UPSC GS 1
Sree Narayana Guru
- News: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has criticized efforts to link social reformer Sree Narayana Guru with Sanatana Dharma during the inauguration of the 92nd Sivagiri pilgrimage in Varkala.
- Definition: Sree Narayana Guru was a revered saint, philosopher, and social reformer who championed the ideals of social equality and spiritual awakening.
- Early Life:
- He was born in Chempazhanthy, a village near Thiruvananthapuram, into an Ezhava family.
- From an early age, he displayed a deep inclination towards spirituality and the upliftment of society.
- Philosophy and Teachings:
- He popularised the slogan “One Caste, One Religion, One God,” promoting the concept of universal brotherhood and unity.
- His teachings encouraged the eradication of caste-based discrimination and the embrace of spiritual equality.
- Key Contributions:
- Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP): He was closely associated with the SNDP Yogam, an organisation instrumental in advocating social and political reforms in Kerala.
- Aravipuram Movement: On Shivaratri in 1888, he installed a Shivalinga at Aravipuram, a symbolic act of defiance against caste-based oppression and social injustice.
- Literary Contributions: He authored several profound literary works that reflect his spiritual insights and reformist ideals, including:
- Daiva Dasakam
- Atmavilasam
- Brahmavidya Panchakam
- Legacy: Sree Narayana Guru’s life and works continue to inspire movements for social justice, equality, and spiritual harmony across India.
UPSC GS 2
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
- News: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the rules governing the selection of experts to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).
- Definition: The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is a statutory body constituted under the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export, and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)” established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Background:
- Initially named the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, its name was changed to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee in 2010.
- It operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- Functions of GEAC:
- Environmental Assessment: Evaluates activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from an environmental perspective.
- Approval for Field Trials: Reviews proposals for the release of genetically engineered organisms and products, including experimental field trials.
- Regulatory Oversight: Monitors the use, import, and export of genetically modified organisms and crops. Ensures environmental clearance is obtained before the release of GM crops.
- Enforcement Powers: Authorized to take punitive actions under the Environment (Protection) Act for violations.
- Composition:
- Chaired by the Special Secretary or Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC.
- Co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
- Membership:
- Comprises 24 members, including experts from ministries and institutions like ICAR, ICMR, and CCMB.
- Meetings are conducted monthly.
- New Rules for Selecting Experts:
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- Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Experts must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their duties. They are required to ensure conflicts of interest do not affect GEAC decisions.
- Recusal from Discussions: Experts with direct or indirect links to a matter under discussion must disclose their involvement before the meeting. Unless explicitly requested by the committee, such members should recuse themselves from discussions.
- Professional History Documentation: Members must provide details of their professional affiliations from the last decade prior to joining the committee.
National Sports Awards 2024
- News: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2024 recently.
- Purpose: The National Sports Awards are presented annually to honor and reward individuals and organizations for excellence in sports.
- Categories of Awards:
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: This award recognizes a sportsperson for exceptional and most remarkable performance in sports over the preceding four years.
- Arjuna Award: Conferred for outstanding performance in sports and games over the past four years. Acknowledges qualities such as leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.
- Arjuna Award (Lifetime): Presented to retired athletes who have made significant contributions to sports through their performances and continue to promote sports post-retirement.
- Dronacharya Award: Awarded to coaches for their consistent and exemplary contribution to training sportspersons, enabling them to achieve excellence in international competitions.
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy: Bestowed upon the university that emerges as the top overall performer in the Khelo India University Games.
- Selection Process:
- The awards are decided by a committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian from the Supreme Court of India.
- The committee includes renowned sportspersons, experienced sports journalists, and sports administrators.
Rural Community Immigration Class
- News: Canada recently announced that nearly 7.66 lakh international students’ Post-Graduate Work Permits (PGWPs) are set to expire by the end of next year. The Rural Community Immigration Class (RCIC) scheme offers a pathway for foreign nationals and international students to secure permanent residency (PR).
- About Rural Community Immigration Class (RCIC) Scheme:
- Launch: Initiated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in December 2024.
- Objective: Designed to address labour shortages and encourage development in smaller rural communities by attracting individuals willing to settle in these areas for the long term.
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Education Requirements: Open to individuals with qualifications such as 10+2, graduation, or secondary school certifications.
- Studies: Students who have completed at least 18 months of study in a designated rural community can directly apply for PR. Those who studied outside these communities may also apply but must fulfill additional conditions.
- Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a registered or designated employer within the community. The offer can pertain to any role, including non-skilled positions. The employer’s offer must be submitted to the community, which will issue a certificate to support the PR application.
- Work Experience: Relevant work experience is generally required but may be waived for international graduates meeting specific criteria.
- Language Proficiency: Applicants must satisfy the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) based on the job’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER level:
- TEER 0-1: CLB 6
- TEER 2-3: CLB 5
- TEER 4-5: CLB 4
- Financial Proof: Candidates need to demonstrate possession of at least half of the low-income threshold for rural areas, as determined by Statistics Canada, to sustain themselves for one year.
- Intent to Reside: Applicants must provide genuine evidence of their intention to settle in the designated rural community.
UPSC GS 3
Pallas’s Cat
- News: The first photographic evidence of the elusive Pallas’s cat (also known as manul) in Himachal Pradesh, India has been recorded during a snow leopard population survey in the Kinnaur region.
- Definition: The Pallas’s cat, also known as the manul (Otocolobus manul), is a small, long-haired feline belonging to the Felidae family.
- Naming and Discovery:
- It is named after Peter Simon Pallas, a naturalist who first described the species in 1776.
- The description was based on specimens collected near Lake Baikal in Russia.
- Distribution:
- These cats are primarily found across Central Asia.
- Their range includes countries such as western Iran, Mongolia, China, Russia (bordering Mongolia and China), Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
- They typically inhabit mountainous plains and semi-desert foothills within these regions.
- Physical Features:
- Comparable to a domestic cat, the Pallas’s cat has soft, silvery gray or light brown fur.
- The body length varies between 45–60 cm (18–24 inches), with a tail length of 23–30 cm.
- They weigh between 2.5–3.5 kilograms (5.5–7.7 pounds).
- They have a broad head with high-set eyes and low-set ears.
- Their tail is ringed and tipped with black, and some individuals display faint dark markings on their body.
- The fur on the underparts is nearly twice as long as that on the upper body, an adaptation to the cold surfaces they often rest upon.
- Conservation Status:
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- IUCN Red List: Classified as “Least Concern.”
- CITES: Listed under Appendix II, ensuring regulated trade to avoid exploitation.
Brazilian Velvet Ant
- News: Brazilian velvet ant has ultra-dark markings that reflect less than 1 percent of visible light.
- Definition: Velvet ants are parasitic wasps known for their bright coloration and powerful sting, which serve as effective defensive adaptations.
- Appearance:
- Despite being wasps, some velvet ants lack wings.
- They are named for their velvety exteriors and are particularly notable for their distinctive black and white markings.
- Habitat: These insects inhabit the shrub desert ecosystem of Brazil, known as the Caatinga region.
- Characteristics:
- Brazilian velvet ants exhibit remarkable mobility, traveling significant distances to locate suitable hosts on the ground.
- Active throughout the day, they are most commonly observed during the early morning and late afternoon, when sunlight is less intense.
- Recent studies revealed that the black sections on female velvet ants’ bodies exhibit ultrablack pigmentation, absorbing nearly all visible light.
- Significance of Ultrablack Pigmentation:
- Rarity: Ultrablack pigmentation is an uncommon trait in the animal kingdom.
- It provides multiple advantages, including:
- Camouflaging from predators.
- Regulating body temperature.
- Enhancing mate attraction, as the stark contrast against brighter colors can be visually appealing.
See more: Kachchatheevu Island Dispute: Causes & Solutions | UPSC
Ramesh Chand Panel
- News: The Central Government has constituted a working group under NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand for the base revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with base 2022-23 from 2011-12.
- Establishment: The panel was constituted to update the base year of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
- Key Mandates:
- It aims to propose a revised commodity basket for both WPI and the Producer Price Index (PPI), using 2022-23 as the base year, while accounting for structural shifts in the economy.
- It will review the current price collection mechanism and recommend enhancements.
- The panel will decide on the computational methodology for WPI and PPI.
- Composition: The panel comprises economists from government bodies, rating agencies, banks, asset management companies, as well as representatives from the Reserve Bank of India and other government entities.
- Reporting Timeline: It is required to submit its final report to the Office of the Economic Adviser at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) within 18 months.
- Wholesale Price Index (WPI) vs. Producer Price Index (PPI):
- Wholesale Price Index (WPI):
- Represents the prices of goods at the wholesale stage, where goods are sold in bulk transactions between organizations, not directly to consumers.
- It does not reflect inflation as experienced by the general public since they do not purchase goods at wholesale prices.
- Excludes the service sector, which constitutes approximately 55% of GDP.
- Prone to bias due to the double counting of products and does not include exports or imports.
- Producer Price Index (PPI):
- Tracks wholesale prices from the perspective of producers, covering goods and services by monitoring prices at various production stages.
- Differs from WPI as it measures the average change in prices received by producers and excludes indirect taxes.
- Evaluates inflation from the viewpoint of industries and businesses, capturing price changes before final goods and services reach consumers.
- Assigns weight to items based on the Supply Use Tables, while WPI relies on net traded value.
- Includes services in its scope, unlike WPI, which only considers goods.
- Global Preference for PPI:
- Many countries have replaced WPI with PPI because it aligns conceptually with the internationally recognized System of National Accounts (SNA) for compiling economic activity measures.
