- CENTRE LAUNCHES JALVAHAK SCHEME FOR CARGO MOVEMENT VIA INLAND WATERWAYS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Scheme Launch: The Centre launched the Jalvahak Scheme to boost long-haul cargo movement via inland waterways.
- Coverage: Focus on National Waterways 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra), and 16 (Barak).
- Objective: Promote economical, eco-friendly, and efficient cargo transport.
- Reduce congestion on railways and roadways.
- Key Features: Incentive: Up to 35% reimbursement of total operating expenditure.
- Fixed scheduled sailing services: NW-1: Kolkata-Patna-Varanasi-Patna-Kolkata.
- NW-2: Kolkata to Pandu via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR).
- Encourages cargo movement for major shipping companies and trade associations.
- Scheme validity: 3 years.
- Significance: Improves supply chain efficiency and provides a sustainable transport alternative
2. MORE CARCASSES OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES CONTINUE TO WASH ASHORE IN VIZAG
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) is theone of the smallestand most abundant sea turtle globally.
- They are known for uniquearribadas(synchronised mass nestings), where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
- Distribution They are found inwarm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceansand warm areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Gahirmatha Beach of Odisha (India)is the most significant breeding ground for these turtles.
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Threats: Unsustainable egg collection, slaughtering on the beach, boat collisions, marine debris,natural disasters, climate change,& beach erosion.
3. INDIA’S FIRMER ATTEMPTS AT MINERAL DIPLOMACY
SUBJECT: AGRICULTURE
- India aims to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals by strengthening mineral diplomacy and ensuring resource security
- Joint Ventures: Bilateral collaborations with resource rich nations (Australia, Argentina, Bolivia, Central Asia, etc.) to secure supplies of lithium, cobalt, and titanium through initiatives like KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd).
- Cooperative Engagements: International partnerships with multilateral forums such as Quad, G7, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and EU to align with global standards and develop the mineral supply chain.
- Challenges: Lack of private sector involvement.
- Weak diplomatic capacity.
- Absence of a clear mineral supply chain strategy
4. HOW WOULD A CARBON MARKET FUNCTION
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- A carbon market allows trading of carbon credits, which represent the right to emit 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide.
- Governments limit emissions by issuing carbon credits, enabling firms to buy, sell, or trade these credits.
- Advantages of Carbon Markets: Provides economic incentives for firms to reduce emissions.
- Helps internalize the cost of pollution, encouraging cleaner production.
- Facilitates efficient allocation of carbon credits through market forces.
- Carbon offsets (like reforestation) can balance emissions
- Corporations’ Preference: Favour voluntary reporting systems like the Carbon Disclosure Project.
- Resist government interventions due to concerns over higher costs and supply chain disruptions
5. HOW CAN GENE THERAPY CURE HAEMOPHILIA A
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Haemophilia is a rare genetic condition causing low clotting factor levels, leading to severe bleeding episodes.
- Replacement Therapy: Involves injecting clotting factor concentrates (Factor VIII for haemophilia A, Factor IX for B).
- Derived from human blood and can be prone to infections if not properly tested.
- Other options include DDAVP (for mild cases) and recombinant clotting factors (safer but costly)
- Gene Therapy for Haemophilia: Introduces a corrected gene into patient cells to produce clotting factors internally
- Uses lentinivirus instead of common adenovirus, making it more effective and reducing immune reactions.
- Provides long-term benefits with fewer side effects.
