Context: India’s Financial Intelligence Unit has issued show-cause notices to nine offshore crypto-currency operators, including Binance, for not complying with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

News:

• Show Cause Notices for compliance have been sent to nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The list comprises Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global, and Bitfinex.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been instructed to block the URLs of these nine entities, as they have been conducting operations in India without adhering to the provisions of PMLA.

Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs)

• They are involved in activities such as exchanging virtual digital assets for fiat currencies, transferring virtual digital assets, and safekeeping or administering virtual digital assets or instruments that enable control over them.
• In March 2023, they were brought under the Anti Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) framework as per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act, 2002.
• These entities must register with the Financial Intelligence Unit as Reporting Entities and comply with obligations outlined in the PML Act.
• The obligations are based on activities and are not dependent on physical presence in India. The regulations impose reporting, record-keeping, and other obligations on VDA SPs under the PML Act, and 31 VDA SPs have registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit so far.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)

It  is an independent body that directly reports to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC), chaired by the Finance Minister.

• Its functions include receiving cash/suspicious transaction reports, analyzing them, and disseminating pertinent financial information to intelligence/enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities.
• The FIU serves as the primary point of contact for reports on the purchase or sale of immovable property, suspicious transaction reports, cross-border wire transfer reports, and cash transaction reports from various reporting institutions.
• It analyzes the received information to identify patterns of transactions indicative of money laundering and related crimes.
• The FIU shares information with national intelligence/law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and foreign Financial Intelligence Units.
• It also establishes and maintains a national database on cash and suspicious transactions, coordinates financial intelligence collection and sharing on a national, regional, and global scale, and conducts research and analysis on money laundering trends.
• With a sanctioned strength of 75 personnel from various government departments, FIU members are inducted from organizations such as CBDT, CBEC, RBI, SEBI, the Department of Legal Affairs, and intelligence agencies.

 Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), passed in 2002 in India, establishes a legal framework to prevent money laundering and ensure alignment with international standards for combating financial crimes.

Key Features of PMLA Act 2002:

• Definition of Money Laundering: Acquiring, possessing, or transferring any proceeds of a crime or knowingly entering into a transaction related to the proceeds of a crime constitutes money laundering under the Act.
•  
• Punishments and Penalties: Stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines, are prescribed for individuals involved in money laundering.
•  
• Attachment and Confiscation of Property: The Act empowers authorities to attach and confiscate properties obtained through laundered money.
• Reporting Obligations: Financial institutions and other entities are mandated to maintain records and report high-value transactions and suspicious activities.
• Establishment of Adjudicating Authority:Authorities, such as the Adjudicating Authority, the Appellate Tribunal, and the Director (Financial Intelligence Unit), are established to enforce the Act's provisions.
• International Cooperation: The Act facilitates international cooperation in cross-border money laundering cases.

Context: The Centre has appointed Arvind Panagariya, a renowned trade economist and former Niti Aayog vice chairman, as the chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.

 About Finance Commission

• The Finance Commission (FC) of India was established by the President in 1951 according to Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.
• Its primary purpose is to define and regulate the financial relations between the central government and the individual state governments.
• The Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951, further details the qualifications, appointment, disqualification, term, eligibility, and powers of the Finance Commission
• Comprising a chairman and four other members, the FC is appointed every five years
• Since its inception with the First FC, changes in India’s macroeconomic landscape have significantly influenced the Commission’s recommendations

Constitutional provisions:

• Article 268 enables the Centre to levy duties, with the collection and retention carried out by the States.
• Article 280 outlines the composition, member qualifications, and terms of reference of the Finance Commission (FC).
• Article 280 mandates the FC to recommend the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Union and States, as well as the allocation among States. It also addresses financial relations between the Union and States and the devolution of unplanned revenue Resources.

Functions:

• Tax Devolution: The Finance Commission recommends the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Center and States.
• Grants-in-Aid: The Commission establishes principles for grants to States.
• Augmenting State Funds: It advises on measures to increase the Consolidated Funds of States to support local bodies and panchayats, aligning with recommendations from State Finance Commissions.
• Other Financial Functions: The Commission addresses additional financial matters referred by the President.

Members of Finance Commission

• Structure and Standards: The Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951, establishes a structured format and adheres to global standards for the Finance Commission.
• Qualifications and Powers: The Act outlines rules regarding members' qualifications, disqualification, appointment, term, eligibility, and powers.
• Composition: The Chairman is selected for their expertise in public affairs, while other members are chosen based on their judicial experience, knowledge of government finances, administrative and financial expertise, or special economic knowledge.

Challenges of 16th Finance Commission:

• Overlap with GST Council: The presence of the GST Council, a permanent constitutional body, poses a challenge for the 16th Finance Commission.
• Conflict of Interest: The decisions made by the GST Council regarding tax rates may affect the revenue-sharing calculations of the Finance Commission, creating a potential conflict of interest.
• Feasibility of Recommendations: Although the Central government frequently adopts the Finance Commission's recommendations on tax devolution and fiscal targets, other proposed measures may not receive the same level of consideration.

Context: U.S. Navy helicopters sank three vessels operated by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels that had attacked a container ship in the Red Sea, the military said on Sunday.

News:

• The U.S. Navy’s actions came in response to a request for assistance from the ship. Maersk suspended the passage of vessels through the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea for 48 hours.
• While transiting the strait, the vessel was targeted with two anti-ship ballistic missiles that were shot down by the U.S. military.

About:

Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged and Denmark-owned and -operated container ship, came under attack for a second time in 24 hours while transiting the Red Sea. 

Who is attacking ships in the Red Sea

Since December 15th, four of the most significant container-shipping firms globally—CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and MSC—have halted their operations in the Red Sea due to assaults on commercial vessels by Yemen's Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran.

Reasons of attacks:

• The Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea are believed to be driven by their support for Hamas and their opposition to Israel.
• The attacks are seen as part of their efforts to express solidarity with Hamas and target vessels heading to Israel.
• The Houthis have escalated their use of drones and rockets against foreign-owned ships and have also launched such attacks toward Israel.

The Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea have potential implications and impacts:

1. Risk of Military Escalation in the Middle East:

• The attacks increase the risk of military escalation in the Middle East.
• Western countries are working to restore order, potentially leading to increased naval activities and, in extreme cases, military actions against the Houthis to ensure free passage.

2. Impact on Egypt:

• Egypt heavily relies on revenue from the Suez Canal, a major income SOURCE.
• The country, already facing a financial crisis, may experience economic challenges if the canal faces prolonged disruptions.

3. Economic Impacts:

• A sustained closure of the Suez route could elevate trade costs as shipping is diverted around Africa, resulting in longer transit times and higher insurance premiums.

4. Short-term Supply-chain Threats:

• The attacks may prompt widespread rerouting of trade, causing short-term disruptions to global supply chains.
• - The incident with the Ever Given in 2021, which blocked the Suez Canal for six days, exemplifies how such disruptions can amplify global supply-chain challenges.

Context: Recent studies by NITI Aayog show that the levy of 20-30% health tax on food high in sugar, salt, and fat. The study by Niti Aayog, studied the impact of imposing health taxes and warning labels on food products to encourage healthy eating practices.

About NITI Aayog:

• Establishment: Formed in 2015.
• Headquarters: Located in New Delhi.

Objectives:

1. Develop a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors, and strategies involving active State participation.
2. Promote cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on an ongoing basis.
3. Create mechanisms for formulating credible plans at the village level and aggregating them progressively at higher government levels.
4. Ensure the incorporation of national security interests in economic strategy and policy, particularly in specified areas.
5. Focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for effective program implementation.
6. Actively monitor and evaluate the implementation of programs and initiatives.

Salient Features:

• Established through a Union Cabinet resolution on January 1, 2015.
• Replaced the Planning Commission, a non-constitutional body formed in 1950.
• Equipped as a state-of-the-art Resource center with necessary knowledge and skills.
• Aims to act swiftly, promote research and innovation, provide strategic policy vision, and handle contingent issues.
• Supported by attached offices, including Development Monitoring and Evaluation Organisation (DMEO), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and an autonomous body, the National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD).

Structure:

• The Governing Council is the primary body responsible for developing a shared vision of national priorities and strategies.
• The Governing Council includes Chief Ministers of all States, Union Territories with legislatures, and Lt Governors of other Union Territories.

Functions and Activities:

NITI Aayog's activities encompass four main areas:

1. Policy and Programme Framework
2. Cooperative Federalism
3. Monitoring and Evaluation
4. Think Tank, Knowledge, and Innovation Hub

Taxation on High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) Foods:

Definition of HFSS Foods:

As per the Ministry of Women and Child Development, High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) foods encompass any packaged or non-packaged food or drink. These items are characterized by low levels of proteins, vitamins, phytochemicals, minerals, and dietary fiber, while being high in fat (saturated fatty acids), salt, sugar, and overall energy (calories). Regular or excessive consumption of these foods is known to have adverse effects on health.

Recommendations by WHO and ICRIER:

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) advocate that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) should clearly delineate High Fat Sugar Salt foods, ensuring transparency. They propose the adoption of a nutrient-based tax model.

Reasons for Taxation on HFSS Foods:

1. Health Risks: These foods pose significant health risks.
2. Economic Burden of Obesity: The economic burden of obesity in India was $23 billion in 2017.
3. Increasing Consumption: There is a rising trend in the consumption of such foods in India.

Benefits of Taxing HFSS Foods:

1. Promotion of Healthier Choices: Taxation encourages the selection of healthier food options.
2. Improved Public Health Outcomes: It contributes to better public health outcomes.
3. Reduction of Healthcare Burden: By discouraging the consumption of HFSS foods, the burden on the healthcare system is reduced.

Context: Recently, Small finance bank (SFB) campaigns were launched.The initiative aims to showcase the achievements of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in terms of their business models to various stakeholders.

About Small Finance Bank (SFB):

Small Finance Banks are financial institutions dedicated to providing financial services in regions that are underserved and unbanked.

• They are incorporated as public limited companies under the Companies Act, 2013.
• The minimum paid-up capital required is ₹100 crore.
• Capital adequacy ratio must be 15% of risk-weighted assets.
• Foreign shareholding is capped at 74% of paid capital.
• Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPIs) is limited to 24%.
• They need to fulfill a priority sector lending requirement of 75% of total adjusted net bank credit.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Resident individuals/professionals with at least 10 years of banking and finance experience can establish Small Finance Banks with RBI approval.
• Existing Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), and Local Area Banks (LABs) in the private sector are eligible.
• Indian residents with a successful track record of running businesses for a minimum of five years must be in control.
• Joint ventures for setting up Small Finance Banks are not allowed, as per revised Priority Sector Lending Guidelines.

Functions:

• SFBs are authorized to accept small deposits and grant loans.
• They can distribute mutual funds, insurance products, and other simple third-party financial products.
• 75% of their total adjusted net bank credit must be allocated to the priority sector.
• The maximum loan size is limited to 10% of capital funds for a single borrower and 15% for a group.
• A minimum of 50% of loans should be up to ₹25 lakhs.

Context: The Supreme Court has struck down the Gujarat government’s remission orders that allowed the early release of 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case of 2002. A Bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan on Monday (January 8) said the Gujarat government’s August 10, 2022 decision to remit the convicts’ sentences was “illegal”.

Background:

The Bilkis Bano case is related to the gang-rape of a 21-year-old Muslim woman, Bilkis Bano, during the communal riots that broke out in Gujarat in 2002.She was five months pregnant at the time of the incident. The case has been marked by several key milestones and controversies, including the conviction of 11 accused, their release on remission, and challenges to the premature release in the Supreme Court

• The incident occurred on March 3, 2002, in the district of Dahod, Gujarat, during the Godhra riots
• Bilkis Bano and her family were fleeing from the violence when they were captured by a mob of 20-30 Hindus
• She was raped, and 14 of her family members were killed
• Bilkis was taken to the Limkheda police station, where an FIR was registered, but the fact that she was raped was not stated, and the accused were not named

Trial and Conviction:

• The local police repeatedly rejected Bilkis Bano's case, citing insufficient evidence
• However, the CBI, after a thorough investigation, gathered all the evidence and arrested all the accused against whom the complaint was filed
• In December 2003, Bilkis Bano approached the Supreme Court, where she filed a guilty plea
• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Supreme Court took up the case and directed a CBI investigation
• In January 2004, the CBI filed a chargesheet against 20 accused
• In May 2017, the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of 11 convicts

Premature Release and Challenges:

• In February 2020, the Gujarat government granted remission to the 11 convicts, allowing their release
• Bilkis Bano and several other petitioners challenged the premature release of the convicts in the Supreme Court
• The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the pleas challenging the premature release of the 11 convicts and asked the Centre and Gujarat to produce records

On what grounds did the Supreme Court strike down the remission given by the Gujarat government in 2022?

• The Gujarat government lacked the authority to consider remission applications for convicts seeking a reduced sentence, according to Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan.
• The Supreme Court emphasized that, according to Section 432 of the CrPC, an application for remission should be submitted to the government within the territorial jurisdiction where the applicant was convicted, in this case, Maharashtra.
• Despite the power of state governments under Section 432 to suspend or remit a sentence, Section 7(b) specifies that the appropriate government is the one within whose jurisdiction the offender is sentenced.
• The court accused the state of Gujarat of exceeding its powers by considering remission applications that should have been handled by Maharashtra.

Can the convicts apply for remission again? If so, before whom, and under what rules?

• The criminal justice system includes provisions for remission or reduction of sentences, acknowledging the potential for a person's reformation.
• The Supreme Court emphasized the existence of competing interests, balancing the rights of the victim or their family to justice against the convict's claim to a second chance.
• The court expressed skepticism about granting a second chance, especially for heinous offences, stating that it is not an indefeasible right of a convict.
• Convicts can seek remission from the Maharashtra government in the future, with the decision depending on various factors, including the state's remission policy.
• The judge referred to the Government Resolution (GR) dated April 11, 2008, which mandates a minimum imprisonment of 28 years for convicts guilty of crimes against women and minors with exceptional violence before applying for remission.

After the remission has been quashed, should the convicts be sent back to prison, or given the benefit of liberty?

Despite the careful consideration, the court concluded that the rule of law must take precedence over individual liberty.Consequently, the court decided to set aside the remission orders under scrutiny, leading to the natural consequence of the convicts being directed to report to the relevant jail authorities.

Recently, Prime Minister of India took part in cleaning the Kalaram temple premises under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign.

• Built in – 1792, with the efforts of one Sardar Rangarao Odhekar.
• Name – It derives its name from a black statue of the Lord Kala Ram translates literally to “Black Ram.”
• Location – On the banks of the River Godavari in the Panchavati area of the Nashik in Maharashtra.

Panchavati, whose comes from the existence of 5 banyan trees in the area. It was a part of Dandakaranya (dense forest in central India). According to Ramayanam, Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman set up a hut here as the presence of 5 banyan trees made this region auspicious.

• Features – It has 14 steps, which represent the 14 years of Ram’s exile and has 84 pillars, which represents the cycle of 84 lakh species that one must complete to be born as a human.
• Sanctum sanctorum – Statues of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, and a black idol of Hanuman at the main entrance.
• Historical importance – It is also the site of a landmark agitation led by Babasaheb Ambedkar demanding temple entry rights for Dalits more than 90 years ago.

Bhavarth Ramayana, written in Marathi, by Sant Eknath.

Nashik Satyagraha in 1930

• Lead by – B R Ambedkar along with the Marathi teacher and social activist Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, known as Sane Guruji.
• Aim – To demand access for Dalits to Hindu temples.
• Events – On March 2, 1930, Ambedkar organised a large protest outside the Kalaram temple with many dalit protesters.
• Over the next few days, they sang songs, raised slogans, and demanded the right to enter the temple.
• Sane Guruji too, travelled all over Maharashtra to campaign for Dalit rights, and led a protest fast at the Vitthal Temple.
• This continued until 1935.

In 1927, Ambedkar had launched Mahad or Chavdar Tale satyagraha to assert the rights of Dalits to use the water in public places.

India is poised to become the world’s largest producer of lentils (masoor) in the 2023-24 crop year due to increased acreage.

• Cultivation in India – Agriculture Ministry shows that 19.45 lakh hectares is under lentil till January 2024, 6% higher from last year’s area, and 37% higher than the normal area.
• India’s lentil production – In the 2022-23 crop year, it stood at 1.56 million tonne.
  • According to FAO, India is world’s 2^nd largest lentil growers (1.26 million tonnes) in 2022 while Canada tops the chart. followed by India.

Lentil Production in India has tapered since 2017-18 when the country recorded its highest output of 1.62 million tonne. But Indian government had increased the MSP of lentils to Rs 6,425 per quintal for the Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25 from the Rs 2,950 per quintal in 2014-15.

• Imports – It is to meet its domestic requirements, buying mainly from Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey.
• During the current year, it also imported some quantities of lentil from UAE, USA, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Recent facts:

1. India’s pulse imports have significantly decreased from about 6 million tonnes in 2016-17 to about 2 million tonnes in 2022-23. The decline is attributed to reduced imports of yellow peas and chickpeas over the past decade, primarily influenced by high import duties and procurement policies.
2. The government’s incentives to boost pulse cultivation have led to a higher lentil crop area, reaching over 19 lakh hectares by January 2024.
3. The government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to further support farmers
4. The government recently stated its objective of achieving self-sufficiency in pulses by the end of 2027
5. Despite the current increase in production, the past three decades have seen stagnation in acreage, production, and productivity of pulses across the country

Importance of pulse production for India:

• Pulses are rich in proteins and found to be the main source of protein to vegetarian people of India so it is the second important constituent of the Indian diet after cereals.
• Pulses being legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. Being leguminous crops, all these crops except Arhar help in restoring soil fertility.
• These are mostly grown in rotation with other crops
• They add organic matter into the soil in the form of leaf mould.
• They supply additional fodder for cattle. Some pulse crops like Gram, Lobia, Urad bean & Moong bean are fed to animals as green fodder.
• They provide raw materials to various industries. Dal industry, Roasted grain industry, Papad industry, etc.

The major factors responsible for the stagnation in Pulses are: 

Policy factors:

• Introduction of Green Revolution: A report “Pulses in India: Retrospect and Prospects” (2017) a report published by the Agriculture Ministry, says farmers in the Gangetic plains quit pulses for other crops around 1990 because of the improvement in irrigation facilities.  The breakthrough via HYVs in cereals has been accompanied by a loss of acreage under pulses to cereals, and consequently a sharp decline in the total production of pulses.
• Skewed implementation of agriculture reforms: Due to a number of economic and political compulsions, the strategies for agricultural growth remained anxious with the aim of achieving rapid increases in food grain production by concentrating the resources and efforts on the relatively better-endowed areas and strata of cultivators.

Demand factor:

• Cobweb phenomenon: Shrinking demand due to a surge in prices leads to farmers diverting to other crops in the next agriculture seasons (thereby reducing production further), which leads to a vicious cycle of high price, low demand, and low production.

Infrastructure factors:

• Lack of Infrastructure: Inadequate Warehousing Facilities & Collateral Finance.
• Uncertain monsoons and insufficient irrigation amenities

Other factors:

• Pest attack: Pulses are highly prone to damage by insect pests, diseases, nematodes, and weeds.
  • Damage to pulses by nilgais and other stray animals is a big factor in Uttar Pradesh for farmers moving to other crops.
• Low seed rate resulting in poor crop stands.
• Imbalance of use of fertilizers: Unstable use of fertilizers is one of the important reasons for low productivity and depleting soil fertility. The average N: P: K ratio in the past two decades has been 7:3:1 against the recommended 4:2:1.
• Inadequate MSP by the government for pulses (compared to cereals)

Government Initiatives:

1. Providing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to farmers through:
   1. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
   2. Small Farmers Agri Consortium (SFAC)
2. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses.
3. ICAR’s Role in Research and Variety Development.
4. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme.

Measures that can be taken to improve pulse production: 

Short-term Strategies

• Strengthening seed delivery system: Availability of quality seeds of already-developed improved varieties would increase the pulse production by at least 15–20 per cent.
  • In addition to public seed corporations, seed societies and private companies should be involved in seed production.
• Ensuring remunerative prices: The MSP for pulses should be fixed considering not only the cost of its cultivation and parity with the competing crops but also considering the yield variability in pulses and externalities it brings to the system in terms of nitrogen saving and subsidy saved on fertilizer and irrigation.
• Effective procurement: Bring the procurement centres to the doorstep of the growers, particularly during harvest season.
• Skilling of pulse growers: India’s 600+ Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) can be used for skilling pulse growers on modern production practices—from sowing to harvesting.
• Efficient crop insurance mechanism: Only 20 per cent of farmers subscribe to crop insurance. Providing efficient crop insurance would give sufficient confidence to these farmers to combat the situation of crop failure.

Medium-term Strategies 

• Expansion of area under pulses: Fallow lands or reclaimed wastelands can be identified and targeted in each state to bring it under pulse crops.
• Farmers’ producer organization (FPO) on pulses: It will integrate the backward and forward linkages and will help the farmers in reducing the cost of production substantially.
• Customization and development of farm equipment: Developing small-size multi-crop harvesting farm machines and other farm equipment for plant protection
  • New age app-based custom hiring services for farm equipment can be quite useful, particularly for smallholders in doing the basic farm operations timely and economically.
  • Case study: Private Tractor Company, like Mahindra and Mahindra, has started on a pilot basis ‘on-demand farm equipment rental start-up, Trringo in Karnataka state, through which farmers can book tractors by the hour via a phone call.
• Setting up of storage and warehousing in rural areas
• Foresight for international trade: Develop a predictive tool to determine the demand and supply of pulses in forthcoming seasons to plan in advance to import or export pulses in the international market.

Long-term Strategies 

• Developing short-duration and pest- and disease-resistant cultivars: Infestation of pests and diseases such as pod borer, wilt, and so on and variation in rainfall and temperature bring huge risks to pulses cultivation.
  • The development of suitable cultivars specific to production regions will be very important to break the yield barrier, as has happened in the southern region, particularly in the case of chickpeas.
• Integrating pulses into the public distribution system: Compulsory inclusion of pulses in the existing schemes such as the mid-day meal scheme or public distribution system (PDS) shall be ensured so that the minimum pulses consumption by poor households is maintained even during the scarcity in pulses production.

Over 10,000 kg of poppy straw, under the cover of cattle feed, has been seized by the Central Bureau of Narcotics in the last 1 year.

• Poppy straw – It is the husk left after the opium is extracted from the pods which also contains a very small morphine content.
• Drug – It is one of the narcotic drugs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS).

India is one of the few countries that legally cultivate opium poppy and is the only country on earth that illicitly produces opium gum.

• Legal regulation – Possession, sale, use, etc. are regulated by the State Governments under the State NDPS Rules.
• Farmers sell the poppy straw to those licensed by the State Governments to purchase poppy straw and any excess poppy straw is ploughed back into the field.
• Responsible authorities – The Central Bureau of Narcotics is responsible for
  • Issuing licenses to farmers to cultivate opium poppy
  • Supervising and controlling the cultivation
  • Procuring the opium produced by the licenced cultivators
• A Deputy Narcotics Commissioner is in-charge of each of the 3 opium growing States Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• The Narcotics Control Bureau, that comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs is also responsible in regulating NDPS.
• Violation – Anyone possessing, selling, purchasing or using it without a license or in violation of any conditions of the license is liable to prosecution under the NDPS Act.
• Control operations - In 2023, record high anti-narcotics operations were undertaken.
  • Under Operation Prahaar in 2023, 10,326 hectares of illicit opium field was destroyed in Arunachal and Manipur.

India is a signatory to the single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the Conventions on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.

On 12^th August 2011, the NMCG was listed as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It acted as the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986.

NGRBA was dissolved in 2016 and replaced by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga.

Objective: The objective of the NMCG is to reduce pollution and ensure the rejuvenation of the Ganga River.Namami Gange is one of the Coveted Programmes of NMCG to clean Ganga.

This can be achieved by promoting intersectoral coordination for comprehensive planning & management and maintaining minimum ecological flow in the river, with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

Organization Structure: The Act envisages a five-tier structure at the national, state, and district levels to take measures for prevention, control, and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga as below:

• • National Ganga Council under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
  • Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation).
  • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
  • State Ganga Committees
  • District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states.

Achievements

In the last seven years, while some progress has been made by India’s National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), there are still significant challenges ahead in achieving the mission's goals.

• The NMCG has installed treatment plants capable of treating just 20% of the sewage estimated to be generated in the five major States that lie along the Ganga River.These states are Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• The NMCG has projected that the treatment capacity for sewage will increase to 33% of the estimated amount generated by 2024, and further increase to 60% by 2026.
• The NMCG plans to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) capable of treating about 7,000 MLD of sewage by 2026.
• As of July 2023, STPs with a total capacity of 2,665 MLD have been commissioned and are operational. The progress has picked up significantly in recent years, with 1,455 MLD capacity completed in the last financial year (2022-23).
• STPs and sewerage networks are at the heart of the Namami Ganga Mission and account for about 80% of the overall project outlay.

Initiatives Related to Ganga?

• Namami Gange Programme
• Ganga Action Plan
• National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)
• Clean Ganga Fund
• Bhuvan-Ganga Web App
• Ban on Waste Disposal

The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has been designated as India's first Dark Sky Park and the fifth in Asia, protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution.

India’s First Dark Sky Park

• The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra is India's first Dark Sky Park within a tiger reserve for earmarking areas around the park that restrict light pollution for stargazers to access pristine dark skies.
• Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky.
• This designation positions PTR as a sanctuary where tourists can witness celestial spectacles, shielded from the intrusion of artificial light pollution.
• PTR became the fifth such park in Asia. 
• The certification was given by the International Dark-Sky Association, a global dark-sky movement to promote astronomy.

Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)

Location: The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary. 

• It is named after the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve.
• It comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer.
• The area of the Pench Tiger Reserve and the surrounding area is the real story area of Rudyard Kipling's famous "The Jungle Book". 

Terrain: It is undulating, with most of the area covered by small hills and steep slopes on the sides. 

Vegetation: The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from a moist sheltered valley to an open, dry deciduous forest.

Flora: The reserve boasts a diverse range of flora, including teak, saag, mahua, and various grasses and shrubs.

Fauna:

• • The area is especially famous for large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
  • The key predator is the tiger, followed by leopard, wild dogs, and wolf.
  • There are over 325 species of resident and migratory birds, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, White-Eyed Buzzard, etc.

• The X-65 is an experimental jet aircraft developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program.

It is a full-scale aircraft to demonstrate a new method of flight control that uses no external moving parts.

• Hot Jupiters are a class of exoplanets that have features similar to Jupiter, but are much closer to their host star & its upper atmosphere is hotter than 1,800 degrees Celcius.
• The harsh ultraviolet radiation from its star is heating the planet’s upper atmosphere, which in turn causes magnesium and iron gas to escape into space.

The star’s powerful gravitational tidal forces altered the planet’s shape, making it more oblong-shaped.