Final - Final Lap 2024 ?

Final Lap 2024
ENVIRONMENT
Climate Change
GHG effect short wavelength of visible light from the sun pass through the
atmosphere and are absorbed, but the longer wavelengths of the infrared
radiation from the heated earth are unable to pass through the
atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases Water vapor (biggest overall contributor to GHG effect)
CO2 < CH4 < N2O < HFCs < PFCs < SF6 [warming potential]
Short-lived Climate SCLPs remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time than
pollutants carbon dioxide (CO2), yet their potential to warm the atmosphere can be
many times greater.
SCLPs: Black Carbon, Methane, Hydrofluorocarbons, Tropospheric Ozone

Black Carbon formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood and other fuels
it reduces surface albedo of snow and ice and heats the surface
Brown Carbon brown smoke released by the combustion of organic matter
Blue Carbon • Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass
meadows sequester and store more carbon per unit area than
terrestrial forests and are now being recognised for their role
in mitigating climate change.
Green Carbon • carbon captured into terrestrial plant biomass in photosynthesis and
stored in the plants and soil of natural ecosystems
Ocean Acidification (called • Decrease in pH of oceans but its still > 7
‘evil twin of global • average ocean pH is about 8
warming’)
Ozone Depletion • ozone in stratosphere – good – absorbs UV rays (~90% of Earth’s ozone
resides in stratosphere)
• ozone in troposphere – bad – pollutant
• sunlight responsible for formation as well as destruction of ozone
• colder conditions à more polar stratospheric clouds à more ozone
depletion
• ozone depletion à stratosphere cools
• Dobson unit – to measure thickness of ozone layer
• Ozone hole – region of exceptionally depleted ozone in stratosphere
over Arctic and Antarctica (ozone levels below 220 Dobson units)
• Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption of 2022 (in South Pacific

Ocean) caused ozone depletion – released large amounts of volcanic
gases (water vapour, HCl, SO2)
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Ozone-depleting • Human-made gases that reach stratosphere and break down ozone
Substances molecules.
• Major ODS: CFCs (aerosols, refrigerants, solvents), HCFCs (aerosols,
refrigerants, solvents), halons (fire extinguishers), methyl bromide
(pesticides), carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform etc.
Vienna Convention, 1985 • Objective: to protect human health and the environment against the
effects of ozone depletion
• Montreal Protocol: to replace CFCs with HFCs (HFCs are not ODS)
• Kigali Amendment: it was realized that HFCs are potent green house
gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change.
• As per UNDP, India surpassed Montreal protocol targets – exceeded
35% phase-out goal – achieved 44% reduction from 2020.
UNFCCC Est in 1992 Rio Earth Summit as a framework for international cooperation
to combat climate change
Secretariat: Bonn, Germany
Important COPs:
• COP 3 – 1997 - Kyoto Protocol
• COP 8 – 2002 - New Delhi
• COP 19 – 2013 – Warsaw
• COP 21 – 2015 - Paris Agreement
• COP 26 – Glasgow, UK
• COP27 – Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• COP28 – Dubai, UAE
COP28 – Dubai - outcomes • Loss and Damage Fund
o It was operationalised with a US$ 800 million commitment to
provide financial help to countries trying to recover from climate-
induced disasters.
o The World Bank will be the "interim host" of the fund for four years.
• Global Stocktake (GST)
o COP 28 took first stock of how the international community has
collectively reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. It acknowledged
that countries failed to meet the $100 billion finance goal.
• Global Renewables & Energy Efficiency Pledge
o led by the European Union, the UAE and the US.
o To triple the world’s green energy capacity to 11,000 GW by 2030,
thereby reducing the reliance on fossil fuels in generating energy.
o neither legally binding nor a part of the official COP28 calendar.
o India & China have stayed away as the initiative calls for phasing
down of coal & “ending the continued investment in unabated new
coal-fired power plants.
• Global Drought Snapshot Report
o Launched by UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD))
o The report states that drought causes more economic loss and
affects more sectors of societies.
• ALTERRA FUND
o Launched by UAE
o aims to attract $250 billions of investment by 2030. The fund will
allocate $25 billion to climate strategies and $5 billion to incentivize
investment flow into the Global South.
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o The fund has four key pillars: 1) Energy Transition; 2) Industrial

Decarbonization; 3) Sustainable Living; 4) Climate Technologies Top
of Form.
• Global Green Credit Initiative
o Launched by India
o Under this initiative, green credits will be assigned to specific
environmental activities, and will be treated as tradable
commodities. These green credits will be able to be sold on domestic
market platforms.
o The main purpose of this initiative is to boost voluntary
environmental activities like tree plantation, water conservation,
sustainable agriculture, & waste management by incentivizing it for
big corporations & private companies, bringing about a change in
the climate Change issues.
o There are two main priorities of the initiative – water conservation
and afforestation.
• Climate Club
o Led by Germany and Chile.
o India not a member
o Aim: decarbonisation of industries through ambitious policies,
alignment of methodologies and standards and improving finance
and assistance for emerging and developed economies.
• Lead IT 2.0
o By India and Sweden
o For inclusive and just industry transition, development and transfer
of low-carbon technology and financial support to emerging
economies for industry transition.
• Global River Cities Alliance
o By National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under M/o Jal Shakti
o For sustainable river centric development.
India’s Panchamrit • Increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500GW by 2030

Commitments (COP26 • Meet 50% of energy requirements from renewable energy by 203
Glasgow) • Reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from
now to 2030
• Reduce carbon intensity of economy by 45% (previous target was 35%)
by 2030
• Achieve net-zero by 2070
Mission LIFE (Lifestyle For • Pro Planet approach that mobilises citizens to use environmental
Environment) friendly options such as LED bulbs, Public Transport , reduction of single
use plastic , recycling of old clothes , reduction in e waste among others
Global Methane Initiative • international public-private initiative to achieve reduction in
anthropogenic methane emissions and use of methane as a valuable
energy source
• launched in 2004
International Solar • Jointly launched by India and France during COP 21 (Paris)
Alliance (ISA) • HQ: Gurugram
• Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and
enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting
rights.
First Movers Coalition • Led by WEF and US Govt
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• India is a member
• To decarbonise sectors of Aluminium, Aviation, Shipping, Steel,
Trucking, Cement and Chemicals
Fit for 55 package 55% emission reduction target (from 1990 levels) which the European Union
(EU) has set for 2030
Carbon Border • proposed carbon tariff imposed on goods imported to the European
Adjustment Mechanism Union from countries with less strict climate policies
(CBAM) • aim: to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.
• Adopted as part of EU’s Fit for 55 Package.
Green Deal Industrial Plan • EU recently unveiled it.
• To create supportive environment for scaling up the EU's
manufacturing capacity of the net-zero technologies required to meet
Europe's ambitious climate targets.
Just Energy Transition • A financing mechanism that aims to support developing countries in
Partnerships (JETP) their transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to clean and
renewable energy sources.
• Launched at the COP26 in Glasgow (2021)
Forest Carbon Credit • They are permits for companies to emit a certain amount of CO2
Stamp • Issued by China
Partnership to Advance India-US

Clean Energy (PACE) Launched in 2009, to accelerate clean energy R&D
Climate Financing Green Climate Fund (GCF)
set up in 2010
Global Environment Facility (GEF)

established in 1992 Rio Earth Summit || World Bank administers the fund ||
GEF serves as a "financial mechanism" to 5 conventions: UNFCC, CBD,
UNCCD, Stockholm - POPs, Minamata - Mercury
Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

established under UNFCCC in 2001 to finance projects in developing country
parties
Adaptation Fund
established in 2001 to finance adaptation projects and
developing country parties
Climate engineering/ge0- tackle climate change by directly removing CO2 or limiting amount of
engineering sunlight reaching the Earth
Techniques:
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS): capture of CO2 emissions from
industrial processes, transport it and store in deep underground
geological formations.
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS): captured carbon is
reused in industrial process or stored.
Biochar It is a carbon-rich material produced by burning organic biomass under

complete absence (pyrolysis) or partial absence (gasification) of O2 at high
temperature.
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It is a stable form of carbon that can’t easily escape into the atmosphere.
Sunlight reflection • Stratospheric Aerosol Injection – SO2 is used
methods • Cirrus cloud manipulation
• Space-based mirrors
IPCC 6th Assessment 1. Part I - scientific basis for climate change average surface temperature
Report of the Earth will cross 1.5 °C over pre- industrial levels by 2040 and 2°C
by the middle of the century without sharp reduction of emissions
2. Part II - likely impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation issues
3. Part III - actions that can be taken to combat climate change
4. Net Anthropogenic GHG have risen in last decade
5. Sectoral Share of GHG Emissions:
• Energy > Industry > Agriculture
State of Cryosphere 2023 • Released by International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI)

• Cryosphere – frozen areas of the Earth
• Findings:
o Last decade witnessed 7 worst years of ice loss
o Himalayas to lose 50% of ice if global temp rises by 2° C
State of Global Climate World Meteorological Organisation(WMO) – specialised UN agency
Report 2022
Findings:
• Global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15°C above the 1850–1900
average.
• Years 2015 to 2022 were eight warmest on record.
• Concentrations of three main greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide – reached record highs in 2021.
• Overall, 58% of ocean surface experienced at least one marine
heatwaves during 2022 and the rate of global mean sea level rise
has doubled
Greenhouse Gas Bulletin WMO
Global CO2 conc in 2022 reached 150% of pre-industrial level

Methane (CH4) – 264% of pre-industrial level
Nitrous dioxide (N2O) – 124% of pre-industrial level
Emissions Gap Report UNEP
2023
Findings:
• Top 4 emitters: China > US > India > EU27
• Global GHG emissions increased by 1.2 % from 2021 to 2022 with
fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes being main
contributors.
• Global temp rise of 3°C if the current policies continue.
Adaptation Gap Report UNEP
2023
Findings:
• Adaptation finance needs are 10-18 times higher than current public
flows.
• Adaptation finance gap is expanding, now at US$194-366 billion
annually.
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Production Gap Report UNEP

2023
Measures gap between governments’ planned production of fossil fuels
and production consistent with Paris agreement
Climate Change Germanwatch
Performance Index 2024
Findings:
• Assesses performance in 4 categories: GHG emission, Renewable
energy, Energy use, Climate policy
• First three ranks – empty
• #4 - Denmark
• #7 - India
• Worst ranked – #67 Saudi, #66 Iran
Global Climate Risk Index Germanwatch
Pollution
Air pollutants CO, SO2, NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5, Ammonia
Other air pollutants:
Lead, Arsenic, Nickel, Acrolein, Asbestos, Benzene
National Air Quality Index (AQI) By CPCB, MoEFCC
Launched in 2014 under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
8 pollutants:
SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5, NH3, Pb
6 AQI categories - Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very

Poor, Severe
National Ambient Air Quality By CPCB, MoEFCC

Standards (NAAQS) 12 pollutants:
SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5, NH3, Pb, As, Ni, Benzene,
Benzopyrene
SAFAR (System of Air Quality and • by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
Weather Forecasting And Research) • to monitor air quality in metropolitan cities of Delhi,
Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) • a framework designed to combat air pollution in the Delhi-
NCR region
• implemented by: CAQM
• enforcement based on AQI levels
Stage Delhi AQI Actions
I – ‘Poor’ 201-300 Hotels/restaurants to use only
electricity/clean fuel
II – ‘Very 301-400 Regulated operations of DG sets
Poor’
III – 401-450 strict restrictions on plying of BS III
‘Severe’ petrol and BS IV vehicles, discontinue
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physical classes in schools for

children up to Class V
IV – 450+ Do not permit LCVs registered
‘Severe+’ outside Delhi, other than EVs
/CNG/BS-VI diesel, discontinuing
physical classes even for classes VI–IX
Commission for Air Quality • Statutory body
Management in NCR and Adjoining • Replaced Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)
Areas (CAQM) • Farmers exempted from penal provisions
• Appeal against CAQM orders à NGT
Central Pollution Control Board • Statutory body under Water Act, 1974
(CPCB) • Under MoEFCC
• Function: prevention, control or abatement of water and
air pollution
National Clean Air Programme • Launched by MoEFCC in 2019
(NCAP) • to cut PM10 and PM2.5 concentration by 20%-30% by 2024
(2017 – base year)
• To be implemented in 131 non-attainment cities
• Not legally binding
• Implemented by CPCB
Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution for monitoring of the implementation of the National Clean Air
in Non-Attainment cities (PRANA) Programme (NCAP) in 131 cities & disseminating
portal information on air quality to the public.
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 • Conducted under NCAP by MoEFCC
• rank cities on the basis of implementation of activities
approved under city action plan and air quality in 131 NCAP
cities
• Results
Category Rank #1
million plus population Indore
million plus population Amravati
less than 3 lakhs population Parwanoo
PM emissions from burning crop Sugarcane (12) > Maize (11) > Cotton (10) > Rice (9) > Wheat (8)
residue (g/kg) *Note: 43% of all crop residue burnt in India is residue of rice
crop
Pusa bio-decomposer Developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa,
Delhi
To decompose stubble
Torrefaction Swedish technology to convert rice stubble into bio-coal
Coal in India Gondwana Coal (99% of India’s coal production)
• High ash content
• Low sulphur content
Tertiary Coal (found in North East)

• Low ash content
• High sulphur content
Pollution Control Technologies (PCTs) Pre-combustion
at different stages of a power plant’s • Coal washing and blending
operations
In-combustion
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• Low NOx Burner (LNB) and Over-Fire Air (OFA) in boiler for
NOx reduction.
• Limestone injection into the furnace for SOx reduction.
• Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) boilers:
environment-friendly technology to reduce the discharge of
pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide by
injecting air and lime at the same time for burning.
Post-combustion
• Flu Gas Desulphurization: To remove SO2 from exhaust flue
gases of thermal power plants
• Selective Catalytic Reduction: To remove NOx from flue
gases. Converts NOx to nitrogen in the presence of a
catalyst
• Electrostatic Precipitator: Removes fine particles like
smoke and dust from gases
Fly Ash Fine powder left after combustion of coal
contains several toxic heavy metals like lead (Pb), nickel (Ni),
zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn)
Applications: agriculture – improves water holding capacity,
making cement & bricks, making adsorbent waste water
treatment
Radon Emitted naturally by soil || generally found in basements
Green crackers – SWAS, STAR, SAFAL Don’t contain lithium, arsenic, barium and lead
developed by CSIR-NEERI
Petroleum & Explosives Safety • nodal agency to look after safety requirements of the
Organisation (PESO) Explosives and Petroleum Sector including firecrackers.
HQ: Nagpur • Statutory body
• Under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce
Cloud Seeding • deliberate introduction into clouds of various substances
that act as condensation nuclei to induce precipitation.
• Chemicals used: Salts such as silver iodide (AgI), potassium
iodide, sodium chloride, or dry ice (solid carbon dioxide)
• Clouds should contain supercooled water (less than zero
degree C)
Ozone pollution • Stratospheric ozone – good
• Tropospheric (ground-level) ozone – bad
• Ground-level ozone is secondary pollutant formed by
chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx),
carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4) and volatile organic
compounds (VOC)
• Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny
days in urban environments
BOD, COD, Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen – amount of oxygen present in water (should
be > 8 mg/L)
↑ temperature è ↓ dissolved oxygen
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Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) – dissolved oxygen needed

by microorganisms to decompose organic waste (only
biodegradable) in water
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) – oxygen needed by chemicals

to decompose organic waste (biodegradable + non-
biodegradable) in water
Bioaccumulation , Biomagnification Bioaccumulation – increase in concentration of a pollutant from
the environment to the first organism in a food chain
Biomagnification – increase in concentration of a pollutant as it

moves from one trophic level to the next
Diseases by pollutants Mercury – Minamata
Cadmium – Itai Itai
Nitrates – Blue Baby syndrome / Methamoglobinemia
Fluoride – Fluorosis
Arsenic – Black Foot Disease
Microplastic, Nanoplastic Plastic particles < 5 mm (microplastics) || < 100 mm
(nanoplastics)
Found in cosmetics, synthetic clothing, plastic bags and bottles
Plasticrust Thin coating of plastic that grows on rocks at sea shore
Composed of polyethylene
Dead zone Dead zones are hypoxic areas in the world's oceans and large
lakes. Hypoxia occurs when dissolved oxygen concentration
falls to or below 2ml of O₂/liter.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch Gyre, sargasso sea weed, plastic litter
GloLitter Partnership Implemented by IMO + FAO
Aims to tackle marine plastic litter
MARPOL Convention, 1973 IMO’s convention for prevention of pollution of the marine
environment by ships
International Maritime Organization (IMO) – specialised UN
agency
London Convention, 1972 control of all sources of marine pollution and to take all
practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of
wastes and other matter
Honolulu strategy Reduce the impact of marine debris worldwide
Composite Water Management Index NITI Aayog
Uses Falkenmark Index – used to measure water scarcity
Dublin Principles Related to Water management
Groundwater • India is the world’s largest user of groundwater exceeding
US and China combined. (25% of global groundwater
extraction)
• 90% of it used for irrigation
• 10% - drinking, domestic & industrial use
Bodies related to water Central Groundwater Authority (HQ: New Delhi)
• statutory - under Environment (P) Act, 1986
• under Jal Shakti Ministry
• to regulate and control development and management of
ground water resources in the country.
Central Groundwater Board (HQ: Faridabad)
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• non-statutory
• multidisciplinary scientific organisation to provide scientific
inputs for management, exploration, monitoring,
assessment, augmentation and regulation of ground water
resources of the country.
• under Jal Shakti Ministry
Central Water Commission (CWC)

• non-statutory
• attached office in Jal Shakti Ministry
India WRIS (Water Resources Web portal containing info related to water resources
Information System) Launched in 2019 under National Hydrology Project
Zero Liquid Discharge Water treatment process to recirculate all the water with zero
liquid waste
Components: pre-treatment à Reverse Osmosis (RO) à
Evaporator & Crystalliser
River Cities Alliance (RCA) • Launched by M/o Jal Shakti and M/o Housing & Urban Affairs
in 2021
• to provide the member cities with a platform to discuss and
exchange information on aspects that are vital for
sustainable management of urban rivers, sharing best
practices and supporting innovation
• The Alliance is open to all river cities of India. Any river city
can join the Alliance at any time.
Plastic Overshoot Day • Refers to the day when the amount of plastic waste
surpasses the capability of waste management systems to
effectively manage.
Plastic Waste Management • Bans single-use plastic of low utility and high littering
Amendment Rules 2021 potential
• Single-use Plastic items completely banned from July 1, 2022:
earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic flags, polystyrene,
plastes, cups, glasses, cutlery, straw, trays, wrapping etc
• Thickness of plastic carry bags increased to 75 microns wef
Sept 2021 and 120 microns wef 31 Dec 2022
Un-plastic Collective (UPC) • co-founded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and WWF-
India.
• seeks to minimise externalities of plastics on the ecological
and social health of our planet. The word ‘un-plastic’
specifically refers to moving all types of plastics in a circular
economy and removing unnecessary plastic in the long run
Invisible e-waste Electronic items that often go unrecognized and aren’t properly
recycled within the appropriate waste stream are known as
invisible e-waste. E.g., vapes, LED accessories, USB cables,
power tools, smoke detectors, etc.
Waste to energy Incineration – burning waste in presence of O2
Pyrolysis – burning waste in absence of O2 to produce syngas
(CO + CO2 + H2)
Gasification – burning waste in controlled amount of O2 to
produce syngas
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Biomethanation – microbiologically convert waste into biogas

Bioremediation use of microorganisms to convert to degrade environmental
pollutants into less toxic forms
in-situ – bioventing, biosparaging, bioaugmentation

ex-situ – landfarming, biopiles, bioreactors, composting
phytoremediation – use of plants

mycoremediation – use of fungus
Conventions Stockholm Convention – persistent organic pollutants
Basel Convention – transboundary movement of hazardous
waste and their disposal
Rotterdam Convention - hazardous chemicals and pesticides
Minamata Convention – mercury
Washington Convention – CITES

Bonn Convention – CMS
Cartagena Protocol – biosafety to ensure safe handling of living

modified organisms
Nagoya Protocol – access and benefit sharing
Biodiversity
Indian Tiger / Royal Bengal Tiger IUCN: EN || CITES: Appendix I || WPA,1972: Schedule I
Status of Tigers Report 2022
• India – 3682 tigers, home to 75% of global tiger population
• Population – statewise: MP > Karnataka > Uttarakhand
• Population – Tiger reserves: Jim Corbett > Bandipur >
Nagarhole
• Tiger reserve with highest tiger density: Jim Corbett
• Tiger reserves with no tigers: Dampa (MZ), Kamlang
(Arunachal), Kawal (TL), Satkosia (OD), Sahyadri (MH)
Tigers found in 13 countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh,

Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Russia
Related terms: CA|TS, mSTRIPES, CaTRAT, TX2
Leopard IUCN: VU || CITES: Appendix I || WPA, 1972: Schedule I

Status of Leopards in India 2022
• 13,874 leopards in India
• Population – statewise: MP > Maharashtra > Karnataka
Snow Leopard IUCN: VU || CITES: Appendix I || WPA, 1972: Schedule I
First ever survey of snow leopards in India
• 718 snow leopards in India
• Statewise pop: Ladakh (477) > Uttarakhand (124) > HP
(51), Arunachal (36) > SK (21) > JK (9)
Found in 12 countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal,
Bhutan, China, Russia, Mongolia, Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz, Kazak
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Cheetah African Cheetah: VU || Asiatic Cheetah: CR
Asiatic Cheetah
• declared extinct in India in 1952
• surviving today only in Iran
Asiatic Lion IUCN: EN || CITES: Appendix I || WPA,1972: Schedule I
Surviving today only in India

Its range is restricted to Gir National Park and adjoining (Pania,
Mitiyala, Girnar Sanctuaries)
Asian Elephant IUCN: EN || CITES: Appendix I || WPA,1972: Schedule I
Species: Indian, Sri Lankan, Sumatran, Borneo (all EN)
Population – statewise: Karnataka > Assam > Kerala
It is India’s National Heritage Animal

Initiatives: MIKE, E8, E50:50
Indian Rhino (Great One-Horned
Rhino) Asian – Indian, Javan, Sumatran
Rhino
African – Black, White
Indian Rhino: VU || CITES: Appendix I || WPA,1972: Schedule I

• Largest of all Rhino species
• Excellent swimmers
• Found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan
• Assam has 71% of the world’s population (2895 as per 2022
census) with Kaziranga National Park harbouring the highest
number.
• Pobitra WS (Assam) has the highest density of Indian rhinos
in the world.
• Other states: WB, UP
Great Indian Bustard IUCN: CR
Found in arid and semi-arid grasslands: India and Pakistan
states: RJ, MP, GJ, MH, KN, AP
RJ’s state bird (locally known as Godawan)
Global Declaration of River Dolphins • Adopted by River dolphin range states- Bangladesh, Bolivia,
Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Pakistan,
Peru and Venezuela.
• To halt and reverse the decline of all river dolphin species in
both Asia and South America.
Dolphin River Type IUCN
Boto Amazon Freshwater EN
Baiji Yangtze Freshwater EN
Bhulan Beas, Indus Freshwater EN
Susu Ganga Freshwater EN
Tucuxi Amazon Freshwater EN
Irrawady Chillika Lake Brackishwater EN
Gangetic Dolphin IUCN: EN
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• Found in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnali-Sangphu

river systems
• Functionally blind and finds its prey using echolocation
• Being a mammal, cannot breathe in water, so comes to
surface every 30-120 sec
• Females larger than males
Vulture Species: long-billed, slender-billed, red-headed, white-backed
Threats: veterinary drug Diclofenac, collision with overhead
wires, electrocution
Indian Pangolin IUCN: EN
found in Pak, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Gharial IUCN: CR
Live in freshwater systems
Found majorly in Chambal river
Small population in Girwa river, Ramganga river
Hoolock gibbon IUCN: EN

India has only western hoolock gibbon
Only apes found in India
Dugong (Sea Cow) IUCN: VU
Only herbivorous marine mammal
Come to the surface to breathe
Ghol or Black spotted Crocker state fish of Gujarat
swim bladders highly priced because of their medicinal and
commercial values.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) IUCN: EN || CITES: Appendix II || WPA1972: Schedule IV
Non-fragrant variety of sandalwood
Endemic to Andhra Pradesh
Used for – furniture, musical instruments, medicinal purposes,
extraction of santalin (red pigment)
Gentiana Kurroo • Himalayan medicinal plant on the verge of extinction
• perennial herb with flowers that are deep blue
• used for liver ailments, digestive disorders, diabetes, asthma,
and urinary tract infections
Golden Langur IUCN: EN
Habitat: transboundary region of Bhutan-India
Others Dhole (Asiatic Dog): found in KN, MH, MP
Fishing Cat: found in Sunderbans mangroves, around Chillika,
Western Ghats
Butterflies in news Dusted Apollo, Cigaritis meghamalaiensis, Noble’s Helen,
Krishna Peacock, Indian Jezebel, Orange Oakleaf, Golden
Birdwing, Striped Hairstreak, Elusive Prince, Tamil Yeoman
Kaiser-i-Hind – state butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh
Himalayan Serow IUCN: VU
Herbivores mammal found in Himalayas (altitude of 2000-
4000m)
Invasive Alien Species • Prosopis chilensis: drought-resistant plant, threat to Gulf of
Mannar BR, native to South America
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• Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki):

feed on mosquito larva, introduced as biological mosquito
control, native USA
• Conocarpus Trees: invasive mangrove species, banned by GJ
govt
• Ludwigia peruviana: called primrose willow, threat to
elephant habitats, native to Central and South America
Turtles vs Tortoise Turtles – live in sea, mainly carnivores
Tortoise – live on land, mainly herbivores
Monotremes Egg laying mammals – Platypus, Echidna – found only in Aus, NZ
India State of Forests Report 2021 By Forest Survey of India, MoEFCC

Total forest cover: 21.7% of geographical area
Total tree cover: 2.9% of geographical area
Forest cover:
Absolute à MP > Arunachal > Chhattisgarh > Odisha >
Maharashtra
%age à Mizoram (84%) > Arunachal Pradesh (79%) > Meghalaya
(76%) > Manipur (74%) > Nagaland (73%)
Tiger reserve with largest forest cover

Absolute - Nagarjunasagar Srisailam TR
%age terms – Pakke TR
Mangroves:
West Bengal (43% of total mangrove area) > Gujarat > Andaman &
Nicobar
Bamboo cover:
MP > Maharashtra > Arunachal > Odisha
Wetlands area:
Gujarat > West Bengal
Protected Areas ~5% of India’s area is protected area
Biosphere Reserves
National Parks
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Conservation Reserve – owned by govt
Community Reserve – owned by community/private
Important Laws, Bodies, Terms Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 à Animal Welfare
Board of India (M/o Fisheries and Animal Husbandry)
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 à

• National Board for Wildlife (chaired by PM) – approves
alteration of boundary of NP, WS
• Central Zoo Authority (chaired by Env Minister)
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
Water Act, 1974 à CPCB
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Forest (Conservation Act), 1980 à Forest Advisory Committee –

approves diversion of forest land for non-forest use
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 à Central Groundwater

Authority
Provides for Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) as transition zones between
high protection and no protection areas
National Forest Policy 1988 à provided for Joint Forest

management
Forests Rights Act, 2006 à provides for Community Forest

Resource Management, Critical Wildlife Habitats
NGT Act, 2010 à NGT

PARIVESH portal For obtaining environmental clearances
CRZ norms, 2018
Ramsar sites 80 Ramsar sites in India

Largest: Sunderban (WB)
Smallest: Renuka (HP)
State with most wetlands: TN (16) > UP (10)

Peatlands Cover 3% of global land
Largest natural terrestrial carbon store
Found in: permafrost regions (poles, high altitudes), coastal areas,
beneath tropical rainforests, boreal forests
Blue Flag Beach certification by Denmark-based FEE - recognized for their
cleanliness, safety, amenities, and eco-friendliness.
12 blue flag beaches in India:
Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri
(Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh),
Golden (Odisha), Radhanagar (Andaman and Nicobar), Kovalam
(TN), Eden (Puducherry), Thundi (Lakshadweep), Kadmat
(Lakshdweep)
Cryptobiosis state of an organism when it shows no visible signs of life and

when its metabolic activity becomes hardly measurable
Facultative parthenogenesis (FP) • ability of sexually reproducing species to sometimes produce
(also referred as "virgin birth”) offspring asexually.
• In FP, a female's egg cell can develop into a baby without being
fertilized by a male's sperm cell.
• Scientists have documented the first-known instance of a FP by
a crocodile.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) DNA that is collected from a variety of environmental samples such
as soil, seawater, snow or air, rather than directly sampled from an
individual organism.
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UN Decade on Ecosystem 2021-30

Restoration
Living Planet Report WWF
Living Planet Index WWF
Global Biodiversity Outlook Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Sustainable Development
Biofuels Considered renewable energy source
Generations: 1G (food crops), 2G (non-food crops), 3G
(engineered algae)
Types:
§ Bioethanol: used as additive (India targets 20% ethanol-
blending by 2025)
§ Biodiesel: can be directly used as fuel (target 5% blending of
biodiesel in diesel by 2030)
§ Biogas
§ Biojet
National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 Categorization of biofuels, VGF to 2G biorefineries, allows use of
surplus foodgrains
Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) • Launched by India at G20 Summit
• Aim: To serve as a catalytic platform, fostering global
collaboration for the advancement and widespread adoption
of biofuels.
• GBA Members: 7 G20 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
India Italy, South Africa, USA.
Green Deposits a type of savings account where deposited money goes toward
environmentally friendly projects.
RBI recently issued a framework for Green Deposits.
Solar Energy Installed solar capacity: 74 GW (Jan 2024)
State with highest installed solar capacity: Rajasthan
Wind Energy Installed wind capacity: 45 GW (Jan 2024)
State with highest installed wind capacity: Tamil Nadu
Jaisalmer Wind Park (capacity 1600 MW): largest wind park in

India
Hydrogen Grey H: natural gas split into H2, CO2 | CO2 emitted into
atmosphere
Blue H: natural gas split into H2, CO2 | CO2 is captured and stored
Green H: water split into H2, O2 using solar/wind power | No CO2
emitted
Hydrogen for Heritage scheme Announced in the Union Budget 2023-24
Under it, Indian Railways will:
• Run 35 Hydrogen trains.
• Retro fitment of Hydrogen Fuel cell on existing Diesel Electric
Multiple Unit (DEMU).
Sustainable Alternative Towards • Encourages entrepreneurs to set up CBG plants, produce &
Affordable Transportation (SATAT) supply CBG to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for sale as
Scheme automotive & industrial fuels.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
(MoPNG).
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• Compressed biogas (CBG): Biogas is a mixture of methane,

CO2 and small quantities of other gases produced naturally
through the anaerobic decomposition of biomass. It is then
purified and compressed to give CBG
Flex Fuel Vehicle Vehicles that can run on more than one type of fuel, or even a
mixture of fuels such as petrol and ethanol.
Ex. E85 which has 85% ethanol fuel and 15% gasoline or other
hydrocarbon by volume.
Fugitive emissions unintentional leaks emitted from sealed surfaces, such as
packings and gaskets, or leaks from underground pipelines
resulting from corrosion or faulty connections.
Wind and solar don’t have fugitive emissions
Mission on Advanced and High • Launched by M/o Power + M/o New and Renewable Energy
Impact Research (MAHIR) • To indentify emerging technologies in power sector and
develop them indigenously
RETAP • launched under US-India under Strategic Clean Energy
Partnership (SCEP)
• To accelerate the development of emerging renewable
technologies.
Methane hydrates molecules of natural gas enclosed within a solid lattice of water
molecules.
Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) Platform for trading renewable energy
Geothermal Energy 7 geothermal provinces in India:
• Himalayas – Ladakh, Manikaran, Tapoban;
• Sohana – Haryana, Rajasthan;
• West coast – Maharashtra;
• Cambay – Khambet;
• Son-Narmada-Tapi (SONATA) – Tatapani, Anhoni-Samoni;
• Godavari – Manuguru;
• Mahanadi – Bakreshwar
Star Labelling Programme (SLP) • Launched in 2006 by Ministry of Power under the Energy
Conservation Act, 2001
• Implementation: By Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
o Statutory body – Energy Conservation Act, 2001 – under
M/o Power
• Mandatory for 15 appliances and voluntary for 20.
Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency It is an evolved rating methodology for air conditioners that
Ratio (ISEER) factors in variance in higher temperature in India and rates air
conditioners accordingly.
UTPRERAK (Unnat Takniki Centre of Excellence to accelerate adoption of energy efficient
Pradarshan Kendra) technologies in Indian industry
Set up by BEE
Fostering Effective Energy Transition WEF
report
Energy Transition Index WEF
World Energy Outlook IEA (International Energy Agency)
Global Energy and CO2 Status report IEA
Global Electric Vehicles Outlook IEA
Geospatial Energy Map of India NITI Aayog + ISRO
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Agriculture
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) Beejamrutham (seed treatment), Jeevamtrutham (no fertilisers,
terms no pesticides), Acchadana (Mulching), Whaapasa (soil moisture)
No vermicomposting done
Benefits: low cost, less water use, less electricity, lower methane
emissions
National Programme for Organic • Certification of organic produce
Production (NPOP) • Accredited Certification Bodies responsible for certifying.
• Implementing agency: Agricultural and Processed Food
• Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under
Ministry
• of Commerce & Industries
• Recognized by European Commission and Switzerland
Participatory Guarantee Systems • Certification of organic produce
(PGS) • Local Group responsible for certifying – no need for 3rd party
certification
• M/o Agriculture
Jaivik Bharat logo Introduced by FSSAI to communicate adherence of product to
NPOP and PSG
World of Organic Agriculture report India ranked #1 in number of organic farmers
2024 Rank #9 in terms of area under organic farming
Sikkim – fully organic state
Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Hydroponics: growing crops in water w/o soil
Aeroponics Aeroponics: no growing medium
Aquaponics = Hydroponics + Aquaculture
Vertical farming Growing crops in vertically stacked layers
Conservation Agriculture 3 components: permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance,
crop rotation
Cellular Agriculture • Production of animal-based products from cell cultures
rather than directly from animals.
Millets • 2023 - international year of millets
• India produces 20% of World’s Millets
• Major Millets in India : Jowar , Bajra , Ragi
Millets And Other Ancient Grains • Launched at G20 2023 meetings
International ReSearcH Initiative • Secretariat: Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR),
(MAHARISHI) Hyderabad
Soil Health Card: 12 parameters Macro
Primary: N P K
Secondary: Sulphur
Micro: Iron, Copper, Boron, Manganese, Zinc

Soil Podsol: cold & humid | rich in Silica and Lime
Latosol: hot & humid | rich in Iron, Aluminium
Gleysol: waterlogged peaty soil
Globally Important Agricultural Initiative of FAO
Heritage Systems (GIAHS) 3 GIAHS in India:
• Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System of Kerala.
• Koraput Traditional Agriculture of Odisha.
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• Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir.

Virtual water Water consumed for production of agri and non-agri
commodities throughout their lifecycle
Geography
Tropical Cyclone conditions 5-20° North, South (Coriolis force), sea surface temp > 27°C, high
humidity, presence of low pressure, small variation in vertical
wind speed
La Nina, El Nino Normal year/ La Nina
Western Tropical Pacific (warm) – Eastern Tropical Pacific (cool)
El Nino
Western Tropical Pacific (cool) – Eastern Tropical Pacific (warm)
El Nino Modoki
WTP (cool) - Central Tropical Pacific (warm) – ETP(cool)
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) 2 phases:
• Negative/Cool: cooler Eastern Equatorial Pacific, warmer
north, west and southern Pacific
• Positive/Warm: warmer Eastern Equatorial Pacific, cooler
north, west and southern Pacific
Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) Low pressure band moving from west to east
MJO over Indian ocean à good rainfall in Indian subcontinent
Indian Ocean Dipole (Indian Nino) Positive phase à good rainfall in Indian subcontinent
Western Indian Ocean (warm) – Eastern Indian Ocean (cool)
Negative phase à scarce rainfall in Indian subcontinent

Western Indian Ocean (cool) – Eastern Indian Ocean (warm)
Atlantic Meridional Overturning • AMOC is a large system of ocean currents driven by
Circulation (AMOC) differences in temperature and salinity (water’s density)
• Weakening due to global warming (as temp difference
between poles and equator decreasing)
Boreal Summer Intra Seasonal Heat transfer from Indian ocean to western Pacific ocean during
Oscillation (BSISO) monsoon (June- Sept)
Causes short-term climate variability in monsoon system
Atlantification Process wherein warm water from Atlantic Ocean is being
advected into Arctic Ocean in increasing amounts.
Heat Dome A heat dome is created when an area of high pressure stays over
the same area for days or weeks, trapping very warm air
underneath - like a lid on a pot.
This phenomena was seen in North America in Jun-Jul 2021

South Atlantic Anomaly Weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field
Here, Van Allen radiation belt comes down to 200 km altitude
Van Allen Radiation belt zone of energetic charged particles that are captured by and
held around a planet’s magnetosphere.
Karakoram anomaly the stability or anomalous growth of glaciers in the central
Karakoram, in contrast to the retreat of glaciers in other nearby
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mountainous ranges of Himalayas and other mountainous

ranges of the world.
Misc
6th mass extinction ongoing extinction event of species during the
present Holocene epoch (with the more recent time sometimes
called Anthropocene) as a result of human activity.
Evil Quartet 4 major causes of biodiversity loss: habitat loss, overexploitation,
invasive alien species, secondary extinction
Carbon Fertilisation phenomena that the increase of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere increases the rate of photosynthesis in plants.
Great Green Wall Project to combat desertification in Africa
Deep Ecology environmental philosophy which promotes the inherent worth of
all living beings regardless of their instrumental utility to human
needs
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology
Cell Cell theory

• all living organisms are composed of cells and products of
cells
• all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
Types of cells
• prokaryotic – lack a membrane-bound nucleus
ex. Bacteria, archaea
• eukaryotic – have membrane bound nuclei (0, 1 or more)
ex. Plants, animals, fungi, protozoa
Cell organelles and their functions:

• nucleus – DNA storage
• mitochondria – energy production (ATP)
• ribosomes – protein production
• lysosomes – protein destruction (suicide bags)
• vacuole - store water, nutrients, and the waste materials of
the cell
Plant vs Animal cell Plant cell Animal cell

Have cell wall (outer cover) No cell wall
as well as cell membrane
(inner cover)
Large single vacuole Many small vacuoles
Have chloroplasts for No chloroplasts
photosynthesis
DNA, RNA • While DNA stores genetic information, RNA mostly helps in
transfer and expression of information. Though DNA and RNA
both function as genetic material, but DNA being chemically
and structurally more stable is a better genetic material.
• DNA has the blueprints for every protein in our body, all
packaged into a neat double helix.
• Transcription (making a complementary strand of RNA from
DNA) is completed within the nucleus
• Translation (making protein from RNA instructions) takes
place in the cytoplasm.
Terms • Chromosomes - In the nucleus of each cell, the DNA molecule

is packaged into thread-like structures called chromosomes.
• Genome – an organism’s complete set of DNA
• Gene – functional sequence of DNA
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• Genotype (backend) – pattern of genes in an organism’s DNA

responsible for particular traits
• Phenotype (frontend) – observable physical properties of an
organism
Genetic Modification Direct Manipulation of DNA of an organism to get desired

(GM) Technology characteristics
Approaches for Gene 1. CRISPR- Cas9

Editing/ Gene 2. Homing Endonuclease
Modification 3. Site Directed Endonuclease (SDN)
● In SDN, ‘Nucleases’ are used which are like
molecular scissors which cleave the DNA at
desired position
● SDN 1 and 2 do not introduce any alien gene while
SDN3 does
● In SDN 1 and 2 result is indistinguishable from a
conventionally bred crop
CRISPR cas9 This technology got awarded the Nobel Prize in 2020
Bt cotton • Only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India.

• it is said to lost its efficacy against the Pink Bollworm (PBW)
pest.
• GEAC asked states to test a new kind of transgenic cotton seed
that contains a gene, Cry2Ai, which makes cotton resistant to
pink bollworm.
• Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies have been used in Bt
Cotton.
DMH 11 (Dhara Mustard ● GEAC has approved its environmental release

Hybrid) ● It is a transgenic hybrid crop developed by researchers at
Delhi University by crossing Indian Mustard Varuna
(Barnase Line) with East European Early Heera 2 Mutant
(Barstar Line)
● Foreign genes come from a soil bacteria called ‘Bacillus
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amyloliquefaciens’
GM Crops regulators in ● Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under Ministry of

India Science is the nodal for GM research and setting of safety
standards
● GEAC - Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is the
regulator under Ministry of Environment and Forests to
approve GM Crops in India, allow field trials and approve
large scale release in environment
● ICAR - Indian Council For Agricultural Research under
Ministry of Agriculture for R&D on GM crops
Bioeconomy An economy that sources its energy and material needs from
renewable sources
CAR (Chimeric Antigen • cellular immunotherapy treatment that uses T cells that
Receptor)-T Cell Therapy are genetically altered in a lab to enable them in locating
in destroying cancer cells more effectively.
• T-cells taken from patient’s blood à CAR gene inserted à
CAR T-Cells infused in blood
• Ex. NexCAR19 – to target cancer cells that carry CD19
protein.
Genome Sequencing ● A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA.

Sequencing it involves deciphering the order in which
base pairs of the DNA are arranged
● In human DNA, there are 3 billion base pairs
● Genome sequencing helps in understanding human
evolution, identify genetic diseases
● USA in 1990 led the Human Genome Project (HGP) while
in India we have had initiatives like INDIGEN (by CSIR) and
Genome India (by DBT)
● INSACOG ( Indian SARS Cov2 Genomics Consortium) was
an recent programme by CSIR, MoHFW, DBT etc to
sequence the genome of SARS COV2 virus.
IndiGen Programme Whole-genome sequencing of 1000 Indian individuals

By CSIR
Genome India Project build a grid of the Indian “reference genome” after collecting
10,000 samples
• by Deptt of Biotechnology
Human Genome Project international research effort to determine the DNA sequence of
the entire human genome. It sequenced 92% of human genome.
Telomere to Telomere It sequenced the remaining 8% of human genome.

(T2T) consortium
Dark Genome • The human genome is conventionally divided into the

“coding” genome, which generates the ~20,000
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annotated human protein coding genes, and the “dark”

genome, which does not encode proteins.
• The dark genome is a vast space, accounting for the
~98.5% of genomic space where repeat elements,
enhancers, regulatory sequences, and non-coding RNAs
reside.
RNA interference (RNAi) • RNAi disrupts the production of harmful proteins by

technology intercepting and incapacitating mRNA transcripts before they
make it to ribosomes. This prevents the corresponding
proteins from being made
• Used for controlling gene expression, gene-silencing
mRNA vaccine Benefits: use of a non-infectious element, shorter manufacturing

times, and potential for targeting of multiple diseases. mRNA
vaccines can be developed in a laboratory using a DNA template
and readily available materials.
Enzyme Replacement • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) recently gave nod
Therapy to world’s first enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).
• Adzynma - the first genetically engineered protein product for
ERT.
• for treating congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
(cTTP), a rare blood clotting disorder.
Mitochondrial
Replacement Therapy (3-
parent baby)
2 methods – pronuclear transfer, spindle transfer
Gene Drive ● genetic engineering technique that modifies genes so that

they don’t follow the typical rules of heredity.
● It increases the likelihood that a particular suite of genes will
be passed onto the next generation, allowing the genes to
rapidly spread through a population and override natural
selection.
● Applications: agri pest control, disease vector control
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) ● small fragments of nucleic acids that are released from cells
and found outside the cell in body fluids as plasma, urine, and
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
● cfDNA quantity in the blood increases under pathological
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conditions such as auto-immune diseases, cancer etc.

● used in detection and diagnosis of diseases
Stem Cells ● cells with the unique ability to develop into specialised cell
types in the body.
Type Description Ex
Totipotent Can develop into all cell Zygote
types
Pluripotent Into most cell types Embryo
Multipotent Into some cell types Umbilical cord
Oligopotent Into few cell types Bone marrow cells
Gene Therapy for Sickle ● USFDA approved 2 gene therapies for sickle cell disease:
Cell Disease Casgevy, Lyfgenia
● Casgevy is based on CRISPR which uses molecular "scissors" to
trim faulty parts of genes that can be disabled or replaced with
new strands of normal DNA.
● Lyfgenia uses a more conventional form of gene therapy that
uses a virus to transfer a gene into cells.
Molecular Motor ● These are type of proteins that drive intracellular movement by
converting chemical energy to mechanical work - useful in
processes like muscular contraction, cell division etc
Health
Immunity Types
• Innate – non-specific, present since birth
Ex. Skin, acid in stomach, saliva in mouth
• Acquired – specific to a pathogen – (B-cell and T-cell are also

called lymphocytes)
o Humoral – involves role of B-cell lymphocytes through
production of antibodies. B-cell produce antibodies that
destroys invading pathogen
o Cell-mediated – involves role of T-cell lymphocytes by
directly attacking and destroying the pathogen. T-cells
destroy body’s own cells that have been taken over by
pathogen. T-cells produce cytokines that activate other
parts of the immune system
Vaccines • Inactivated - use the killed version of the germ that causes a
disease. Ex. Hepatitis, polio, rabies
• Live-attenuated - use a weakened (or attenuated) form of the
germ that causes a disease. Ex. MMR, smallpox, chickenpox,
yellow fever
• mRNA – use genetic material from pathogen to make proteins
in order to trigger an immune response. Ex. Pfizer and
Moderna covid vaccine
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• Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate - use

specific pieces of the germ—like its protein, sugar, or capsid
(a casing around the germ). Ex. Hib, Pneumococcal disease
• Toxoid - use a toxin (harmful product) made by the germ that
causes a disease. Ex. Diphtheria, Tetanus
• Viral vector - use a modified version of a different virus as a
vector to deliver protection. Ex. Covishield
Inverse Vaccine • In autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks healthy

tissue e.g., psoriatic disease
• Inverse vaccine stops the immune system from attacking
good, healthy cells. Instead, it retrains the immune system to
save healthy cells.
About Antimicrobial • AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
Resistance (AMR) evolve over time and no longer respond to antimicrobials
(such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials).
• WHO has declared AMR as one of the top 10 global public
health threats facing humanity
• Causes of AMR : Over prescription, unregulated use of
antibiotics, adding excessive antibiotics to agricultural feed,
poor hygiene etc.
Steps by WHO against AMR Steps by India
Global Action Plan on National Action Plan on
Antimicrobial Resistance containment of Antimicrobial
(GAPAR) Resistance (NAP-AMR), 2017
AWaRe (Access, Watch, Delhi Declaration on AMR

Reserve) Tool
Global Antimicrobial Red Line Campaign on

Resistance and Use Antibiotics.
Surveillance System
(GLASS)
Schedule H1 to the Drugs and

Cosmetics Act
Biofilm • thin layer of microorganisms (as bacteria) that forms on

various surfaces (like medical implants, kitchen counters, food
and food processing surfaces, contact lenses, human and
animal tissue) and exhibits antimicrobial resistance.
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Concept of ‘One Health’
Orphan diseases Diseases of low prevalence

ex. Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia etc
Sickle Cell Disease inherited disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells
(RBCs), which carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
RBCs are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through
blood vessels. In sickle cell disease, some RBCs are shaped like
sickles or crescent moons which slows or blocks blood flow.
Human Papillomavirus HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that may cause cervical cancer.
(HPV) Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women in
India despite being largely preventable.
Cervical cancer can be eliminated if all prepubertal girls are given

HPV vaccination globally.
Cervavac, the India’s first quadrivalent human papillomavirus

vaccine (qHPV) has been Manufactured by Serum Institute of
India.
Zombie Virus Zombie virus is a virus emerged due to thawing of permafrost as

global temperature is rising.
Sickle cell anaemia Occurs due to a genetic mutation that causes hemoglobin in red
blood cells (RBCs) to clump together.Affects the shape of RBCs.
RBCs are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through
blood vessels. In sickle cell anaemia, some RBCs are shaped like
sickles or crescent moons. They become rigid and sticky, which
can slow or block blood flow.
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Viral diseases Covid, Nipah, Zika, Polio, Influenza, Chikungunya, West Nile fever,
Dengue, Hepatitis, Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), Measles-
Rubella
Dengue vaccine Dengvaxia
Chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) • LSD is a vector-borne pox disease that is caused by
Capripoxvirus.
• LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors
such as blood-feeding insects. The disease is not zoonotic,
meaning it does not spread from animals to humans.
Bacterial diseases TB, Leprosy (Hansen’s disease), Trachoma, Leptospirosis
Drugs price control Essential Commodities Act, 1955

⬇
Drug Price Control Order, 1995 à National Pharmaceutical Pricing
Authority (NPPA) controls prices of drugs mentioned in National
List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)
NPPA: not statutory, under M/o Chemicals and Fertilizers
NAMASTE Portal • National Ayush Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies

Electronic (NAMASTE) portal provides standardized
terminologies & morbidity codes for Ayurveda, Siddha and
Unani systems of medicine.
• Under Ministry of Ayush
Food Fortification Deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in

food to improve the nutritional quality of to provide public health
benefit with minimal risk to health.
In India, wheat flour and rice are fortified with Iron, Vitamin B12
and Folic Acid, Milk and Edible Oil with Vitamins A and D and
Double Fortified Salt with Iodine and Iron
Biofortification breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be

done either through conventional selective breeding, or through
genetic engineering.
Trans Fat • Partially unsaturated fats

• Can be natural or artificial
• increase shelf life, stabilize flavors
• raises LDL (bad cholesterol)
• found in vanaspati ghee, margarine, fried foods, burgers,
pizza etc.
• WHO’s REPLACE program – eliminate trans-fat from food by
2025
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Aflatoxin • Toxin and a potent carcinogen produced by Aspergillus flavus

fungi
• Mainly found in agri crops – rice, maize, groundnuts, figs,
spices
• found in milk too
• produced by improper handling of cereal grains & oilseeds
Non-Sugar Sweeteners • Contains few to no calories but has higher sweetness intensity
per gram than sugar
• Ex. acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates,
neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives.
• Aspartame is used to sweeten diet colas that claim to have
‘no sugar, no calories.’
Food Safety and • Statutory body – FSS Act, 2006

Standards Authority of • Autonomous body under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
India (FSSAI) • Lays standards for food and regulate their manufacturing,
storage, transport etc.
Codex Alimentarius • international food standards body jointly established by WHO

Commission (CAC) and FAO.
• HQ: Rome, Italy
• India is a member
• Aim: to protect consumer’s health and ensure fair practices in
food trade.
• Codex standards are voluntary.
• Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures (SPS) of WTO recognizes Codex standards
Xenotransplantation • transplantation, implantation or infusion of non-human

tissues or organs into human recipients.
INSACOG By Deptt of Biotechnology (M/o S&T) + MoH&FW

Consortium of national labs to monitor genomic variations of
SARS-Cov2
GAVI alliance Global partnership with the goal of increasing access to

immunization in poor countries
Coalition for Epidemic global partnership launched in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop
Preparedness future epidemics
Innovations (CEPI) India – founding member
Information & Communication Technology
5G vs 4G 4G 5G
Latency 10ms <1ms
Speed 1 Gbps 10 Gbps
Max Bandwidth 100 MHz 1000 MHz
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mmWave • Millimeter Wave band is a particular segment of radio

frequency spectrum that range between 24 GHz and 100 GHz.
This spectrum has a short wavelength, and is apt to deliver
greater speeds and lower latencies.
• higher the frequency, faster the data transfer but lower the
range
Mobile Edge Computing • Technique to process data, close (location-wise) to the point
where it is generated to get faster analytics with minimal
latency. It provides near real time analytics and highly efficient
system performance.
WiFi v LiFi WiFi LiFi

Speed 1-2 Gbps 1 Gbps
Privacy - Light is blocked by
walls, so more secure
Range 30 m 10 m
Interference yes no
issue
Virtual Private Network • Encrypted connection over internet from a device to a

(VPN) network in real time
• Offers anonymity, security as well as confidentiality
Deep Web Vs Dark Web
Generative AI • type of artificial intelligence that can create new content or
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data that is similar to what it has been trained on.

• It works by learning patterns and characteristics from a given
dataset and then generating new content based on that
understanding.
• Generative AI can be used to create text, images, music, and
more, often with impressive levels of realism and creativity.
• Ex. ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Dall-E
Deepfakes • video/image that has been edited using an algorithm to

replace a person in the original video/image with someone
else, in a way that makes the video look authentic.
4D Printing • 4D printing is the process through which a 3D printed object

transforms itself into another structure over the influence of
external energy input such as temperature, light or other
environmental stimuli.
• It can have applications in robotics, cancer treatment etc
Supercomputer Speed measured in FLOPS

Top 500 supercomputers – 3 supercomputers of India
#1 AMD’s Frontier (world’s fastest)
#2 Intel’s Aurora
#3 Nividia’s Eagle
#90 AIRAWAT (India) – developed by CDAC
Quantum Computing Qubit: basic unit of information in quantum computing

Key Principles
• Superposition: quantum bits can represent 0/1 both at the
same time
• Entanglement: quantum bits affect each other even at great
distances
Quantum Key • a secure communication method that uses quantum

Distribution mechanics to generate and distribute cryptographic keys. It
(QKD) allows two parties to create a shared secret key that can be
used to encrypt and decrypt messages
Proof Of Work And Proof • Terms related to consensus mechanism in cryptocurrencies

Of Stake that allow mining of new blocks by making sure valid/authentic
work is done
• Bitcoin uses Proof of Work while Ethereum uses the Proof of
Stake Mechanism
Markets in Crypto Assets • Passed by European Parliament

(MiCA) legislation • a legal framework for crypto-asset services providers as well as
consumer protection.
Web 3.0 • next evolution of the World Wide Web

• focus on decentralization, use of cryptocurrency, driven by AI
and ML, AR & VR, enhanced privacy and security, smart
contracts etc.
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Final Lap 2024
Digi Yatra • Mobile Application developed by Ministry Of Civil Aviation for

seamless transit through airports
• With this, a passenger’s face acts as a boarding pass and there
is no need for carrying multiple documents
India Stack • A platform of open APIs (Application Programming Interface)

like - Aadhar, UPI, Co-WIN, digilocker etc
National Internet • Not for profit organisation, established in 2003

Exchange Of India (NIXI) • Facilitates exchange of domestic internet traffic between
Internet Service Providers
• Functions as India’s registry for ‘.in’ domain
Global Lighthouse • Led by McKinsey and WEF, it is a community of manufacturers

Network who showcase leadership in application of 4th Industrial
Revolution technologies like AI, Big Data etc.
Cryptojacking • A hard to detect cyber-attack, where a computing device is

hacked to illicitly mine cryptocurrency
E- SIM • Embedded SIM, where SIM card is physically soldered onto the
device PCB and cannot be easily removed
Bluebugging • Hacking a device via its bluetooth connection
RFID • RFID is the wireless non-contact use of radio frequency waves

to transfer data. RFID systems usually comprise an RFID
reader, RFID tags, and antennas.
• RFID doesn't need line of sight.
Space Technology
Orbits GEO – 35,786 km

MEO – 5000-2000 km
LEO – 160-1500 km
Polar orbit – type of LEO, usually travel past Earth from north to
south rather than from west to east, passing roughly over Earth's
poles.
GTO - special kind of orbit used to get from one orbit to another
ISRO’s launch vehicles PSLV

• 4 stages – solid, liquid, solid, liquid
• Carrying capacity – 1750 kg (LEO), 1500 kg (GTO)
GSLV
• 3 stages – solid, liquid, cryogenic
• Carrying capacity – 6,000 kg (LEO), 2250 kg (GTO)
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Final Lap 2024
GSLV MkIII (LVM3)

• 3 stages – solid, liquid, cryogenic
• Carrying capacity – 8000 kg (LEO), 4000 kg (GTO)
POEM (PSLV Orbital • It allows for in orbit experiments during 4th stage of PSLV
Experimental Module)
Chandrayaan 3 • LV: LVM3

• Objectives:
o Demonstration of a Safe and Soft Landing on the Lunar
Surface
o Demonstration of Rover roving on the moon.
o Conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
• Payloads: RAMBHA, ChaSTE, ILSA, APXS, LIBS, SHAPE
NaVIC (Navigation with • Developed by ISRO, it is a regional (not global) navigational

Indian Constellation) system
• Earlier called IRNSS, it functions via a cluster of 7 satellites. ( 4
in geosynchronous, 3 in geostationary orbit)
• It provides navigational range of around 1500km from Indian
Landmass
Regional Navigation NavIC India

Systems Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) Japan
Global Navigational GPS USA

Systems GLONASS Russia
Galileo EU
Beidou China
Artemis I ● Moon Mission planned by NASA

● It aims for deep space exploration and later to land 1st
woman on moon
● In Greek Mythology, Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and
goddess of moon
James Webb Space ● It is NASA’s largest and most powerful space science
Telescope (JWST) telescope.
● Built by International collaboration between NASA, European
Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
● Webb views the universe in infrared,
● Its primary mirror is 6.5 metres in diameter.
● It will not be in orbit around Earth but will orbit the Sun, 1.5
million kilometres away from the Earth at the second
Lagrange point or L2.
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Final Lap 2024
JUICE Mission • To study Jupiter and its three moons – Ganymede, Callisto and
Europa.
• By European Space Agency (ESA)
OSIRIS-Rex Mission • To collect samples from asteroid Bennu and deliver them to
Earth.
• Bennu is small near Earth carbon rich asteroid.
• By NASA
GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO • Developed by Airports Authority of India And ISRO
Augmentation and • Possible uses in Air traffic control, crop spraying etc.
Navigation)
Tidal Locking • It is a gravitational phenomenon in which an astronomical

body (Moon) has the same rotational period as its orbital
period around a partner (Earth). This means the body rotates
around its axis in exactly the same time it takes to orbit its
partner, resulting in the same side always facing the partner.
Aditya L1 mission by ISRO • Successfully placed at L1 point

• It will study the Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds and
flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out
round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
• L1 stands for Lagrangian Point 1.
Structure of Sun Layers:

Core > Radiative zone > Convective zone > Photosphere >
Chromosphere > Corona
Coronal Heating problem: temperature decreases away from

sun’s core but corona is far hotter than photosphere
Solar Cycle: cycle of sun’s magnetic field. Every 11 years, sun’s

magnetic field completely flips. Cycle tracked using sunspots
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(darker, cooler areas on sun’s surface).
Moon craters Craters on the moon are of a more permanent nature than those
on earth. Why?
• Erosion, tectonics, and volcanism - keep the surface of the
earth crater-free and remove traces of collisions that have
happened in the past. Moon – no atmosphere, no tectonics,
no volcanism
• An absence of atmosphere on moon means no wind system
and no weather on the moon, and hence no cause for erosion
of existing craters.
• Absence of tectonics prevents the moon’s surface from
forming new rocks, or causing a shift in the existing surface
patterns, unlike that on earth.
• Absence of volcanism makes it impossible for craters to be
covered.
Blood Moon Blood Moon, commonly known as total lunar eclipse, occurs
when the moon passes through the darkest part of Earth's
shadow, known as the umbra. It is called blood moon
because of the reddish hue.
Universe composition • 5% - matter, 27% - dark matter, 68% dark energy

• Matter includes Earth, sun and other celestial bodies
• Dark matter doesn’t interact with electromagnetic force.
• Dark matter pulls galaxies together, while dark energy pushes
them apart.
Laser Interferometer observatory to detect cosmic gravitational waves

Gravitational-Wave operational: Hanford, Livingstone (US), GEO600 (Germany)
Observatory under construction: VIRGO (Italy), KAGRA (Japan)
(LIGO) approved: Hingoli (India)
Gravitational lensing • phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein's general theory of

relativity
• describes how the path of light bends when it passes near a
massive object - mass of the object warps the fabric of
spacetime around it, causing light from objects behind it to
follow a curved path.
• To an observer, this makes the light source appear distorted,
magnified, or multiplied.
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Black Holes
Types of neutron stars Magnetar, Pulsar
Distance from sun Asteroid belt à Kuiper belt à Heliopause à Oort cloud
Dwarf planets Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea
Betelguese, Bellatrix Red supergiants
Goldilocks zone Habitable zone around a star.
Defence
Types of Missiles Ballistic Missile: A high-speed projectile designed for long-range

delivery, following a ballistic trajectory. Ex. Prithvi, Agni, Trishul
Cruise missile: A high-speed projectile designed for long-range
delivery, following a ballistic trajectory. Ex. Brahmos, Nirbhay
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Final Lap 2024
Jet Engines
S400 • world’s most Advanced air defence system.

• Mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by
Russia
• Carries command and control centre, automatic tracking and
targeting systems, launchers and support vehicles.
• Carries separate radar systems which can detect aerial targets
to a range of 400 kms (surveillance range up to 600km).
• Simultaneously engages 80 aerial targets.
• Can hit target up to altitude of 30km.
Astra Missile • Indigenously Developed by DRDO

• Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile
• Designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring
supersonic aircraft.
• All weather day and night capability
• Designed to mount on fighter aircrafts
• Range: 80-110 kms for version Mk1 and 160kms for version Mk2.
• Altitude: Up to 20 km.
• Max Speed: Mach 4.5
MQ-9B Reaper Drone • Country of origin: USA
Project 75 India - P75(I) • Acquire diesel-electric submarine of scorpene class in Indian

Navy.
• Under it, Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir, Vagsheer
commissioned.
Varunastra Anti-submarine torpedo

Designed and developed by DRDO
Misc
Nobel Prizes in Physics • for research related to attosecond pulses of light.

2023 • Attosecond pulses: incredibly short bursts of light, lasting for
just a billionth of a billionth of a second. These have allowed
scientists to capture the fastest events ever recorded, with a
time resolution on the order of attoseconds.
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Nobel Prizes in Chemistry • for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.
2023 • Quantum dots: man-made semiconductor particles or crystal,
size is normally not more than 10 nanometers. They exhibit
unique optical properties due to their small physical size
Nobel Prize in Physiology • for work that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines
or Medicine 2023 against Covid-19.
• mRNA vaccines work by introducing a piece of mRNA that
corresponds to a viral protein, usually a small piece of a protein
found on the virus’s outer membrane.
• By using this mRNA, cells can produce the viral protein. As part
of a normal immune response, the immune system recognizes
that the protein is foreign and produces specialized proteins
called antibodies.
Neutrinos Second most abundant particles in universe after photons

Interact very little with anything, hard to detect
No electrical charge, nearly massless, travel close to speed of
light
Fundamental forces Strength: Strong nuclear > Electromagnetic > Weak nuclear >
Gravitational
Infinite Range: Gravitational, Electromagnetic

Short range: Strong, Weak nuclear
Uranium Natural Uranium (2 isotopes) - 99.3% U-238 || 0.7% U-235

Enrichment - creates an effective nuclear fuel out of mined
uranium by increasing the percentage of uranium- 235 which
undergoes fission with thermal neutrons
Vanadium hard, silvery-grey, malleable metal

one of the 30 critical minerals, identified by India.
Derived from mined iron ore, shale, steel slag
Found in Karnataka > Maharashtra > Odisha
China – largest reserves
Brazil – largest exporter
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Final Lap 2024
ECONOMY
Fiscal Policy
Interim Union Budget Viksit Bharat by 2047 with the ‘mantra’ of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka
2024-25 Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas’
Key Highlights
• focus on upliftment of four major castes, that is, ‘Garib’
(Poor), ‘Mahilayen’ (Women), ‘Yuva’ (Youth)
and ‘Annadata’(Farmer)
• ‘Garib Kalyan, Desh ka Kalyan’ – DBT, PM-SVANidhi, PM-
JANMAN, PM-Vishwakarma Yojana
• Welfare of ‘Annadata’ – PM-KISAN SAMMAN, PM Fasal
Bima Yojana, e-NAM
• Momentum for Nari Shakti – Mudra Yojana, STEM courses
enrolment, house ownership under PM Awas Yojana,
• Rooftop solarization
• Agri food processing – PM Kisan Sampada Yojana, PM
Formalisation of Micro Processing Enterprises
• Infrastructure, Railways, Aviation, Green Energy, Tourism
Data:
Tax collection: GST > Corporation Tax > Income Tax > Excise >
Customs
Subsidy: Food > Fertiliser > Fuel
Deficits: FD (5.1%) > RD (2.0%) > ERD (0.8%) > PD (1.5%)
Ministry-wise allocation: MoD > MoRTH > MoR
Government Debt Govt debt
1. Public Debt (against Consolidated Fund of India)
i. Internal – marketable, non-marketable
ii. External
2. Other Liabilities (against Public A/c of India)
3. Extra Budgetary Borrowings
Internal debt (94%) >> External debt (6%)

State govt debt (70%) > union govt debt (30%)
long-term debt > short-term debt
fixed interest debt (95%) >> variable interest rate
Debt to GDP ratio FRBM target (by 2024-25)
Centre – 40% of GDP
States – 20% of GDP
India’s external debt (as External debt ($629 bn)
of Jun-2023) 1. Non-financial corporations – 39.8%
2. Deposit-taking corporations – 26%
3. General govt – 21%
4. Other financial corporations – 7.6%
Non-government debt (80%) >> government debt (20%)

Long-term debt (80%) >> short-term debt (20%)
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Acc to instruments: loans (33%) > Currency and Deposits (23%) >
Trade Credit and Advances (19%) > Debt securities (17%)
Acc to denomination: USD (54%) > INR (30%) > SDR (6%) > Yen (5%)
State Finances: A Study of • Capital outlay is budgeted to increase by 42.6 % in 2023-24

Budget of to 2.9% of GDP.
2023-24 by RBI • Debt-GDP ratio of states declined from 31% at end-March
2021, to 27.5% by end-March 2023, supported
• by fiscal consolidation.
• States’ consolidated gross fiscal deficit to gross domestic
product (GFD-GDP) ratio declined from 4.1% in 2020-21 to
2.8% in 2021-22, led by a moderation in revenue
expenditure, and an increase in revenue collection.
• Increased Tax Buoyancy with implementation of Goods
and Services Tax (GST).
National Infrastructure It has outlined plans to invest more than ₹102 lakh crore on
Pipeline infrastructure projects by 2024-25, with the Centre, States and
the private sector to share the capital expenditure in a 39:39:22
formula.
NIP includes both economic and social infrastructure projects.
National Monetisation NMP will help in evolving a common framework for monetisation
Pipeline of core assets. (Monetization through disinvestment and
monetization of non-core assets have not been included in the
NMP).
National Land NLMC is an agency to monetise surplus land and building assets
Monetisation Corporation of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other govt.
agencies.
Will be fully owned by the Centre and under the administrative
jurisdiction of the Finance Ministry.
PM Gati Shakti It is essentially a digital platform to bring 16 Ministries including

Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and
coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity
projects.
Based on 6 pillars – Comprehensiveness, Prioritization,
Optimization, Synchronization, Analytical, Dynamic
Terms Tax Elasticity: change in tax revenue in response to change in tax
rate
Tax Buoyancy: change in tax revenue with increase in GDP
Tax Expenditure: revenue forgone by the government due to tax
exemptions and concessions.
Pigouvian Tax: tax on any market activity that generates negative
externalities. Ex. Carbon tax
Tobin Tax: tax on the conversion of one currency into another
Monetary Policy & Banking

Monetary Policy • Under RBI Act, 1934 – amended by Finance Act, 2016
Committee (MPC) • 6 members
• Chaired by RBI Governor
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• Monetary policy goal – inflation targeting

• Inflation target decided by Union govt in consultation with
RBI
• MPC fixes the benchmark policy interest rates (repo rate,
reverse repo) to restrain inflation within the inflation target.
Important rates CRR à 4.5 %

SLR à 18 %
Repo Rate à 6.5 %
SDF à 6.25 %
Reverse repo à 3.35 %
Bank rate, MSF à 6.75 %
Standing Deposit SDF allows the RBI to absorb excess cash from the economy by
Facility (SDF) sucking liquidity from commercial banks without giving
government securities in return to the lenders.
Banks park their money with RBI but without G-sec as collateral.
SDF rate – 3.75 %
RBI Retail Direct Scheme In 2021, RBI allowed retail investors to invest in G-sec by opening
Retail Direct Guilt (RDG) account on its e-Kuber platform
Retail investors can directly buy G-secs, T-bills in primary market
(i.e., directly from RBI)
NRIs also permitted to open this account
G-sec Acquisition Program It is an upfront commitment and clear communication about the
(G-SAP) OMO purchase calendar. Under this, the RBI purchases bonds
worth a specific amount, which reduces the uncertainty and
allows investors to bid better in the scheduled auction with a pre-
decided calendar set by the RBI.
RBI’s Portals UDGAM Portal: search unclaimed deposits/accounts across
multiple banks at one place in a centralised manner.
PRAVAAH Portal: to apply for license to RBI by Banks/non-banks.
RBI’s Public-Tech Platform database that provides a seamless flow of information to lenders
for Frictionless Credit to make loan application approval faster.
National Bank for Estd through NaBFID Act, 2021
Financing Infrastructure It is a development financial institution (DFI) to support
and Development development of long-term infrastructure in the country.
(NaBFID) It will fund projects from both public and private sectors.
Chairman: KV Kamath
NARCL-IDRCL (Bad Bank) National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL)
• Purchase bad loans from banks
• Ownership: Public Sector Banks (51%), Pvt banks (49%)
India Debt Resolution Company (IDRCL)

• handle the debt resolution process
• Ownership: Pvt banks (51%), PSBs (49%)
Prompt Corrective Action It is a framework under which scheduled commercial banks with
weak financial metrics are put under watch by the RBI.
3 parameters - capital ratios, asset quality and profitability.
Supervisory Action Framework applies to Urban Cooperative

Banks (UCBs)
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Prompt Corrective Action PCA Framework for NBFCs came into effect from October 1, 2022.
for NBFCs It applies to:
a. All Deposit Taking NBFCs [Excluding Government
Companies],
b. All Non-Deposit Taking NBFCs in Middle, Upper and Top
Layers
NEFT, RTGS for non-banks RBI allowed non-banks to participate in its Centralised Payment
System [NEFT & RTGS]
Till now, only banks were allowed
eRUPI Electronic voucher based digital payment system which is person-
specific and purpose-specific
Developed by NPCI on its UPI platform
Offline digital payments • RBI released framework for offline digital payments to
promote digital payments in rural and semi-urban areas
• It will enable small value digital payments in offline mode
• An offline digital payment means a transaction which does
not require internet or telecom connectivity. Under this new
framework, such payments can be carried out face-to-face
(proximity mode) using any channel or instrument like cards,
wallets, mobile devices, etc
Digital Payments Index By RBI

to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the
country.
Financial Stability Report RBI
Bi-annual report that reflects risks to financial stability and
resilience of financial system
UPI123Pay instant payment system for feature phone users
3-step method
Call à choose mode of transaction à Pay
4 modes of transaction - IVR (interactive voice response) number,
missed call, app functionality in phone, sound based
London Interbank Offer interest rate used by major banks in the market for short-term
Rate (LIBOR) loans. RBI issued advisory to to banks to transition away from
LIBOR and MIBOR.
other benchmarks: SOFR, SONIA, TONAR, SARON, ESTER
External Sector
India’s largest trading US > China > UAE > Saudi > Hong Kong
partners
Top destination of Indian US > UAE > Netherlands
exports
Top sources of Indian China > UAE > US
imports
Export Preparedness Index NITI Aayog
2022 to identify the fundamental areas critical for subnational
export promotion.
Ranks: TN > MH > KN > GJ
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Foreign Trade Policy 2023 goal to take India's exports to $2 trillion by 2030.
Four Pillars of FTP 2023:
• Incentive to Remission: Focusing on financial
incentives to boost exports.
• Export Promotion through Collaboration: Leveraging
collaboration between exporters, states, districts, and
Indian missions abroad.
• Ease of Doing Business: Implementing measures to
simplify export processes and reduce transaction costs
through e-initiatives.
• Emerging Areas: Emphasizing the importance of e-
commerce, developing districts as export hubs, and
streamlining the SCOMET (Special Chemicals,
Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies)
policy.
WTO 13th Ministerial Key outcomes:
Conference – Abu Dhabi • accession of Comoros and Timor-Leste brought WTO
membership to 166 countries, representing 98% of
world trade.
• endorsement in reforming the dispute settlement
system, with a draft for reform and a commitment to
achieving a fully functional system by 2024.
• e-commerce moratorium was renewed until MC14 or
March 31, 2026.
De-dollarisation process of moving away from the world’s reliance on the U.S.
dollar (USD) as the chief reserve currency.
Enforcing Contracts Portal Launched by M/o Law and Justice
Agriculture
Fertilisers Fertiliser subsidy
• Urea – fixed price
o Urea sold at statutorily notified price
o Not governed by Nutrient based subsidy scheme
• Non-Urea – fixed subsidy

o Manufacturers allowed to fix the MRP at market rates
o Govt provides fixed amount of subsidy
Pulses Grown in both Rabi and Kharif season
Gram – most dominant pulse (40% share in pulses)
Top producers – MP, MH, RJ, UP, KN
India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of

pulses.
Canada – largest exporter of pulses.
Cotton India – largest cotton producing country, 2nd largest consumer
of raw cotton
US – largest exporter of raw cotton
Palm Oil India – largest importer of palm oil
Indonesia – largest exporter
Fisheries India – 3rd largest fish producing country
Inland fish production > marine fish production
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Largest fish producing state – Andhra Pradesh

Portals WINDS portal: to centralize and manage hyper-local weather
data to enhance risk assessment, decision-making, and
support various aspects of the agricultural sector and rural
economy, including crop insurance, agriculture advisories, and
disaster mitigation.
Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg Portal): to

streamline and enhance data management in the agricultural
sector.
Industry and Mining

Rare Earth metals • Rare-earth metals are a set of 17 nearly-indistinguishable lustrous
silvery-white soft heavy metals. Despite their name, rare-earth
elements are relatively plentiful in Earth's crust, with cerium
being the 25th most abundant element at 68 parts per million,
more abundant than copper.
• Rare earths are abundant in the Earth’s crust but mineable
concentrations are less common, making reserves very valuable
and strategic.
• 17 rare earth elements are: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce),
praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm),
samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb),
dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm),
ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu), scandium (Sc), and yttrium (Y).
• China provides more than 85 % of world’s rare earths
• Applications: consumer and industrial electronics, permanent
magnets, catalysts, battery etc
PLI scheme • give companies incentives on incremental sales (over a base
year) from products manufactured in domestic units.
• Incentives disbursed after the production has taken place
• PLI 1.0 : 13 Sectors covered
• Mobile Manufacturing and Specified Electronic
Components
• Critical Key Starting materials/Drug Intermediaries and
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Manufacturing of
Medical Devices.
• Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery
• Electronic/Technology Products
• Automobiles & Auto Components
• Pharmaceuticals drugs
• Telecom & Networking Products
• Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textiles
• Food Products
• High Efficiency Solar PV Modules
• White Goods (ACs & LED)
• Specialty Steel
• PLI 2.0: IT Hardware - (i) Laptops (ii) Tablets (iii) All-in-One PCs
(iv) Servers and Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF).
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Inflation & Economic Growth Indices

CPI (R), CPI(U), CPI (All India) National Statistics Office(NSO), MoSPI
CPI (AI): weights [base year - 2012]

Food & Beverages (45%) > Services (20%) > Housing (10%) >
Fuel & Light (7%) > Clothing, footwear (6.5%) > Personal care
(4%) > Household goods services (4%) > Pan masala, tobacco
(2.4%)
Consumer Food Price Index Includes: cereals, meat, fish, egg, milk, oats, fats, vegetables,
(CFPI) pulses, sugar, spices
Does not include: pan, tobacco, intoxicants
CPI (Industrial Workers) Labour Bureau, MoL&E
CPI (Rural Labourer)
CPI (Agri Labourer) CPI (IW) – used for fixing dearness allowance to central/state
govt employees
CPI (AL) – used for fixing MGNREGA wages
WPI Economic Advisor to DPIIT, Min of Commerce
WPI weights: [base year 2011-12]

1. Manufactured products – 64%
Processed food, edible oil, paper products, chemicals,
plastic, cement, metal products etc
2. Primary articles – 23%
Unprocessed food, eggs , meat, oilseeds etc
Crude petroleum
Minerals
3. Fuel & power – 13%
High speed diesel, petrol, LPG
** no services
IIP NSO, MoSPI
IIP weights (based on type of goods):

Primary goods (34%) > intermediate goods (17%) > consumer
non-durables (15%) > consumer durables (13%) > capital goods
(8%)
IIP weights (based on sector):

Manufacturing (77%) > Mining (14%) > Electricity (8%)
Index of Eight Core Industries Economic Advisor to DPIIT, Min of Commerce
weights:
Refinery products > Electricity > Steel > Coal > Crude Oil >
Natural Gas > Cement > Fertilizers
House Price Index RBI
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Misc
Bharat NCAP (New Car • By Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Assessment Program) • mechanism of awarding ‘Star Ratings’ to automobiles
based upon their performance in crash tests.
SWIFT messaging system • SWIFT is a messaging network that financial institutions
use to securely transmit information and instructions
through a standardized system of codes.
• It is not a financial institution itself: SWIFT does not hold or
transfer assets. Rather, it facilitates secure, efficient
communication between member institutions.
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Final Lap 2024
POLITY
Basic Structure Doctrine • Article 13 is a limitation on a “law” which takes away or

abridges the rights conferred by Part III of the
Constitution.
• “Law” includes ordinance, order, bye-law, rule,
regulation, notification, custom or usage having in the
territory of India the force of law.
• “Law” doesn’t include Constitutional Amendment under
Article 368.
• Basic Structure acts as a limitation on Constitutional
Amendment under Article 368.
• Propounded in Keshavanand Bharti case – 24 April, 1973
• Independence of district judiciary – part of basic
structure (All India Judges Association vs UoI, 2023)
National Capital Territory of • Creates a statutory authority – National Capital Civil

Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 Services Authority (NCCSA) – to make recommendations
to LG regarding transfer posting, vigilance and other
incidental matters.
• Gives discretionary powers to LG in certain matters
Important Articles:
• Art 239AA – Special provisions wrt Delhi –
o Legislative Assembly to have power to make
laws on matters in State List and Concurrent
List except police, public order and land.
o CoM < 10% of total members in Legislative
Assembly.
o CM appointed by President
• Art 239AB – failure of constitutional machinery in
Delhi
Right to Silence • Right to silence emanates from Article 20(3), which

states that no one can be compelled to be a witness
against himself
• Protection is limited only to criminal proceedings
• Right is not available to a person being interrogated
under Customs Act, 1962, or Foreign Exchange
Management Act, 1999, since the person is not “accused
of an offence” and isn’t entitled to a lawyer
• In Nandini Satpathy v. P.L. Dani case, SC stated that
compelling a person to answer a question within the
limits of police station may result in a violation of Article
20(3).
Personality Rights • right of a person to protect his/her personality under the
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right to privacy or property.

• It includes name, voice, signature, images or any other
feature easily identified as markers of personality.
• Personality rights or their protection are not expressly
mentioned in any statute in India but are traced to fall
under the right to privacy and the right to property.
Right to Walk • Punjab has become the first state to implement the
'right to walk' + Right to walk make it mandatory for all
road-owning agencies, including the NHAI, to provide
footpaths and cycle tracks on the road.
Places of Worship Act, 1991 ● It was passed as a special law to “to prohibit conversion
of any place of worship and to provide for the
maintenance of the religious character of any place of
worship as it existed on the 15 August, 1947
● The law kept the Ayodhya temple out of its purview,
mainly because it was the subject of prolonged
litigation.
● Doesn’t apply to monuments and sites covered by
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
Remains Act, 1958.
Uniform Civil Code ● UCC refers to same set of civil laws applicable to all
citizens of India in their personal matters such as
marriage, divorce, custody, adoption and inheritance
● Under Article 44 (Directive Principles of State Policy) of
the Constitution
● Different religious communities are currently governed
by a system of personal laws, which have been codified
over the years through various pieces of legislation
● Goa is, at present, the only state in India with a UCC
(Portuguese Civil Code of 1867).
● ‘Personal Laws’ are a subject under concurrent list of
constitution.
Kui language • Proposal by Odisha cabinet to include Kui in 8th Schedule

of the Constitution
• Schedule 8 consists of 22 languages currently.
Minority Institutions • The term ‘minority’ not defined in the Constitution but
mentioned in Art 29, 30, 350A, 350B.
• National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 defines
‘minority’ as any community notified as such by the
Central government.
• Currently, 6 communities notified – Muslims, Christians,
Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsi, Jains
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Nari Shakti Vandan [Constitution • Parliament passed Constitution (106th Amendment) Act,
(106th Amendment)] Act, 2023 2023, to provide for one-third reservation to women in
the Lok Sabha (Article 330A), State Assemblies(Article
332A) and the assembly of NCT of Delhi (Article 239AA)
• It also includes reservation of 1/3rd seats for women
under total number of seats reserved for SCs/STs under
Article 332
• Provisions of this act shall come into effect after
delimitation after the first census taken after the
commencement of this act
• Provisions relating to reservation of seats for women
shall cease to have effect after the expiration of 15
years. Reservation for women, however, can be
extended by the Parliament by law.
• Periodic rotation of seats reserved for women after
each subsequent delimitation as Parliament may by law
determine
• Provisions of this act shall not affect any representation
in legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha until their
dissolution.
Delimitation Commission • Article 82: Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after

every Census to establish a Delimitation Commission.
• Function: To determine the number and boundaries of
constituencies to make population of all constituencies
nearly equal. To identify seats to reserve for SC/ST
• Composition: retd. SC judge, CEC, State EC
• Powers of a civil court
• Orders have force of law and cannot be questioned
before any court.
No Confidence Motion • Article 75(3)/Article 164(2) of the Constitution - the

Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the
Lok Sabha
• For testing this collective responsibility, the rules of Lok
Sabha provide a particular mechanism – a motion of no-
confidence. The procedure is specified under Rule 198 of
the Lok Sabha. Constitution does not mention either a
Confidence or a No Confidence Motion.
• Any Lok Sabha MP, who can garner the support of 50
colleagues, can, at any point of time, introduce a motion
of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers
• A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok
Sabha. It cannot be moved in the Rajya Sabha.
• If a no-confidence motion is passed, the government
must resign.
• There have been 27 no-confidence motions introduced
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in the Lok Sabha since independence. The first no-

confidence motion against the administration of the
then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was presented in
the Lok Sabha in August 1963
• Recently, 28th No Confidence was raised and was won
successfully by Govt.
Parliamentary Privileges • Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and

immunities enjoyed by MPs/MLAs, individually and
collectively, so that they can “effectively discharge their
functions”.
• These rights are also given to those individuals who
speak and participate in any committee of the
Parliament, which includes the Attorney General of India
and the Union Ministers.
• not available to President/Governor.
• When any of these rights and immunities are
disregarded, offence is called a breach of privilege and is
punishable under law of Parliament.
• Special privileges are enshrined under Article 105 (for
Parliament) and Article 194 (for state legislature) of
Constitution.
• Parliament, till now, has not made any special law to
exhaustively codify all the privileges.
• One of the privileges is that a member of Parliament
cannot be arrested in a civil case 40 days before the
commencement of the session or committee meeting
and 40 days thereafter.
• Parliament is the sole authority to ascertain if there has
been a breach or contempt of the House— no court is
entrusted with this power. A member of the House can
raise a question involving a breach of privilege with the
consent of the Chairman or Speaker.
Privilege Committee • It is a parliamentary standing committee present in both

Houses of Parliament.
• LS: consists of 15 members nominated by Speaker
• RS: consists of 10 members nominated by Chairman
• Function: Investigate questions involving the breach of
privileges of House or members, as referred to it by
presiding officer of Houses.
Expulsion of Lawmakers • The expulsion of an MP can be on a constitutional basis

or legal (Rules of the house) basis.
• Constitutional basis: An MP found guilty of breach of
privileges or contempt of the house can be suspended
from the house or face expulsion.
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• Legal basis of suspension and expulsions: To ensure

smooth proceedings and maintain order, the Presiding
Officer of the House has the power to force a Member
to withdraw from the House. In cases of extreme
misconduct, the House may expel a member “to rid the
House of persons who are unfit for membership” under
Rules 373, 374, 374A of LS and Rules 255, 256 of RS.
Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha • Consists of not more than 15 members

• members nominated by the Speaker for a term of one
year.
• Functions:
o To examine a complaint relating to the unethical
conduct of a member referred to it by the
Speaker.
o Make recommendations and formulate a code of
conduct for Members.
o Suggest amendments to the code of conduct.
• The First Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha was set up in
2000 and of Rajya sabha in 1997.
Rule 176 and Rule 267 of Rules of • Rule 176 allows for a short-duration discussion, not
Procedure and Conduct of exceeding two-and-a-half hours, on a particular issue.
Business in the Council of States. • Under Rule 267, a Rajya Sabha MP has the special power
to suspend the predecided agenda of the House, with
the approval of the Chairman.
Anti-Defection Law • Tenth Schedule inserted in the Constitution in 1985 by

the 52nd Amendment Act.
• It lays down the process by which legislators may be
disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding
Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other
member of the House.
• The decision on question as to disqualification on
ground of defection is referred to the Chairman or the
Speaker of such House, and his decision is final. Subject
to judicial review (Kihoto Hollohan v Zachillhu, 1992)
Grounds of Defection
• If a member of a House belonging to a political party:
o Has voluntarily given up his membership of such
political party, or
o Votes, or abstains from voting in such House,
contrary to the direction of his political party.
• If an independent candidate joins a political party after
the election.
• If a nominated member of a house joins any political
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party after the expiry of six months from the date when
he becomes a member of the legislature.
Exemptions from disqualification

• If a member's original party merges with another party:
o The member is not disqualified if they join the new
merged party.
o The member is also not disqualified if they choose
not to join the merged party and decide to
function as a separate group. For the merger to be
valid, at least two-thirds of the members of the
original party in the legislature must agree to the
merger.
• If a person is elected as the Speaker of Lok Sabha or the
Chairman of Rajya Sabha then he could resign from his
party, and rejoin the party once he vacates that post.
Parliamentary Secretariat • Article 98/187: Each House of Parliament/State

Legislature shall have a separate secretarial staff.
• Function: to provide secretarial assistance, prepare and
publish a record of day to day proceedings, serve
parliamentary committees, payment of salaries and
allowances.
• Parliament may by law regulate the
• recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons
appointed, to the secretarial staff of either House.
• Speaker and Chairman can create new posts in
respective secretariat.
• Secretary-Generals of both houses hold ranks
equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary. However, in
the table of precedence, the Cabinet Secretary is placed
at the 11th position, whereas the Secretary, Lok Sabha/
Rajya Sabha are placed at the 23rd position.
Article 142 • provides Supreme Court power, to do “complete

justice” in any matter pending before it.
• While powers under Article 142 are sweeping in nature,
SC has defined its scope and extent through various
judgments.
Article 299 • Contracts made by Union or State are in the name of

President or Governor.
• Recently, the Supreme Court has held that the
government cannot claim immunity from the application
of law to a contract merely because one of the parties to
it is the President of India.
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Judicial Appointment SC HC
No. of judges Decided by Decided by
Parliament President
Chief Justice Appointed by Appointed by
President President
Other judges Pres in Pres in consultation
consultation with CJI + 2
with CJI + 4
Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel • It is a concept in contractual laws.

• It essentially prevents a “promisor” from backing out of
an agreement on the grounds that there is no
“consideration.”
• It is invoked by a plaintiff (party moving to court in civil
action) to ensure execution of a contract or seek
compensation for failure to perform the contract.
Narco Analysis Test • In narco test, sodium pentothal, also called ‘truth
serum’, is injected into a person which lowers a person’s
self-consciousness, allowing them to speak without
inhibition.
• Supreme Court in Selvi & Ors vs State of Karnataka &
Anr (2010) ruled that narco analysis, brain mapping and
polygraph tests cannot be conducted on any person
without his or her consent.
• Narco analysis report is not admissible as primary
evidence in the court. However, any information or
material that is subsequently discovered with the help
of voluntary administered test results can be admitted,
in accordance with Section 27 of the Evidence Act, 1872.
Chief Election Commissioner and • The Act replaces the Election Commission (Conditions of
other Election Commissioners Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of
(Appointment, Conditions of Business) Act, 1991.
Service and Term of Office) Act, • The legislation aims to bring transparency to the
2023 appointment process, responding to a directive from
the Supreme Court of India in the.
• SC, in Anoop Baranwal v Union of India case, 2023 laid
down that the CEC and ECs shall be appointed by a
committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the CJI and
the Leader of the Opposition of the largest opposition
party in the Lok Sabha.
• The Act addresses the appointment, salary, and removal
of the CEC and ECs.
• Search Committee shall prepare a panel of five persons
for consideration of the Selection Committee, for
appointment as the CEC and other ECs. It is to be
headed by the Minister of Law and Justice and
comprising two other members not below the rank of
Secretary to the Government of India.
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• Selection Committee: consists of the Prime Minister, a

Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of
Opposition/leader of the largest opposition party in Lok
Sabha.
• The salary and conditions of service of the CEC and ECs
will be equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary.
Under the 1991 Act, it was equivalent to the salary of a
Supreme Court Judge.
• The Act retains the constitutional provision (Article
324(5)) that allows the CEC to be removed like a
Supreme Court Judge, while ECs can only be removed
on the recommendation of the CEC.
National Party Status • 6 parties recognised by ECI as national parties – BJP,

INC, BSP, CPI(M), NPP, AAP.
• Criteria: fulfil any of the three conditions:
o Winning 2% seats or 11 seats in the Lok Sabha from
at least three different states in the latest general
election;
o Recognition as a state party in at least four states
o Polling 6% of the total valid votes in at least four
states, in addition to winning four Lok Sabha seats.
• Benefits:
o reserved symbol for its candidates contesting from
across the country.
o only one proposer to file nominations of
candidates.
o two sets of electoral rolls free of cost
o dedicated broadcast slots on public broadcasters
Doordarshan and All India Radio during the general
elections.
o 40 ‘star campaigners’ while a registered
unrecognized party can nominate a maximum of 20
‘star campaigners’.
Star Campaigners • They are nominated by political parties to campaign in

each set of constituencies for a specified duration.
• There is no law governing who can or cannot be made a
star campaigner.
• List of star campaigners must be communicated to Chief
Electoral Officer and ECI within a week from election
notification date under section 77(1) of Representation
of People Act (RPA), 1951.
• Recognised political party can have 40 Star campaigners
and an unrecognised (but registered) political party can
have 20.
• Poll Expenditure: As per section 77(1) RPA, 1951, their
travel by air or any other means of transport for
propagating programme of a political party shall not be
counted as expenditure by candidate.
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Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) • EVM consists of 2 units - Control Unit and a Balloting
Unit.
• The control unit is with the Election Commission-
appointed polling officer; the balloting unit is in the
voting compartment into where voter casts her vote in
secret.
• It runs on a single alkaline battery fitted in the control
unit, and can even be used in areas that have no
electricity.
• manufactured by Electronics Corporation of India
Limited (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• can record a maximum of 2,000 votes.
• EVMs were 1st used in 1982 Kerala Assembly elections
(by-election).
• RP Act 1951 was amended in 1988 to allow usage of
EVMs.
• In 2004, EVMs were used for the 1st time in Lok Sabha
elections.
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail • independent verification system designed to allow
(VVPAT) voters to verify that their votes were cast correctly.
• a paper slip is generated bearing name and symbol of
the candidate. The printed slip is visible for 7 seconds in
a viewing window attached to BU in voting
compartment.
Electoral Bonds (EB) • Recently, the Supreme Court declared EB Scheme

unconstitutional.
• Union Budget 2017-18 introduced EBs as interest-free
bearer instruments to cleanse the system of political
funding in the country.
• can only be issued by SBI
• can be purchased only by citizen or body incorporated in
India
• in multiples of 1K, 10K, 1L, 10L, 1C
• available for purchase for 10 days in Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
• Political Party eligible to receive funds – registered
under RPA, 1951 & >1% votes in last Lok Sabha or state
election.
Electronically Transmitted Postal • Developed by ECI + CDAC

Ballot System (ETPBS) • Voter receives postal ballot in electronic format. He
downloads it, casts the vote and sends it to Returning
Officer through post.
• Electors eligible for ETPBS
o Service voters - armed forces, employed by GoI
outside India
o Overseas electors.
NOTA • Not a right to reject

• NOTA votes not counted while deciding winner.
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• No fresh elections if NOTA secures max votes. Candidate

with highest votes wins.
Section 62 - RPA, 1951 • Prisoners are not allowed to vote but people under
preventive detention can cast their vote through postal
ballot.
Two Constituency norm • RPA, 1951 allows a candidate to contest from more than
one seat.
• Amendment in 1996 – set the limit to 2 seats
Custodian of Enemy Property for • a quasi-judicial Authority under the Enemy Property Act,
India 2017 under Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Enemy property refers to property or assets held or
managed on behalf of an enemy, enemy subject or an
enemy company.
• Enemy means person or country which is an enemy
under Defence of India Act, 1962.
• Function: to manage and preserve the enemy
• properties.
Model Prisons Act 2023 • to replace a British-era Prisons Act, 1894 to overhaul the
prison administration
• focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates
• Prisons is a State subject.
• Terms:
o Parole is a system of conditional release of a
prisoner with suspension of the sentence for a
specific period.
o Furlough is given in cases of long term
imprisonment. The period of furlough granted to a
prisoner is treated as remission (reduction) of his
sentence.
o Bail means procurement of release from prison of
a person awaiting trial or an appeal.
CBI • non-statutory body under Ministry of Personnel, Pension

and Public Grievances
• estd in 1963 on recommendations of Santhanam
Committee.
• governed by Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE)
Act, 1946.
• Headed by CBI Director – appointed by selection
committee (PM, LoP(LS), CJI).
• To investigate crimes in states, CBI needs consent of the
states. It can be – general consent or case specific.
• Recently, states like WB, PB, MN withdrew general
consent.
ED • Estd in 1952
• Under Deptt of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
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• Headed by ED Director – appointed as per provisions of

CVC Act, 2003
• Responsible for enforcement of:
o Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)
o Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA)
o Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA)
o COFEPOSA
Competition Commission of • Statutory body under Competition Act, 2003

India • Under Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Replaced Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices
(MRTP) Commission
• Function: eliminate practices having adverse effects on
competition
e-governed State • Kerala – first fully e-governed state in India

• It has digitised govt services ensuring prompt and
transparent delivery to citizens.
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
UN Specialised Agencies 17 Specialized Agencies:

• FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations
• ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
• IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural
Development
• ILO: International Labour Organization
• IMF: International Monetary Fund
• IMO: International Maritime Organization
• ITU: International Telecommunication Union
• UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization
• UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development
Organization
• UN Tourism: World Tourism Organization
• UPU: Universal Postal Union
• WHO: World Health Organization
• WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
• WMO: World Meteorological Organization
• World Bank Group
UNESCO • US re-joined UNESCO
• HQ: Paris, France
• Specialised agency of UN, established
• in 1945 to contributes to peace and security by
promoting international cooperation in education,
sciences, culture, communication and information.
• Membership: 194 countries and 12 Associate
Members
• Composition: Secretariat, headed by Director-
General, implements the decisions of General
Conference and Executive Board.
UN Peacekeeping • It deploys troops and police from around the world,
integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to
address a range of mandates set by the UN Security
Council (UNSC) and the General Assembly.
• The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping
operations are the collective responsibility of UN
Member States.
• According to the UN Charter, every Member State
is legally obligated to pay their respective share for
peacekeeping.
• India is a major contributing nation to UN
peacekeeping activities, 2nd highest amongst
troop-contributing countries. In 2007, India became
the first country to deploy an all-women contingent
to a UN peacekeeping mission.
• Recently, the 75th anniversary of the beginning of
UN Peacekeeping was celebrated.
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• The theme of the 75th anniversary “Peace begins

with me”.
• A ceremony was held to posthumously award the
Dag Hammarskjold medal to peacekeepers who died
in 2022.
• Action for Peacekeeping (A4P): initiative of UN
Peacekeeping.
UN Commission on International • It is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly,
Trade Law (UNCITRAL) established in 1966.
• HQ at Vienna, Austria.
• Mandate: harmonization and unification of law of
international trade.
• Commission is composed of 60 member States
elected by the General Assembly. The 60 member
States include 14 African States, 14 Asian States, 8
Eastern European States, 10 Latin American and
Caribbean States and 14 Western European and
other States.
• The General Assembly elects members for terms of
six years; every three years, the terms of half of the
members expire.
• India is a founding member of this organisation.
International Coffee Organization • Established in 1963 under the aegis of the United
(ICO) Nations and following the approval of the first
International Coffee Agreement in 1962.
• ICO is the only intergovernmental organization for
coffee, bringing together exporting and importing
Governments.
• It currently represents 93% of world coffee
production and 63% of world consumption.
• Member countries: 49 (42 coffee exporting and 7
importing countries). India is a member of this
organisation.
Coffee Cultivation
• 2 major species — Coffea Arabica (Arabica) and
Coffea Canephora (Robusta).
• Climate: Hot and humid climate for its growth.
• Rainfall:150 to 250 cm.
• Temperature: Ranging between 15°C and 28 °C.
• It is generally grown under shady trees. Dry
weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the
berries. It is grown on hill slopes at elevations from
600 to 1,600 metres above sea level.
• Coffee growing states in India: Karnataka, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, among
which, Karnataka produces the most with over 70%
of the total output.
The Coffee Board of India

• Statutory body under the Coffee Act, 1942.
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• under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• functions from Bangalore.
International Maritime Organisation • specialized agency of the UN.
(IMO) • responsible for measures to improve the safety and
security of international shipping and to prevent
pollution from ships It is the global standard-setting
authority for the safety, security and environmental
performance of international shipping.
• It currently has 175 Member States.
• Headquarters: London
• Recently, India was re-elected to the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, with the
highest tally at elections held for the 2024–25
biennium.
L69 Grouping • aims to achieve comprehensive reform of UNSC
and strengthen multilateralism.
• includes developing countries from Africa, Latin
America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.
• India is a leading country in L.69.
G7 • inter-governmental political forum consisting of
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United
Kingdom, and United States.
• accounts for over 50% of global net wealth, 32-46%
of global GDP and 10% of the world's population.
• Aim to discuss and coordinate solutions to major
global issues, especially in the areas of trade,
security, economics, and climate change.
• Russia has been a formal member (as part of the
Group of Eight/G8) from 1997 to 2014.
• The G7 is not based on a treaty and has no
permanent secretariat or office.
• Presidency rotates annually among member states.
G20 • Formed in 1999 following the Asian Financial Crisis
of the 1980s as a forum for Central bank governors
and finance ministers.
• Raised to summit level in 2008 to address the
global financial and economic crisis of 2008.
• G20 Presidency rotates annually.
Canada UK Turkey Russia Japan
USA France Saudi China S Korea
Mexico Germany South India Indonesia
Africa
Brazil Italy AU Australia
Argentina EU
• It has NO permanent secretariat or headquarters.
• India recently held the Presidency of the 18 G20
th
summit for the first time at New Delhi, with the

theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth,
One Family, One Future”.
• Outcomes:
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• Delhi Declaration: Accelerating progress on

SDGs, Women empowerment, Reforms of
Multilateral Institutions, International
taxation and Global Peace.
• Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)
• India – Middle East – Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC)
• African Union inducted in G20.
• Troika: It is working association between the
current presidency, past presidency and next
presidency.
African Union • It is a continental body consisting of 55 member
states in Africa.
• Aims to promotes political and socio-economic
integration, peace, stability, security, and human
rights.
• officially launched in 2002 and replaced its
predecessor, the Organization of African Unity
(OAU), which was founded in 1963.
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- • regional organisation established in June 1997 with
Sectoral Technical and Economic the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
Cooperation • Initially, established as BIST-EC with 4 countries:
(BIMSTEC) Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
• Myanmar joined in December 1997 and the group
was renamed BIMST-EC.
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Aim: To create an enabling environment for rapid
economic development and social progress and
maintain peace and stability in the Bay of Bengal
region.
• Current Members: 7- Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan (both joined
in 2004).
ASEAN • established in 1967 with signing of ASEAN

Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Secretariat: Indonesia, Jakarta
• Members: Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines,
Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar, Vietnam.
• Dialogue Partners: Australia, Canada, China, India,
the EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand,
Russia, the U.K, the U.S.
BRICS • acronym BRIC was coined by economist ‘Jim
O’Neill’ of Goldman Sachs in 2001 to indicate the
emerging powers that would be, alongside the
United States, the five largest economies of the
world in the 21st century
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• Secretariat: No permanent secretariat or office

• Current Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China,
South Africa + 5 new members: Egypt, Ethiopia,
Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Major initiatives of BRICS
• New Development Bank (NDB).
• Contingency Reserve Arrangement (CRA) to
provide short-term liquidity support to the
members.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation • founded at the Shanghai summit in 2001 by Russia,

(SCO) China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan as a permanent intergovernmental
organization.
• HQ: Beijing, China
• aim: to address security related concerns,
Resolving border issues, Military Co-operation and
intelligence sharing, Countering terrorism, Co-
operation in education, energy, transportation, etc.
• Members: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan and Iran.
• 3 observer states: Belarus, Mongolia and
Afghanistan
• 6 dialogue partners: Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia
• India and Pakistan became full members at Astana
Summit in 2017.
I2U2 • grouping of India, Israel, USA and UAE.
• formed in October, 2021 following the Abraham
Accords between Israel and the UAE, to deal with
issues concerning maritime security, infrastructure
and transport in the region.
• Also referred as the ‘West Asian Quad’.
AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) • trilateral security partnership, launched in 2021.
• Aims to strengthen the ability of each government
to support security and defence interests; promote
deeper information sharing and technology
sharing; and foster deeper integration etc.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework • economic initiative launched by United States
for Prosperity (IPEF) President in 2022.
• 14 member states: Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India,
Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New
Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United
States and Vietnam.
• IPEF is based on 4 pillars: Trade; Supply Chains;
Clean Economy; Fair Economy
• IPEF partners are not required to join all four pillars
(India has not joined trade pillar).
• intends to advance resilience, sustainability,
inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and
competitiveness for member economies.
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North Atlantic Treaty Org (NATO) • military alliance established by the North Atlantic
Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April,
1949, by the United States, Canada, and several
Western European nations.
• HQ: Brussels, Belgium
• Aims to provide collective security against the
Soviet Union.
• Article 5 of Treaty states that attack on one
member is to be considered an attack on all
members. That effectively put Western Europe
under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US.
• Members: 32 (30 European nations, US and
Canada). EU members that are not a part of NATO
are: Austria, Cyprus, Ireland and Malta.
Collective Security Treaty (CSTO) • an intergovernmental military alliance that signed
in 1992.
• HQ: Moscow, Russia
• Members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.
• Objectives: To strengthen peace, international and
regional security including cybersecurity and
stability, the protection on a collective basis of the
independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty
of the member states.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) • a political and economic alliance of countries in the
Gulf region.
• GCC was established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1981.
• HQ: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Members: 6 - Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait,
Oman, and Bahrain
FATF • An inter-governmental body to combat money

laundering, terrorist financing and other related
• threats to the integrity of the international financial
system.
• Established by the G-7 Summit held in Paris in 1989.
• HQ: Paris
• Members: 37 member jurisdictions (including India)
and 2 regional organisations (Gulf Co-operation
Council and European Commission).
• India joined FATF in 2010.
• Maintains 2 lists: Grey List (Jurisdictions under
increased monitoring), Black List (High-risk
jurisdiction subject to call for action)
INTERPOL • It was established in 1923 to help police work
together to make the world a safer place.
• HQ: Lyon (France)
• Aim: To facilitate information-exchange between
national police forces.
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• Members: 196 member countries (including India)

• Each of the member countries hosts an INTERPOL
National Central Bureau (NCB).
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is designated
as the National Central Bureau of India.
• It issues 8 types of notices which are in the form of
alerts/requests allowing police in member countries
to share critical crime-related information.
Indian Ocean Rim Association • Inter-governmental organisation of countries

(IORA) bordering the Indian Ocean.
• established in 1997, based on vision of Nelson
Mandela.
• Aim: To strengthen regional cooperation and
sustainable development within Indian Ocean
region (IOR).
• Members: 23 members(including India).
• Not members: Pak, Myanmar
Organization of the Petroleum • a permanent intergovernmental organization that

Exporting Countries (OPEC) coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of
its Member Countries.
• HQ: Vienna, Austria.
• Members (12): Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria,
Republic of Congo, and Venezuela.
• Other key information: OPEC uses Brent Crude as a
benchmark for quality.
OPEC+
• created in 2016
• Members: OPEC + 10 (Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain,
Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, South
Sudan and Sudan)
International Organization of Legal • India has become an OIML certificate-issuing
Metrology (OILM) authority.
• OIML-Certificate system is a system for issuing,
registering, and using OIML certificates, and their
associated test or reports for measuring
instruments e.g., thermometers, clinical
thermometers, etc.
• Significance: increase in exports, earning of foreign
exchange, and generation of employment.
• OILM was Established in 1955 and headquartered in
Paris.
Paris Club • An informal group of mostly western creditor
countries. All 22 are members of the Organisation
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for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD) group.
• Created in 1956
• Objective: To find sustainable debt-relief solutions
for countries that are unable to repay their bilateral
loans.
• India is not a member
International Atomic Energy Agency • intergovernmental forum for scientific and
(IAEA) technical cooperation in the nuclear field.
• HQ: Vienna, Austria
• It applies nuclear safeguards– consisting of
monitoring, inspection, information analysis, and
other activities – to verify that nuclear activities
remain peaceful and detect and deter their
diversion, including to weapons-related purposes.
• implements comprehensive safeguards
agreements mandated by the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
India-Middle East-Europe Corridor • announced at the G20 Summit in New Delhi
(IMEC) • part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure
and Investment (PGII)
• The proposed IMEC will consist of Railroad, Ship-to-
Rail networks and Road transport routes extending
across two corridors, that is, The East Corridor –
connecting India to the Arabian Gulf, The Northern
Corridor – connecting the Gulf to Europe
• Signatories: India, the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, the
European Union, Italy, France, and Germany.
Partnership for Global Infrastructure • Initiative of G7 to fund critical infrastructure
and Investment (PGII) projects (roads, ports, bridges, communication
setups) in developing countries through public and
private investment and enhance global trade and
cooperation
Global Biofuels Alliance • launched by India at G20 Summit along with the
leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy, USA, Brazil,
Argentina, Mauritius and UAE.
• Aim: To serve as a catalytic platform, fostering
global collaboration for the advancement and
widespread adoption of biofuels.
Chip 4 Alliance (Fab4) • Grouping of four of the world’s top producers of
semiconductors: the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, and South
Korea
• It aims at reducing the world’s reliance on chips
made in China.
European Free Trade Association • intergovernmental organisation of Iceland,
(EFTA) Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• Signed an FTA with India
Voice of Global South Summit • India hosted the 2nd VOGSS
(VOGSS)
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• Indian PM unveils DAKSHIN (Global South Centre of

Excellence) and called for 5 ‘Cs’ for the Global
South: Consultation, Cooperation, Communication,
Creativity, and Capacity
• The term “Global South” refers to various countries
often described as “developing,” “less developed”
or “underdeveloped.”
• The concept of the Global South can be traced to
the Brandt report of 1980.
Israel-Palestine (Places in News)
Countries arranged as per Border • Bangladesh (4096 km)

Length with India • China (3488 km)
• Pakistan (3323 km)
• Nepal (1850 km)
• Myanmar (1600 km)
• Bhutan (699 km)
• Afghanistan (106 km)
India-China • Border: 3488 Km border divided into 3 sectors -

Western, Eastern and Central
• No Mutual Agreement on what constitutes the
LAC (Line of Actual Control, came into existence
post 1962 war)
• Western Sector: India considers Johnson line to be
the border while China considers the McDonald
Line to be the border.
• Eastern Sector: dispute over McMahon Line and
over areas of Tawang and Chumbi Valley.
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India-Pakistan • Indus Water Treaty: Signed in 1960 between India

and Pakistan, brokered by World Bank
• Water sharing arrangement : Waters of eastern
rivers (Ravi, Sutlej and Beas) have been allocated
to India and that of Western Rivers (Indus, Chenab
and Jhelum) have been allocated to Pakistan
India-Bangladesh • India is the second biggest trading partner of

Bangladesh after China.
• Maitri Setu = India-Bangladesh friendship bridge
built over the Feni River, which flows between the
Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh. It spans
1.9 kilometres joining Sabroom (in Tripura) with
Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
• Feni River forms part of the India-Bangladesh
border. It originates in the South Tripura district.
flows into Bay of Bengal. Some of the tributaries of
the Feni River include the Muhuri River, Raidak
River, Chandkhira River, Ryang River and Kushiyara
River.
• Agartala-Akhaura Railway Project recently
inaugurated. It will dramatically reduce travel time
between Agartala and Kolkata from 31 hours to just
10 hours. Funding for the project is entirely
provided by India, with contributions from the
Ministry for Development of North East Region and
the Ministry of External Affairs.
India-Myanmar • Free Movement Regime exists between India and

Myanmar. Under the FMR, every member of the hill
tribes, who is either a citizen of India or a citizen of
Myanmar and who is resident of any area within 16
km on either side of the Indo-Myanmar border can
cross the border on production of a border pass
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(one year validity) issued by the competent

authority and can stay up to two weeks per visit.
India - Sri Lanka Territoriality of Katchatheevu island remains a friction

point between 2 nations
India-France “Horizon 2047” is a roadmap signed in 2023 between

India and France to outline the course of their bilateral
relationship until 2047. The roadmap, signed on Bastille
Day in Paris, marks the 25th anniversary of the two
countries' partnership and aims to strengthen their
scientific cooperation, trade, and investment.
Key Operations by India over last few • Operation Raahat: In 2015 to evacuate foreign and
years: Indian citizens from conflict hit Yemen
• Operation Devi Shakti: To evacuate people from
Afghanistan after Taliban Takeover
• Operation Ganga: in 2022 to evacuate Indians from
Ukraine. (Feb 2022)
• Operation Dost: to help Turkey and Syria to recover
from Earthquake. (Feb 2023)
• Operation Kaveri: to bring back Indian nationals
from Sudan following a crisis that erupted in
Sudan. (Apr 2023)
• Operation Ajay to facilitate return of Indian citizens
from Israel. (Oct 2023)
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ART & CULTURE

UNESCO World Heritage Sites • sites are designated as having outstanding universal
value under the World Heritage Convention of 1972.
• 3 categories - cultural, natural, and mixed.
• 42 World Heritage Sites in India.
• #1 Italy (59 sites), #2 China (57 sites)
Santiniketan • 41st UNESCO World Heritage site of India
• a residential school and centre for art based on
ancient Indian traditions
• Established in rural West Bengal in 1901 by the
renowned poet and philosopher Rabindranath
Tagore
• Santiniketan was an experimental settlement in
education and communal life in a rural setting. The
community was in many ways meant to represent a
uniquely Indian example of a ‘total work of art’
(Gesamtkunstwerk) where life, learning, work and art
along with the local and the global intertwined
seamlessly.
Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas • 42nd UNESCO World Heritage site of India
• includes the temples of Chennakeshava temple
(Belur) and Hoysaleshwara temple (Halebidu) and
Keshava temple (Somanathapur)
• Chennakeshava Temple (also called Vijayanarayana
Temple)
o Built by King Vishnuvardhana in 12th c
o Banks of river Yagachi
o Dedicated to Lord Vishnu
• Hoysaleshwara Temple (Halebid Temple)
o Built by King Vishnuvardhana in 12th c
o Banks of Dwarasamudra lake
o Dedicated to Lord Shiva
• Keshava Temple
o Built by Somanatha Dandanayaka in 13th c
o Dedicated to Lord Krishna
Konark Sun Temple Built during the 13th century under the reign of Eastern
Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I.
Also known as Black Pagoda
Kalinga architecture – temple consists of 2 parts – Deul
and Jagmohan.
Other sun temples in India: Martand (J&K), Katarmal
(Uttarakand), Surya pahar (Assam), Dakshinaaka (Bihar),
Arasavalli (Andra Pradesh), Suryanar Kovil (TN),
Modera(Gujarat), and Brahmanya (MP).
Martund Sun Temple, Jammu And ● Built by King Lalitaditya Muktipada of Karkota
Kashmir Dynasty in around 750 AD
● It was destroyed by Sikander Bushti Khan in 15th
century AD
Lingaraj Temple, Bhuvaneshwar, ● Built by kings of Somvanshi Dynasty in 10th - 11th
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Odisha century AD
● Example of Kalinga Architecture, which is a substyle
of Nagara Architecture
● Shivling here is called ‘HariHara’ which represents a
syncretic mix of Vaishnavism and Shaivism
Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha ● Built by Anantavarman Chodaganga in 12th Century
and is famous for its ‘Rath Yatra’
● Also called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’
Ramappa Temple, Telangana ● Dedicated to Shiva or Rudreshawar
● Built by sculptor Ramappa under Kakatiyas in 12th
century CE
● It is a UNESCO WHS
12 Jyotirlingas
Sengol • Sengol presented by head of Thiruvaduthurai

Adheenam (monastery) kept in the new
Parliament building.
• In the Chola Empire, Sengol was considered a
symbol of the path of duty, the path of service,
and the path of the nation. Practice of handing
over a sceptre since the Sangam Age. Finds
mention in texts such as Purananooru,
Kurunthogai, Perumpaanatrupadai, and
Kalithogai.
Statues Name Dedicated to Location
Statue of Adi Omkareshwar
Oneness Shankaracharya (MP)
Statue of Sardar Patel Kevadia (GJ)
Unity
Statue of Ramanujacharya Hyderabad (TL)
Equality
Statue of Jain monk Vijay Pali (RJ)
Peace Vallabh Surishwar
Statue of Kempegowda Bengaluru (KN)
Prosperity
UNESCO Creative Cities Network It has 350 creative cities in more than 100 countries,
(UCCN) spanning seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art,
Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and
Music.
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8 Indian cities: Gwalior (Music), Kozhikode (Literature),

Mumbai (Film), Chennai (Music), Hyderabad
(Gastronomy), Varanasi (Music), Jaipur (Crafts and Folk
art) and Srinagar (Crafts and Folk art)
UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural 15 items from India:
Heritage Garba Of Gujarat, Kutiyattam Sanskrit theatre, Tradition
of Vedic chanting, Ramlila, Ramman: ritual theatre of the
Garhwal Himalayas, Chhau dance, Kalbelia folk dance of
Rajasthan, Mudiyettu ritual theatre of Kerala, Buddhist
chanting of Ladakh, Sankirtana, Traditional brass and
copper craft of utensil making of Thatheras of Jandiala
Guru in Punjab, Nawrouz, Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja
in Kolkata
Garba • Folk dance performed on the occasion of the Hindu
festival of Navaratri, which is dedicated to the worship
• of the feminine energy or ‘Shakti’
• Takes place around a perforated earthenware pot
called a garbha deep ("womb lamp"), or an image
• of the mother goddess Amba.
• Dancers move around the pot in an anti-clockwise
circle.
Ol Chiki Script • created in 1925 by Raghunath Murmu (1905-1982) as a
way to write Santhali
• Santhali is a Munda language spoken mainly in
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and also in
Bangladesh, eastern Nepal and Bhutan.
• There are about 7.3 million speakers of Santhali in
India, according to the 2011 census.
Kui language Kui Language belongs to the Dravidian Family of
languages and is spoken mainly by people of the Kondh
Tribe of Odisha
Mihir Bhoja • 9th century ruler from Gurjar – Pratihara dynasty.
• adopted the title of Adivaraha (devotee of Lord
Vishnu)
• Rajsekhara - his court poet
• involved in tripartite struggle for Kannauj with Palas in
the East and Rashtrakutas in the Deccan.
Meera Bai (1498-1546) • Saguna Bhakti saint – devotee of Lord Krishna
• born as Princess of Mewar, married to Rana Bhoj Raj -
son of Rana Sanga.
• poems in Braj language
Rani Durgavati • Born in 1524 in Chandela Dynasty of Mahoba (present
day UP)
• married to Dalpatshah of Gond Dynasty of Garha
Katanga in 1542.
• She ruled the kingdom of Garha-Katanga after the
death of her husband in 1550
• Fought against Akbar's commander Asaf Khan and the
neighboring Malwa Sultan Baz Bahadur.
Dayanand Saraswati • Born in 1824 in Morvi, Gujarat
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• Taught by Swami Virjanand Saraswati

• Wrote Satyarth Prakash, Veda Bhasya, Veda Bhasya
Bhumika
• gave the slogan "Go back to Vedas"
• established Arya Samaj in 1875
• In 1893, the Arya Samaj members of Punjab were
divided on the question of vegetarianism. The group
that refrained from eating meat were called the
"Mahatma" group and the other group, the "Cultured
Party".
Birsa Munda • born in 1875 in Munda tribe at Ulihatu, Khunti district
of
• Chotanagpur Plateau region (Jharkhand).
• started the faith of Birsait.
• started a movement called 'Ulgulan', or 'The Great
Tumult' against the exploitation and discrimination
against tribals.
Alluri Sitarama Raju • Born in 1897 in Andhra Pradesh
• Led the Rampa rebellion (also called Manyam
rebellion) – 1922-24
• Referred as “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of the Jungles)
• martyred on May 7, 1924.
Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to the Norwegian author and dramatist Jon
Fosse, “for his innovative plays and prose which give
voice to the unsayable.”
Sahitya Akademi Award • literary honour, conferred annually on writers of most
outstanding books of literary merit published in any of
the major Indian languages.
• Besides 22 languages enumerated in Constitution,
English and Rajasthani language are also recognised.
• Award includes a casket containing an engraved
copper plaque, a shawl and an amount of Rs.
1,00,000/-
• Sahitya Akademi functions as an autonomous
organisation. It is registered as a society under
Societies Registration Act, 1860.
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GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Scheme/Portal/Initiative Ministry/Agency Description
AAINA Dashboard for Ministry of Housing & Urban For performance monitoring of
Cities Affairs urban local bodies (ULBs) on
parameters: (i) Political &
Administrative Structure, (ii) Finance,
(iii) Planning, (iv) Citizen Centric
Governance and (v) Delivery of Basic
Services.
Amplifi 2.0 Portal Ministry of Housing and • portal aims to provide data on
Urban Affairs Indian cities.
• Make raw data from Indian cities
available on a single platform for
academics, researchers, and
stakeholders to help data-driven
policymaking.
CITIIS 2.0 Ministry of Housing and 3 major components:

Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in Component-1: Financial and technical
partnership with the French support for up to 18 Smart Cities for
Development Agency (AFD), projects promoting circular economy
KfW-Germany, European with focus on Integrated Waste
Union (EU), and National Management.
Institute of Urban Affairs Component-2: Support to all
(NIUA) States/Union Territories (UTs) for
Climate action.
Component-3: Interventions at
National level to support scale-up
across all cities and towns.
PM-SVANidhi Ministry of Housing and • to providing affordable loans to

Urban Affairs street vendors.
• It is a micro credit scheme,
SIDBI is implementing facilitating a working capital
partner. collateral free loan of ₹10,000,
with subsequent loans of ₹20,000
and ₹50,000 with 7% interest
subsidy.
• objectives include facilitating
working capital loan to street
vendors, incentivising regular
payments and rewarding digital
transaction through cashback
facility.
Pradhan Mantri Ministry of Social Justice & • It is a merged scheme of three

Anusuchit Jaati Empowerment Centrally Sponsored Schemes -
Abhuyday Yojana (PM- Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram
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AJAY) Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central

Assistance to Scheduled Castes
Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu
Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana
(BJRCY).
• Aim: To reduce poverty of the SC
communities by generation of
additional employment
opportunities through Skill
development, income generating
schemes and other initiatives.
SUPREME Initiative Ministry of Science and • To extend financial support for

Technology repair, upgradation, maintenance,
• retrofitting, or acquiring
additional attachments to
increase the functional
capabilities of existing analytical
instrumentation facilities.
• Facilities at institutions
recognised by the University
Grants Commission (UGC) are
eligible to apply for grants under
this initiative.
I-STEM (Indian Science, Office of Principal Scientific • developed with the concept “One
Technology, and Advisor (under Cabinet Nation One Portal” for the
Engineering facilities Secretariat) scientific community, aimed at
Map) “Linking Researchers and
Resources”.
• It assists users to locate the
specific facility they need for their
R&D work and identify the one
that is either located closest to
them or available the soonest.
Samavesha Project Office of Principal Scientific The project aims to enhance research
Advisor (under Cabinet collaboration in India by improving
Secretariat) accessibility to facilities and labs.
The platform allows researchers and
industries to connect with
institutions that have the required
equipment, enabling them to rent it
for experiments.
Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi Ministry of Women and • PBPB will focus on Early
(PBPB) Scheme Child Development (WCD) Childhood Care and Education
(ECCE) (first six years of children)
at anganwadis across the
country.
• It envisages training of
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anganwadi workers through the

National Institute of Public
Cooperation and Child
Development (NIPCCD)
Justice Clocks Ministry of Law and Justice • Electronic signage systems called
Justice Clocks have been installed
in the court complexes of High
Courts.
• These clocks aim to inform
stakeholders about key court-
related parameters and provide a
bird’s eye view of court-related
data.
• The initiative is expected to
increase awareness among the
public about the judicial process.
Nyaya Vikas Portal Ministry of Law and Justice • monitoring system developed
(Department of Justice) with the technical assistance of
National Remote Sensing Centre
of ISRO for collection of data on
progress and completion of court
halls and residential units and 3
new componentsviz; lawyers’
halls, toilet complexes and digital
computer rooms.
• Central assistance is provided to
the State Government / UT
Administrations for construction
of court halls and residential units
for Judicial Officers / Judges of
District, etc
• Funding: Northeastern and
Himalayan States (90:10); Union
Territories (100%), remaining
states (60:40).
SAMUDRA App Ministry of Earth Sciences • Launched by Indian National

Centre for Ocean Information
Services (INCOIS)
• for seafarers and the fishing
community.
• offers comprehensive
information on all ocean related
services.
PRITHvi VIgyan Scheme Ministry of Earth Sciences • The Prithvi scheme integrates five
existing sub-schemes:
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Atmosphere and Climate

Research-Modelling Observing
Systems and Services (ACROSS);
Ocean Services, Modelling
Application, Resources and
Technology (O-SMART); Polar
Science and Cryosphere Research
(PACER); Seismology and
Geosciences (SAGE); and
Research, Education, Training,
and Outreach (REACHOUT).
• scheme holistically addresses all
the five components of earth
system namely atmosphere,
hydrosphere, geosphere,
cryosphere and biosphere to
improve the understating of the
Earth System Sciences and to
provide reliable services for the
country.
Deep Ocean Mission Ministry of Earth Sciences • aims to develop technologies and
capabilities for deep sea
exploration.
• Key Pillars of the Mission:
o Deep-Sea Mining and Crewed
Submersibles
o Ocean Climate Change
Advisory Services
o Deep-Sea Biodiversity
Exploration and Conservation
o Survey and Exploration of
Deep-Ocean Minerals
o Harvesting Energy and
Freshwater from the Ocean
o Advanced Marine Station for
Ocean Biology
REACHOUT Scheme Ministry of Earth Sciences • umbrella scheme, of the

following six subschemes:
o Research and Development in
Earth System Science (RDESS);
o Outreach and awareness;
Knowledge Resources Center
Network (KRCNet);
o BIMSTEC Centre for Weather
and Climate (BCWC);
o International Training Centre
for Operational Oceanography
(ITCOocean)
o Program for development of
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skilled workforce in Earth

system sciences (DESK).
PM Vishwakarma Ministry of Micro, Small & • It envisages to provide end-to-

Scheme Medium Enterprise end holistic support to the
traditional artisans and
craftspeople in scaling up of their
conventional products and
services.
• Central Sector Scheme
• Duration: FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-
28
• Scheme will be jointly
administered by MoMSME, the
Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and
the Department of Financial
Services (DFS) under the Ministry
of Finance
• Artisans and craftspeople will be
provided recognition through the
PM Vishwakarma certificate and
ID card
• Eligibility criteria: An artisan or
craftsperson working with hands
and tools and engaged in one of
the recognized (18) family based
traditional trades with minimum
age of 18 years.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Ministry of Tourism • to develop sustainable and

Scheme responsible tourism destinations,
following a destination & tourism-
centric approach.
• major themes have been
identified for tourism under the
Scheme:
o Culture and Heritage
o Adventure Tourism
o Eco-Tourism
o Wellness Tourism
o MICE Tourism
o Rural Tourism
o Beach Tourism
o Cruises – Ocean & Inland
National Automated Ministry of Home Affairs • NAFIS is a pan-India searchable

Fingerprint • database of crime and criminal-
Identification System related fingerprints.
(NAFIS) • It is managed by the National
Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
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Citizen Financial Cyber Ministry of Home Affairs • national helpline to report all
Fraud Reporting and sorts of financial frauds and
Management System immediately prevent the stealing
(CFCFRMS) of funds by cheats.
• made operational by Indian Cyber
Crime Coordination Centre (I4C),
under MHA, to integrate Law
Enforcement Agencies and Banks
and Financial Intermediaries.
• It leverages new-age
technologies for sharing online
fraud-related information and
taking action in almost real time.
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Ministry of Tribal Affairs • launched on Janjatiya Gaurav

Adivasi Nyaya Maha Divas - 15th November - birth
Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) anniversary of Sri Birsa Munda
• It was announced in the Union
Budget 2023-24
• It is aimed to improve socio-
economic conditions of the PVTGs
by saturating PVTG households
and habitations with basic
facilities such as safe housing,
clean drinking water and
sanitation, electricity, road and
telecom connectivity etc.
Bharat- New Car Ministry of Road Transport • India’s own crash-linked safety
Assessment Programme Highways(MoRTH) performance star rating system
(Bharat-NCAP) for cars.
• The five star rating system under
Bharat-NCAP would assign cars
between one to five stars based
on how well they perform in
crash tests with zero star
indicating lowest safety.
• Cars in India were so far following
the Global-NCAP rating system
due to a lack of Indian
standardised crash test rating
mechanism.
e-Detailed Accident Ministry of Road Transport • The project aims to develop an

Report (eDAR) Project Highways(MoRTH) Integrated Road Accident
Database (iRAD), to enrich the
accident databases from every
part of the country.
• The project would generate
various types of insights by
analysing the collected road
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accident data across the country

through implementation of data
analytics technique.
• funded by World Bank.
UDAN 5.1 Scheme Ministry of Civil Aviation • specifically designed for

helicopter routes.
• After 4 successful rounds of the
Regional Connectivity Scheme
(RCS) - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik
(UDAN), the Ministry of Civil
Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1
to further enhance the
connectivity to remote areas of
the country and achieve last mile
connectivity through helicopters.
Digi Yatra App Ministry of Civil Aviation • Digi Yatra is conceived to achieve
contactless, seamless processing
of passengers at airports.
• It facilitates paperless travel and
avoids identity checks at multiple
points in an airport.
• Recently, Digi Yatra app, based on
Facial Recognition Technology,
user base crosses the one million
marks.
Amrit Bharat Station Ministry of Railways • launched in February 2023

Scheme (ABSS) • by the to redevelop 1,309 stations
nationwide.
• The scheme aims to transform
railway stations into modern,
well-equipped hubs with
improved passenger amenities,
better traffic circulation, inter-
modal integration, and enhanced
signage.
Hydrogen for Heritage Ministry of Railways • announced in the Union Budget

Scheme 2023-24.
• Under it, Indian Railways (IR) has
envisaged to run 35 Hydrogen
trains.
• Also, IR will do retro fitment of
Hydrogen Fuel cell on existing
Diesel Electric Multiple Unit
(DEMU).
SVAMITVA Scheme Ministry of Panchayati Raj • scheme is a collaborative effort of

the Ministry of Panchayati Raj,
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State Panchayati Raj

Departments, State Revenue
Departments and Survey of India.
• Central Sector Scheme
• It is a scheme for mapping the
land parcels in rural inhabited
areas using drone technology and
Continuously Operating
Reference Station (CORS)
• SVAMITVA provides a “Record-of-
Rights” to facilitate availing of
loans on the security of such
lands.
Project AMBER Ministry of Skill • It is a joint initiative of the

Development National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC) in
collaboration with Generation
India Foundation (GIF) and
Amazon Web Services India
Private Limited (AWS India).
• The initiative has been
undertaken under the SANKALP
programme of MSDE with a focus
on women to improve gender
diversification in the tech industry
and underprivileged groups.
• This project aims to train 30,000
youth, 50% of whom will be
women.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat Ministry of Textiles • initiative by Cotton Corporation

of India, Trade Bodies & Industry.
• Objective: To work on the
principle of self-regulation by
owning complete responsibility of
Branding, Traceability and
Certification of Indian Cotton to
enhance its’ competitiveness in
the global market and create a
sustainable ecosystem for all
stakeholders involved.
Technology Ministry of Defence • to promote self-reliance in

Development Fund Defence Technology as part of
(TDF) Scheme 'Make in India' initiative.
• executed by DRDO
• encourages participation of
public/private industries so as to
create eco-system for enhancing
cutting edge technology
80
Final Lap 2024
capability for defence application

• Recently, limit of funding of
innovative defense projects under
Technology Development Fund
(TDF) has been raised to Rs 50
crore per project, from the
present limit of Rs 10 crore.
Project Akashteer Ministry of Defence • It will build a comprehensive air

defence picture for monitoring,
tracking and shooting down of air
defence assets.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
and Ministry of Defence had
signed a contract for the
procurement of Automated Air
Defence Control & Reporting
System
Project BHISHM Ministry of Health and • India has built the world’s first
Family Welfare disaster hospital, called Aarogya
Maitri Cube which can be airlifted
and assembled in 72 cubes.
• These medical cubes have been
indigenously developed under
Project BHISHM (Bharat Health
Initiative for Sahyog Hita and
Maitri).
Ayushman Bhav Ministry of Health and • aims to deliver healthcare

Campaign Family Welfare services to the last mile and
consolidate access and
affordability for underserved
populations.
• The campaign also raises
awareness about vital health
schemes and diseases, leveraging
India's digital inclusion efforts to
extend healthcare accessibility
Ayushman Arogya Ministry of Health and • Centre has decided to rename

Mandir (AAM) Family Welfare Ayushman Bharat Health and
Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) as
‘AAM’ with the tagline ‘Arogyam
Parmam Dhanam’.
• Launched under the Ayushman
Bharat Program in 2018, there are
over 1.6 Lakh centers in the
country.
• They are envisaged to deliver an
expanded range of services that
81
Final Lap 2024
go beyond Maternal and child

health care services.
• They provide care for non-
communicable diseases, palliative
and rehabilitative care, Oral, Eye,
and ENT care, mental health, and
first-level care for emergencies
and trauma.
Ayurveda Gyan Ministry of AYUSH • Launched by Central Council for

Naipunya Initiative Research in Ayurveda Sciences
(AGNI) Initiative (CCRAS)
• AGNI aims to promote research
for mainstreaming the Ayurveda
practices through scientific
validation and evidence-based
appraisal.
• It will provide a platform to
Ayurveda practitioners for
reporting their innovative
practices and experiences in
various disease conditions.
Sanchar Saathi Portal Ministry of Communications • developed by C-DoT under the

Department of Tele-
communications (DoT).
• The portal aims to provide various
reforms and services related to
mobile connections and
telecommunications.
• Aims to prevent frauds such as
identity theft, forged KYC,
banking frauds etc.
PUShP Portal Ministry of Power • Launched to ensure greater

availability of power during peak
demand season at a price higher
than ceiling of Rs 12 per unit by
certain category of sellers.
• DISCOMs will be able to indicate
their surplus power in block times
/ days / months on portal. Those
DISCOMs who need power will be
able to requisition the surplus
power.
Mission on Advanced Ministry of Power • to leverage Emerging

and High-Impact Technologies in the Power Sector
Research(MAHIR) Ministry of New and • to facilitate indigenous research,
Renewable Energy development and demonstration
of the latest and emerging
82
Final Lap 2024
technologies in the power sector.

• Duration: 5 years from 2023-24 to
2027-28
UTPRERAK Ministry of Power • Set up by the Bureau of Energy

efficiency (BEE)
• Centre of Excellence to accelerate
industry adoption of clean
technologies and thus scale up
India’s contribution to the global
energy transition.
• Centre would implement and
support projects in areas such as
training/capacity building,
showcase for energy efficient
technologies, information centre
and knowledge repository etc.
ENCORE Software Election Commission of • Election Commission of India

India (ECI) designed in-house software
for complete Candidate and
election management through
‘ENCORE’
• It is an end-to-end application for
returning officers to digitize votes
polled, tabulate the round-wise
data, and then take out various
statutory reports of counting
• Through this, various depts like
fire, education, police,
environment, etc. give ‘no
objection’ certificates for holding
rallies, road shows, etc. to
political parties or candidates.
83
REPORTS/INDICES
UN Agencies
Report/Index Published by Insights
Gender Inequality Index 2022 UNDP India's value is 0.437 and was
ranked at 108 out of 193
countries
Human Development Report UNDP India #134/193
SL #78, China #7, Bhutan
#125, Bang #129, Nepal #146,
Pak #164
Multidimensional Poverty Index UNDP + Oxford Poverty and 3 dimensions, 10 indicators:
2023 Human Development Education: Years of
Initiative (OPHI) schooling, School
Attendance
Health: Child mortality,
Nutrition
Standard of living:
Electricity, Housing, Drinking
Water, Sanitation, Cooking
Fuel, Assets
415 million people moved

out of poverty in India within
just 15 years from 2005/2006
to 2019/2021
World Economic Situation and UNDESA

Prospects (WESP) Report 2024
World Investment Report 2022 UNCTAD Top Sources of FDI in India:
Mauritius > Singapore > USA
> Netherlands > Switzerland
State of World Population UNFPA (United Nations Title: 8 Billion Lives, Infinite
Report 2023 Population Fund) Possibilities
Global Education Monitoring UNESCO
Report
World Food Price Index FAO measure of the monthly
change in international
prices of a basket of food
commodities
Global Wage Report 2022 ILO Global wages declined in
2022 for the first time since
the 2008 global financial
crisis due to increasing living
expenses.
State of Food Security and FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP,
Nutrition in the World (SOFI) WHO
2023
State of the World's Forests FAO
(SOFO) 2022
www.atishmathur.com email: contact@atishmathur.com telegram: https://t.me/csepaper2atish
84
State of Food and Agriculture FAO
(SOFA) 2023 Report
World Water Development UN Water
Report
World Happiness Report 2024 United Nations Sustainable India - #126/143, China - #60,
Development Solutions Nepal - #93, Pal - #108,
Network Myanmar - #118
Global Innovation Index 2024 World Intellectual Property India - #40/132
Organization(WIPO)
Gender Social Norms Index UNDP quantifies biases against
(GSNI) 2023 women, capturing people’s
attitudes toward women’s
roles
World Drug Report 2023 UN Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC)
State of Climate Services Report World Meteorological
2023 Organization (WMO)
World Economic Forum (WEF)

Report/Index Insights
Global Competitiveness Report/Index
Global Risks Report 2024 Major global risks
• In the next 2 years: misinformation &
disinformation, extreme weather events;
societal polarisation, cyber insecurity
• In the next 10 years: extreme weather
events, critical change to Earth’s systems,
biodiversity loss
Global Gender Gap Index 2023 ● India’s rank – 127 out of 146
● World will take 131 years to achieve
gender parity at current rate
● 4 dimensions: Economic Participation and
Opportunity, Educational Attainment,
Health and Survival, Political
Empowerment
Global Travel and Tourism Index ● India ranked at 54th out of 117 countries
● Japan secured Rank 1
Energy Transition Index 2023 • Shift from fossil-based energy production
and consumption (including oil, natural
gas, and coal) to renewable energy (RE)
sources like wind and solar.
• 3 parameters: equity, security,
sustainability
• India - #67/120
Environment-related
85
State of the Global World Meteorological
Climate Report 2023 Organization (WMO)
Adaptation Gap Report UNEP
2023
Emissions Gap Report UNEP Top GHG emitters: China > US > India >
2023 EU27
Per capita emitters: US > Russia > China
Living Planet Report World Wide Fund for 69% decline in the wildlife populations of
2022 Nature (WWF) mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles
and fish, across the globe in the last 50
years
Climate Change Germanwatch, New 4 parameters: greenhouse gas
Performance Index Climate Institute, emissions, renewable energy, energy
2024 Climate Action Network use, climate policy
India ranked #7
No country in top 3 positions
Global Climate Risk Germanwatch
Index
Global Biodiversity Convention on
Outlook Biological Diversity
(CBD)
Global Land Outlook UNCCD
Food Waste Index 2024 UNEP • measures food waste at retail and
consumer level.
• In 2022, the world wasted 1.05 billion
tonnes of food.
Global Drought UNCCD
Snapshot Report 2023
Plastic Overshoot Day Swiss-based research • Plastic Overshoot Day - day when the
Report consultancy Earth amount of plastic waste surpasses
Action (EA) the capability of waste management
systems to effectively manage.
• Recently, the Earth witnessed Plastic
Overshoot Day on July 28, 2023
State of Finance for UNEP Tracks public and private finance flows
Nature report 2023 to Nature-based solutions (NbS)
Ecological Threat Institute of Economics Threats due to population growth, water
Report 2023 and Peace (IEP) stress, food
insecurity, droughts, floods, cyclones,
and rising temperature.
Most vulnerable: Middle East and North
Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and South
Asia
Environment Yale Univ + WEF + India ranked 180th
Performance Index Columbia Univ
86
Miscellaneous
Global Hunger Index 2023 Concern Worldwide, 4 indicators: undernourished,
Welthungerhilfe child wasting, child stunting,
child mortality
India's rank => 111 among 125
countries behind Sri Lanka
(60), Nepal (69), Pakistan
(102), Bangladesh (81)
India Energy Outlook IEA
World Energy Outlook IEA
Global EV Outlook IEA
Global Energy & CO2 Status IEA
report
Democracy Index 2023 Economist Intelligence Unit based on 5 categories:
(EIU) electoral process and
pluralism, civil liberties,
functioning of government,
political participation, political
culture
four regime types: full
democracies, flawed
democracies (INDIA), hybrid
regimes and authoritarian
regimes.
Global Liveability Index 2023 EIU Vienna - #1
Delhi, Mumbai - #141
Global Peace Index Institute for Economics and
Peace
Global Terrorism Index Institute for Economics and
Peace
Freedom in the World 2023 Freedom House (USA based India has been termed as
human rights watchdog) ‘partly free’ country in terms
of democracy and free society
Academic Freedom Index Global Public Policy Institute
World Press Freedom Index Reporters without Borders India's rank => 161 out of 180
2023
Corruption Perception Index Transparency International India's rank => 85th among
2023 180
Democracy Report 2024: Varieties of Democracy (V- 4 regime types: Liberal
Democracy Winning and Dem) Institute, Sweden Democracy, Electoral
Losing at the Ballot Democracy, Electoral
Autocracy, and Closed
Autocracy
India’s rank=> 104 (Electoral

Autocracy)
World Competitiveness Institute for Management
Report/Index Development (IMD)
Henley Passport Index 2024 Henly India – 80th most powerful
passport
87
visa-free/visa-on-arrival travel
to 62 countries
Global Tuberculosis Report WHO ● TB is the second leading
2023 killer after COVID 19
● India has the highest - 27%
of global TB caseload
Global Slavery Index 2023 Walk Free Foundation ● Modern slavery is an
umbrella term and
includes a whole variety
of abuses such as forced
labour, forced marriage,
debt bondage, sexual
exploitation, human
trafficking, slavery-like
practices, forced or
servile marriage, and the
sale and exploitation of
children.
● worst offenders: North
Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania,
Saudi Arabia
Domestic
National Multidimensional NITI Aayog 3 dimensions, 12 indicators
Poverty Index Health: Nutrition, Child &
Adolescent Mortality,
Antenatal Care
Education: Years of
Schooling, School Attendance
Standard of living: Cooking
Fuel, Sanitation, Drinking
Water, Electricity, Housing,
Assets, Bank Account
• India's multidimensional
poverty has decreased
from 29.17% in 2013-14 to
11.28% in 2022-23
NFHS-5 MoH&FW Data 2019-21
Sex ratio: 1020 w per 100 m
SR @ birth: 952
TFR: 2
Child nutrition
Underweight: 32%
Wasting: 19%
Stunting: 36%
Anemic women: 53%

Export Preparedness Index NITI Aayog + Institute of 4 parameters: policy, business
2022 Competitiveness ecosystem, export
88
ecosystem, export
performance
Public Affairs Index Bangalore-based think tank Based on three pillars of
Public Affairs Center (PAC) governance - growth, equity
and sustainability
#1 Haryana
Financial Stability Report RBI • bi-annual report
• reflects risks to
• financial stability and
resilience of Indian
financial system
Financial Inclusion Index RBI 3 dimensions:
• access to financial
services
• usage of financial services
• quality of the products
and the service delivery
Digital Payments Index RBI to capture the extent of
digitisation of payments
across the country
LEADS Report 2023 DPIIT, M/o Commerce To gauge the logistics
performance of states and
Union Territories (UT) and
identifying areas where they
can improve logistics
performance
Swachh Survekshan 2023 MoHUA Cleanest City: Indore
Best Ganga Town: Varanasi
Cleanest Cantonment: Mhow
Cantt (MP)
State Food Safety Index FSSAI
Tiger Status Report 2022 National Tiger Conservation India’s tiger pop => 3682
Authority (NTCA) statewise: MP > KN > UK
Tiger reserves: Corbett >
Bandipur > Nagarhole
largest Tiger Reserve:

Nagarjun Srisailam TR
Smallest TR: Orang TR
India State of Forests report Forest Survey of India, Forest cover:
2021 MoEFCC Absolute à MP > Arunachal >
Chhattisgarh > Odisha >
Maharashtra
%age à Mizoram (84%) >

Arunachal Pradesh (79%) >
Meghalaya (76%) > Manipur
(74%) > Nagaland (73%)
Indian Landslide Susceptibility IIT Delhi • Sikkim has the highest

Map (ILSM) percentage of land area
89
(57.6 %) susceptible to
landslides.
• Arunachal Pradesh has the
highest absolute area
susceptible to landslides
UDISE+ (Unified District Ministry of Education UDISE+ has a mandate of
Information System for collecting information from
Education) all recognized schools
imparting formal education
from Pre-primary to class XII.
Information collected
through the digital platform,
UDISE+ is utilized for
planning, optimizing resource
allocation and implementing
various education-related
programs and assessing
progress.
Performance Grading Index Ministry of Education assess the performance of
(PGI) for School Education school education system at
System State and District level
All India Survey on Higher Ministry of Education • gross enrolment ratio
Education (AISHE) 2021-2022 (GER) in higher education
for the age group 18-23
years increased to 28.4%,
from 27.3%in 2020- 21 and
23.7% in 2014- 15,
• Female GER increased to
28.5% (2.07 crore) in 2021-
22 from 27.9 (2.01 crore) in
2020-21 and 22.9 percent in
2014-15.
Sample Registration System Office of the Registrar MMR: 103 per 1 lakh live births
(SRS) Bulletin Report General of India, M/o Home Kerala: 30
Affairs UP, BH, RJ – showed
improvement
WB, HR, CH, UK - worsened
National Achievement Survey Ministry of Education , India MCQ based survey every 3
, 2021 years for students of class 3 ,
5 , 8 and 10 to judge learning
outcomes.
National Health Account Ministry of Health and Family ● 3.2% of GDP is being spent
Estimates , 2018-19 Welfare on healthcare (a decline
from 2014)
● Out of pocket
Expenditure of
Healthcare has declined
from 60% to 48.2 % in
2018-19
Crime in India Report, 2022 NCRB under Ministry of Home ● Overall crime rate per
Affairs lakh population has
90
declined
● Crime against women,
children, elderly, SC and
ST has increased
● Cyber-crime , economic
and environmental
offences too have
increased
Prison Statistics India Report NCRB ● 67% of prisoners are
undertrials (those whose
cases are pending)
● Prisons in India are
overcrowded , with 130%
occupancy rate
● 66% inmates are either
SC,ST or OBC
Accidental Deaths and NCRB ● Deaths and suicides show
Suicides Report an increasing trend ,
pandemic seems to have
taken a toll on emotional
well being of people
India Justice Report Tata Trusts ● assesses and ranks each
state’s progress in
capacitating its major
justice delivery
mechanisms—the
judiciary, police, prisons,
and legal aid.
National Coal Index (NCI) Ministry of Coal ● to track coal prices
91

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Final Lap 2024

SCLPs: Black Carbon, Methane, Hydrofluorocarbons, Tropospheric Ozone

• Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption of 2022 (in South Pacific

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o The fund has four key pillars: 1) Energy Transition; 2) Industrial

India’s Panchamrit • Increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500GW by 2030

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Partnership to Advance India-US

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

Biochar It is a carbon-rich material produced by burning organic biomass under

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State of Cryosphere 2023 • Released by International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI)

Global CO2 conc in 2022 reached 150% of pre-industrial level

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Production Gap Report UNEP

6 AQI categories - Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very

National Ambient Air Quality By CPCB, MoEFCC

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physical classes in schools for

Tertiary Coal (found in North East)

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Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) – dissolved oxygen needed

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) – oxygen needed by chemicals

Biomagnification – increase in concentration of a pollutant as it

Central Groundwater Board (HQ: Faridabad)

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Central Water Commission (CWC)

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Biomethanation – microbiologically convert waste into biogas

in-situ – bioventing, biosparaging, bioaugmentation

phytoremediation – use of plants

Washington Convention – CITES

Cartagena Protocol – biosafety to ensure safe handling of living

Tigers found in 13 countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh,

Leopard IUCN: VU || CITES: Appendix I || WPA, 1972: Schedule I

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Cheetah African Cheetah: VU || Asiatic Cheetah: CR

Surviving today only in India

Population – statewise: Karnataka > Assam > Kerala

It is India’s National Heritage Animal

Indian Rhino: VU || CITES: Appendix I || WPA,1972: Schedule I

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• Found in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnali-Sangphu

Hoolock gibbon IUCN: EN

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• Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki):

India State of Forests Report 2021 By Forest Survey of India, MoEFCC

Tiger reserve with largest forest cover

Protected Areas ~5% of India’s area is protected area

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 à

Water Act, 1974 à CPCB

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Forest (Conservation Act), 1980 à Forest Advisory Committee –

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 à Central Groundwater

National Forest Policy 1988 à provided for Joint Forest

Forests Rights Act, 2006 à provides for Community Forest

NGT Act, 2010 à NGT

Ramsar sites 80 Ramsar sites in India

State with most wetlands: TN (16) > UP (10)

Cryptobiosis state of an organism when it shows no visible signs of life and

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