The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in coordination with the Delhi police Special Cell, has busted a methamphetamine manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Budh Nagar, arrested five persons, and seized about 95 kg of the drugs. The laboratory was allegedly set up by a Delhi-based businessman along with a Tihar Jail warden, and a Mexican cartel member was also part of the syndicate.
About Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB):
It is the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
It was constituted on 14th November, 1985, under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act).
Its headquarters are located in Delhi.
It exercises the powers and functions of the Central Government for taking measures with respect to:
Coordination of actions by various offices, State Governments, and other authorities under the N.D.P.S. Act, Customs Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and any other law for the time being in force in connection with the enforcement provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Implementation of the obligation in respect of countermeasures against illicit traffic under the various international conventions and protocols that are in force at present or which may be ratified or acceded to by India in the future.
Assistance to concerned authorities in foreign countries and concerned international organizations to facilitate coordination and universal action for prevention and suppression of illicit traffic in these drugs and substances.
Coordination of actions taken by the other concerned ministries, departments, and organizations in respect of matters relating to drug abuse.
It also functions as an enforcement agency through its zonal offices, which collect and analyze data related to seizures of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, study trends, modus operandi, collect and disseminate intelligence, and work in close cooperation with the Customs, State Police, and other law enforcement agencies.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NPDS) Act, 1985:
It prohibits a person from manufacture / production / cultivation/ possession/ sale / purchase / transport / store / consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance without due permission from the appropriate authorities.
It follows a graded system of punishment, with the punishment varying and the quantum of punishment being dependent upon whether the offence pertains to small, commercial, and intermediate quantities of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
International Relations
Topic: Africa
2. Chad
Why in the news?
Unidentified assailants have killed at least 40 soldiers during an overnight attack on a military base in Chad.
About Chad:
IT is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of North and Central Africa.
It is bordered by:
Libya to the north
Sudan to the east
Central African Republic to the south
Cameroon to the southwest
Nigeria to the southwest
Niger to the west
Its capital and largest city is N'Djamena.
It is the fifth-largest country in Africa and the twentieth largest nation by area in the world.
It encompasses several regions including:
Sahara desert in the north
Arid zone of Sahel in the centre
Fertile Sudanian Savanna zone in the south
Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the second-largest wetland in Africa.
Topic: Infrastructure
3. Belt and Road Initiative
Why in the news?
Brazil becomes the second BRICS country after India not to join China’s BRI. It decides against joining China’s BRI, opting for alternative collaboration with Chinese investors, sparking global debate.
About Belt and Road Initiative:
It represents a multifaceted development strategy aimed at enhancing global connectivity and cooperation.
It was launched in 2013 and aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
It was first named the ‘One Belt, One Road’ but renamed as the BRI to convey a more open and inclusive initiative as opposed to a Chinese-dominated one.
It includes two principal components:
Silk Road Economic Belt:
It is dedicated to improving connectivity, infrastructure, and trade links across Eurasia through a network of overland transportation routes.
Maritime Silk Road:
It emphasizes maritime connections and cooperation in the form of ports, shipping routes, and maritime infrastructure projects.
It begins via the South China Sea going towards Indo-China, South-East Asia and then around the Indian Ocean thus reaching Africa and Europe.
The primary goal of the BRI is to boost international connectivity by enhancing infrastructure, trade, and economic cooperation.
It encompasses a wide range of projects, including railways, ports, highways, and energy infrastructure.
Geographic Corridors:
The land-based Silk Road Economic Belt envisions six key corridors for development:
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor
China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor
China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor
China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
Economic Impact:
Countries participating in the BRI have witnessed growth in trade and investments with China, leading to preferential treatment and policy benefits.
India’s Stance on BRI:
India's main objection to the BRI is that it includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a territory that India claims as its own. India opposes the project on the grounds of sovereignty and transparency.
India also argues that the BRI projects should respect the international norms, rule of law, and financial sustainability, and should not create debt traps or environmental and social risks for the host countries.
India has instead promoted other connectivity initiatives, such as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) , a G7 initiative to fund infrastructure projects in developing countries.
Topic: Multilateral Organizations
4. World Meteorological Organization
Why in the news?
Greenhouse gas levels surged to a new record in 2023, rising by more than 10% in just two decades, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The globally averaged surface concentration of carbon dioxide reached 420 parts per million (ppm), methane 1934 parts per billion and nitrous oxide 336.9 parts per billion (ppb) in 2023.
About World Meteorological Organization:
It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
It is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and behavior of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Currently it has a membership of 191 countries.
Governance Structure:
Its supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress, which consists of representatives of all members. It meets at least every four years to set general policy and adopt regulations.
A 36-member Executive Council meets annually and implements policy.
The Secretariat, headed by a secretary-general appointed by the congress for a four-year term, serves as the administrative centre of the organization.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs):
These gases in the atmosphere raise the surface temperature of the Earth.
They absorb the wavelengths of radiation that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect.
The Earth is warmed by sunlight, causing its surface to radiate heat, which is then mostly absorbed by greenhouse gases. Without greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the average temperature of Earth's surface would be about −18 °C (0 °F), rather than the present average of 15 °C (59 °F).
The most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Other greenhouse gases of concern include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons etc.
Human activities since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (around 1750) have increased carbon dioxide by over 50%, and methane levels by 150%
Geography
Topic: Rivers
5. Koel River
Why in the news?
Three students drowned in the Koel River, while one was rescued by the local people near Nandgaon village under the limits of Senha police station of Lohardaga district.
About Koel River:
It originates from the Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand, and flows in the western part of Palamu District.
It divides into:
North Koel River: It is tapped near Kutku for irrigation reasons and finally joins with the Son River.
South Koel River: It flows across the Indian state of Orissa near Rourkela, before merging with the Brahmani River.
It flows through the hilly terrain of Jharkhand and Odisha.
It is a part of the larger Damodar Valley region, known for its mineral-rich landscape.
It is prone to seasonal flooding, particularly during the monsoon months.
Hydropower Potential: The North Koel Dam, also known as the Mandal Dam, was constructed on the North Koel River in Jharkhand, intended to generate hydroelectric power and supply irrigation water.
Palamau Tiger Reserve:
It is located in the Chhota Nagpur plateau region of Jharkhand.
It forms a part of the Betla National Park.
It is one of the first 9 tiger reserves created in the country at the inception of ‘Project Tiger’.
It is the first reserve in the world in which a tiger census was carried out as a pugmark count, as early as 1932 under the supervision of J.W. Nicholson
Three rivers namely North Koyal, Auranga and Burha flow through the valleys.
The area is drought prone with Burha being the only perennial river.
The Reserve is very rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.
It is primarily dominated by Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous and Sal Forest. Smaller patches of Northern tropical Moist Deciduous forests too exist here.
Some keystone and principal species found in the reserve include Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Grey wolf, Wild dog, Gaur, Sloth bear and four horned antelope.
Topic: Lakes
6. Salton Sea
Why in the news?
California's largest lake Salton Sea holds $540 billion in lithium, enough for 382 million EV batteries. It could make the US the 'Saudi Arabia of Lithium'.
About Salton Sea:
It is a shallow, saline lake located in the lower Colorado Desert, southern California, USA.
It is a geological depression tucked between mountain ranges and lying below sea level.
Formation:
The area that is now the lake was formerly a salt-covered sink or depression (a remnant of prehistoric Lake Cahuilla) about 280 feet (85 m.) below sea level until 1905–06, when diversion controls on the Colorado River broke a few miles below the California-Mexico border and floodwaters rushed northward, filling the depression.
Subsequent deepening of the sink was stopped in 1907, when a line of protective levees was built.
It is currently 228 feet below sea level.
It covers an area of 970 square km and includes 130 miles of shoreline.
It has an average depth of 29.9 feet and, at its deepest, 51 feet.
Its salinity (some 45 parts per thousand) far exceeds that of seawater.
The Salton Sea is an important stopping point for migratory waterfowl and serves as critical habitat for birds moving south to Mexico and Central America.
Lithium:
It is a soft, silvery-white metal that heads group 1, the alkali metals group, of the periodic table of the elements.
Features:
It has the lowest density of all metals.
It is the lightest of the solid elements.
It reacts vigorously with water.
It has a body-centered cubic crystal structure.
Occurrence:
It does not occur as a metal in nature but is found combined in small amounts in igneous rocks.
It is found in brine deposits and as salts in mineral springs.
Its concentration in seawater is 0.1 parts per million (ppm).
Uses:
It is used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, and electric vehicles.
It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for heart pacemakers, toys, and clocks.
Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter.
Government Schemes
Topic: MSMEs
7. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
Why in the news?
The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), launched by the Prime Minister on April 8, 2015, has played a pivotal role in empowering non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises by providing loans of up to ₹10 lakh. To strengthen support for aspiring entrepreneurs, the finance minister announced an increase in the loan limit to ₹20 lakh during the Union Budget 2024-25 on July 23, 2024. This new limit took effect on October 24, 2024.
About Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana:
It is a flagship initiative by the Government of India that was launched in 2015 and aimed at providing affordable credit to micro and small enterprises.
It focuses on integrating underserved enterprises into the formal financial system by offering them easy access to credit.
It is designed to "fund the unfunded," enabling small borrowers to secure loans from various financial institutions including Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Cooperative Banks, Private Sector Banks, Foreign Banks, Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
Loan amount up to ₹10 lakh was available for non-farm income-generating activities in sectors such as manufacturing, processing, trading, and services. Any Indian citizen with a viable business plan for a non-farm sector income-generating activity requiring credit below ₹10 lakh can apply for a MUDRA loan through banks, MFIs, or NBFCs.
This amount has now been increased to rupees 20 lakhs.
Categories of Loans:
Shishu: Loans up to ₹50,000, aimed at new and micro enterprises.
Kishore: Loans ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh, for businesses in the growth phase.
Tarun: Loans from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, for businesses looking to expand further.
Subsidy: There is no direct subsidy under PMMY. However, if a loan is linked to a government scheme that provides capital subsidies, the loan can be availed under PMMY with the associated benefits.
Topic: Health
8. Ayushman Bharat
Why in the news?
PM Modi launches projects worth ₹12,850 crore, extends Ayushman Bharat for all over 70 years. He also inaugurated phase II of India’s first All India Institute of Ayurveda in the national capital.
About Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):
It offers secondary and tertiary care services to the vulnerable population in the society.
It was launched in September 2018.
It was launched as a second component of the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme.
It aimed to offer medical coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to poor and vulnerable families.
It covers over nearly 40% of the population targeted towards the poorest and vulnerable.
Eligibility:
The scheme is targeted to cover 10.74 crore poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban worker’s families. The beneficiaries as identified by latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
Benefits:
It provides cashless access to health care services for the beneficiary at the point of service, i.e., the hospital.
Under the scheme, every eligible family will be given Rs 5 lakh Insurance coverage benefit per year.
It offers Health Benefit Packages which covers surgery, medical and day care treatments, cost of medicines and diagnostics.
National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for its implementation. It has been entrusted with the role of:
designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and
implementation of National Digital Health Mission to create a National Digital Health Ecosystem.
To implement the scheme at the State level, State Health Agencies (SHAs) in the form of a society/trust have been set up by respective States.
Topic: Infrastructure
9. PM Gati Shakti initiative
Why in the news?
The 82nd meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM GatiShakti initiative was held to evaluate key infrastructure projects across India.
Representatives from project proponents, Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics(BISAG-N), and nodal officers from respective States participated, focusing on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).
About PM Gati Shakti initiative:
It was launched in 2021.
It is a National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity that will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc.
Under the programme, 100 critical infrastructure gap projects have been prioritized in FY24 for development with a budgetary allocation of Rs. 75,000 crores.
Objectives of PM Gati Shakti Master Plan:
Integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. For example: Centralized portal to include all the updates regarding existing and planned initiatives of various Ministries and Departments.
Multi-modal seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services, facilitating the last mile connectivity. For example: 400 Vande Bharat trains are to be manufactured and 100 PM Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals are to be built.
Reducing logistics costs by filling critical infrastructure gaps, thus improving supply chains. For example: the Indian government has a vision of bringing down logistics costs from 13% to 7.5% of GDP.
Making India the Business capital of the world by enhanced multimodal connectivity, reduced logistics cost and providing proper linkages between local industry & and consumers. For example: Economic Zones like pharmaceutical clusters, defense corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, and agri-zones will be covered to improve connectivity.
Significance:
Boost to economic growth due to enhanced connectivity, reduced logistics cost and increased business opportunities.
Investment opportunities will gather up due to the improved state of infrastructure, ease of doing business and enhanced connectivity.
Employment generation, particularly in infrastructure, logistics and economic clusters, is accompanied by economic growth and increased private investment.
Reduction in regional disparity due to increased investment and economic activity in underdeveloped regions, led by improved connectivity and accessibility.
Ease of living will improve for common people due to improved connectivity, reduced transportation costs and new job opportunities.
This programme aims to boost India's economic growth and achieve its ambitious economic goals by improving transportation and logistics infrastructure.
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