Context: The technology allowed scholars a clearer and measurable view of the past, clarifying the history of human migration, the rise and fall of civilisations, and undulations of the earth’s climate

About:

• Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a scientific method employed to precisely ascertain the age of organic materials, with its accuracy extending to around 60,000 years.
• Originating in the late 1940s at the University of Chicago under the guidance of Willard Libby, this technique relies on the decay of the carbon-14 isotope.
• Its applications have been diverse, encompassing historical studies, atmospheric science, and sparking a transformative period in archaeology known as the "radiocarbon revolution."
• Principle:
  • The method operates on the principle that living entities such as trees, plants, humans, and animals assimilate carbon-14 into their tissues. Upon death, the carbon-14 undergoes a gradual transformation into different atoms. By quantifying the remaining carbon-14 atoms, scientists can gauge the duration since the organism's demise, providing an estimate of its age.
• Working:

• The process begins with the interaction of cosmic rays, which are subatomic particles reaching Earth from various directions.
• When these cosmic rays reach the Earth's upper atmosphere, they lead to physical and chemical reactions resulting in the creation of the radioactive isotope carbon-14.
•   Living organisms absorb carbon-14 into their tissues as part of their metabolic processes.
  •  
•  Once an organism dies, the absorption of carbon-14 ceases, initiating a slow and predictable transformation of carbon-14 into other atoms.
•  Scientists can estimate the time since an organism's death by measuring the remaining amount of carbon-14.
•   Radiocarbon dating is applicable to any object that was once alive, extending its use to various materials such as animal or human remains, plants, paper made from reeds, leather from animal hides, and even logs used in construction.
• In essence, radiocarbon dating relies on the cosmic ray-induced creation of carbon-14, its absorption by living organisms, and the predictable decay rate post-death, allowing scientist to determine the age of organic objects through careful measurement of remaing carbon-14

Context: The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program for the automobile sector has been extended by one year through March 2028. 

News:

• The extension of the original five-year scheme, initially covering the period from 2022-23 to 2026-27, will remain effective until 2027-28.
• This extension provides companies with additional time to capitalize on the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) fund amounting to Rs 25,938 crore, aimed at enhancing domestic manufacturing and exports.
• In cases where participants fall short of meeting the specified year-on-year growth criteria for payouts in a given fiscal year, they remain eligible for incentives in the subsequent year if targets are accomplished. This provision safeguards serious investors who prioritize upfront capacity installation.
• Furthermore, achieving targets for five out of the six years is deemed sufficient to qualify for subsidies overall.

About :

• The Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) was devised with the aim of enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities, fostering higher import substitution, and generating employment opportunities.
• Launched in March 2020, the scheme initially focused on three industries: Mobile and allied Component Manufacturing, Electrical Component Manufacturing, and Medical Devices. Subsequently, its scope was expanded to include 14 sectors.

• Under the PLI scheme, both domestic and foreign companies receive financial incentives for engaging in manufacturing activities in India, with the rewards calculated as a percentage of their revenue over a period of up to five years.
• The targeted sectors encompass mobile manufacturing, medical devices, automobiles and auto components, pharmaceuticals, drugs, specialty steel, telecom & networking products, electronic products, white goods (ACs and LEDs), food products, textile products, solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery, and drones and drone components.
• Incentives are granted based on incremental sales, and for certain sectors like advanced chemistry cell batteries, textile products, and the drone industry, calculations take into account sales, performance, and local value addition over the five-year period.
• The PLI scheme places a significant emphasis on Research and Development (R&D) investment, enabling the industry to stay abreast of global trends and maintain competitiveness in the international market.

Context: The US Secretary of State announced a joint maritime security initiative called Operation Prosperity Guardian to aid the safe movement of ships in the Red Sea. This follows missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

About:

• Countries Involved: The U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain are participating.
• Joint Patrols: These nations will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden

Significance of the Operation

• Impact on Suez Canal Traffic: The turmoil is influencing approximately 12% of the global shipping traffic that traverses the Suez Canal.
• Rerouting and Economic Consequences: Shipping companies are opting for alternative routes, resulting in escalated expenses and prolonged delays.

Context: The inaugural edition of joint military exercise ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ involving India and the UAE is set to occur in Rajasthan from January 2 to January 15.

About Desert Cyclone 2024 :

Counter-Terrorism Operations:

  - The focus of the joint exercise is on counter-terrorism operations, encompassing missions such as joint planning, operations, and joint tactical drills.

Significance:

  - The exercise aims to boost interoperability through the exchange of best practices in urban operations.

  - It seeks to enhance the skills of armed forces in various facets of war-fighting by fostering collaboration with armed forces from different nations.

Defence Cooperation between India and UAE:

Collaborative Activities:

  - Defence cooperation involves activities such as port calls, defence training, supply of defence inventory, and the implementation of regular exchange programs.

  - Additionally, joint air forces exercises, biennial International Defence Exhibition (IDEX), and the exercise 'Zayed Talwar' with the UAE are part of the collaboration efforts to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies.

- Potential Areas of Bilateral Cooperation:

  - Areas of potential cooperation include the production and development of defence equipment, joint exercises of armed forces, sharing of information on strategy and doctrines, and technical cooperation, particularly in the domain of Intermediate Jet Trainer.

Context: The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment recently highlighted the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA).

Key Highlights of SHRESHTA:

Objective:

SHRESHTA aims to address the educational service gap in areas dominated by Scheduled Castes (SCs) by providing high-quality education, socio-economic upliftment, and overall development for SC students.

Admission Criteria:

Admission is offered in Class 9 and Class 11 of CBSE/State-affiliated private schools.

Eligibility:

Students from SCs in Class 8th and 10th with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh are eligible.

Operating Procedure:

Mode 1: SHRESHTA Schools:

Selection Process:

• Meritorious SC students are chosen through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Admitted to the best CBSE/State Board-affiliated private residential schools in classes 9th and 11th.

Financial Support:

The Department covers total fees, including school and hostel fees, amounting to Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,35,000 from class 9th to 12th.

Bridge Course:

• A bridge course is offered outside regular school hours to enhance students' adaptability.
• The Department covers 10% of the annual fee for the bridge course.

Monitoring:

• Regular monitoring of students' progress by the Ministry.

Mode 2: NGO/VO Operated Schools/Hostels:

Grants:

• Schools/Hostels run by VOs/NGOs with classes up to 12th grade receive grants for school fees and residential charges for SC students.
• Grants range from Rs. 27,000 to Rs. 55,000 per student based on the type of school.

Monitoring:

• Regular monitoring of students' progress by the Ministry.
• Institutions are required to disclose performance on their websites and the e-Anudaan/online portal, ensuring transparency.
• Installation of cameras in institutions for live feeds and periodic field visits by inspection teams.

Impact (2023-24):

• 7,543 beneficiaries.
• Admissions: 2,564 students admitted to 142 Private Residential Schools.
• Rs. 30.55 Crore reimbursed for school fees.

Context: A significant milestone has been crossed by the Health Ministry. More than 1 crore people have been screened for Sickle Cell Disease under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM):
Objective:
The NSCAEM is geared towards eradicating sickle cell anaemia from India by 2047, coinciding with the nation's 100th year of independence.
Key Goals:
Awareness Creation:
The mission seeks to foster awareness among the general public and healthcare professionals regarding the prevention and management of sickle cell anaemia.
Health Improvement:
To mitigate the morbidity and mortality associated with sickle cell anaemia, the mission aims to enhance the overall quality of life for affected individuals and their families.
Contribution to SDGs:
The NSCAEM aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, education, and social inclusion.
Key Components of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission:
Screening:
All newborns and pregnant women will undergo screening for sickle cell trait or disease through a rapid and simple test. Positive cases will receive a genetic status card, facilitating access to appropriate healthcare and counseling services.
Prevention:
Couples identified as carriers of the sickle cell trait will receive counseling regarding the risk of having a child with sickle cell disease. Options for prevention, including prenatal diagnosis and medical termination of pregnancy, will be offered to those opting to avoid having an affected child.
Treatment:
Patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease will receive regular and free treatment encompassing blood transfusions, hydroxyurea therapy, pain management, and antibiotics. Enrolment in a national registry will aid in monitoring health outcomes and overall quality of life.
Research:
The mission places emphasis on supporting research and innovation related to sickle cell anaemia. This includes endeavors such as developing new drugs, vaccines, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy. Additionally, awareness and education initiatives targeting the public and healthcare professionals will be promoted.
Challenges in Implementing the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission:
Lack of Awareness and Stigma:
A significant challenge lies in the lack of awareness regarding one's sickle cell status and the associated implications. Individuals may also encounter discrimination and social exclusion due to their condition.
Shortage of Resources:
The successful execution of the mission necessitates ample funding, infrastructure, manpower, and a consistent blood supply. These Resourcess are critical for ensuring effective screening, prevention, and treatment of sickle cell anaemia.
Ethical and Legal Issues:
The mission involves navigating sensitive ethical and legal considerations related to genetic testing, prenatal diagnosis, abortion, and gene editing. Addressing concerns from certain sections of society on these matters is crucial.
Coordination and Collaboration:
Effective implementation relies on seamless coordination and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. This includes central and state governments, health departments, civil society organizations, research institutions, and international agencies.
Addressing these challenges requires the NSCAEM to adopt a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach, fostering collaboration among ministries, departments, agencies, organizations, institutions, communities, and individuals.
Possible Strategies for Implementation:
Enhancing Existing Sickle Cell Centres:
Strengthening the current network of sickle cell centres nationwide, ensuring they provide comprehensive care and support to patients and their families.
Widening Screening Programmes:
Expanding the reach of screening initiatives to cover all newborns and pregnant women. This involves utilizing accessible methods like paper-based tests or mobile apps for efficient and widespread screening.
Accessible Ensuring free or subsidized treatment for all patients in need, encompassing medications, blood transfusions, hydroxyurea therapy, and bone marrow transplants.
Innovation in Therapies:
Advancing research into new therapeutic approaches and technologies capable of curing or preventing sickle cell anaemia. This includes exploring possibilities such as gene therapy or gene editing.
Establishing a National Registry:
Creating a comprehensive national registry and database for sickle cell patients and carriers. This registry serves to monitor the progress and assess the impact of the mission effectively.
Sickle Cell Anaemia
Sickle cell disease (SCD) comprises a hereditary group of blood disorders with a genetic basis.
Cause:
It is an autosomal recessive disorder or Mendelian disorder triggered by a mutation in the hemoglobin-β gene located on chromosome 11.
Characteristics:
The mutation leads to defective hemoglobin (Hb), forming rod-like structures when releasing oxygen.
Red blood cells become rigid, taking on a sickle shape.
Transmission:
Typically inherited from parents to the child during birth, where both parents may carry SCD.
Symptoms:
Newborns with sickle cell anaemia may not exhibit symptoms for several months.
Common symptoms include extreme fatigue, fussiness, painful swelling in hands and feet, and jaundice.
Effects:

•     Misshapen cells lack flexibility, potentially blocking small blood vessels and impeding blood flow.
•    Premature death of sickle cells leads to chronic red blood cell deficiency, often referred to as sickle-cell anaemia.
•  Associated complications include chronic acute pain syndromes, severe bacterial infections, and tissue necrosis.

Treatment:

•  Treatment involves medication, blood transfusions, and occasionally, a bone-marrow transplant.
•  Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, while offering a potential cure, entails several risks.

Steps Taken to Eradicate Sickle Cell Anemia:
Outreach Programs:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) are conducting outreach programs to enhance disease management and control.
Portal for Data Collation:
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs introduced a portal allowing individuals with the disease to register, facilitating comprehensive data compilation.
National Health Mission Guideline on Hemoglobinopathies:
The National Health Mission has issued guidelines on Hemoglobinopathies, establishing community-level services for pre-marital and pre-conception screening, supported by genetic counselling services.
Mission to Eliminate SCA:

• The union budget for FY 2023-24 has announced the initiation of a mission to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047.
• The mission emphasizes awareness creation, universal screening of individuals aged 0-40 in affected tribal areas, and counselling.
•  Funding for the mission will be allocated under the National Health Mission.

Context: India’s real GDP growth in 2023-24 is estimated at 7.3%, compared to 7.2% a year ago, as per the first advance estimates of national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which reckon the economy will outperform the 7% uptick recently projected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

About NSO (National Statistical Office):

Role and Affiliation: The NSO serves as the central agency within the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, overseeing the planned development of the statistical system in the country. It establishes and upholds norms and standards related to statistics, encompassing concepts, definitions, methodology for data collection, data processing, and the dissemination of results.

Components:

The NSO comprises three main entities:

• Central Statistical Office (CSO)
• Computer Center
• National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)

Functions:

• Index of Industrial Production (IIP): The NSO is responsible for compiling and releasing the Index of Industrial Production on a monthly basis, providing 'quick estimates' regularly.
• Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): It conducts the Annual Survey of Industries to gather comprehensive statistical information.
• Statistical Information: The NSO offers statistical data that aids in assessing and evaluating changes within the growth, composition, and structure of the organized manufacturing sector.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):

GDP serves as a monetary metric for the total value of all "final" goods and services within a country during a specific period. These are the goods and services ultimately purchased by the end-user.

Four Key Drivers of GDP Growth:

Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE): Represents the money spent by individuals on private consumption.

Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE): Encompasses all expenditures made by the government on its current consumption, such as salaries.

Gross Fixed Capital Expenditure: Involves all investments made to enhance the economy's productive capacity, including business investments in facilities and government projects like infrastructure development.

Net Exports (NX): Captures the net impact of exports (foreign spending on domestic goods) and imports (domestic spending on foreign goods).

GDP Calculation Formula: GDP = Private Consumption + Gross Investment + Government Investment + Government Spending + (Exports − Imports)

• Cooperation ministry recently launched a portal through which farmers can sell tur dal to government procurement agencies at the minimum support price (MSP) or market price, whichever is higher.

Govt. Procurement agencies - National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) or National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF).

• Alvaro, the 1^st cyclone of 2024, made landfall near Morombe in Madagascar recently.
• Mozambique named the cyclone Alvaro.

Resilience and Preparedness to tropical cyclones across Southern Africa (REPRESA) is an international initiative that aims to improve community preparedness for tropical cyclones in Southern Africa.

• The Himachal Pradesh government made 2 major decisions recently.
• All government offices have been prohibited from purchasing petrol or diesel vehicles since January 1.
• Simultaneously, under another scheme, people will be paid Rs 20,000 per month if they donate 3 bighas of land for the construction of a solar power plant.

These decisions have been taken to make Himachal Pradesh a clean and green energy state by March 31, 2026.

India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope.

What is SKA?

SKA – It will be the world's biggest and most advanced radio telescope ever constructed.

• It will not be a single large telescope, but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.

SKA Observatory Convention – The international treaty that established the facility as an intergovernmental organisation.

Objective – To create 1 square kilometre of effective area for collecting radio waves using radio telescopes.

Mission – To build and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes to transform our understanding of the Universe, and deliver benefits to society through global collaboration and innovation.

Headquarters– United Kingdom (UK)

Implementation – By installing 1000’s of smaller antennas in a specific array design that would make them function like a single radio telescope.

Budget – USD 2.4-billion project

Distribution of antennas – About 200 of them in South Africa and more than 130,000 in Australia.

In SKA Observatory, the South African array will focus on mid-frequency signals, while the Australian telescope will cover low-frequency ranges.

• Installation location – In sparsely populated areas in order to minimise signal interference from undesirable Earth-based sources.
• Consortium Members – It includes 16 member countries, such as Australia, South Africa, Canada, China, India, Japan, and several European nations.
• Significance – Once operational, it would be between 5 to 60 times more powerful than the most advanced existing radio telescopes functioning in comparable frequency ranges.

How does it work?

• The SKA telescopes will observe from 50 MHz to 15.4 GHz (with a goal of 24 GHz) in the radio frequency part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Working – It receive radio waves from space using antennas which are sent through a processing chain that enables the astronomical data ultimately to be turned into an image of the sky.

Advantage – Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes can be used even in cloudy skies, as the longer wavelengths can pass through clouds unhindered.

• They can detect invisible hydrogen gas, the most abundant element in the Universe, which emits in the radio band at 1420 MHz.
• They can also reveal areas of space that may be obscured by cosmic dust, as radio waves are can travel through these dust clouds.

Radio astronomy has led us to some amazing astronomical discoveries, such as pulsars, exoplanets and the cosmic microwave background (a remnant signal left over from The Big Bang).

What is the role of India in SKA?

Indian participation – India has been involved in the SKA project right from its inception in the 1990s.

• It is being led by Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA).

India’s contribution – In design and development of the telescope and the main contribution has come in the development, and operation, of the Telescope Manager, the ‘neural network’ or the software that will run the entire facility.

Benefits – Though none of the SKA facilities would be located in India, there are immense science and technology gains to the Indian scientific community.

• It will promote research in radio astronomy where India is already taking leaps through
  • Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT)Pune
  • Other similar facilities in Ooty, Nainital and Bengaluru
• It will get preferential allocation of time on the radio telescope, roughly in proportion to their contribution to the project, and only limited time slots would be available through competitive bidding.

Most existing telescopes operate under an open-use policy which allows research groups from any country to get time on the facility through competitive bidding by making a scientific case.

• The SKA would work on highest-end technologies and the intellectual properties would be accessible to all the member countries.
• Indian scientists can use SKA for studying concepts relating to the evolution of the early universe and galaxies, neutron star physics, and solar sciences.
• It helps in capacity building and training opportunities.
• Future plans – To set up an SKA regional centre in the country that will be part of the global network to process and store data and make it available for the scientific community.

Recently, the 1^st Advance Estimates (FAEs) released by the government showed that India’s GDP will grow by 7.3% in the current financial year (2023-24), slightly faster than the 7.2% growth in 2022-23.

What is GDP?

Gross Domestic Product – GDP is defined as total market value of all final goods and services in an economy.

• It is used to assess the size of economy and the country’s performance can be measured across years.
• Growth of GDP can be either due to increase in actual production or due to increase in prices of goods and services or combination of both.

Nominal GDP – It is the value of GDP at the current prevailing prices.

Real GDP – It is the value of GDP at some constant set of prices which is calculated by removing the effects of price inflation from the nominal GDP by using a GDP or price deflator.

• Since these prices remain fixed, if the Real GDP changes, then it is due to the changes in volume of production.
  • Real GDP growth rate = Nominal rate – Inflation (GDP Deflator)

GDP deflator – It is the ratio of nominal to real GDP which gives us an idea of how the prices have moved from the base year to the current year.

• • GDP Deflator = GDP/gdp         (GDP – nominal GDP; gdp – real GDP)

Base Year is the year whose prices are being used to calculate the real GDP. In 2015, India’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) introduced a new series which revised the base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12.

Gross National Product (GNP) takes into account the value of economic activities of those who are not residents of the country as well.

GNP = GDP + Net Income Property from abroad

What is contributing to India’s growth?

GDP is calculated by 3 different methods.

• GDP calculation in India – Calculated through income method and expenditure method.
• Data released by – National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

4 main engines of GDP growth – On basis of demand side.

• Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) – It is the spending by people in their individual capacity that accounts for almost 60% of India’s GDP.
• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) – It is the spending towards investments in boosting the productive capacity of the economy which typically accounts for 30% of the GDP.
• Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) – It is the spending by governments to meet daily expenditures such as salaries which accounts for around 10% of GDP.
• Net exports – It is the net spending as a result of Indians spending on imports and foreigners spending on Indian exports.
• Since India typically imports more than it exports, it drags down GDP calculations, and shows up with a minus sign.
• As such, negative growth rates here are a good development and for the current year, this drag effect has grown by 144%.

What are Advance Estimates of National Income?

• They are indicator-based and are compiled using the benchmark-indicator method, i.e. the estimates available for the previous year (2022-23) are extrapolated using the relevant indicators reflecting the performance of sectors.
• Compiled by –MoSPI
• 1^st Advance Estimates (FAE) – They are presented at the end of the 1^st week of January every year, the 1^st estimates of growth for that financial year.
• Calculation of FEA – Based on the performance of the economy over the 1^st 7-odd months, and the data are extrapolated to arrive at an annual picture.
• Significance of the FAE – They are the last GDP data released before the Union Budget of any financial year and it constitute the base for the Budget numbers.

Union Budget is presented on February 1 every financial year. In the year of Lok Sabha elections like in 2024, a full-fledged Union Budget will not be presented.

Findings of FEA – By the end of March 2024, India’s GDP is expected to rise to almost Rs 172 lakh crore and on an annual basis, the growth rate estimated for 2023-24 is 7.3%.

2nd Advance Estimates – It is released by the end of February every year.

Provisional Estimates – It is released by the end of May.

Revised Estimates – The GDP estimates continue to be revised and in the coming 3 years, the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Revised Estimates of this year’s GDP will be released.

Actuals – It is the final number of GDP.

Released by- International Labour Organisation

Publication- Annually

• Theme- The value of essential work.

About- It details the impact of economic slowdown on the global labour market.

2023 report- It calls for a revaluation of the work of key workers to reflect their social contribution and greater investment in key sectors.

• Key workers- Food system workers, health workers, retail workers, security workers, manual workers, cleaning and sanitation workers, transport workers, and technicians and clerical workers.

Recently ICD-11 was launched with the inclusion of Traditional Medicine Module 2.

ICD-11 – International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision, the global standard for diagnostic health information.

• Launched by – World Health Organisation (WHO).
• Prepared by – WHO in collaboration with Ministry of AYUSH.

Aim - To modernize Ayush medicine by integrating it with global standards in India as well as across the world.

Inclusion of – Data and terminology relating to diseases based on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Medicine.

Significance – It forms a link between traditional medicines with global standards and will expand India’s healthcare delivery system, research, Ayush insurance coverage, research & development, policy making system.

• These codes can also be used to formulate future strategies to control various diseases in the society.

Future prospects – Ministry of Ayush will prepare public health strategy in future, based on ICD-11, Module 2 and will implement it nationally and internationally.

Importance of ICD-11

• Legally mandated health data standard (WHO Constitution and Nomenclature Regulations).
• Integration of terminology and classification.
• End-to-end digital solution (API, tools, online and offline).
• It is accessible to everybody with up-to-date scientific knowledge.
• Comparable statistics and semantic interoperability for 150 years.
• ICD-11 enables, for the 1^st time, the counting of traditional medicine services and encounters.