling mechanism: sweating. The evaporation of sweat from skin cools our bodies, but higher humidity levels limit this natural cooling, the study said. The combination of these two factors makes people sick and, in some cases, can also prove fatal, even at lower ambient temperatures. There is a need to implement emergency measures during heatwaves to protect public health, and also to develop

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)   COALITION FOR DISASTER RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE (CDRI) Syllabus Prelims – Current Event Context: At the UN 4th International Conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) published a Call for Proposals for funding to improve infrastructure resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Background:- The financing appeal, totaling $8 million, was revealed during the SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda as a component of CDRI’s Infrastructure for Resilient Island States Programme (IRIS). About Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development. At present, it is not an intergovernmental organization, which are ordinarily treaty-based organizations. National governments that endorse the CDRI Charter and become a members have a key role in setting its substantive agenda as well as in its governance. It may be noted that the policies, standards and other outputs of CDRI would not be binding on its members. The following are CDRI’s strategic priorities: Technical Support and Capacity-building Research and Knowledge Management Advocacy and Partnerships It was launched by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019. Its objective is to promote research and knowledge sharing in the fields of infrastructure risk management, standards, financing, and recovery mechanisms. CDRI’s initial focus is on developing disaster-resilience in ecological (natural waterways, waste management, etc.), social (schools, hospitals, etc.), and economic infrastructure (energy, telecommunication, roads, railways, airports, etc.). It aims to achieve substantial changes in member countries’ policy frameworks and future infrastructure investments, along with a major decrease in the economic losses suffered due to disasters. As of 2023, the CDRI has 39 members, including 31 national governments such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, United States and 8 organisations . Algeria, Egypt, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and Switzerland were invited, but their membership approval is pending. The CDRI Secretariat is based in New Delhi, India. Source: CDRI SHARAVATHI RIVER Syllabus Prelims – GEOGRAPHY Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Karnataka government to stop any unlawful/illegal sand mining in Sharavathi river. Background: The NGT’s southern zone bench was hearing an application regarding damage caused to flora and fauna due to illegal sand mining. About Sharavathi River Sharavati is a river which originates and flows entirely within the state of Karnataka in India. It is one of the few westward flowing rivers of India and a major part of the river basin lies in the Western Ghats. The total length of the river is around 128 km and it joins the Arabian Sea at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district. On its way, the Sharavati forms the Jog Falls where the river falls from a height of 253 m. Jog Falls is the highest waterfall in India if the single drop water fall and the volume of water are considered for height.Otherwise, it is the third highest waterfall in India (after Kunchikal Falls and Barkana Falls); all three are located in Shivamogga district. The river itself and the regions around it are rich in biodiversity and are home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Source: Deccan Herald ALASKAN RIVERS TURN ORANGE Syllabus Prelims – GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT Context: Rivers and streams in Alaska are changing color – from a clean, clear blue to a rusty orange – because of the toxic metals released by thawing permafrost. Background: The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world resulting in the thawing of permafrost. Key Takeaways The discoloration and cloudiness are being caused by metals such as iron, zinc, copper, nickel and lead – some of which are toxic to the river and stream ecosystems – as permafrost thaws and exposes the waterways to minerals locked away underground for thousands of years. Arctic soils naturally contain organic carbon, nutrients and metals, such as mercury, within their permafrost. High temperatures have caused these minerals and the water sources around them to meet as permafrost melts. Permafrost: Permafrost is soil or underwater sediment which continuously remains below 0 °C (32 °F) for two years or more: the oldest permafrost had been continuously frozen for around 700,000 years.While the shallowest permafrost has a vertical extent of below a meter (3 ft), the deepest is greater than 1,500 m (4,900 ft). Around 15% of the Northern Hemisphere or 11% of the global surface is underlain by permafrost. This includes large areas of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Siberia. It is also located in high mountain regions, with the Tibetan Plateau a prominent example. Only a minority of permafrost exists in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is consigned to mountain slopes like in the Andes of Patagonia, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, or the highest mountains of Antarctica Alaska Alaska lies at the extreme northwest of the North American continent, and the Alaska Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the Western Hemisphere. Because the 180th meridian passes through the state’s Aleutian Islands, Alaska’s westernmost portion is in the Eastern Hemisphere. Thus, technically, Alaska is in both hemispheres. Alaska is bounded by the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean to the north, Canada’s Yukon territory and British Columbia province to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Strait and the Bering Sea to the west, and the Chukchi Sea to the northwest. Alaska, constituent state of the United States of America. It was admitted to the union as the 49th state on January 3, 1959. The capital is Juneau, which lies in the southeast, in the panhandle region. Source: CNN DAG HAMMARSKJOLD MEDAL Syllabus Prelims – Current Event Context: Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was posthumously honoured with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal. Background: Naik Singh’s valour and sacrifice were honoured during a solemn ceremony when the UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.He was among the 61 military, police and civilian peacekeepers honoured posthumously with the prestigious medal during the occasion. Key Takeaways The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is a posthumous award given by the United Nations (UN) to military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a

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)   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)   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)   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