UPSC GS 1
Dr. Manmohan Singh
- News: Manmohan Singh, the architect of opening India’s economy to the world died in New Delhi recently. He was 92.
- Introduction:
- Date of Birth: September 26, 1932
- Place of Birth: Punjab, India
- Early Education: Matriculation from Punjab University (1948)
- Higher Education: First Class Honours in Economics, University of Cambridge (1957) D. Phil in Economics, Oxford University (1962)
- Notable Work:
- Book: India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth (1964)
- Academic Positions:
- Faculty at Punjab University and Delhi School of Economics
- Worked with the UNCTAD Secretariat
- Government Positions
- Economic Advisor (Commerce Ministry)
- Chief Economic Advisor (Finance Ministry)
- Secretary (Ministry of Finance)
- Deputy Chairman (Planning Commission)
- Governor of Reserve Bank of India
- Advisor to the Prime Minister
- Chairman (University Grants Commission)
- Finance Minister (1991-1996), led India’s economic reforms
- Prime Ministership
- Duration: May 22, 2004 to May 22, 2014
- Awards and Honors
- Padma Vibhushan (1987)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award (1995)
- Asia Money and Euro Money Finance Minister of the Year (1993-94)
- Adam Smith Prize (1956)
- Death: December 26, 2024
- Architect of India’s Economic Transformation: Dr. Manmohan Singh is widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic transformation, particularly for his leadership during the 1991 financial crisis. At the time, India faced severe challenges such as:
- Low foreign exchange reserves
- High inflation
- A fiscal deficit of 8.4% of GDP
- Limited access to affordable oil and raw materials
- Through decisive leadership, Dr. Singh implemented reforms including:
- Devaluation of the rupee by 19% to boost exports
- Abolition of import licenses for most industries
- Privatization of public sector enterprises
- Encouragement of foreign direct investment
- Key Achievements of Dr. Manmohan Singh: Dr. Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister is marked by numerous achievements, including:
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- 1991 Economic Reforms: Liberalized India’s economy, addressing the balance of payments crisis.
- High GDP Growth: Led the country to an average growth rate of 8.5%, with a peak of 10.03% in 2010-11.
- Introduction of VAT (2005): Simplified the tax system.
- MGNREGA: Introduced a scheme guaranteeing 100 days of employment for rural households.
- Right to Information Act: Promoted transparency in governance.
- National Rural Health Mission: Enhanced healthcare in rural areas.
- India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement: Strengthened India’s global standing in nuclear technology.
- Right to Education Act: Made education a fundamental right for children aged 6 to 14.
- Expansion of Higher Education: Promoted the establishment of new IITs and IIMs.
Read also: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India | UPSC
Kilauea Volcano
- News: Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted gold-like lava on Christmas day.
- Location:
- Kilauea is located on the southeastern part of Hawaii’s Big Island, within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Volcano Type:
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- It is an active shield volcano, formed by the eruption of highly fluid lava.
- Features:
- Kilauea has experienced lava flows that have covered approximately 90% of its surface in the past 1,000 years.
- The volcano has an elongated dome shape, created by lava eruptions from its central crater, with long, gentle slopes.
- It includes two rift zones that extend to the east and southwest.
- Eruption History:
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- Kilauea has been erupting frequently since written records began, with a notable exception being the period of inactivity from 1924 to 1952.
Lesotho
- News: India sent humanitarian assistance consignment to Lesotho compromising of 1000 metric tonnes of rice to help in addressing the food security and nutritional requirements of people in Lesotho.
- Location:
- Lesotho is a landlocked nation entirely surrounded by South Africa.
- It is situated in both the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres.
- History:
- Initially inhabited by Khoisan-speaking hunter-gatherers.
- Control by the Sotho People:
- In the 19th century, the Sotho people established control over the region.
- Formation of Basutoland:
- In 1822, Moshoeshoe I founded Basutoland by uniting various groups to counter Zulu incursions under Shaka Zulu.
- Independence:
- Lesotho gained full independence on October 4, 1966.
- King Moshoeshoe II became the sovereign ruler of the newly independent kingdom.
- Geographical Features:
- Elevation: Lesotho is the only independent nation globally located entirely above 1,400 meters in elevation.
- Highest Point: Thabana Ntlenyana, the highest peak in Lesotho, is a notable geographical landmark.
- Rivers: The Orange River, one of Africa’s longest rivers at about 2,100 kilometers, originates in the Lesotho Highlands as the Sinqu River.
- Capital City: The capital of Lesotho is Maseru.
UPSC GS 2
Golden Visa Programme
- News: Spain’s Congress has approved the termination of the controversial Golden Visa programme.
- Golden Visa Programme:
- The Golden Visa programme is a residence-by-investment (RBI) scheme.
- It grants temporary residency to foreign nationals in return for significant investments in areas like real estate, business, or other sectors.
- Key Features:
- High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) often use these programmes to relocate to favorable jurisdictions.
- The visa provides full legal residency rights, allowing holders to live, work, study, and access healthcare in the host country.
- Spain’s Golden Visa Programme:
- Introduction: Launched in 2013, this programme enabled non-European Union citizens to acquire residency permits in Spain. The requirement was a minimum investment of €500,000 in Spanish real estate.
- Termination: The programme has been discontinued, meaning foreign nationals can no longer gain residency by making such investments.
- Reasons for Termination:
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- Housing Affordability: The government aimed to address escalating property prices, especially in major cities. Ensuring affordable housing for local citizens was a key concern.
- Misuse of the Programme: Reports highlighted its use in activities like money laundering and tax evasion, prompting stricter regulations.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
- News: The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have affirmed support for Syria’s stability, security and the country’s transitional process.
- Definition: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional alliance focused on political and economic collaboration. It was established in 1981.
- Member Countries: The GCC comprises six Arab nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Objective: The primary goal is to promote economic, security, cultural, and social cooperation among member states.
- Historical Context: The GCC was created in response to heightened regional tensions, particularly following the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988).
- Key Features of the GCC:
- GCC nations collectively hold nearly half of the world’s oil reserves, positioning them as key players in the global energy sector.
- Yearly meetings are held to discuss strategies for regional stability and collaboration.
- Organizational Structure of the GCC:
- Supreme Council:
- Composed of heads of state from all member countries.
- Decisions require unanimous approval.
- The presidency is rotated annually in alphabetical order of member nations.
- Ministerial Council:
- Includes foreign ministers or their representatives from member states.
- Responsible for proposing policies and implementing Supreme Council decisions.
- Meetings are convened every three months.
- Secretariat General:
- Serves as the administrative body of the GCC.
- Oversees policy implementation and organizes meetings.
- Headquarters is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- India and the GCC:
- Trade Relations: The GCC is India’s largest regional trading partner.
- Bilateral Trade (FY 2023-24):
- Total trade: USD 161.59 billion.
- India’s exports: USD 56.3 billion.
- India’s imports: USD 105.3 billion.
- The UAE ranks as India’s 3rd largest trading partner and 2nd largest export destination.
- Workforce and Remittances:
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- Approximately 8.9 million Indian expatriates reside in GCC nations, making up 66% of all non-resident Indians (NRIs).
- Indian expatriates significantly contribute to remittances, which are a crucial source of income for India.
Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi Initiative
- News: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology recently launched the ‘Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ initiative on Good Governance Day, celebrated to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi Initiative: The initiative aims to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by utilizing innovative tools and capacity-building frameworks.
- Pilot States: It is being implemented in the states of Odisha, Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Technological Approach: The initiative makes use of e-learning platforms, AI-powered chatbots, and mobile applications to close knowledge gaps and improve service delivery.
- Alignment with Government Goals: This program supports the government’s larger vision of decentralizing governance and encouraging participatory decision-making at the grassroots level.
- Expected Outcomes: The initiative is designed to create scalable models of citizen-centered governance, allowing PRIs to lead equitable and sustainable development in rural areas.
- Relation to the ‘Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur’ Campaign: As part of the ‘Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur’ campaign, the initiative aims to enhance the skills and competence of Panchayati Raj Institutions by equipping elected representatives and officials with essential tools and knowledge for effective governance and participatory planning.
UPSC GS 3
Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)
- News: Rwanda and WHO declare end of Marburg outbreak after no new cases reported.
- Definition:
-
- MVD is a life-threatening hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus.
- Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for this disease.
- History and Origin:
- The disease was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany.
- It was named after an outbreak that occurred among laboratory workers exposed to infected green monkeys imported from Uganda.
- Geographical Spread:
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- Most outbreaks have been reported in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Affected countries include Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
- Transmission:
- The virus initially spreads to humans from fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus).
- Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or surfaces contaminated with these fluids.
- Symptoms:
- Early Stage: High fever, severe headache, and a general feeling of discomfort or malaise.
- Advanced Stage: Symptoms include severe bleeding, liver failure, multi-organ dysfunction, shock, and death, often within 8-9 days of symptom onset.
- Fatality Rate:
- The average fatality rate is about 50%, though it can vary between 24% and 88% depending on the virus strain and quality of medical care.
- Diagnosis:
- Diagnosis is confirmed using RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests.
- Virus isolation is another method but requires maximum biohazard containment due to the risks involved.
- Treatment:
- No specific cure is available for MVD.
- Supportive care, including rehydration, electrolyte balance, and symptom management, can improve survival rates.
- Vaccine Development:
- Promising vaccine candidates, such as the single-dose vaccine developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, are in Phase 2 clinical trials in Uganda and Kenya.
- Investigational vaccines have also been distributed in Rwanda to aid outbreak control efforts.
Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens)
- News: West Bengal marked Christmas by welcoming two red pandas from the Netherlands, the first such acquisition from a foreign country in a decade.
- Definition:
- Also known as the lesser panda, it is a primarily herbivorous, shy, solitary, and arboreal mammal.
- The red panda uses its long, bushy tail for balance and wraps it around itself during winter to stay warm.
- It serves as an important indicator species, signaling ecological changes in its habitat.
- Appearance: About the size of a domestic cat, the red panda is known for its endearing face and unique defensive stance.
- Distribution: The red panda inhabits the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Listed under Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I
- Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
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- Situated in the state of West Bengal, India.
- The park was established in 1958.
- Hosts India’s most successful conservation breeding programme for red pandas.
- A planned conservation breeding initiative began in 1986 under the Global Captive Breeding Masterplan.
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Mammoth
- News: Researchers in Russia have unveiled the near intact carcass of a juvenile female mammoth, whose remarkably well-preserved remains were discovered in thawing permafrost after more than 50,000 years.
- Description:
- Mammoths were members of the extinct genus Mammuthus, part of the elephantid family.
- They are closely related to modern Asian elephants, more so than African elephants.
- Time Period:
- These creatures existed from the Pliocene epoch, around 5 million years ago, until the Holocene, approximately 4,000 years ago.
- Distribution:
- Mammoths once roamed across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.
- Features:
- Most species had long, curved tusks, a distinguishing characteristic.
- They evolved features adapted to cold environments, including:
- Small ears and tails to reduce heat loss.
- A thick layer of subcutaneous fat and long, dense fur for insulation.
- Numerous sebaceous glands aiding in temperature regulation.
- Large deposits of brown fat behind the neck, which likely served as a heat source and fat reserve during harsh winters.
- Conservation Status: Classified as Extinct by the IUCN.
- Key Facts About Permafrost:
-
- Permafrost refers to ground—comprising soil, sediment, or rock—that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, and sometimes for hundreds of thousands of years.
- It can range from just a few feet beneath the surface to depths exceeding a mile.
- Permafrost regions can cover vast areas, such as the Arctic tundra, or appear as isolated patches, such as alpine permafrost on mountaintops.
- Permafrost is present both on land and beneath the ocean floor.
- It is found in regions where temperatures consistently remain below freezing.
