1. Technology and Judiciary: Enhancing Justice Delivery
Context
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) emphasized that while technology can enhance transparency and efficiency in the judiciary, it cannot replace human conscience and constitutional values.
Important Points
- Key Applications:
- Automated case management, predictive analysis, document digitization (OCR/NLP), blockchain for record-keeping, and AI-chatbots for user assistance.
- Automated case management, predictive analysis, document digitization (OCR/NLP), blockchain for record-keeping, and AI-chatbots for user assistance.
- Major Initiatives:
- National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): Centralized database of judgments and cases.
- Case Information Software (CIS): Open-source software for courts.
- eCourts Mission Mode Project:
- Phase I: District court computerization.
- Phase II: High Court-led projects.
- Phase III: ₹7,000 crore allocated in 2023-24.
- Phase I: District court computerization.
- National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): Centralized database of judgments and cases.
- Challenges:
- Bias in AI, data security, authenticity of digital evidence, technical malfunctions, and digital divide in rural areas.
- Bias in AI, data security, authenticity of digital evidence, technical malfunctions, and digital divide in rural areas.
2. Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Geoengineering for Climate
Context
A recent study explored the feasibility of deploying SAI, a solar radiation management technique, to counteract climate change.
Important Points
- Geoengineering Types:
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): E.g., direct air capture, biochar.
- Solar Radiation Management (SRM): E.g., SAI, marine cloud brightening, cirrus cloud thinning, surface albedo enhancement, space-based mirrors.
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): E.g., direct air capture, biochar.
- About SAI:
- Mimics volcanic eruptions by injecting SO₂ into the stratosphere, forming reflective aerosols.
- Mimics volcanic eruptions by injecting SO₂ into the stratosphere, forming reflective aerosols.
- Benefits:
- Quick, cost-effective, can offset some effects of GHGs, temporarily prevent disasters like heatwaves.
- Quick, cost-effective, can offset some effects of GHGs, temporarily prevent disasters like heatwaves.
- Challenges:
- Moral hazard, scientific/ethical concerns, unknown long-term impacts, possible cross-border effects.
- Moral hazard, scientific/ethical concerns, unknown long-term impacts, possible cross-border effects.
3. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
Context
India’s Ministry of External Affairs proposed an IMEC Fund and Secretariat to ensure the timely execution of this strategic corridor.
Important Points
- About IMEC:
- Launched at G20 Summit 2023, connects India, Arabian Gulf, and Europe.
- Aims to reduce transport time/cost by 40%/30%, integrate energy grids, transport, and digital solutions.
- Launched at G20 Summit 2023, connects India, Arabian Gulf, and Europe.
- Strategic Importance:
- Offers alternative to global maritime choke points (e.g., Malacca Strait, Hormuz Strait).
- Enhances trade, regional connectivity, and supply chain resilience.
- Offers alternative to global maritime choke points (e.g., Malacca Strait, Hormuz Strait).
4. Extreme Heat Risk in India
Context
A CEEW study assessed heat risk across 734 Indian districts, highlighting the growing threat of extreme heat.
Important Points
- Key Concepts:
- Heatwaves: Prolonged high temperatures.
- Heat Stress: Body temperature >37°C, risk of heatstroke.
- Heat Risk: Probability of heat-related illness/death, influenced by intensity, exposure, and vulnerability.
- Heatwaves: Prolonged high temperatures.
- Findings:
- Increased warm nights and humidity, especially in North India.
- Urban heat island effect in cities due to dense infrastructure.
- Majority of India’s population faces high to very high risk.
- Increased warm nights and humidity, especially in North India.
- Recommendations:
- Expand heat risk planning, declare heatwaves as disasters in high-risk states, create a national Heat Action Plan repository, use disaster funds for heat resilience.
- Expand heat risk planning, declare heatwaves as disasters in high-risk states, create a national Heat Action Plan repository, use disaster funds for heat resilience.
5. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) – 9 Years
Context
PMSMA, launched in 2016, completed nine years, significantly improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Important Points
- Aim:
- Universal, free, quality antenatal care for all pregnant women, especially in 2nd/3rd trimesters.
- Universal, free, quality antenatal care for all pregnant women, especially in 2nd/3rd trimesters.
- Features:
- Services by specialists, free tests and medicines, focus on high-risk pregnancies (green/red sticker system).
- Complements JSY, PMMVY, POSHAN Abhiyaan.
- Services by specialists, free tests and medicines, focus on high-risk pregnancies (green/red sticker system).
- Achievements:
- MMR reduced from 130 (2014-16) to 80 (2021-23).
- Over 6 crore women examined.
- MMR reduced from 130 (2014-16) to 80 (2021-23).
- Extended PMSMA (E-PMSMA):
- Launched 2022 for tracking high-risk pregnancies till 45 days post-delivery, with SMS alerts and follow-ups.
- Launched 2022 for tracking high-risk pregnancies till 45 days post-delivery, with SMS alerts and follow-ups.
6. India’s Global Priorities at ICDRI 2025
Context
At the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) 2025, India outlined five global priorities for disaster resilience.
Important Points
- Priorities:
- Disaster resilience in education, global digital repository, innovative financing, support for SIDS, strengthening early warning systems.
- Disaster resilience in education, global digital repository, innovative financing, support for SIDS, strengthening early warning systems.
- Key Outcomes:
- Call to Action for Coastal Resilience in SIDS, launch of SIDS Global Data Hub 2.0, resilience units in finance ministries, and unified accreditation for SIDS.
- Call to Action for Coastal Resilience in SIDS, launch of SIDS Global Data Hub 2.0, resilience units in finance ministries, and unified accreditation for SIDS.
- About ICDRI:
- Platform under CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) to drive global investment and policy for resilient infrastructure.
- Platform under CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) to drive global investment and policy for resilient infrastructure.
7. Vibe Coding: AI in Software Development
Context
Vibe Coding is emerging as a key AI-driven tool for transforming user ideas into executable code.
Important Points
- About:
- AI converts plain speech into code, automates processes, and suggests code structures.
- AI converts plain speech into code, automates processes, and suggests code structures.
- Significance:
- 30% of code at Google and Microsoft now AI-generated.
- 30% of code at Google and Microsoft now AI-generated.
- Challenges:
- Technical complexity, code quality, debugging, maintenance, and security.
- Technical complexity, code quality, debugging, maintenance, and security.
8. Proton Emission: Scientific Breakthrough
Context
Researchers measured the half-life of 188At (Astatine), the heaviest proton emitter, advancing nuclear physics research.
Important Points
- About Proton Emission:
- Radioactive decay mode, determines limits of proton-rich nuclei.
- First detected in 1970s from 53Co (Cobalt).
- Radioactive decay mode, determines limits of proton-rich nuclei.
9. Rwanda: Place in News
Context
Rwanda withdrew from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Important Points
- Geography:
- Landlocked, borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, DRC; features Lake Kivu, part of the Great Rift Valley.
- Landlocked, borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, DRC; features Lake Kivu, part of the Great Rift Valley.
- Economy:
- Tin and tungsten are key minerals.
- Tin and tungsten are key minerals.
- Society:
- Major ethnic groups: Hutu and Tutsi.
- Major ethnic groups: Hutu and Tutsi.
10. Discovery of a New Parasitic Wasp Species
Context
Recently, scientists discovered a new species of parasitic wasp, Losgna occidentalis, adding to our understanding of insect biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.
Important Points
- About Parasitic Wasps:
- Parasitic wasps are a diverse group of insects known for their unique life cycle, where the female lays eggs inside or on the bodies of other insects (hosts).
- The wasp larvae feed on the host, often leading to the host’s death, making these wasps important natural controllers of pest populations.
- Parasitic wasps are a diverse group of insects known for their unique life cycle, where the female lays eggs inside or on the bodies of other insects (hosts).
- The New Species – Losgna occidentalis:
- The newly discovered species belongs to the genus Losgna, which is part of the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps.
- L. occidentalis was identified based on distinct morphological features, such as wing venation, body coloration, and antenna structure.
- The species was found in a specific ecological niche, indicating the rich, often unexplored insect diversity in the region.
- The newly discovered species belongs to the genus Losgna, which is part of the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps.
- Ecological Significance:
- Parasitic wasps play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by keeping pest populations in check, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in agriculture.
- Their presence is an indicator of ecosystem health and biodiversity.
- Parasitic wasps play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by keeping pest populations in check, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in agriculture.
- Implications for Science and Conservation:
- Discoveries like this highlight the importance of taxonomic research and biodiversity surveys, especially in underexplored habitats.
- Documenting new species helps in understanding evolutionary relationships and can inform conservation strategies for threatened ecosystems.
- Discoveries like this highlight the importance of taxonomic research and biodiversity surveys, especially in underexplored habitats.
- Broader Relevance:
- India is home to a vast diversity of insects, many of which remain undocumented. Each new discovery enhances our knowledge of the country’s natural heritage.
- Such findings also have potential applications in integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture.
- India is home to a vast diversity of insects, many of which remain undocumented. Each new discovery enhances our knowledge of the country’s natural heritage.