India and Greece discussed avenues for cross-training in niche technologies and advanced courses, as well as ways to strengthen strategic and operational ties, during the Navy chief’s just concluded visit to Greece.
About India-Greece Relations:
Historical Linkages
India’s contacts with Greece began over 2500 years ago. Trading between the Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings.
In 326 BC, Alexander’s expedition led him to the North-Western part of the Indian subcontinent as far as the Hyphasis (Beas River), where he fought with Raja Puru, King of Pauravaa - between the Jhelum and Chenab), and Ambhi who ruled at Taxila.
Chanakya, in Chandragupta’s Court records in Arthashastra about Yavan, Ambassador in the Kings’ court, named Megasthenes.
Gandhara art is believed to be a fusion of Indian and Greek influences.
Political linkages
Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in May 1950. Greece opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1950 and India in Athens in 1978.
The relationship was elevated to ‘strategic partnership’ during Modi’s visit to Greece in August 2023.
Trade & Commerce
Two-way trade has grown to $1.94 billion in 2022-23.
The main export items from India to Greece are aluminum, organic chemicals; fish and crustaceans; iron and steel; plastic; textile articles etc.
The main import items from Greece are aluminium foil; mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; sulphur; lime and cement etc.
Defence Cooperation
It received an impetus after the visit of Raksha Mantri (RM) to Greece in 1994. Since then, the two countries regularly cooperate with each other on defense related matters.
Science & Technology
With the aim of encouraging and supporting cooperation in the field of science and technology, the Agreement on Science & Technology was signed in April 2007.
A team of 7 scientists from ISRO/DoS participated in the 44th Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) assembly at Athens in July, 2022.
On the sidelines, opportunities for cooperation in Space between India and Greece were explored.
Cultural cooperation
Dimitrios Galanos (a Greek), became the first European Indologist gaining world reputation.
His translations of Sanskrit texts into Greek made knowledge of the philosophical and religious ideas of India available to many Europeans.
A "Dimitrios Galanos" Chair for Hellenic Studies has been established at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India in September 2000.
Nicholas Kazanas, a distinguished Greek Indologist, was declared as one of the awardees of the prestigious Padma Shri award on the occasion of the 72nd Republic Day of India 2021.
Indian Community at Greece
According to the 2011 Greek census, the number of Indian people is 11,333. Currently, they are estimated to be between 13000-14000.
They are predominantly from Punjab and largely Sikhs.
Topic: India’s neighborhood
2. Balochistan
Why in the news?
At least seven labourers from Punjab province were killed by separatists in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. The labourers from Multan were shot dead when they were asleep in an under-construction house in the Khuda-e-Abadan area of Panjgur town.
About Balochistan:
It is a province of Pakistan located in the southwestern region of the country.
It is the largest province of Pakistan by land area but is the least populated one.
It shares international borders with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north; and is bound by the Arabian Sea to the south.
It encompasses an extensive plateau of rough terrain.
It has the world's largest deep sea port, the Port of Gwadar lying in the Arabian Sea
Its history of failed independence efforts and centralization of power by Pakistan fuels ongoing discontent.
Despite its resources, Balochistan remains underdeveloped, with local benefits from resource exploitation being minimal.
Enforced disappearances and other abuses by security forces deepen resentment and drive protests
China’s Role in the Region:
China’s involvement through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) including projects like Gwadar port, has led to concerns about militarization.
The influx of non-local workers and Chinese trawlers has increased tensions and resentment among locals who feel being excluded from the benefits of CPEC.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC):
It is a 3,000-km long route of infrastructure projects connecting China’s northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Gwadar Port in the western province of Balochistan in Pakistan.
It is a bilateral project between Pakistan and China, intended to promote connectivity across Pakistan with a network of highways, railways, and pipelines accompanied by energy, industrial, and other infrastructure development projects.
It will pave the way for China to access the Middle East and Africa from Gwadar Port, enabling China to access the Indian Ocean and in return China will support development projects in Pakistan to overcome the latter’s energy crises and stabilizing its faltering economy.
It is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The BRI, launched in 2013, aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
Geography
Topic: Plate Tectonics
3. Upliftment of the Himalayas
Why in the news?
Mount Everest is 15-50m taller than it would otherwise be because a river is eroding rock and soil at its base, helping push it upwards, according to a new study.
Loss of landmass in the Arun river basin 75 km. away is causing the world’s highest peak to rise by up to 2 mm. a year.
About Upliftment of the Himalayas:
Pressure from the collision of the Indian and the Eurasian plates 40-50 million years ago formed the Himalayas and plate tectonics remains the major reason for their continued rise.But the Arun river network is a contributing factor to the mountains’ rise.
As the Arun flows through the Himalayas it carves away material, the river bed in this case from the Earth's crust. This reduces the force on the mantle, causing the thinned crust to flex and float upward.
It’s an effect called the isostatic rebound. This upward pushing force is causing Everest and other neighbouring summits to move upward.
Everest stands on the border between China and Nepal, and its northern part is on the Chinese side. The Arun river flows down from Tibet into Nepal and then merges with two other rivers to become the Kosi which then enters northern India to meet the Ganges.
It is a very high silt-yielding river given the steepness of the mountains it flows through and the force it has, allowing it to carve off so much rock and soil on its way.
The interaction between the erosion of the Arun river and the upward pressure of the Earth’s mantle gives Mount Everest a boost, pushing it up higher than it would otherwise be.
Arun River:
It is a trans-boundary river and is part of the Kosi or Sapt Koshi river system in Nepal.
It originates in Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China where it is called the Phung Chu or Bum-chu.
The Men Qu or Moinqu is an upper tributary draining glaciers from Shishapangma.
In Nepal, the river's name changes to Arun.
Plate tectonics:
It is the scientific theory that Earth's lithosphere comprises a number of large tectonic plates, which have been slowly moving since 3–4 billion years ago.
Topic: Lakes
4. Lake Michigan
Why in the news?
Scientists confirm there are 40 huge craters at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
Researchers recently surveyed the bottom of Lake Michigan after spotting strange circles on the lakebed in 2022. New observations show the circles are craters, but how they formed remains unclear.
About Lake Michigan:
It is the third largest of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one lying wholly within the United States.
It is the fourth largest freshwater lake and the fifth largest lake in the world ranked by surface area.
It is 517 km long (north to south); it has a maximum width of 190 km.
It is connected directly to Lake Huron, into which it drains, through the broad Straits of Mackinac.
This hydrologic connection through the Straits keeps the water levels of the two lakes in equilibrium, causing them to behave in many ways as though they are one lake.
Water flows into Lake Michigan from several rivers, including the Fox-Wolf, the Grand, the St. Joseph, and the Kalamazoo rivers.
It boasts a variety of natural habitats, including tallgrass prairies, wide savannas, and the world’s largest freshwater sand dunes.
It hosts a wealth of plant and animal species, many of which are rare or endangered (such as the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly and the Dwarf Lake Iris).
Crater:
It is a bowl-shaped depression, or hollowed-out area, produced by the impact of a meteorite, volcanic activity, or an explosion.
Craters produced by the collision of a meteorite with Earth (or another planet or moon) are called impact craters.
Environment and Ecology
Topic: Environment
5. Greenhushing
Why in the news?
Survey shows 58 per cent of companies are intentionally decreasing their climate communications because of greater regulation and scrutiny.
These firms measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions but often decide to stay silent about their efforts, an emerging global trend called “greenhushing”.
About Greenhushing:
It occurs when firms under report or strategically withhold information about their environmental goals and achievements.
Greenhushing firms don’t advertise their green credentials or deliberately remain silent about their future commitments to environmental sustainability.
It can happen for different reasons.
In the US, where public companies can be sued for violating their obligation to increase shareholder profits, firms stay silent about their environmental efforts to avoid costly litigation.
In conservative states that have experienced a strong ESG (environmental, social, and governance) backlash, regulators have turned their attention to sustainable investments, prompting firms to stop talking about their green efforts.
Some firms don’t advertise their sustainable products because consumers associate "green" with lower quality.
Some companies remain silent about their environmental commitments to avoid scrutiny.
Banging the drum can invite outside attention and raise expectations of future commitments. When it comes to climate action, firms may decide to hide their climate goals to avoid scrutiny and questions about how to achieve them.
Topic: Biodiversity
6. Casuarina Tree
Why in the news?
Casuarina farming sees resurgence in Vedaranyam six years after Cyclone Gaja.
Most of the casuarina plantations on about 7,000 acres of land in the region were destroyed when Cyclone Gaja hit the region; the plantations have been raised on 1,000 acres of land now.
About Casuarina Tree:
It is native to Australia and it was introduced in India around the 19th century.
It is also known as kattadi and savukku.
The nitrogen fixing ability and adaptability to grow in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions including moisture and nutrient limited sites makes Casuarina a preferred choice for commercial and environmental planting programmes.
It is widely planted in the tropics, subtropics and Mediterranean countries because of its ready adaptability to a variety of environmental conditions and also for their rapid growth performance.
It is suited to a wide range of temperature from 10°C-33°C, from sea level up to 1500m and mean annual rainfall between 700 and 2000 mm.
It is best suited to light soils. It tolerates calcareous and slightly saline soils, but it is grown poorly on heavy soils such as clays.
Uses:
Apart from fuel, the wood is extensively used for papermaking and of late is a preferred choice for biomass-based power generation.
The straight cylindrical stems find use in rural house building and as scaffolds in construction sites.
It is the principal species for developing shelterbelts in coastal areas and windbreaks for protecting agricultural crops.
It also plays a key role in reclaiming mined areas and afforesting nutrient-poor sites.
Topic: Protected Areas
7. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in the news?
A biker in Assam was chased and mauled to death by a one-horned rhino near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighting human-wildlife conflict in the region.
About Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:
It is located on the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra in Morigaon district, adjacent to Guwahati in Assam.
It was declared a reserve forest in 1971 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1987.
It is home to the highest population density of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros species (around 102 rhinos in an area of 38.8 sq. km).
It is dominated by alluvial lowlands and marshland.
The Brahmaputra River offers a natural boundary to the premises of the sanctuary on the north, while the Garanga Beel offers a natural boundary to its south.
Water hyacinth is a major problem, especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.
Besides rhinoceros, the other animals found here include leopard, wild boar, Barking deer, wild buffalo, etc.
It is also home to more than 375 species of resident and migratory birds, such as the Indian pied Hornbill, Osprey, Hill Myna, Kalij Pheasant, etc.
One-horned Rhinoceros:
It is commonly known as the Indian rhino.
It is the largest of the rhino species.
It is identified by a single black horn and a grey-brown hide with skin folds.
It is commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India.
It is one of the five species of Rhinos. The other four species are:
White rhino (native to northern and southern Africa)
Black rhino (native to eastern and southern Africa)
Javan rhino (also known as Sunda rhino or lesser one-horned rhino)
Sumatran rhino (critically Endangered species of rhino)
It is a grazer. When not grazing on land, it likes to immerse itself in water, where it grazes on aquatic plants.
Protection Status:
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Science
Topic: Health
8. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Why in the news?
Speaking at the high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sunita Narain, director-general, Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank, highlighted the need to rethink and reinvent the way agriculture is done and environment is managed in order to minimize the impact of the silent pandemic of AMR, particularly in low and middle income countries.
The theme of the meeting was ‘investing in the present and securing our future together: accelerating multi-sectoral global, regional and national actions to address antimicrobial resistance’.
About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
It is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist, and may spread to others.
It is a natural phenomenon as bacteria evolve, making drugs used to treat infections less effective.
Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are referred to as “superbugs”.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the top ten threats to global health.
Reasons for the Spread of AMR:
High burden of communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, diarrhoea, respiratory infections, etc. that require antimicrobial treatment.
Overburdened Public Health System: This limits the laboratory capacity for etiology-based diagnosis and appropriately targeted treatment.
Hygiene lapses in hospitals and clinics facilitate the spread of resistant bacteria.
Overprescribing by doctors under pressure from patients (often self-medication), incomplete antibiotic courses, and broad-spectrum antibiotics used unnecessarily create selective pressure for resistant bacteria.
Unregulated over-the-counter availability and affordability of antibiotics fuel self-medication and inappropriate use.
Low public understanding of AMR and proper antibiotic use encourages misuse.
Lack of adequate monitoring systems makes it difficult to track and understand the scope of AMR.
Government Schemes
Topic: Social Justice
9. NAMASTE programme
Why in the news?
Between 2019 and 2023, at least 377 people across the country have died from hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, according to government data tabled in Parliament.
The profiling of sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) is being carried out by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as part of its NAMASTE programme, a scheme to mechanize all sewer work and prevent deaths due to hazardous cleaning work.
In 2023-24, this scheme was brought in to replace the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS).
About National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) programme:
It was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.
It is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).
It aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices.
Objectives:
Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers.
No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
Sanitation workers are collectivised into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises.
Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at National, State and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels to ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work.
Increased awareness among sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.
Key Features of the Scheme to be Implemented in all ULBs:
Identification: NAMASTE envisages identifying the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
Occupational Training and distribution of PPE Kits to SSWs.
Assistance for Safety Devices to Sanitation Response Units (SRUs).
Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits to identified SSWs and their families under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Livelihood Assistance: The Action Plan will promote mechanization and enterprise development by providing funding support and subsidy (capital +interest) to the sanitation workers, to procure sanitation related equipments.
IEC (Information Education and Communication) Campaign: Massive campaigns would be undertaken jointly by the ULBs & NSKFDC (National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation) to spread awareness about the interventions of NAMASTE.
Manual Scavenging:
It is defined as the removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers.
India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR).
The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice.
Online Classes
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