- GRASS FED BEEF IS NO LESS EMISSIVE THAN THE INDUSTRY VARIETY
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Research shows grass-fed beef does not lower carbon emissions compared to industrial beef.
- Factors: Slower growth rate, higher land use, and increased methane emissions per unit of meat.
- Sustainability Concerns: Expansion of grass-fed beef may lead to deforestation and loss of carbon sinks.
- Suggests a need to reduce beef consumption and shift toward plant-based alternatives for better sustainability.
2. CABINET APPROVES ADDITIONAL OUTLAY FOR GOKUL MISSION
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)revised with ₹3,400 crore total outlay.
- Additional funding: ₹1,000 crore (2021-22 to 2025-26).
- New Activities: 35% one-time capital cost assistance for heifer rearing centers.
- Incentives for farmers to buy high genetic merit cattle.
- Objective: Boost livestock sector growth.
- Significance: Supports rural economy, dairy production, and sustainable agriculture
3. TORTURE SHADOW’S INDIA’S JUSTICE SYSTEM
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- Cases like Sanjay Bhandari and Tahawwur Rana spotlight extradition challenges amid concerns over India’s custodial torture record.
- India has not yet enacted comprehensive anti-torture legislation despite judicial recommendations (D.K. Basu, Puttaswamy).
- Human Rights & Constitutional Debate: India’s non-ratification of UNCAT and legislative inertia affect its global credibility as a rights-based democracy.
- Supreme Court emphasizes the right to dignity under Article 21, calling for anti torture laws
4. A DELIMITATION RED FLAG – THE LESSION FROM J&K, ASSAM
SUBJECT: STATES
- Redrawing constituency boundaries based on population changes can alter parliamentary/assembly seat distribution.
- In Jammu & Kashmir, new constituencies may skew representation (e.g., favoring Jammu over Muslim-majority areas).
- In Assam, merging of districts has led to re-allocation of seats with potential communal polarization.
- Risks & Implications: Potential marginalization of minorities and increased majoritarian bias.
- Impact on federal balance and regional representation; North-South divide concerns
5. EL NINO OR LA NINA? MURKY PATTERN OF TEMPERATURE KEEPS CONFUSION ALIVE
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
- Uncertainty over 2025-26 El Niño/La Niña due to unusual Sea Surface Temperature (SST) patterns in the tropical Pacific.
- Current Pattern:Cold SST anomalies in central-western Pacific; warm SST anomalies in far east (opposite of recent decades).
- Historical Context:
- El Niño:Warm SST in east/central Pacific (“flavors”).
- La Niña:Cold SST in east-central Pacific.
- 2024 Forecast Failure: Strong La Niña expected but disrupted by ENSO Transition Mode (ETM) from Southern Hemisphere.
- Monsoon Impact: 60% of deficit/excess monsoon years linked to El Niño/La Niña.
- 2023: Normal monsoon despite El Niño due to Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
