- IRON AGE KICKED OFF IN 4TH MILLENNIUM BCE IN T.N
SUBJECT: HISTORY ART AND CULTURE
- Discovery: Recent radiometric dating (AMS & OSL)at Sivagalai site (Thoothukudi, TN) suggests iron usage in Tamil Nadu dates back to3345 BCE(early 4th millennium BCE).
- Challenges existing timelines of iron usage in India; earliest evidence of smelted iron globally.
- Indicates independent technological advancement in South India (Iron Age in South vs. Copper Age in North India).
- Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)used for dating.
- Samples validated by labs in the US (Beta Analytic), Lucknow (Birbal Sahni Institute), and Ahmedabad (PRL).
2. IS POVERTY BEING UNDERESTIMATED IN INDIA
SUBJECT: ECONOMICS
- Methodology: Divergence between NSSO and National Accounts data; recall period inconsistencies in surveys.
- Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Criticized for non-comparability with UNDP’s index (e.g., India added bank account access as an indicator).
- Poverty reduced by 17–18%(Tendulkar/Rangarajan Committees).
- Rural-urban gap narrowing due to NFSA, MGNREGA
- Outdated rural definition(2011 Census).
- Need for revised poverty line.
3. MDL – TKMS BID FOR P-751 SUBMARINE TENDER CLEARS TECHNICAL EVALUATION
SUBJECT: DEFENSE
- Project P-75I:
- Aim: Build 6 advanced submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP).
- Bid Status: MDL-TKMS (Germany) clears technical evaluation; L&T-Navantia (Spain) rejected.
- Indigenous Content: 45% (1st submarine) → 60% (6th submarine).
- Enhances stealth and endurance of Indian Navy.
- Aligns with Make in India and defense indigenization
4. STATES YET TO USE RS.70,744 CR FUNDS FOR WELFARE OF WORKERS
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- Building and Other Construction Workers Act (1996):
- Mandates1-2% cess on construction costs for worker welfare.
- Funds Collected: ₹1.17 lakh crore (2005–2024). ○ Funds Utilized: Only ₹67,669 crore (58% of total).
- States: Maharashtra (₹13,683 cr), Karnataka (₹7,921 cr), UP (₹7,826 cr) spent the most.
- Challenges:
- Cess Evasion: Builders underreport construction costs (e.g., Maharashtra’s annual cess collection implies ₹1 lakh crore/year construction, which is unrealistic).
- Social Security Code (2020):Dilutes cess collection via self-assessment and reduces rates.
5. INDIA’S WINDING ROAD TO #END TB
SUBJECT: SCIENCE
- High burden: India accounts for ~27% of global TB cases, with drug-resistant TB and undernutrition as major drivers.
- Diagnosis gaps: Only 35% of private doctors and 75% of government doctors can correctly diagnose TB symptoms.
- Extrapulmonary TB (EP-TB):Constitutes 24% of cases; vague symptoms (e.g., lymph node swelling) lead to delayed diagnosis.
- Government Initiatives:
- NTEP (National TB Elimination Programme):Free drugs, 95% treatment initiation rate.
- Community-driven success: Kerala’s collaboration with Kudumbashree(women’s SHGs) improved case detection.
- Drug shortages (2023 supply chain disruption).
- Limited access to molecular tests (CBNAAT/Truenat)in rural areas
